Page 56 of Shadow of the Moon

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Devlin couldn’t have made the day any more perfect.

Amberly had woken him with a kiss, and they’d made love in the foggy light coming through his bedroom windows. They’d showered together, as they had every morning since she’d arrived. And she’d made them cinnamon pecan pancakes with bacon, his personal favorite. Now they sat on the front porch, watching the herd of deer he’d come to be cordial with cross his lower field.

Amberly had been entranced the first time she’d seen them. Hell, she’d been entranced for the better part of a week now, as he introduced her to his mountain home and his animals.

She and Tink had fallen in love with each other, though the pup was a little standoffish for a while. “She’s jealous,” Dev told her softly.

Amberly had laughed it off until she realized that Tink tried to intercede every time they hugged or kissed. And if they left the bedroom door open at night, well, that meant trouble. Dev had resorted to locking the dog in the laundry room every night, a situation Tink thoroughly disapproved of.

Everything else was perfect, though. Dev took Amberly fishing in the river behind the cabin, and took her horseback riding through the hills. Though she’d never owned a horse, Amberly had been enough places around the world that required horses for transportation that she was a competent rider.

Dev laughed as he chased her through the hills, and he loved seeing the relaxed, happy look on her face.

The 9-11 anniversary had come and gone, and there were no new bombings or attacks. They’d both scanned the news channels that day, and Amberly had given Brown a call. He had confirmed that no news was good news and told her to take another week off. She hadn’t argued.

They were in the cabin making tomato soup and grilled cheeses one day when his phone buzzed.

You have a delivery.

He laughed, looking out the window. A truck was pulling in the drive, and a man stepped out. Tall and broad, he wore a ball cap to protect his face from the light rain. He started walking toward the cabin, and it took a minute for Dev to get moving. He recognized that slow walk…

Devlin opened the door. “Master Chief Garvey. I…”

“Hey, Dev,” the big man grinned and wrapped him in a hug, pounding his back, then stepping away.

Dev was in shock. Since he hadn’t heard anything from Charley, he’d assumed the deal had been bogus. He’d kind of been okay with it, though, because he’d been immersing himself in Amberly. She only had a little time, so he’d been entertaining her. The thought of his old team hadn’t really even entered his mind.

“Come in, please,” he said, stepping back.

Amberly was beside him, sizing up the other man. “Amberly, this is Master Chief Garvey. We always called him Gravy.”

“Gravy is fine,” he said, shaking Amberly’s hand. “We’ve met, though it’s been several years ago.”

“I remember,” she said cooly.

Dev remembered as well. It had been at his court martial. “Can I help you, Master Chief?”

Gravy looked around. “Mind if we sit down?”

Dev waved him to a furniture grouping in the living room and Gravy chose a chair, removing his hat as he sank down. He glanced around at the honey gold interior logs. “This is beautiful.”

“I need to go turn the burners off,” Amberly murmured, sensing the tension in the air. “Gravy, can I get you a drink?”

“Water would be fine, if it’s not too much trouble.”

Without a word, Amberly disappeared through the kitchen, and Dev was left with one of his former bosses. “Can I help you, Gravy?”

“I’m sorry to show up unannounced, but the bigwigs wanted this handled today. They’re reinstating you, Moon Devil.”

Devlin heard the words, but he wasn’t as excited as he thought he’d be. At one point, he would have given anything to be back in his team, but he’d had three years to get used to being out.

Apparently, he’d been thinking for a while because Gravy leaned over to catch his attention. “Did you hear me, Dev? They want you back. We heard about what went on with Regent, and the CIA.”

Ah, yes… the same issue that had been bothering him about being with Amberly. Now that he was proven to be in the right, and safe, not corrupt, they were willing to take him back. “I think I’m good, Gravy. If they want to modify my record to an honorable discharge and give me my retirement, I’ll be happy with that. I’m not coming back to the teams.”

Gravy blinked, surprised. “I thought for sure…”

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