Page 122 of Fatal Mistake
“I love you, Tara,” Cal said. “And I’ll do my best in the race, but no matter the outcome, I hope you’ll still love me, too.”
“Of course I will, but where’s that SEAL resolve you’re so famous for?” Her face filled with grit and determination. “Come on, man. Remember, the only easy day was yesterday.”
Cal grinned at her. “Um, honey. This is just a race.”
She gaped at him. “It’s my reputation at stake.”
“Get set!” June shouted.
Tara faced the field ahead. “Here we go. Now focus. We’ve got this.”
Cal tightened his hold but also took a moment to pat his pockets, content to find the envelope and small box right where he’d put them.
“Go!”
Cal shot his free leg forward and paid attention to Tara’s rhythm as she hurled her body ahead with abandon. He wanted to glance down and see her fierce look of competition, but he had to focus to keep from falling on his face. He felt his teammates all around him, but he kept facing forward as they fell into a rhythm.
Free leg. Bagged leg. Free leg. Bagged leg. Over and over. Like an approach in one of his rescues if he’d ever had a woman attached to his side. The thought made him chuckle, but then he sobered. In a moment, he hoped to be attached to this woman for life.
They powered ahead, the finish line only three feet away.
“Ready,” Tara called out. “Now!”
She hurled her body forward, taking Cal with her. They crashed through the bright red finish ribbon and tumbled to the ground. Cal took the fall on his free arm and rolled to protect Tara from hitting hard.
“We did it,” she cried out.
“Yes, we did, honey.” He hugged her to his chest. “Our first test as a couple, and we passed.”
He’d said first, but they’d been mightily tested the last few months as they worked to get over their issues and come out the other side stronger and still together.
“I demand a rematch,” Rick called out as he and Brynn stumbled over the finish line.
“Yeah,” Brynn said. “You had a ringer.”
“I agree,” Shane added. “We’ll go with the best two out of three.”
“Um.” Tara sat up, sounding like she was considering it. “No!”
Cal laughed and sat up next to her. Consternation was written on his teammates’ faces. None of them liked to lose, Cal included, but today wasn’t about them. It was about Tara.
Cal got to his feet. “No can do on the rematch. June has our Thanksgiving meal waiting for us, right, June?”
She nodded and lifted her megaphone. “Can I have everyone’s attention?”
Her voice carried over the neighbors and friends gathered for her annual Thanksgiving celebration, and their conversations stilled as they turned to look at her.
“This year I’m very thankful for the brave men and women who saved my sweet Tara’s life.” She waved a hand over the Knights, surprising all of them. “There is no fiercer or braver team than the Knights, and I want to publicly thank them for their service to our country.”
Applause broke out, and Cal felt himself blush. He and the others didn’t like or need public acclaim. All they needed was the satisfaction of knowing they’d helped others.
“You’re blushing.” Tara gaped at him.
“I…we don’t need this.”
“But you deserve it. You’re the White Knights, and you ride in on your white horses to save people like me.”
He rubbed the back of his neck and looked away.
