Page 15 of Ford

Ford knew going in that was the job.

He was more worried about the ones that got away.

Another Zodiac came to shore, and Trini helped him up just as Anastasia shrieked and ran to one of the men disembarking.

“Her father, Tyrone Stavros,” Trini said. “While we were fighting with HQ about water transport, he showed up with his yacht and offered it to Nez.”

Stavros was a bear of a man, with wide shoulders, his dark hair pulled back into a man bun, and a thick thatch of hair on his chin. He scooped up his daughter and dissolved on the beach, weeping.

Okay, big and bighearted, perhaps.

Stavros looked up as Ford started for the other Zodiac. The man kissed the top of his daughter’s head, then walked over to Ford.

Didn’t stop to ask before he embraced him.

Oh. Ford just stood there, unable to move—really, unable because the man was pressing the air from his lungs.

“He’s got some pretty bruised ribs there, pal,” Trini said, rescuing him.

Stavros grabbed Ford’s shoulders, openly crying. “Thank you. Thank you. If you ever need anything—anything at all, I will do it. Just call me. I will do it for you.”

Ford nodded. “I think she needs some ice cream.”

Stavros frowned, then glanced at his daughter. Smiled. “Yes. Yes she does.”

Nez waited near the other Zodiac. He raised an eyebrow at Ford’s condition. “Really pressing hard for that personal leave, huh?”

Ford stared at him.

“Wow, hewashit hard.” Nez shook his head but cut his voice low. “Listen. You get checked out, and I’ll place a call and get you on emergency medical leave. I don’t want you back until you’re put back together, okay? As in,allput back together.”

Ford’s mouth opened, but Nez pressed a finger to his lips and turned away.

“Thanks, Chief.”

I’m here, RJ. I won’t leave you, I promise.

Maybe God was answering prayers today.

She wasn’t going to see him.

Didn’texpectto see him.

But, oh for Pete’s sake, Scarlett had put on makeup. Mostly because the last time she did, Ford had told her she looked beautiful.

Scarlett sat in her car, sitting outside the SEAL shed at the Coronado base, pretty sure this was a bad idea. Even a desperate one, with shades of her mother embedded in her pitiful actions.

She just needed a friend. Someone to talk through her life-changing decision, and frankly, Ford had been that. At least before a week ago when her life imploded. And before she’d been replaced by some lower-level seaman named Berkowitz who came home bragging about how he’d saved the life of one of the SEALs.

Right. As if.

Scarlett glanced at the folder on the passenger bucket seat. Her separation paperwork. Unsigned, unfilled out. Just waiting for her to pull the trigger and walk away from a career she’d spent her life creating.

But walkingtowardGunnar. Family. A home.

It was the right decision. She didn’t need to talk to Ford. So what he’d stepped up to drive her to her mother’s place a month ago. Or that he’d stuck around and attended one of Gunnar’s games. Or even that he’d put himself between her and Axel, and when she got thrown out of her mother’s house, he’d brought her to his own family’s gathering for a wedding in Montana. Made her long for a family like his.

Okay, and kissed her. Really kissed her, igniting inside her long-simmering feelings.