Page 17 of Her Honorable Hero

“And how many times do I have to remind you to call me Scarlett?” She gave a good natured sigh.

“About as often as often as my mom has to remind Nick to call her Claudia,” Griff grinned.

Josiah laughed as he brushed his fingertips along his wife’s elbow and guided her to the seat across the aisle from Griff’s and Miranda’s. Griff could see the curious gleam in Scarlett’s eye, but he also knew that she wouldn’t be peppering Miranda with questions. That wasn’t her style. He’d always been impressed by the Hales, and had been pleased when he learned that he would be serving a couple of levels under Captain Hale.

“Miranda, I’d like to introduce you to some old friends of mine. This is Captain Hale and his wife—”

“Scarlett,” the older woman jumped in before Griff could call her Mrs. Hale. She held out her hand to Miranda.

“Scarlett is the mom of one of my best friends. He and I went through BUD/S together. He’s serving on another team out in Virginia.”

“It’s very nice to meet you,” Miranda smiled. “I’m Miranda Slade. I’m a project manager with TAID in San Diego. You arrived at the perfect time. I was just about ready to take Griff up on his offer to have dinner with him, but now that you’ve arrived you can act as a reference for him. Should I go out with him?”

Scarlett’s eyes twinkled as she eyed Griff.

Oh Lord, what was she going to say? It was anyone’s guess. She was as bad a tease as his own mother.

“Well, I have to tell you Miranda, I’m kind of biased. I’m married to a SEAL, and I raised one. These men are a breed unto themselves,” her eyes twinkled.

“I’m beginning to agree with your assessment,” Miranda said as she gave Griff a sideways look. He couldn’t help but preen a little bit that she found him attractive. But Griff knew he was going to have to work on this, because Ms. Slade was awfully damn pretty herself and he’d had to guard his seat pretty zealously over the last two months.

When the train took a heavy lurch and she bumped into him, he took the opportunity to put his arm around her. Okay, he might be pushing things, but it was time. The moment that Griff waited to see what she would do was one of the longest of his life. For a second she looked startled, but then she smiled and snuggled into his side.

“I like this better than being on my phone,” she whispered so just he could hear her.

“I don’t know,” Griff said. “You’re pretty damn sexy when you’re dressing down your subordinates.”

“Dressing down. I like that. It sounds so militaristic. I should be wearing a uniform and carrying a riding crop like General Patton in that movie.”

Griff almost groaned. Suddenly he had a picture of her in a leather dress and high-heeled lace-up boots.

Keep it together, Porter.

Miranda looked up at him and gave him a wicked smile. The vixen knew exactly what she’d done.

Thank God an announcement for another stop sounded over the speaker. Soon more people were coming on board, including a young mother with a toddler and a young child. She had all of the requisite child paraphernalia accompanying her.

Griff and Josiah both got out of their seats to assist her, which seemed to overwhelm both the woman and children. The little girl in her arms started to whimper, then as Griff offered to take the woman’s suitcase, the little girl shrieked.

“No!”

“I’m so sorry,” the young woman said. “Hope’s going through the terrible twos.”

Scarlett, seeing the problem, got out of her seat and stepped between the two men and the small family.

“I think those men are just too darn big, don’t you, Hope?” Scarlett asked.

The small child took a moment to assess Scarlett. She seemed fascinated by her blue pendant. She stared at it and finally nodded her head, her brown curls bobbing around her face.

Scarlett turned to the mother. “My name is Scarlett Hale. The younger man is Griffin Porter and the other one is my husband Josiah. They’re here to help with your things. Would it be okay if they stored some of your items in the overhead bin?”

Griff saw the overwhelming relief in the woman’s eyes.

“My name’s Susan.” She juggled her little girl, then held out her hand to Scarlett as best she could. The older woman shook it, then Scarlett deftly took Susan’s diaper bag and backpack. Nick’s mom always could work miracles.

The little boy, no more than four years old, darted past the three adults. “Jeremy, come back here!” Susan yelled.

Griff watched as Miranda easily caught the kid and swooped him up into a high hug.