Chapter 23

TWENTY-THREE

Cooper

It’s been an interesting and exciting few weeks since we got back from Paris.

I’m starting to feel stronger. It’s most obvious first thing in the morning when I wake up and can get out of bed virtually pain-free. I’m running on the treadmill again and starting to lift light weights. My recovery is going slower than I’d like, but everything else in my life is moving at warp speed.

I tried to talk to my CO about potentially separating from the military, and that would be a whole thing, so I’d have to fly back to the States at some point. Either way, I need to end the lease on my apartment, sell my truck, and pack up my stuff. I can sell most of it, because I wouldn’t take it to Hawaii if I go that route, but I do have clothes and some personal items I want to keep. I also have to visit my family, which will be a little complicated because my mother has no idea what I’ve been up to since leaving Germany.

I don’t completely understand it myself.

I’m content here.

And not in a boring, sedate way.

I’m involved with a gorgeous woman I’m falling in love with, I have an opportunity to try something totally new, and I’m making friends in the process. Outside of my unit, it’s been years since I could have real friends. The military doesn’t stop me, but between deployments, moving around, and the general lifestyle, it’s hard.

Here in Limaj, I’ll be based in one place if I decide to stay, which is a huge draw for me. I haven’t stayed in one place or had what I consider a home since I graduated from high school so it’s a novel idea for me. Hell, everything about this job is pretty novel.

I just don’t know if I can do it.

How does a guy like me leave behind the country I’ve lived, breathed and fought for? I’m a proud American, and it feels a little like a betrayal to want to do those things for a royal family I never knew anything about until my CO got me in touch with Sandor. Back then, I couldn’t point to Limaj on a map.

Now I’m thinking about moving here.

Becoming a citizen.

Maybe someday marrying a native.

I’m not scared but it makes me a little uncomfortable.

Luckily, I have time before I have to make any firm decisions.

Giving me the opportunity to try out the job, so to speak, gives me some breathing room.

And it’s a beautiful June day here in Hiskale.

I’m out in the garden after going for a run, and I’ve got this massive notebook filled with floor plans that I’m trying to learn. Today I ran the eastern perimeter of the surrounding woods, getting a feel for them. I’m pretty good with learning my way around in general, but the palace and grounds are massive, so it’s going to take a while. Luckily, Joe and Sandor don’t want me to rush. Not only are they standing firm on making sure my body heals, they’re also forcing me into therapy to deal with what I went through in Iraq.

I didn’t want to, but Natalia is seeing the same therapist, and she swears it’s helped her, so I had my first meeting with Dr. Saluga last week. And I like her. So I guess I’m going back. Whether I stay here or not, it can’t hurt to talk about some of what I went through.

The doors open and I see the preschool class swarm into the courtyard.

It’s recess time, and they make a beeline for the fountain. They’re all fascinated by the bubbles of the splashing water and tend to eat their snacks beside it when they’re outside.

I like watching them.

Levi is cute as a button and full of energy, running laps around the fountain before settling down with whatever he’s snacking on.

Xander and Elen have a housekeeper with a large family, and her youngest daughter, Elena, is delightfully mischievous, always getting into something. I watch her make a break for the woods before their teacher, Felicity, calls to her, threatening to put her in time out if she doesn’t sit down with the others.

I sink onto a bench, soaking in the sunshine and listening to the laughter of the children. Casey has come out with popsicles for them, so now there’s a whole new round of energetic squealing.

Poor Felicity—she’s going to have a lot on her hands after recess.

“Hey there.” Lennox comes up next to me pushing the double stroller with her two-month-old twins.

“Hi.” I smile down at the babies. “They’re getting big.”

“They are.” She sits beside me, gently rocking the stroller from side to side. “You want to hold one?”

I can’t remember ever holding a baby so young, and I grimace.

“I don’t think I know how,” I say.

She chuckles. “They’re not that breakable. As long as you support their heads and don’t drop them.” She pulls out the one on the right and gently hands him over to me.

“He’s hefty,” I say in surprise, pulling the baby closer to my chest.

“That’s Harrison. He’s bigger than Hayden, but they’re both growing like crazy.”

I bounce the baby on my shoulder, one hand on the back of his head as I gaze out at the beautiful scenery surrounding us.

“This is a hell of a place to live and work, right?” she asks, practically taking the words out of my mouth.

“I think so,” I say quietly. “Do you have regrets about leaving the US?”

“None,” she says without hesitation. “I love my job, my husband, and the new family I’ve found here. My sister Harlow is here now too, teaching eighth grade history at the IB school. I’m probably a little more on edge these days because of the babies, but I’m coming back to work next month, and I think that will help.”

I nod. “Do you miss the marines? Fighting for the country you were born in?”

She smiles. “I’d already left the marines before this opportunity came up, so no. I was proud to serve my country, but I’m even prouder to be here helping Erik change the lives of an entire country.”

There it is again, the pull of doing something tangible to help people.

But it’s still a difficult concept to wrap my head around. “Are you torn about leaving the babies to a nanny or whatever?”

“No. We finally found someone we like and she’s going to start soon, so I’ll have a little time to make sure she’s exactly what we need. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll start over. I can’t go back to work without someone I trust to be with them, but being a stay-at-home mom isn’t for me either.”

“Hi, guys.” Casey ambles over proffering two popsicles. “Popsicle?”

“Thanks.” I take one and Lennox takes the other.

“What is this?” Natalia asks, joining us and staring at the red icy treat I’ve just put in my mouth.

“You’ve never had a popsicle?” I ask in surprise.

She shakes her head.

“That’s not right.” Casey holds up a finger. “Hold that thought.” She hurries over to the cooler she’d brought them out in and comes back with a blue one for Natalia. “Here you go.”

Natalia takes it out of the plastic covering and inspects it for a moment before putting it tentatively to her lips.

I can think of so many things I love about her mouth but watching her experience a popsicle for the first time is probably in the top five. Her eyes widen as she gets the first taste and then she sucks a little harder.

“Mmm,” she murmurs. “This is delicious! Why don’t we have these here?”

“I made the cooks learn how to make them,” Casey says, laughing. “The twins will be here at the end of June, and they love them, so I wanted to have some in the freezer. Plus, you know, nothing like ramping up a bunch of toddlers before nap time.”

We all chuckle.

It’s one of many things that intrigue me about her—the way she’s simultaneously savvy and na?ve. It makes me want to stay. Forget all my doubts and just throw myself into becoming a Royal Protector. Becoming part of every facet of her world.

Except I know that would be rash.

Before I can make a decision like that, I have to get my head on straight and make sure this is both the relationship I want—and the career I want to do for the rest of my life.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see something shiny flash in the woods. It was quick, and if I hadn’t been looking, I would have missed it.

“Is anyone on patrol in the woods?” I ask Lennox quietly.

“We don’t patrol the woods during the day.” She meets my gaze warily. “The Royal Guard handles the perimeter. Why?”

“Take the babies inside,” I say, handing Harrison back to her.

Lennox doesn’t hesitate, undoubtedly sensing the seriousness in my tone.

“What is it?” Natalia asks worriedly, glancing behind her.

“I saw something.” I slowly stand up. “Get back-up out here.”

She immediately talks into her headset while hurrying towards Levi and scooping him up.

“Casey, I need you to get inside,” I say. I’m not on duty but something is off. I can feel it in my bones and my gut is rarely wrong.

“Levi…” she murmurs, looking in the direction where he was playing less than a minute ago.

“Nat’s got him. Go.” I put myself between her and the woods, walking backward to cover her as she walks quickly toward the palace. Lennox is already halfway to the side entrance, and Xander comes out just as she reaches it.

He pushes Casey inside, followed by Natalia and Levi, and then looks to me. “What did you see?”

“A flash, like the glint of metal,” I respond.

“We need to get everyone inside.” He looks around. “If someone breached the perimeter there’s no way to protect all the kids,” he continues under his breath. “But the Royal Guard is already in motion.”

“Should I take the kids inside?” Felicity asks Xander.

He nods. “Yeah, let’s keep them in the classroom for the rest of today.”

We help funnel them into the palace, and then Xander appears to be listening to something in his earpiece. He looks up at me.

“Looks like someone was here but we spooked them,” he says. “There are fresh footprints, just one set, and they took off. Good news is, I think I know how they got onto the property—security briefing in thirty.”

Fuck.

At least I know I’m not imagining things.