Page 62 of Embattled Return

“I love you,” she murmured, then fell back to sleep.

“I love you too, baby,” he whispered.

It had been fun going to the range with Harper, but the former SEAL had been distracted, worried about a former teammate. John didn’t press him for details. He figured if Harper needed to talk he would have opened up, but he didn’t. Once they had the rifle sighted in, he made his excuses and headed home.

Of the bunch of them, Harper had the oldest kid. His daughter was fourteen. That was almost driving age, and dating age. God. He couldn’t imagine the boys at fourteen. If his childhood was anything to go by, they were going to be hellions. He’d been running the streets and stealing food at that age, because the orphanage hadn’t given them shit. Barely enough to live on.

John had vowed long ago that his children would never want for anything like that.

And if Shannon wanted another baby, he was going to damn well give it to her and take care of it as well.

God, seeing her pregnant with his child was such a turn-on. Shannon blossomed when she was pregnant.

The thought of having a little girl for the boys to protect made his heart warm, and he fell asleep smiling.

* * *

Monday morning was backto business. Shannon got the kids ready for day-care and John puttered around, feeding the dog and getting ready for the day. They always drove to work together, even though she knew he’d sometimes like to get to work earlier.

Like today. When Shannon gave him a pointed look, he glanced at her, then seemed to realize he was being a little more aggressive than normal with traffic. “Sorry. I think I’m a little anxious. Have you talked to Marigold?”

Shannon shook her head. “Not yet this morning. It’s pretty early yet.”

“Yeah, I guess.” John drove to the office a little more calmly after that, which she appreciated. She was anxious to find out how the family meet went as well, but it wasn’t worth risking their safety.

Once at work they lost themselves in the business of other things. At eleven o’clock Marigold arrived with Logan in tow. Shannon stared, though she knew she shouldn’t. Logan had changed, a lot. When he stepped off the elevator he was actually smiling, a little, and he met her gaze with little to no flinching or hiding. It was such a drastic change from when she’d seen him last. How long ago had it been? A week now? What had happened to bring about this change?

Her gaze shifted to Marigold. “Oh...” she breathed.

There was a liveliness to the woman’s face that she hadn’t seen before. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were bright behind her glasses, and she was grinning at something Logan had said. Their arms brushed as they walked in. Ah... Wow. The connection between the two of them was almost palpable.

“Don’t you two look happy,” she murmured.

Marigold blushed very prettily, her skin flushing under Shannon’s look, but she kept her mouth shut.

“Logan, I’ll let John know you’re here.”

She sent John a message and almost immediately he rolled down the hallway. When he reached Logan, the younger man shifted his crutch and reached out to shake John’s hand.

“I just wanted to thank you in person for finding my family,” Logan told him. “I met them on Wednesday, and again on Saturday, and they’re amazing people. I’m not sure what exactly happened to my dad, but they are so different from him it’s almost comical. So, thank you. And thank your brother when you next talk to him.”

“I will definitely do that,” John said with a laugh. “Aiden will love hearing he helped you reconnect. It’s a big thing with us, because of our upbringings. He was given into foster care early like I was, before our mother died.”

Logan winced. “I’m sorry.”

John shook his head. “Don’t be. It made us who we are. All of our experiences shape who we are.”

“True,” Logan murmured. Turning, he gave Shannon a smile. “And thank you, too, for dragging me along with you. I wouldn’t have had nearly the success out here if you hadn’t latched onto me.”

Shannon grinned, warmth sweeping through her. “You are very welcome, Logan. I knew when I saw you that you were one of us.”

He gave her an odd look. “Maybe.”

“Have you thought about the job offer?” John asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Logan sighed. “I have a little, but not enough. I’ve kind of had a few other things on my plate.”

“Granted. Well, the offer is there whenever you’re ready to take it.”

---