Page 22 of Protecting Addison
“There’s nothing to be nervous about.”
She snorted. “Ricky, these are your friends. Your teammates. If they don’t like me, that won’t be a good thing.”
“They’re going to like you. Hell, theyalreadylike you. Yes, they were surprised that we got married, and they’re irritated atmefor hogging you all to myself and not introducing you to them yet. But I’ve told them all about how talented you are at baking and decorating, how well your business is doing, how perfect you’ve been with the kids, about Ellory and how she’s struggled with her illness, and how you’ve taken such great care of her. All you have to do is be yourself. Because you’re perfect exactly the way you are.”
“Ricky,” she whispered.
He couldn’t stop himself. It was becoming more and more difficult to hold back and not show this woman how attracted he was to her, despite his warning to himself to go slow. And while he might be able to keep from blurting out that he wanted more than a marriage of convenience, he absolutelycouldn’tstop himself from leaning forward and kissing her. It was another mere brushing of their mouths, nothing passionate, but he still felt it down to his toes.
“Come on, if we dally too much longer, Artem will start the car and drivehimselfto Wolf and Caroline’s house.”
Addison giggled. “He would, wouldn’t he?”
“In a heartbeat. That kid is too smart for his own good.” He put his hand on the small of Addison’s back and followed her out of the house. He waited until she’d locked the door and put her keys into her purse to wrap his arm around her waist. They walked side-by-side to his car, and MacGyver found himself unable to keep the satisfied smile off his face.
This was what he’d always dreamed of—a large family, chaos and all. He vowed then and there not to do anything to mess it up, and to protect these humans with everything within him. Nothing and no one would hurt them…or take them away from him.
* * *
Ricky had told her not to be nervous, but Addison couldn’t help it. She so wanted his people to like her. She was out of practice socializing with others. She’d gotten used to hanging out with Ellory, and only talking to others when her business demanded it or when she was talking to doctors and nurses in the hospital about Ellory’s condition.
This was as different as night and day. These people were Ricky’s friends. The men who kept him safe when they were deployed. The women who loved them. Fellow SEALs who were retired and who her husband looked up to. Mentors. Andtheirwives, who had already been through countless missions and had perfected the role of Navy Wife.
She felt like an imposter. Yes, she was married to Ricky, but it wasn’t a real marriage…except, it felt real enough to her. Not as real as she wanted, but other than the intimacy she craved like a druggie fixated on their next hit, she felt as if she was a true wife.
But then again, she hadn’t been through a deployment with Ricky yet.
He helped out a lot around the house with the kids. Artem, Borysko, and Yana were thrilled to see him when he got home every night. He helped with homework, watched TV with them, helped with chores, supervised the brushing of teeth and tucked everyone in.
Could she do it by herself? Yes, she’d done it with Ellory, but she was one child. Having three young kids all asking questions and needing her at the same time, without Ricky there to help, seemed overwhelming.
The time was no doubt coming when he’d be sent off on a mission. Addison figured she’d find out soon enough if she was cut out to be a SEAL wife. She hoped so. She wanted to make Ricky proud. But she was also scared that she’d mess up. As well as the three kids were doing, they still had occasional setbacks psychologically. Borysko had nightmares, Artem sometimes wet the bed at night. Yana would get a thousand-yard stare that concerned Addison greatly.
And today she was meeting some wives of veteran SEALs who’d dealt with missions and kids and all manner of challenges, and seemingly managed it all perfectly.
The one thing that was making her less stressed about this get-together was her text group—Wren, Josie, Maggie, and Remi. They’d been messaging her nonstop since Ricky had passed her number on to their men. They were funny and friendly, and it felt as if she’d known them forever. But still…talking to someone via text and in person were two completely different things. It was possible they wouldn’t actually click at all. That they’d meet and things would be awkward.
“Breathe, Addy,” Ricky said as he pulled up to the curb. There were cars lined up all along the street, and the sheer number of people who were going to be here today suddenly hit Addison, making her stress levels rise all over again.
Everyone unclipped their seat belts, and Borysko helped Yana get out of her car seat before they all climbed out of the SUV. They were collecting the cookies and cake when a child’s voice rang out.
“They’re here!”
Chuckling, Ricky looked toward Wolf and Caroline’s house. There were several people standing on the front lawn chatting. Including a bunch of children.
Two boys ran toward Ricky and his family, with a girl following behind.
“Hi! I’m James.”
“And I’m Matthew.”
“Come on, let’s go play!” James exclaimed excitedly.
When his kids hesitated, Ricky said, “Go on. It’s okay.”
That seemed to be all the trio needed, his reassurance.
Ricky said quietly to Addison, “Those are Benny and Jessyka’s kids. They’re older than ours, but I think they’ll get along just fine.”
