Also, a sub-routine on their devices to circumvent any searches into their old lives.
But that was for later. Ted was right. The more normal they appeared, the less likely people would be to remark on them.
They spent the first day at sea, exploring the ship. Bowling. Swimming. Then a family movie that night where she and Ted shared a bucket of popcorn—unhealthy as was the box of Whoppers. Yet there was something pleasant about sitting next to him with the girls split up on either side, Joanna having chosen to explore further.
Later, Ted even helped tuck the girls into bed, carrying Lin when she began to doze at the end of the movie.
Then it was just the two of them, in a room with one bed. He grabbed a pillow and the spare blanket from the closet and tossed them onto the floor.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting comfortable,” he stated as he stripped off his shirt.
Her gaze went to his flesh and the puckered scars. “How did you get those?”
Only briefly did his gaze drop to his torso. His big shoulders rolled. “War.”
“One of those looks recent.”
“Mission where I should have been paying more attention.”
“Have you killed many people?”
He paused in the process of stripping his shorts. He wore solid-colored boxers. “A few. You?”
“More than I ever imagined. The first time, I told myself, ‘never again.’ But Mother always knows which ones I will say no to.”
“You have a code?”
“Of a sort. I don’t harm children or those who appear innocent.”
“Whereas I used to just kill in whatever direction I was pointed.” He grimaced.
“You obeyed orders.”
“Yup, with no regard for whether it was right or wrong.”
“Do your actions give you nightmares?”
“Sometimes.” His lips turned down. “I’ve done a lot of bad things in my life.”
“Things you regret?”
He shrugged. “Yeah, but I can’t change the choices I’ve made. I just live in the here and now, trying to do better.”
He lay on the floor in the nest he’d made. He actually planned to sleep there. Had her trepidation over them sharing been that obvious? How dare he be a gentleman!?
Portia eyed the very large bed.
“Do you sprawl?”
He lay on his back, eyes closed, hands on his chest. “No.”
“Steal blankets?”
He cocked open an eye. “Not usually. Why?”
“Get in bed.”
“I’m fine.”
“It’s a hard floor, and the bed is huge. Besides, what if someone sees?”
“The only people who will notice are your girls. What will they say if they see us sharing a bed?”
“Probably not much. Joanna, though…” She grimaced.
“Has she been hinting at you, too?” he asked.
Portia’s eyes widened. “What has she said?”
“Not much, other than you need a man.”
“I do not,” she huffed.
“She also said you were destroying the planet with your battery usage.”
As she squeaked, “She did not!” he smiled so widely, a dimple puckered his cheek.
“She might have strongly hinted that you were single, looking, and that I’d be an idiot not to notice how attractive you are.”
“Joanna is going to die,” she groaned.
“Die for telling the truth? You are hot. And I’m not an idiot.,” he said as he rose to his feet, all six feet plus of half-naked man.
“You know what, maybe this isn’t a good idea.”
“Okay.” He immediately dropped to the floor, meaning she uttered a sound again. “Oh, for God’s sake. Get in this bed. But stick to your side. No funny business.”
“I can’t promise I won’t have nightmares.”
“Neither can I. So I guess that makes us even.”
She was very aware of the mattress dipping as he lay down beside her. Far enough away that nothing touched, and yet she remained conscious of his presence. Could have reached out to touch him if she wanted. He lay on his back, completely still, and stayed that way even as his breathing evened into sleep. Eventually, she slumbered, too.
Turned out he wasn’t the problem in bed. She was. Portia woke up, draped over him, the blanket tugged from his chest and wrapped around her. His skin was cold on the exposed side, whereas she was warm, snuggled against him, his arm cradling her so that his hand splayed over her hip.
An interesting position to wake up in. An embarrassing one given the twins who stood staring by the side of the bed.
Chapter Twelve
Ted slept lightly. Had ever since his time overseas. So the moment Macey shifted in her sleep, he was awake and very much aware. As for when she snuggled against him? Pleasure and pain all at once. But a good kind of agony. He lay still as