AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ah, Lady Burton.” The guy pumped his eyebrows. “Lots of young, handsome gents ‘looking’ for that one.”
Zeke growled. He shouldn’t have. He loathed the thought of young handsome gents ‘looking’ for his Mia. That was in the past, though. Now that they were together, Zeke was the only one who would come looking for her.
The man stepped back again. A bigger step this time, his hand going to his nightstick.
Rubbing at the back of his neck, Zeke said, “I apologize. I’m in love with Lady Burton, you see, so the thought of other gents after her isn’t a great one.”
“Oh. Well maybe you should call her, then. I’m sure a strapping military man like yourself will have no trouble winning her heart.” The guy smiled. He was kind of goofy. Zeke didn’t mind him.
“Thank you. I will call her. I was just hoping to surprise her. You know, the whole picture-perfect scene where I sweep her off her feet and all that.” Zeke gave an uneasy chuckle, amazed that he’d just said that to some guy he didn’t know.
“Ooh, I like it. Well, just between us…” The man stepped closer and Zeke wanted to tell him not to confide in him. Just because he had a military uniform and lots of shiny things hanging from it didn’t mean her security guard should tell any man where she was. “If you know where the duke lives, I think she’s spending time with her mum.” He smiled and Zeke could at least say he hadn’t given out the address or drawn a map.
“Thank you. I do know.” He nodded to the man and strode around him.
“Good luck sweeping her off her feet,” the guy called, then added in an undertone, “One more man bites the dust. They just line up for her.”
Zeke didn’t like the guy’s last line, but again—in the past. Mia wouldn’t be inviting men to her flat now that they were together.
He climbed into his rental and plugged the duke’s address into his phone. He wondered how this would go. Cheery reception for sure. He shook his head, closed his eyes, and for the first time since he’d been forced to pray at home and at Sunday School, he said a prayer.
“Thank you for your protection, Lord. So many times in my life and recently for Mia. Please reunite us and let me love her the way she deserves and if possible, let her love me. Please let the duke and her mum not hate me. Watch over the Deltas, Chaos, Preach and his wife, Wolf, Demo, and Jessie. Amen.”
He didn’t feel any warm fuzzies, but he didn’t get struck by lightning either.
Starting the car, he waved to the guard and drove to Surrey. The GPS said fifty-five minutes even though it was only twenty-three miles. Too much time to think and stew and get sweaty in his dress uniform. He turned up the air.
Finally, he pulled through the most insanely ritzy area he’d ever seen in his life, and he’d seen palaces in the Mideast built by oil money.
He stopped at the gate of the correct address and a guard walked out, looking over his rented Volkswagen Jetta with disdain. “May I help you, sir?” His voice got a little more respectful as he eyed the medals on Zeke’s chest and shoulder.
“Yes. I’m here to see Lady Mia Burton.” He didn’t love her title but didn’t want to upset anybody.
“Of course you are. Let me see if you’re on her list.”
“Captain Zeke Hendrickson.” He’d better dang well be on her list. What was up with these security guards?
“One moment please, sir.” The guy turned and muttered loud enough for him to hear, “They just keep coming.” He clipped back to the guard house, picked up a phone, and kept his eye on Zeke.
Zeke rubbed at the back of his neck. Were men still coming for Mia? Was she turning them away? She had to be. Right? But she’d never dated anyone longer than a week, and Zeke was past his expiration date.
No. He wouldn’t think like that. He was tired of traveling, tired of longing for Mia, tired of stewing on his own thoughts.
The man rushed back out. “Please drive up to the main estate, sir. Someone will greet you there.”
“Thank you.” Relief rushed through him. He’d passed. They were letting him in. Mia was waiting for him. But why hadn’t the guy said that? Mia would greet him, or someone else?
Please let it be Mia, he prayed inside.
This praying stuff seemed to happen kind of naturally. What would Mia think of that? He smiled. She was going to “fancy” it. For sure. Did she still fancy him? Of course she did. He was tired and needed to see her, but he couldn’t doubt how much Mia loved him. She’d been so great and understanding about him having to go on the mission and then taking so long.
What if she’d been so great because she really didn’t care if he was gone? What if it had just given her a chance to date around?
Zeke shoved that errant thought away. Where had that come from?
The gate swung open and he drove up the long, long, long tree-lined drive.
Zeke was always confident, except when it came to certain things like human touch, knowing he was worthy of Mia, and meeting pompous dukes who he needed to somehow convince to like him, well at least accept him. Did it matter? Would Mia ditch him if her dad hated him?
