Explosive Alliance (Wingmen Warriors 9)

She'd known and understood, but the reality of wasted years and emotions trickled over her like ammonia on an open wound.

"And then there's the other kind of love, the real kind of love, the best kind of love. When you'll do anything to keep from hurting that person, even if means you have to hurt. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Paige most certainly did, because, oh, God, she couldn't ignore much longer what was squeezing her heart.

Kirstie nodded. "I think so."

"Here's an example to help you see it better," he explained with a teacher tone Paige could envision him picking up in his college course work. "I noticed how you realized your mama gets upset when you talk about your father. You kept all that hurt inside you so she wouldn't have to hurt anymore."

Kirstie started nodding faster. "And like how Mama took me to that air show even though airplanes make her sad."

He winced. "Pretty much."

Oh, how easily she could dream of him in a classroom full of kids, entertaining and teaching. He'd talked about getting out of the Air Force, after all, something she hadn't let herself consider for more than a few fleeting seconds. Not that she expected him to move here based on one night of incredible sex, but at least if he left the military, there would be more options. More hope.

Her heart squeezed tighter.

"Sooo—" Kirstie's shoulders straightened with a renewal of her old spunk "—you're saying that on the inside, I love like my mama does. Not like my dad did."

"That's exactly what I'm saying," he said with an insightful patience and understanding that couldn't be taught in any classroom. "There's another cool thing about the real kind of love."

"What's that?"

"It's okay to share the hurts and help each other." He leaned closer. "So if you want to talk to me about your daddy, I'm here to listen."

"Since you understand 'cause your daddy was a bad guy, too?"

"Exactly."

Silence echoed from the two of them while dogs yipped in the kennel, surely as loud as Paige's heart full of budding hope and resurrected dreams.

Kirstie shuffled Honey onto the next lower step. "You know what, Bo?"

"What, Cupcake?"

"I think you love people the way me and my mom do, the real way."

"Why's that?"

'"Cause I bet you don't like to talk about your daddy, but you did it anyway to make me feel better."

Standing in the shadows, Paige watched her daughter throw her arms around Bo's neck while his big hand patted her tiny back with such gentle care. She gave up the fight to hold in tears and let them flow.

Kirstie planted a kiss on his cheek, then rocked back on her heels. "I love you, too. The real kind of way."

A bundle of youthful energy, Kirstie launched to her feet and down the steps to chase after Honey, turning not just one, but two cartwheels, Bo stayed on the step keeping watch over her the whole way, his hands clasped between his knees, broad shoulders braced to take on the troubles of the world for others. Even when it hurt him.

She allowed herself more of those whimsical dreams where she envisioned him getting out of the Air Force, moving here, flying for the vet practice or even teaching.

Tears kept right on trucking down her cheeks and she didn't bother wiping them away.

For the first time in a long time she didn't question her feelings. She knew. She'd done the very thing she'd sworn never to let happen again.

She'd fallen in love.

Bo heard Paige shuffle behind him. Not that it surprised him, since he'd seen her shadow stretch across about two-thirds of the way through his tough-as-hell conversation with Kirstie. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he considered just walking away without acknowledging her presence. He wasn't sure how much more of the Haugen women his heart could take today. Kirstie's revelations had left him raw.

Which meant Paige must be damned near bleeding out. Guess he was stuck on this porch for a while longer.