Page 44 of Protection for Rowan

“Yes, it’s on. I checked earlier.”

“Okay, she’s safe, and you don’t need to worry.”

Shine threw back his head, and laughter spilled out. "I'm going to worry. That's ingrained."

“I know, but I think this time, you should let it go.”

He scrubbed his hand over his hair, pulling the strands before he dropped his hands to his sides. He blew out a breath, trying to regulate. "How can I let it go?"

“It’s tough. You know, I was out of my mind worried about Danika, but it didn’t help. You know you have to plan and do things to make sure the plan works. She will be okay if you prepare for her to be safe.”

Sharp’s words sank in, twisting through his mind. He was right. Worrying about Rowan wouldn’t help. But he needed to know she was okay, so he guessed he had to prepare better. “I know, I know. But I still blame myself for being gone when that bastard came and took her.”

“It wasn’t your fault. That guy was going to attack, anyway. Now we know about him, and you can make arrangements. Having her stay at your house will help keep her safe. Having the alarm helps. I know alarms don’t keep assholes from breaking in, but it will make them think twice before they make a move.”

Shine blew out a heavy breath. “I just wonder if it is enough. Did I miss anything?”

Sharp shrugged. "I don't know, but how about we goover everything this afternoon? We'll make sure you've done as much as you can. You've got to keep your head on straight because being distracted won't work with this job."

Shine knew this job required a lot. He had to be tuned in to what was going on. Should he even stay in the Navy? Retiring from the Navy was his plan, but could he keep Rowan safe if he was deployed thousands of miles away? Another job might take him away from her just as much as this one. He had a lot to think about on his own time. For now, he would focus on work and doing right by his team.

“Thanks, man. Going over a plan will help me feel better.”

“Any time.”

Shine appreciated his buddies. They kept him level. Being a SEAL was not just physically taxing, but mentally, too. There was so much they took on just doing this job. He appreciated that his team was there for him. With all that Sharp had been through, the guy could be a raging asshole. But Sharp was one of the best people he knew.

When Shine got home, Rowan rushed forward and jumped into his arms. He caught her, laughter spilling out as she rubbed her face against his neck. He was glad that she seemed happy to see him. She wasn’t crying and didn’t seem upset. That had to be a good sign.

“How was your day?”

She met his gaze. “Good. How was yours?”

“It was okay. I was worried about you.”

He saw her eyes go sad, and her smile fell for just a half second. He didn't want to focus on his concern for her. It always felt weird when people showed a large amount of concern for him after a mission. He didn't mind them thinking about him, but sometimes, it made him feel awkward when people focused on the danger he was in as a SEAL.

He would need to make sure he didn’t express too much concern but also he couldn’t make it seem like he didn’t care about her wellbeing. Caring was a part of a healthy relationship, and he wanted them to be healthy. It would take time. She'd been through too much, and she needed peace.

Maybe they should do counseling. He could bring it up to her later. For now, he would just show her how excited he was to have her here.

“So dinner, I was thinking about grilling.”

Her lips pressed together. “I made pasta.”

“That sounds great, too.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I’m positive. It sounds wonderful. Pasta is great. I can heat up some chicken.”

“Oh crap, you need meat, don’t you? I didn’t make the right food for you. I screwed up.”

“No. What you made is perfect.”

She shook her head. "But?—"

“No, it really is good. Most days, I need extra food. We worked out hard, so I need a lot today. I didn’t tell you what my workout schedule was today, so how could you have known?”

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