Page 104 of Protecting Bree
Blink was still sitting off to the side holding Amelia, now asleep in his arms, as he watched over the group in general. His boys were hellions, but most of the time all it took was one warning look from Dad to make them behave.
Preacher had left Violet in Safe’s capable hands and was now standing next to Blink, holding his one-year-old adopted boy, Milo. He had Down syndrome, and was almost as spoiled as Desiree and Violet.
MacGyver had stopped by the table where Borysko was sitting with his friends, laughing with them about something, and was now heading back to the trampolines to join in the fun.
Flash joined Yana to help with the twins, giving chase as they ran from them, giggling maniacally.
And then there was Smiley. Over the last decade, he’d loosened up a lot. He’d never be called gregarious by any stretch of the imagination, but seeing him jumping up and down on a trampoline, acting as the judge as Ben and Arlo tried to see who could jump the highest? It filled Bree with joy.
As if he could feel her gaze on him, Smiley glanced in the direction of all the women. His gaze met Bree’s, and she could practically feel him trying to figure out if she was good. If she needed anything.
He was extremely intuitive when it came to her. When she was crampy and bloated from her period, he brought her a heating pad. When she was hangry, he’d make her a snack without having to ask if she wanted one. And even after all this time, he was just as amorous in bed as he’d been when they’d first started dating.
They’d followed in the footsteps of their friends and had a small, intimate wedding ceremony on the beach, and then a huge party at Aces to celebrate. Becoming Smiley’s wife was wonderful, but it hadn’t changed how Bree felt about him. She loved him so much it was almost scary. His deployments were always stressful for her, but she put on a brave face and tried not to let him know how much she hated each and every time he left home.
But he knew anyway. He’d apologized once, and Bree had lit into him. Demanding he never do that again. Told him that he was an amazing SEAL, and she knew he loved what he did. How she felt about his deployments wasn’thisproblem, it washers.
Of course, he’d immediately disagreed.
The bottom line was that Bree was as proud as she could be of her husband. He was very good at his job, but the thought of losing him was almost overwhelming. It had taken a long conversation with Caroline Steel to help her come to terms with her fears. To understand that he had six of the best men he could ever have at his back, and now that he had Bree, he’d do anything possible in order to come home to her.
And he had. Every time.
They didn’t have any children, because neither wanted any. They were kept busy with their friends’ kids. Of course, they all loved staying at Aunt Bree and Uncle Smiley’s house because they got to stay up late, eat junk food, and play video games that their own parents wouldn’t usually let them play. They were the “fun” aunt and uncle, and Bree was content with that.
Her life was full. Being kidnapped by a sex slaver seemed like it had happened to someone else. As if it was a lifetime ago.
As if Smiley could read her thoughts, he said something to Ben and Arlo and bounced his way toward her and the other women.
“Uh-oh, Smiley’s headed this way,” Remi teased. “Guess that’s our cue to disperse.”
“You don’t have to go,” Bree protested, but it was easy to see her friends didn’t mind heading to their own husbands. Even after a decade, they were all just as in love with their spouses as they’d been when they were first married.
“Did I chase everyone away with my grumpiness?” Smiley asked as he reached her side.
Bree laughed. “You aren’t so grumpy anymore.”
“Whatever,” he harumphed, making Bree laugh even harder.
“That’s what I love to see and hear…you laughing. Did you know when I first met you, I privately made it my mission in life to make you smile more often?”
“I smiled back then,” Bree protested.
“Not enough. But now? You’re the light to my dark. When I’m feeling grumpy, all I have to do is look at you,see your smile, and I remember everything I have to be thankful for.”
Bree couldn’t stop grinning. “You’re so sappy. What happened to the badass Navy SEAL I married?”
“Oh, he’s still here. But I’ve learned over the years not to give a shit what other people think about me. If they want to think I’m pussy-whipped, they can. I mean, they aren’t wrong.”
“Shut up,” Bree complained.
He grinned. Then sobered. “You’re happy.”
It wasn’t a question. “How could I not be? I’m surrounded by my best friends, who’ve become my family. The kids are healthy and well-adjusted. Life sure gave us all some hard knocks, but we’ve made it through. We’re here. Together. Celebrating Artem’s graduation and the fact he’s going to law school. Next year, Borysko will follow in his footsteps, although not to be a lawyer. The kid told me he wants to be a doctor. A lawyer and a doctor…who woulda thunk it?”
Smiley brushed his fingers against Bree’s cheek. “I love you.”
She felt her cheeks heat. “I love you too.”
