“I’m sorry, ladies. I’m on a tight schedule today. Have a great day,” Max said and stepped back to close the door.
A white-sandaled foot with pink toenails blocked him from closing the door completely. “Come on, handsome. We know when someone is flirting. Don’t get all shy on us.”
“Yeah. We love men with broad chests and big… big shoulders,” the blonde finished, implying with her hesitation that they appreciated something big other than his shoulders.
“I’m not interested. I have a significant other,” Max told them in a flat tone that showed no interest in his visitors. With luck, they’d decide he was gay and move on.
“We’re okay with sharing,” the last woman suggested, making the others laugh.
“Yeah! That’s great,” the first brunette chimed in and reached out to touch Max’s chest.
He stepped back from her hand. Max was finished with this conversation. Either they were on something or emboldened by the company they kept. “Go home. There’s nothing here for you. Move your foot.”
His hard voice surprised the brunette blocking the door. She took a step back in surprise. Immediately, Max slammed the door and locked it. His phone buzzed.
Almost there. Can’t wait to see you.
Max placed himself out of view where he could look out the window. The women had moved to stand in the middle of his lawn. He could hear their angry voices, but not their words, as they waved their arms around theatrically. Was he going to have to call the police to get them to leave? He hesitated to go out to speak to them again. Escalating this further could be problematic. Thank goodness he had a doorbell camera that had captured the entire interaction.
They turned to flip off his house and stalked back to their car when Saylor’s car pulled around the corner. The women squealed out of his driveway as she approached. As they passed Saylor, she slowed to park, drawing their attention. Immediately, the driver stomped on the brakes.
Max headed outside as they rolled down their windows to yell obscenities at Saylor. He memorized the license plate on the back of the car as he hurried to her door. “Sorry, baby. Let’s get you inside.”
Quickly, he helped Saylor out and maneuvered himself behind her to keep her protected from the pissed-off group. Shaking his head, Max hustled her inside and relocked the door.
“Fuck!” he swore.
“What’s going on, Max?” Saylor demanded.
“I’m sorry, little girl. That group pulled up next to me at a stoplight. I nodded to them when they waved to get my attention. For some reason, they took that as an invitation to follow me home and wouldn’t leave.”
Saylor propped her hands on her hips, assessing him. “Really? Three women chased you in their car and wouldn’t leave. Does that happen often?”
Max walked forward and pulled her stiff body into his arms. For the first time in years, fear burned inside him. “Baby? I promise you. I didn’t encourage them. Let me show you the doorbell footage.” He reached for his phone in his back pocket.
She wrapped her hands around his broad shoulders and rose on her tiptoes to kiss him. Max crushed her against his hard body. He kissed her passionately as his relief exploded into need. She believed him.
He reined himself in several long, delicious kisses later. Ripping his mouth from hers, Max pressed his forehead against hers before dropping a soft kiss on her nose. “Thank you.”
“For saving you from the hungry-for-soldiers women?” she asked before adding, “You know I’m going to tease you about this for the rest of time.”
“As long as you’re around for the rest of time, little girl, I’ll welcome your reminders of this day,” Max told her, reassured that she planned to stay with him.
“Sorry, my meeting ran late. I got here as quickly as I could. How come they let you out early? Good behavior?” she asked with twinkling eyes.
“We’re alerted that deployment is coming. Jerico sent us home to get ready under the guise of letting us spend time with those we care about. I wanted to make a list for you of people to contact if you’d like to know the other women.”
She hesitated for a minute before answering, “Are they going to welcome me? I mean, I’ve never met any of them and we haven’t been together for too long.”
Max inhaled and confessed, hoping she’d understand as easily as with those women. “The guys know I met you, baby. I should have asked first, but I let them know I’d found my little girl. They would have checked in with you if we were simply dating, but I wanted them to know how special you are to me.”
She studied his face carefully before asking, “You told them our personal business?”
Her crisp voice sounded pissed to him. He didn’t sugarcoat his response or make excuses. She deserved the truth. “Yes. I told other daddies who make up the team I rely on every day to survive the hell they send us into each time we’re deployed.”
“Is it always dangerous?”
“Risks exist even in the calmest situations, Saylor.” Max wanted to reassure her he’d always do everything to get back to her and to make sure the other men returned to the ones they loved. She had to know the truth. He wouldn’t lie.
