Page 4 of Unexpected Christmas with the SEAL

That was true.

Cal had nowhere else to be.

He was an only child, both his parents were dead and all his cousins were in Europe, Australia or New Zealand and he barely knew them, anyway. His family had been a found one made up of his brothers in arms. Nate “Blaze” Harris, Asher “Ash” Harris, Barnes “Wark”, Roberto “Rob” Cahill, Ryker “Ryke” McKnight, Decker “Deck” McKnight, Aaron “Steele”, and Colton “Colt” Hastings. There had been ten of them all together, but Brendan “Joker” O’Shea took his own life several years ago.

It was something they were all still trying to come to terms with. To understand.

They were a team. Brothers. Why didn’t Brendan reach out for help if he’d been hurting? Why suffer in silence? And the worst part about it was that he left behind a wife and new baby girl.

Cal and his brothers all sent money to Molly for Sasha’s college fund every year. That little girl would never go without. Neither would her mother.

Besides Ryke, Deck and Cal, the rest were all married or had a good woman and were having kids. They were also all spread out around the globe, so it wasn’t too often they were all together. Hell, Cal had been the only one who couldn’t attend Asher’s wedding last year because he was on a flying mission. He’d missed out on their reunion. It was partly what prompted him to move to Colorado for a bit. Just him and his bird. His Bell 204B helicopter. He didn’t have a dog, or children, or a woman, but his Bell—orBella—as he called her, was his partner.

“Move, please.”

Cal blinked and realized he’d been lost in thought. Hannah was trying to get past him with the wheelbarrow and shovel. Her glare was deep, and her mouth pinched into a cute frown.

“Sorry,” he said, stepping out of the way. He followed her to the next stall. “You know, I’ve done this before, too. Many hands make light work. We could have it done in half the time if we did it together.”

“No, thanks. Like the exercise. Keeps me busy.”

And it kept her from thinking too hard about something else.

She didn’t have to say it, for him to see it in her eyes. She was hurting about something and she projected that pain and that anger, not only onto him because he was an easy target, but also into her work. If she worked herself bone-tired, then she couldn’t think about whatever was bothering her.

Cal knew that avoidance technique well.

He lived it.

Ignoring her, he located another shovel and wheelbarrow, then moved to the next stall and started to muck it out.

“Do you have wax in your ears or something?”

“Probably. Why?”

“Because I saidno thanks.”

“Heard you. But I’d still like to help.”

“Go home. Be with your family on Christmas. Leave me alone.Which is clearly how I’m meant to be,”that last bit was mumbled. But Cal had impeccable hearing and heard it crystal clear.

“No family,” he said as he took a big scoop of horseshit with the shovel and heaved it into the wheelbarrow. “Just me and Bella.”

“Then go home toBella.”

“She’s pretty quiet. And there’s no need to start her up right now, so …”

The sound of a spade being plunged into a pile of shit filled his ears, followed by the huff of an angry woman. He glanced beside him between the wooden slats that separated the upper portion of the two stalls. It was so the horses could see each other but not nip each other. She had her hands on her hips and glowered at him.

“Who orwhatthe fuck is Bella?”

“My helicopter.” He flashed her a smile.

Her glower faded, then she rolled her eyes, grabbed her shovel again and started mucking. “Well, then go home and be with your helicopter.” She paused again and turned to him. “Wait, you’re not one of those fetish freaks who has actuallymarriedan inanimate object, are you? Because I’ve read about men marrying their cars or their blow-up dolls and other things they’ve become obsessed with.”

Cal snorted and got back to shoveling manure. “No. I’m notmarriedto my helicopter. We have a very healthy relationship. No funny business. She keeps me safe in the air, and in return, I keep her in tiptop flying shape. That’s it.”

“Kind of hoped you’d say youweremarried to her, and that she was expecting helicopter-kittens in the spring.”

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