Ride with the SEAL (Norse Security 1)

“Right.” Cam let her go to pull out his phone and send a quick text to Hunter, letting him know it was all over and the Aeon was secure, if not quite in perfect condition. Seconds later a response came through, not from Hunter, but from Loki. On our way. Cam turned off his phone and returned it to his pocket, then slipped his arm around Everly and led her toward the still-open cargo bay door. “Glad to hear that. I’ll let you talk to my boss then when he gets here and explain how you’ll get that car back to new again.”

“Piece of cake.” Everly laughed. “I’m used to handling mobsters and thugs on a daily basis. One grumpy security guy shouldn’t be a problem.”

As they walked outside into the cool, dark night, Cam snuggled her closer into his side, feeling lighter and happier than he had in years, despite the mess they’d left insi

de and the explanations that lay ahead. “Did I mention Loki isn’t exactly a typical security guy? He’s an ex-SEAL too.”

Everly scoffed. “Well, I handled you just fine, didn’t I?”

Beneath the soft yellow glow of a nearby streetlight, Cam turned to face her, pulling her closer in his arms. “That you did, sweetheart. That you did.”

14

Six months later…

Cam pulled his Camry into the parking lot of the industrial park where the Norse Security offices were located. Instead of pulling into his assigned spot near the door, however, he continued on around the building to a more industrial section of the complex and one metal warehouse-style building in particular.

A large sign had been hung over the two cargo bay doors at the front. Everly’s Garage and Body Shop, it proclaimed in bold, red block letters, with the phone number and website listed underneath. The website had been his idea. He’d designed it, of course, with all the latest features and the best SEO money could buy to draw in customers to his girlfriend’s business.

In the end, Loki hadn’t been nearly as pissed as Cam had expected about the shredded Aeon, perhaps in part due to Everly’s reassurances that she could repair all the damage done. Sure enough, she had—or would—once he finished with reinstalling the software that had been stripped along with all the damaged processors during the rebuild process. That’s why he was here today, in fact.

Well, that, and to bring his sweetheart lunch.

He parked and got out, reaching back inside to grab the bag of fast food he’d picked up on his way in and also a very special present he hoped he was brave enough to give her today.

Inside, he found a scene not so different from that first one all those months ago, the night he’d met Everly again, the night he’d rediscovered his heart and his true calling. Cam waved to the other mechanics working for Everly then headed over to the far corner of the long space where the Aeon was sitting. A familiar pair of shapely legs, clad in soft, tight, faded denim stuck out from beneath the front bumper of the car.

“Time for a break, sweetheart,” he said, stopping near her feet.

“Just one more second, baby,” Everly said from under the vehicle. “Need to tighten this bolt a tad more.”

He glanced around while she finished her work. Unlike her father’s place, Everly kept her garage spic and span, everything in its place and scrubbed clean. All the work bays were full of vehicles and mechanics busy working on them. In the short time she’d been open, Everly’s Garage and Body Shop had already become a customer favorite, being voted most affordable and most reliable in a local township newspaper poll. Cam was so damned proud of her, he could nearly burst.

“Done!” Everly said, wheeling out from under the Aeon on a flat wooden dolly. “I’m glad you’re here. I’m starving.”

“Me too.” Cam took his time walking around the car, admiring her work. From the paint job to the replaced taillight and hood area, it looked as good as it had that night they’d stolen it from her dad’s garage. Funny, but in a weird twist of fate, the government hadn’t wanted it back after Cam had wrecked it into a brick wall. They’d requisitioned it off and purchased a new vehicle, decommissioning this one. Even though it was perfectly good again. Would’ve been a waste too, if Cam hadn’t talked Loki into letting him buy it—on an installment plan, of course. Everly had chipped in too, saying it would be their first real purchase together as a couple.

Cam traced his fingers over the sleek lines of the vehicle, loving everything about it. Everything about the woman who’d fixed it up and given it new life again too. Honestly, for a geeky kid who’d grown up watching old 80s TV shows on cable, the Aeon was about as close to having his own real-life Knight Rider car as he was ever going to get. Now, if he could just get her to talk to him like the TV car had, he’d be all set. Considering the level of technology Cam planned to install on her, she just might take AI voice technology to a whole new level.

“If you’re done drooling over your new baby, c’mon in the office so we can eat before it gets cold,” Everly said, wiping her hands on a rag as he trailed behind her. “I need to talk to you about something too.”

“Oh, okay.” His stomach dropped to somewhere near his toes. In Cam’s experience, those words weren’t necessarily good. And yeah, maybe they had been living together blissfully for the past four months, and yes, maybe she was his best friend and confidant—other than the guys. But was it possible Everly wasn’t as happy about being with him as he was about being with her? Lord knew she could do so much better than an ex-solider like him. He unpacked the Italian grinders he’d picked up for them, then took a seat beside her in front of her desk. “What’s up?”

She fidgeted under his gaze, which was weird. Everly never fidgeted. His tension grew as she toyed with the paper and foil wrapping her sub, the scent of caramelized onions and peppers filling the air from their food. “Well, the thing is, I’m late.”

“Late?” He frowned, wanting to pull her into his lap and kiss away the tiny lines forming between her dark brows. “For what? A meeting? A payment on this place?”

“No.” Everly kept her gaze steadfastly on the toes of her black boots. “My period. I’m late this month. I swear to God I never lied to you. I’ve been on birth control the whole time. The pill plus you usually use a condom and well…” She shrugged and shook her head. “I finally went to the doctor yesterday to be sure and—” Everly threw her hands up in exasperation. “He said I’m about six weeks along.”

Cam blinked at her a moment, her words slowly sinking into his befuddled brain. “Wait. Are you telling me you’re pregnant? We’re going to have a kid?”

She gave a little nod, still staring at her toes.

“Jesus,” he whispered, stunned. A dad. He was going to be a dad. Cam opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again, words failing him. “Wow.”

“Listen, I know you love your schedules and plans and this wasn’t on the radar at all and I understand if—”

Before he could rethink his actions, Cam was on his knees before her, the small black velvet box he’d been carrying in his pocket for days now in his hand. The diamond solitaire engagement ring inside glittered beneath the overhead florescent lights. “Marry me.”