Page 57 of Callahan's Haven

“I’m not mean,” Declan groused as he stomped through the door.

“Wow,” Haven said on a laugh. “That’s a first. Destiny’sneverspeechless.” She turned her mirth-filled gaze to Cal. “And sheneverruns away from anything.”

“I think things are about to get really interesting between all of them,” Cal told her with a shake of his head. “I just hope Declan and Garrett don’t screw it up.”

“Oh, they probably will—at least for a while,” Solace said, her lips twitching before wrinkling her nose when she checked the time. “Now wereallyhave to go.” She smiled at where Cal held Haven’s hand and then met his gaze and gave him a satisfied nod. “So, I guess that puts me with you two.”

The three of them rode in Cal’s SUV as the front car with Garrett’s truck behind them. Cal had to grin at how Haven fidgeted in her seat the whole way and talked excitedly about getting to see her father. She’d also expressed how grateful she was to Solace for what she’d done for her.

Solace was unusually quiet as they traveled, only answering questions and smiling at Haven’s thanks, saying, “You’re important to Cal and Du…your father. That makes you important to me.” He’d watched in the review mirror as she’d given Haven a genuine smile. “Besides, I like you.”

Cal didn’t comment. He’d already expressed all the gratitude he could to his teammate. She had been there when he couldn’t be. But that was the second time he’d taken note of Solace making the same slip of the tongue with regards to the Colonel. He glanced at her again to find her gazing out the window into the darkness. He’d never noticed any kind of attraction on her part toward their former commander in all the time they’d worked together, but if he wasn’t mistaken, things had changed.

He had no idea about the Colonel’s love life. He just hoped Solace didn’t get her heart broken if the feeling never ended up being mutual. Solace was a good woman and deserved to be happy. If the right man for her ended up being the Colonel, well, that might make Solace his mother-in-law one day.

I wonder how long I should wait to propose?

His heart stuttered and then set up a rapid beat at the path his mind was taking. He glanced at Haven’s profile before focusing back on the road. Marriage wasn’t something he’d ever considered. He grinned and relaxed back into his seat—a sense of happiness coming over him at one day making Haven his until death do them part.

A little over thirty minutes after arriving at the airfield, Colonel Sheppard’s plane began its descent. Beside him, Haven grabbed his hand and squeezed as it touched down and came to a stop. The door opened and the stairs were lowered.

“There he is.” Haven let go of his hand before running to meet her dad coming down the steps. She jumped into his arms just as his feet hit the tarmac.

“We did good,” Declan said, coming up beside him and laying a hand on his shoulder.

Cal grinned, his eyes never leaving the pair holding each other so close. “We did. Didn’t we?”

Colonel Sheppard kissed his daughter’s head and then raised his gaze to Cal, mouthing, “Thank you,” before pulling her in tight again and burying his face in her hair.

After several minutes of them holding each other and signs of Haven’s animated talking and more hugs, the two turned and made their way back to the rest of his small welcoming party arm in arm as Haven’s adoring gaze never left her father. Hope and Destiny rushed forward to greet the man Cal was sure was just as much family to them as Haven was.

Cal smiled at what had to be a wonderful homecoming for the man he admired so much and who he’d since learned had been willing to die to keep his daughter safe.

Cal knew how he felt.

The Colonel had entrusted Haven’s life to him only weeks before—with an outcome neither one of them could have foreseen—and Cal had to admit it had caused him some concern. But if the other man’s smile at him was anything to go by as he approached, it wasn’t anything Cal needed to worry about. So maybe—just maybe—the Colonel would now entrust her heart and future to him as well.

Whatever else, Haven hadhisheart. Forever.

Cal met the happy gaze of the woman he loved, who by some miracle loved him back, and opened his arms to the one who would always be his Haven.

Epilogue

Thanksgiving evening.

“All right everyone,” Duncan said, raising his glass. “A toast. First to Mrs. Pruitt, Haven…” He shook his head. “And Declan, of all people,” he said with a laugh everyone joined in on, “for making this delicious meal. I also have to express my thanks to each and every one of you who made this night possible in your own way.” He glanced at the faces gathered around his table—the Pruitt’s, Haven, Cal, Destiny, Hope, Declan, Garrett, and finally Solace, who his gaze lingered on probably longer than it should have.

“To family. That’s what all of you are to me.” He lifted his glass higher. “Cheers.”

“Cheers,” everyone repeated and then went back to eating and talking among themselves. He hid a smile behind his glass, watching the undercurrents of emotion flowing back and forth across the table from where Destiny and Hope sat opposite Garrett and Declan. There definitely was something going on there and he couldn’t wait to see how it all turned out.

Solace sat at the other end of the table, not intentionally, but she certainly looked right there. She glanced up and caught him staring, so he just smiled and looked away while taking another sip of wine. If he wasn’t mistaken, a slight blush had tinged her cheeks. The woman had been on his mind more often since seeing her relieved face when he’d landed a couple of weeks ago. But with the plans he was ready to set in motion, she wasn’t someone he needed to continue to dwell on—no matter how much he wanted to.

Cal and Haven sat close together, sharing another intimate look like the ones they’d given each other throughout the meal. The two were basically inseparable since everything had gone down. He’d even moved into Haven’s dorm room, which Duncan still hadn’t quite wrapped his mind around. He also wasn’t sure how Cal had gotten away with it so far either. He had a feeling bribery was involved.

But it was only temporary. Cal had found a place to rent off campus while Haven finished out her senior year and they planned to move during the winter break—much to what he’d found out was initially Hope and Destiny’s irritation. Haven had told him her friends had assured her they were happy for her. They’d just prefer to be happy for her and still live in the same place.

According to Cal, that sentiment hadn’t lasted long. It seemed Cal had suddenly developed a tendency to leave the toilet seat up and sinks full of shaving cream and stubble.

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