Rising (Anderson Special Ops #2) - Melody Anne Page 0,17
ambulances, and witnesses, it was all over.
I’m ready for ice cream,” Green said. “Watching you get to have all of the fun makes a man hungry.”
“I second that,” Smoke said. “Though I did get to put my hands on your girl. That wasn’t so bad.”
Brackish punched Smoke in the arm hard enough to knock most men down. Smoke laughed as he settled into his seat.
“Asshole,” Brackish muttered, but he was smiling as he said it. He was grateful he’d met these men, grateful they had his back, and grateful for this new journey in his life.
“And hot food for you all, too,” the cook called as he rang the bell, hot plates of all sorts of appetizers waiting on the window between the back and front.
“Hell ya, we haven’t even ordered yet. Let’s get one of everything,” Smoke said as Erin grabbed plates and set them on the counter. The men dug right in.
Brackish laughed and ate, but he didn’t say much more. He had too much on his mind. One thing was certain though, he couldn’t wait to see what came next. He knew that soon he’d be taking Erin out on a real date, not throwing flirty comments at her in the diner or defending her from predators. He’d discovered something that night, and it had nothing to do with missions or other people. It had everything to do with a gorgeous woman and possibly with the rest of his life.
Chapter Four
Joseph Anderson felt like an abandoned puppy on the other side of a fence at an adoption center as it looked through the holes of the cage with big, sad eyes, begging the person to love him.
Not that he was comparing himself to a kicked puppy. But he was getting chewed out — and if he were honest, he might admit he deserved it . . . a little . . . little bit, but still, he did all he did out of love. That should count for something. He sat there as his wife paced in front of him.
“Don’t you dare give me that look, Joseph Anderson,” she said, stopping with her hands on her hips. “You’ve kept me a prisoner in this big, beautiful house. I’ll admit it’s a phenomenal prison built out of love, but I’m making a break for it. You will take me out right now!” The tone she was using was one he rarely heard.
“But my love . . .” Joseph began. He stopped as she glared at him. He’d been trying to convince her for twenty minutes that her safety was more important than going out. He was losing and losing bad.
“Look, I’m done arguing,” Katherine said. “You’re either going with me, or you can sit here and pout. I don’t care.”
With those words Joseph knew he’d lost. He wanted to keep her safe, but he realized he was doing more harm than good by trying to shelter her. He didn’t want her to catch a cold or the flu, or any number of other things that might make her situation worse. He’d continue to worry, but if she wanted to see the outside world, that was exactly what she was going to get.
It was a very pleasant day with a nice warm front pushing through the Northwest. Seattle residents would be out in droves after months of rain. The thought of his wife around that many people made his heart thunder in his chest. She wanted to go to Pike Place Fish Market. A shudder ran through him.
As Katherine left the room, Joseph went to his closet. He thought of being out at the market and about how many people knew him and his family. An outing like this was never easy. There were hazards to being as famous as he and his family were. They couldn’t just run to the market for groceries or to the ice cream shop for a treat. They always had to think about security. It saddened him when his wife simply wanted a piece of normalcy.
While he dressed, a smile formed on his lips, listening to the melodic voice of his beautiful Katherine singing a song about bluebirds while putting on her makeup. When he finished and stepped into the bathroom, his smile grew as she attached delicate butterfly earrings to her ears then swept her hair back with a diamond clip he’d bought her for their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said as he stepped up behind her, gently wrapping his