Only Her (A K2 Team Novel)(76)

“I would say that I’m pretty sure I’m falling for you, too.” She nuzzled her face against his chest.

“Think they’d miss us if we disappeared?” Needing to kiss her, he lowered his mouth to hers.

Kincaid walked past with his wife tucked next to his side. “Hey, you two. Time to toast the happy couple.”

“Dammit, we weren’t fast enough.” He took Riley’s hand, and they followed the others back to sit around the fire pit. A slew of off-color toasts were made to Ryan and Charlie amid much laughter, some causing the bride-to-be to blush.

“Something came up today,” Kincaid said when the conversation trailed off. He turned those all-seeing eyes on Cody. “Something I need you for. Problem is, I need you back to the Dog that took no enemies. What can we do to get you there?”

Cody set his cup of coffee on the deck. He glanced around to see everyone’s attention was on him. His first reaction was anger that the boss would shine a light on him like that, but the men sitting around the fire pit were his brothers. They loved him. He knew that. Where it had once just been the team, now significant others were involved. These women loved their men, and they needed to know that if he were involved in an operation, he wouldn’t have a flashback, endangering whichever teammate was out with him.

Riley reached for his hand, tangling her fingers around his. She glared at the boss. “Do you have to do this in front of everyone?”

Damn, the woman was amazing. “Yeah, he does, darlin’.” He pulled her chair closer, needing her near for what he was about to say. “I don’t know what any of you can do to help, but before I met Riley, I’m not sure I would have talked to you about what’s going on with me. She’s incredible, my inspiration.”

“He swore he wasn’t going to drink the water,” Ryan said.

Riley furrowed her brows. “You’ve said that before. What does that mean?”

Since Ryan was next to him, Cody kicked him.

“Saw that,” Jake said.

At the smirks on his teammates’ faces, including Kincaid’s, Cody sent them all a glare. He wouldn’t trade a one of those jerks, though. They were his family, one that had grown to include the women sitting with them tonight. They had his six. Always had. Always would. For these people he would bare his soul.

After discussing his nightmare, everyone agreed that he was suppressing his memories, but other than continuing his appointments with Tom, no one had anything new to offer. They hadn’t been there that day, and he knew that bugged them, each believing he could have done something to protect their sniper.

Cody met Kincaid’s gaze. “I want to be a member of the team. One thing Tom told me was to have a safe word that would bring me back if I ever had another flashback.”

“Riley,” the boss said.

If there was one word that would get through to him, it was that one. Cody glanced at Riley to see her reaction, and smiled at the shock he saw on her face. “He’s right, darlin’. No matter how far gone I was, your name would get through to me.” He sat back in his chair. “Riley it is.” He turned back to the boss. “When is this operation?”

“Next month. If you don’t think you’ll be ready, you can refuse.”

He wasn’t about to. “I’ll be ready.” Come hell or high water, he was going to be the man they needed. Enough attention had been paid on him, though, so he said, “Where are your kids tonight?” Who knew the day would come when his SEAL team commander’s eyes would light up with pleasure at the mention of children?

“They’re upstairs with our housekeeper. Would you like to meet them, Riley?”

“I’d love to,” Riley said, standing and pulling Cody up with her. Everyone followed Kincaid and Dani into the house.

Cody privately chuckled. He had gone and drunk the damn Kool-Aid, and was already imagining a miniature Riley running around his feet. He wasn’t taking for granted that it would happen, though. He hadn’t asked her to marry him, but the question was now on his agenda for the near future. As soon as he cleaned up the mess in his head.



Cody jerked awake to the feel of soft fingers caressing his cheek. It was so familiar that a fuzzy picture hovered at the edge of his mind, one from his past. As he stared, somewhat disoriented, at Riley’s face as she leaned over him, he tried to recapture the memory. It seemed important that he did so, but it slipped away. They had come home, made love, and quickly fallen asleep, tired from a long day.

“You were calling out,” she said.

He smiled at her before drifting off again.