Page 43 of Fire and Rain
Sean chuckled. “I’d wear it.”
“I always thought Justin was a little jealous of you, the single guy who could do whatever he wanted when he wasn’t on duty. Now look at you—changing diapers, giving toddlers their medicine, making breakfast for the toddler’s sick mother.”
Sean took her hand. “Justin was never jealous of me. He never said anything about feeling weighed down by you or Maverick. He told me all the time how lucky he was to have married you. You and Maverick were his world.”
Eden hadn’t realized how much she’d needed to hear those words. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Thanks.”
“You had something special with him, and I’m sorry it ended.”
She squeezed his hand. “I know you are. So am I. And Sean, it’snotyour fault.”
He released her hand, got to his feet. “I’ll do the dishes.”
“Do you mind watching Maverick while I take a shower?”
“Go for it.”
Eden showered away the last twenty-four hours of sickness, touched by what Sean had told her. She dressed in a T-shirt and leggings and found Sean and Maverick on the floor, playing with blocks, that little helicopter coming together once more. She sat on the sofa, watching them play. Then she saw it—one of her romance novels sitting on the coffee table with a bookmark stuck in it.
She picked it up. “You’ve been reading my romance novels?”
“Just the one.” He gave her a knowing and very sexy look. “It’s super sexy. I mean… wow. It’s good, too—suspenseful, smart. I’m not sure what I expected from a romance novel, but I’m enjoying it.”
Eden wanted to ask him what he thought of certain scenes but stopped herself.
When the helicopter was complete, Sean got to his feet. “I need to get back. Do you need anything else before I go?”
She shook her head. “I think we’re on the mend.
He grabbed his jacket and gym bag and put on his running shoes. “You’ll call me if you need anything, right?”
“I will.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Thanks again—for everything.”
“You got it.” Then he walked over to the coffee table and picked up the book. “Do you mind if I borrow this?”
“You want to borrow one of my romance novels?”
“Well, yeah.” He gave her an incredulous look. “I have to know what happens with Sierra and Beckett.”
“By all means. Just don’t dog-ear the pages.”
He feigned offense. “I’m not a heathen.”
Then, with a smile that made her pulse skip, he said goodbye and was gone.
ChapterNine
June 9
Sean’snext duty shift didn’t start until evening, so he took advantage of the time to clean his quarters in preparation for the routine barracks inspection. When that was done, he grabbed his laundry bag, detergent, and fabric softener and headed to the laundry room, his thoughts on Eden as he shoved dirty socks, boxers, and ODUs into the washing machine.
She’d been surprised to find out he’d given Maverick his medicine and changed his diaper, her gratitude palpable. It hit Sean again how much she’d lost—not just the man she loved but the father of her child, the man who would have been beside her through sickness and hard times. Now she would have to face those times alone.
No, not alone. Sean wouldn’t let that happen.
What exactly are you going to do about it?
Given that the captain was pushing to advance him to E6, the Coast Guard would almost certainly transfer him to a new station. He’d end up in Cape Cod, Atlantic City, or Puerto Rico—too far away to do anything to help Eden and her boy.
