Montana SEAL (12 page)

“I asked her to marry me. She said no.”

“Ladies don’t like to appear too eager. Don’t you know nothin’ ‘bout womenfolk?” Hank’s father shook his head. “When you find one as special as your mother, you hold onto her, woo her, convince her you love her more than life itself. She’s worth it.” Mr. Patterson’s frown softened as he stared at Sadie, his eyes clouding. “I loved my Maggie more than I loved to breathe. I’d give anything to have her back.” His shoulders slumped, and he seemed to get smaller.

“Mr. Patterson, you need to lie down,” Sadie said softly. “You’re not yet well enough to be out of bed.”

He let her help him back into the bed. “Maggie hung the moon, in my books.”

“I remember her. She was always so happy.” Sadie tucked the sheet around him and kissed his cheek.

“She never had a harsh word to say. Not even to me. And I was no saint.”

Hank snorted. His father had been angry for so long, he couldn’t remember when he hadn’t worn a frown.

His father lifted a hand to Sadie’s cheek and then stared across at Hank. “Make it right with Miss Sadie. She loves you and, you love her. I can’t believe you let her get away.”

Hank remembered the raw hurt he’d experienced the day Sadie had said no all those years ago. That pain had never let him.

“He didn’t let me get away. I pushed him away.” She stared down at Hank’s father. “Hank needed to follow his dreams. He’d always wanted to join the Navy and become a SEAL. If he’d married me straight out of high school, he never would have gone.”

“He’d have stayed where he belonged. Here in Montana, ranching like his ancestors.”

Hank started to say something, but Sadie beat him to it.

“He needed to go away, to do those things he’d dreamed of, so that when he came back, he’d know whether he belonged in Montana or somewhere else. Now that he’s been all over the world, he can make an informed decision.” She turned to Hank. “By now, he should have an idea of where he really wants to be, and who he wants to be with.”

“This is not the place to have this discussion.” Hank circled Sadie’s waist with his arm. “Dad, I love this woman and would do anything for her. But I need to talk with her.”

His father raised his hands. “I’m not keeping you.” He pointed his finger at his son. “But don’t screw it up this time. She’s a keeper.”

For the first time he could remember, he fully agreed with his father. “I’ll do my best.” Then he led Sadie out of the hospital room and down the hall until he found an empty room. He pulled her inside and closed the door.

The corners of Sadie’s lips quirked upward. “We have to stop meeting this way.”

Hank cupped her cheek. “If it’s the only place I can get you alone, without the house exploding, I’ll take it.” He brushed his thumb across the bruise near her eye and shook his head. “Does it hurt much?”

“Only here,” she said, and touched her hand to her chest. “Tonight, in the back of Carla’s trunk, I thought I might never see you again.”

Hank laid his hand over hers. “Sadie, Darlin’, I might not have a place in your life in LA, but I’d follow you to the ends of the earth just to be with you.”

Sadie’s eyes filled and tears slipped down her cheeks. “You belong with your SEAL team. I can’t take you away from the life you love.”

“My heart is with you.” He pulled her into his arms, molding her body to his. “If all you want from me is a bodyguard, I’ll do it.”

“I don’t want you to give up your life as a SEAL for mine.”

Hank pressed a finger to her lips. “I’m leaving the navy.”

Sadie’s eyes widened. “But, Hank. You love what you do.”

He gave her a kiss and then pulled away. “I love you.”

More tears slipped from Sadie’s eyes. “I never stopped loving you.”

“Then what’s stopping you from being with me?”

She raised her hands. “I don’t know.”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’ll prove to you I can handle your life in LA.”

“I don’t want to live in LA. I want to live here.” She sniffed and smiled. “I can cut back to one movie a year, or quit altogether. I don’t need the money. I have more than I know what to do with.” She laid her cheek against his chest. “I want to be with you.”

Hank smoothed a hand over her hair, loving the silky feel of it. “I won’t be your kept man.”

Sadie laughed. “Like you could ever do that.” She looked up at him. “Will you go back to being a rancher and work with your father?”

He shook his head. “Maybe part time. But I thought I might start a business of my own.”

“Doing what?” She laid a hand on his chest.

“I want to create an agency providing protective services for individuals who need it. I’ll hire prior military who need jobs. It combines the best of both worlds. People who need help will get it, and good men who have fought in wars, and are highly skilled at what they do, will have honorable work following their military service.”

“I love it.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned up on her toes to kiss him. “What will you call this agency?”

“Brotherhood Protectors.”

“Hmm. Seems you have it all figured out.” She pulled his head down to hers. “What about us?”

“I only have one thing left to do.” Hank set her away from him.

Sadie tilted her head. “And what’s that?”

He knelt on his good knee, his bad knee aching at being bent, but he didn’t care. The woman he loved was standing in front of him, confessing her love for him. There was only one thing he could do to make this day better. “Sadie McClain, love of my life, for the second time in our lives, I’m asking you…will you marry me?”

Sadie dropped to her knees and lifted his hand to her face. “Hank Patterson, I love you. I’ve never stopped…” She pressed a kiss into his palm.

“You might love me, but you didn’t answer my question.” Hank drew her to her feet and pulled her into his arms. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!”

Hank kissed her, holding her tight. If he could, he’d never let her go again. This was where he belonged. In Montana, his home. In this woman’s arms.

S
even months later
…

“Now that it’s complete, what do you think of the design?” Hank stood in the middle of the living room in the house he and Mrs. Sadie McClain Patterson would share for the rest of their lives.

His wife snuggled against his side and sighed. “It’s amazing. And you were right about the heavy beams in the ceiling. They make it more woodsy, like it belongs in Montana.”

“And you were right about the windows. Yeah, it’ll be hell to heat in the winter, but the view of the Crazy Mountains is unbeatable.”

“I like that your office has the same view,” Sadie said. “It’s not the Navy, and you won’t be surrounded by your unit, but you’ll have me.”

Hank smiled. “That’s the best part. I miss my brothers, but the life of a SEAL couldn’t last forever. I’m more than ready to move on to the next phase.”

“Brotherhood Protectors.” Sadie squeezed his hand. “I love the name of your business.”

“We couldn’t have timed the completion of the house better. Swede will be here any minute. He’s the first prior-military protector to join the business. A couple others are waiting for their re-enlistment date before they leave the military. By this time next year, I expect to have three others signed on.”

“Do you have a client lined up for Swede?” Sadie asked.

Hank nodded. “As a matter of fact, I do.”

She turned toward him, her eyes widening. “Already? You’ve barely gotten the word out.”

“Allie’s fiancé wants to hire us to protect her and make sure she gets to the wedding on time.”

Sadie’s forehead dimpled, making Hank want to press a kiss there. “Is she in some sort of danger?”

“Seems her fiancé is fairly wealthy, and he’s afraid someone will try to kidnap her. He has to be out of the country for a couple of weeks before the ceremony, and he wanted someone to keep an eye on her. I told him I’d do it for free. But he insisted on paying for a bodyguard.”

“That’s kind of romantic. He must care a great deal for her.” Sadie leaned her cheek against his arm. “I can’t believe little Allie is getting married.”

“Little Allie is twenty-six, almost twenty-seven,” Hank reminded her. “But you’re right. I’ve barely met the guy. I’m not sure he’s right for my Allie Cat.”

“No one will be right for Allie. She’s your baby sister.” Sadie chuckled. “Her engagement right after ours was such a surprise. I didn’t know she was that serious about her boyfriend.”

“Seems he wants to move their relationship along. And he’s rich enough to take it to the next level quickly. It’s all a little too rushed for my liking.”

Hank’s beautiful wife raised her brows. “They’ve been engaged for six months. That’s not exactly rushing it. We were engaged a grand total of seven days.”

“Darlin’ I didn’t dare wait long.” He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “You might have changed your mind. That trip to Reno the next week was good timing.”

“And signing the new film contract came at the right time, too.” Sadie waved her arm wide. “It gave the contractors enough time to build our beautiful new home.”

“You wrapped up that movie like a pro.” Hank had been on the set with her every day. He was so proud of her, he couldn’t believe she’d married him. “I like that you won’t be gone again until some time next year, and that I’ll be with you wherever you go.”

“I need my handsome protector.” She leaned up on her toes to kiss him.

Hank claimed her mouth, his hands slipping from her waist to her hips, and finally curling around her bottom. He lifted her, wrapping her legs around him. When he raised his head, he laughed, his heart so full it strained against his ribs. “This room only needs one more thing.”

Sadie cupped his cheeks and kissed his eyelids, nose and mouth. “What’s that?”

“Half a dozen children,” he said softly, and then hurried on, “But only when you’re ready. I want you to follow your dreams as long as they make you happy.”

“Would eight months from now be soon enough to make a start on that six-pack of kids?” Sadie stared down at him.

“I can wait eight months to start trying.” The thought of Sadie carrying his child made Hank send a silent thank you to the heavens. He’d married a woman who wanted children, despite her celebrity.

She shook her head. “Not to start trying in eight months, but to welcome the newest Patterson into our home.”

Hank couldn’t wrap his mind around what she was saying. It took longer than eight months to have a child. “What do you mean?”

She chuckled, her eyes filling with tears. “I’m pregnant.”

His heart skipped several beats and then pounded against his ribs. “Are you sure?”

Sadie nodded. “I could show you the early pregnancy test stick, if you like.”

“Am I interrupting something?” A deep voice boomed from the front hallway, and Swede stepped into the living room. “I knocked, but no one answered. Now I know why.”

Hank let Sadie’s feet drop to the ground, but he rested his hands around her waist and gazed into her eyes, noticing how rosy her cheeks had become. “I’m going to be a father?”

Again, Sadie nodded. “Yes.”

“Well, you old son of a bitch. You’ve been busy.” Swede strode across the floor and enveloped Hank in a bear hug. The big guy nearly squeezed the air from his lungs before he set Hank away. Then he held out his hand to Sadie. “Congratulations, ma’am.”

“Oh, Swede.” Sadie took his hand and pulled him into a hug. “Don’t be a stranger. I practically know you, from all of Hank’s stories about you and the rest of his team.”

Swede hugged her gently. “I never pictured Montana settling down and having kids.” He shook his head, a grin filling his face. “That’s just fucking amazing.”

Sadie laughed. “What’s amazing about it?”

“I don’t know. Maybe that one of us dared to actually get a life. Complete with wife and children.”

“Honey,” Sadie touched Swede’s arm. “It’s never too late to get a life.”

Swede held up his hands. “I’m not in the market for wife, like Montana.”

“Trust me,” Hank said. “Neither was I. But once you meet the one, you’ll know.”

“My luck, she’d slap me in the face, or set my shoes on fire.” Swede held up his hands. “I’ll be happy to have a job and blend into life in Montana. Don’t be in a hurry to play matchmaker.”

Hank clapped a hand on Swede’s back. “Then you’re the right man for our first assignment.”

Swede rubbed his hands together. “I’m ready. What is it?”

A knock on the front door heralded a new arrival.

“Not what, but who.” Hank turned toward the entrance hall. “Come in.”

“Hank, I only came over to tell you I’m not convinced I need a bodyguard.” Hank’s sister entered the living room and stopped, staring out at the Crazy Mountains. “Wow. I haven’t been here since you two moved in. This place is beautiful.”

“We’re glad you think so.” Sadie hugged her sister-in-law. “Now tell me what’s going on that makes you think you don’t need a bodyguard.”

Allie crossed her arms. “Nothing much.”

“A broken brake line and a near miss with a stranger in Bozeman isn’t nothing,” Hank said.

She squared her shoulders. “I just need to be more aware. That’s all.”

Pulling his big brother card, Hank drew himself up to his full height of six feet two inches and stared down at Allie. “It’s a done deal, so you can save your arguments.”

“I’m not a baby.” Allie glared at her brother. “I don’t need a sitter.”

“No, but you need a bodyguard. Allie, meet Axel Svenson, a buddy of mine from my old unit.”

“Well send him back to your unit. He’s not needed here.” She nodded toward Swede. “No offense.”

He grinned. “None taken. But humor your brother. You’re his first client and he’s expecting his first child. Cut him some slack. And call me Swede.”

“What?” Allie squealed. “You’re expecting?” She turned to Sadie. “Is this true?”

Sadie nodded. “In eight months.”

“Oh, my god.” Allie pressed a hand to her mouth, and tears welled in her eyes. “I’m going to be an aunt.”

“Not if you don’t accept Swede’s help.” Hank pulled his sister into a headlock, and then rubbed his knuckles against the top of her head, like he’d done since she was five years old. “Please, Allie Cat. Let Swede protect you. He’s a good man, and I want you to be around to meet my kid.”

“I’m fine. But if it would make you feel better, I’ll let your friend be my bodyguard.” She glared at Swede. “But you’ll have to keep up. I’m not slowing down for a greenhorn to ranch life.”

“Dish it out. I can take it.” Swede’s brows wrinkled. “I think. What exactly is ranch life?”

She rolled her eyes. “Lord help me.” Allie hugged Hank and Sadie. “I’m so happy for you. Take care of yourself.” She walked toward the door, calling over her shoulder. “If you’re going to be my shadow, you better get moving.”

Swede’s lips twitched. “Is she always so bossy?”

“Pretty much,” Hank said. “You better hurry. She waits for no one.”