I’m not eating lunch these days. In case you forgot, I’m pregnant.
Kit Kat. He started to text and then erased it. What could he say to make her feel better?
A soft knock on his door interrupted his thoughts.
“Come in,” he ordered.
“Excuse me, Leo,” Stormy said, slipping inside.
“What can I do for you?” he asked.
“Since I won’t be participating in the mission. What do you want me to do?” she asked. “I have everything stocked and ordered.”
“Why don’t you spend time with Cole and the dogs? I’m sure he’ll leave you in charge of Brody and Brownie,” Leo suggested.
“I’m happy to do it. He’s taught Archer and me how to use hand signals. Pretty soon, you’ll have a great K-9 team. Cole says Apollo is ready to go.”
“He’s done an amazing job with them,” Leo acknowledged. “You’re not doing bad, yourself. I walked into the stockroom and hardly believed my eyes.”
“Thank you. Sir, I came here on a more personal matter. I know you’re staying here on the couch. I’ve taken the liberty of making up the last bunk. You’ll be more comfortable there. I thought perhaps since you’ve already turned in your equipment and done everything last night, you might want to pick up the flowers you ordered for your wife and Ty’s making her a soup packed with protein and easy to handle in the early stages of pregnancy.”
Leo glanced up from his messy desk. “And when did I order those flowers?”
“You placed the order this morning, and Mrs. Carpenter will have them ready when you arrive. Then, you can drop by Ty’s for the soup. Go see her, Leo,” Stormy said softly. “She’s upset, and I know it’s not my business, but I think she needs you now more than ever.”
Leo rubbed his chin sheepishly. “I guess everyone heard her yell at me, huh?”
“Yes, sir. But as you said, get your affairs in order. Your in-laws, Jake and Carol, have offered to babysit if you want an evening out,” Stormy suggested. “Maybe take her the peace offering and then ask her to a nice dinner.”
“How did I operate this place without you? The men don’t tell me how to make up with Kit Kat. They want to know where she’s at on the psycho meter. Having women here will provide the needed balance on this team. Any other advice?” he asked.
“Samantha has offered a prenatal massage before or after dinner while you get a Swedish. It’s a couple’s massage in the same room with candles and soft music,” she offered. “What’s a psycho meter?”
Leo ran his hand down his face. “Geez, the entire town knows I screwed up,” he said under his breath. “It’s how the team measures how badly we fucked up with our wives. Remember, I’m counting on what we say at the team building to stay here.”
“It’s a small town. But we hate seeing you like this, and you can’t run a mission without your head in the game. My lips are sealed. I don’t know how this works with Cole and me since he works here, too. You’ll feel better if you can work it out,” she advised, and she rose from her chair.
“You’re a peach. Tell Sparky thank you. I’m sure she asked her husband to make something Kit Kat can tolerate,” Leo said sadly. “And don’t worry about Cole. We’ll kick his ass first for the fun of it, then ask him what he did.”
“You’ll figure it out,” Stormy encouraged and giggled before leaving.
Leo put his head back in the chair and spun it around, feeling like his life sped out of control, and he didn’t know how to stop it.
A louder knock sounded on the door, and he stopped. “Come in. Grand Central Station has a seat,” he snarked.
Saint, Taco, Shadow, Whiskey, and Doc entered the office and took a seat. Shadow dug something out of the back of the sofa and threw Leo’s underwear on the floor.
“Whatever happened to keeping everything tidy?” Shadow grumbled.
“I didn’t go to sleep until 0300, and then we started PT at 0500. Give me a break,” Leo said, exasperated. “Now you’ve called Doc.”
“We’re concerned about you, boss,” Saint said, taking a seat by the desk.
“I fucked up, guys. Take notes on how not to piss off your wife. When you get fixed, be sure to go to the follow-up,” Leo groaned.
“You’re not solving anything by feeling sorry for yourself,” Doc advised. “Kassie has kept her workload light and made her rest in the afternoons.”
“Why?” Leo asked, sitting up. “She’s never rested with the others. Did something happen?” he said, rising from his desk chair.
