Protecting Caroline (SEAL of Protection Book 1)

“I love you, Matthew.” She suddenly realized she’d never told him.

“I love you too, Caroline. And you’ll give Cookie back his damn Trident. If you’re going to keep anyone’s Budweiser pin, it’ll be mine.”

“I mean I’m here for as long as you need me.”

“Then what?” She asked Matthew sternly. “What about when I’m all better and don’t need you here anymore?”

“I’m hoping you’ll always need me as much as I need you.”

“You need to eat Caroline,” he told her gently. “I’ve made you some soup.”

“You’re still here.” The words popped out without her even thinking about them.

“I’m still here. Now, come on. Up you go.”

“How’d you get in here? Oh, never mind,” Caroline whined petulantly. He was a SEAL; a locked door wouldn’t keep him out. “What do you want?”

“You,” Wolf said simply. He was sick of beating around the bush with this woman.

I can tell you this; if you don’t want her, that’s fine, but know that the rest of the team will be keeping in touch with her. We like her. We respect her. We’ll take care of her if you don’t.”

Abe continued calmly, ignoring Wolf’s outburst. “Did she ever tell you why she didn’t like hospitals?”

Abe sat down next to Wolf. He wanted to beat the hell out of his friend, but decided to try to talk some sense into him instead.

“I talked to Mozart yesterday,” he said quietly.

“You’re one of us. You earned your Budweiser pin, Ice. You more than earned it.”

Benny continued, trying to make her feel better, “We wanted to meet you…really meet you. It’s weird not knowing one of our own teammates.” He smiled at her.

Caroline tried to smile back, but figured she’d failed miserably when Kason didn’t smile back at her. “Thanks guys, but you know I’m not a part of the team. I just got in the way of your team.”

“My God, Caroline,” he whispered to her. “Thank God. Thank God. I’ve got you. You’re safe.” He was babbling and couldn’t stop. All he knew was that his Caroline was in his arms, battered and bruised, but safe.