Operation Family (11 page)

Her stomach rolled and she stepped back out of his touch and dropped down onto the hardwood window seat. She loved her mother but the idea of having her invade this haven made Nicole sick. Her mother didn’t understand what she was doing with her life, and the idea of Nicole spending her life raising someone else’s children was appalling to her.

“No…no one will be visiting.”

“You’re more than welcome to have anyone here.” His brows creased in confusion.

“No.” She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “My parents don’t understand, and after the latest call from my mother I don’t want her here. If I want to see them, I’ll go to Texas. My brother Sam and I are close, but he hates to travel, so there’s no reason to think he’d come even if I invited him to.”

“Still, I do have the guest room in case things change.” He knelt in front of her and took her hand into his. “I’d hate to think I’ve created issues for you with your parents. Maybe if I talk to your mother—”

“It’s not you. The problems have been there since I gave up my accounting firm and became Gabriella and Sophia’s nanny. She thinks I should have just gotten married and had babies of my own. Now moving across the country to help you just upsets her further. Though none of it has to do with you, she just wants me to settle down, to be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen like she was.” She kept her gaze on the floor and prepared to bare her soul.

“My parents were hard workers, but we didn’t have much, even with Dad working two jobs and Mom working part-time while we were in school. We lived in a small two-bedroom house. My parents gave me and Sam the master bedroom since we had to share it. The point is, she always expected me to follow in her footsteps, marry young and have babies before I turned twenty-one. She didn’t support me going to college but assumed I’d meet a man to marry there so she didn’t fuss much. When I didn’t, she told me I should join an accounting firm a town over because of the young males who worked there, but instead I started my own business. Now she sees this as my final shove off, and that she’ll never see me living the life she wants for me.”

“What about Sam?”

“He’s always been supportive of me living my own life, and like I said, we’re close. He works on an offshore oil rig that keeps him busy. When he’s home—only once every three weeks for a week off—he still lives with our parents and tries to keep thing peaceful between everyone. He would never come here because it would ruffle feathers, especially with Mom.”

“
Amore
, I’m sorry.”

Words stuck in her throat and she did the only thing she could, she nodded. Her family wasn’t the best and they had their faults, but they were hers. She loved them even through the hurt they were causing her now. She could only hope that one day, her mother, who was the cause of the tension, saw what she was doing and eased back. Then she could live her life on her own terms without having to defend every move she made.

Life would be so much easier if Mom would just accept my choices. Gabriella and Sophia are my daughters, I’m not giving them up just because I didn’t give birth to them.

The girls lay on their backs, little chubby arms swatting at the toys that dangled from the play sets in front of the fireplace at Mac’s parents’ home, just as he had as a child while the adults sat chatting. Mac had his arm around Nicole’s shoulder, her body pressed close against him, while his parents sat across from them. He had expected tension as Nicole meshed with his parents, but things were easy as if she had always been a part of the family.

His mother already pulled him aside to express her joy of Mac’s choice. If he was honest with himself, he had to admit he was surprised she made no comment about the obvious age different, and he didn’t mention it. Instead, if she had her way, she’d have them married by the end of the month. No matter how he denied things weren’t at that level, his mother still insisted,
you will be, my son, she’s the one for you.
He wanted to believe her, but the logical side of him warned he should brace for the battles ahead.

Even his brother had given his approval, but not before he got in a few remarks about robbing the cradle. At least Angelo hadn’t said it in front of his parents or Nicole. His little brother never thought he’d see the day when Mac settled down, so much he had to pull up the news channel on his phone to check and make sure Hell hadn’t frozen over yet.
Smart ass.

Too bad Angelo had to take off early to prepare for a big case. As a Marine Corps JAG officer, there was always something to keep him on his toes. His mother’s voice pulled him back from the thoughts of his brother.

“Nicole, if you ever need help with the girls and Mac isn’t available you just call me. I’d gladly help with these bundles of joy, anytime.”

“Thank you, Mrs.
García.”

“Now what did I tell you?” His mother set her coffee mug aside and gave Nicole a pointed look.

“I’m sorry, Maria.” Nicole smiled, blushing.

“Mom, that reminds me, could you and Dad come over and watch the girls the day after tomorrow? I wanted to take Nicole out to do some Christmas shopping, and get some additional things for the girls.”

“I’d love to.”

“I’ll come too, give your mom a hand and see about doing some work on the house.” His father stood. “Ladies, if you’ll excuse Mac and me for a moment, I’d like to show him the cabinet I’ve restored for his guest bathroom.”

Mac had a feeling his father would try to get him alone just like his mother had. He pressed his lips to Nicole’s temple. “You okay?”

“I’m fine, but shouldn’t we be leaving? The girls have to get to bed soon.”

“Ten minutes and you’ll have him back,” Tony promised.

Mac followed his father through the house and out the back door to the workshop, with hopes that whatever he was about to hear would be along the lines of what his mother already stated. He wanted both of his parents to like Nicole because even if things didn’t work out romantically, she would always be a big part of his life. They shared children together now.

“What do you think?” Dad nodded toward the antique cabinet that had been original to the house. When they brought it over, Mac had little hope it would survive, but there it was looking as good as ever. The wood was smooth and stained to a warm brown, the polished handles decorated the front. There was a circular cut in the top for where the sink would go, now that they had repurposed it.

“I never thought you’d be able to save it. It was so rough.”

“I have a way of bringing life to the unwanted.”

Mac glanced back at his dad. “I know, I’m a prime example,” he joked, knowing he’d get a kick out of it. His parents had never hidden the fact he was adopted, instead they reminded him all the time they chose him, unlike all the other parents who got saddled with their brats, as his father always joked. They had even embraced his decision to seek out his birth mother, one that in the end only led to a gravestone.

“Yes, and now you’re doing the same.”

“Gabriella and Sophia aren’t unwanted, they’re orphans.” For some unknown reason he felt the need to defend them; Shawn hadn’t left them like his biological parents had.

“True, but you’re still willing to step up and give them the family they deserve. That’s the man we raised you to be and we couldn’t be prouder of you.” He leaned against the workbench. “Now this Nicole, she seems like a very nice woman.”

“But?” Mac prompted when his father stopped. He only hoped the age difference wasn’t about to rear its ugly head.

“She seems very committed to the girls, which is good, and your mother said you’re planning to have the paperwork drawn up to share custody. If you screw things up with her, you could lose Gabriella and Sophia. Are you prepared for that?”

“I’m not going to screw this up. Nicole and I have something I’ve never felt with another woman, there’s a bond there. But more than that it’s chemistry, like we’re made for each other.”

“It’s the same with your mother and me.” Tony grabbed a rag from the bench and started to rub his hand with it, as if he was trying to clean off some invisible dirt. “This brings me to my next point, one I know you’re not going to like very much. Maybe it’s time you considered retirement. You’ve put in more than anyone could ask for, you’ve done your twenty years. Consider staying here with your new family, with all of us.”

“Dad…” Mac leaned against the cabinet, the air suddenly gone from his lungs. Of all the things he considered hearing from his father, retirement wasn’t one of them. They had always supported his career.

“I just want you think of how Nicole feels. The girls have already lost two parents, should you risk yourself after all of this?”

Mac was unsure if he should be angry or not. Being a SEAL was his life, the very idea of retiring made him sick. How could he do anything but what he’d done his whole life? He wasn’t worried about the money, he could always sell the house if he needed to. He was worried about what he’d become without the thrill and adrenaline. Would he still be the same man?

It was inevitable that someday the time would come that he’d have to retire. His body wouldn’t keep up with the demands forever. Until a few days ago, he had hoped he’d die in battle. To go down in a blaze of glory surrounded by the brass casings of used rounds and his men would be the best way for him to leave his world.

Otherwise, he might go stir crazy with boredom.

With Gabriella and Sophia changed and put down for the night, Nicole stepped out onto the porch. Mac had taken refuge there while she slipped out of her dress and into gray yoga pants and a matching long sleeve shift. He had been distant since he returned from the shed with his father, making her wondering what had happened between the two of them. Did it have something to do with her? She thought Maria and Tony had liked her, that the evening had gone smoothly. Maybe it was just a show so as not to cause tension. Whatever it was, she was about to get to the bottom of it.

“Mac?” He had been so lost in his thoughts she wasn’t sure he heard the door open and shut. To be safe, she called to him as she came up behind him, because in the time they had been together she learned he didn’t like being snuck up on. It tensed every muscle in his body, putting him on edge, ready to attack.

She laid her hand on the railing and watched him. His body was relaxed so he knew she was there but he didn’t turn to look at her or say anything. He just gazed out at the darkness and remained silent. Whatever was on his mind had him stressed. Was it work? Would he be deployed before they had time to celebrate Christmas? Or worse yet, before they had time to draw up the paperwork for the girls? If something happened to him while he was deployed, what would happen to the twins, would she lose them? Her mind was brimming with questions until she forced herself to take a deep breath and calm down. This was no time to have a panic attack. Right now Mac needed her.

Her fingers itched to be drawn through his short, thick blond hair, to watch the glints of silver around his temples peak through like diamonds in the sky. Damn he was gorgeous, even when he was a million miles away mentally. She wanted him like she had never wanted anyone before.

There was a soft side he kept hidden from everyone else; the world saw he wasn’t a man to be fucked with. When she first met him, she realized she needed to tread carefully with him, especially when it came to custody of the girls. She suspected his
don’t fuck with me attitude
was from all his years as a SEAL, but tonight when she met his brother she realized it was a family trait. Angelo had the same attitude and protection mentality that Mac had. His eyes held a haunted look like he’d seen the worst in people and it had begun to make him jaded.

Both the García brothers needed a woman’s touch to show them there was still good in life. She was just the woman to do that for Mac, and hopefully Angelo would find someone to help ease the pain she’d seen in his eyes. Angelo worked too hard, it showed in his salt and pepper hair. At thirty-five, he had far more gray than Mac who was nearly five years older.

“Go back inside. You’ll catch a chill.”

Mac’s order brought her back into the moment. “Come with me.”

“I’ll be in soon.”

She put her hand on his back. “What’s going on with you? Since coming back from your parents’ house, you’ve been more distant than when you found out I was twenty-four. What’s going on in that head of yours? Do your parents not approve?”

“It has nothing to do with us. My parents love you and the girls.”

“Then you admit there’s something bothering you. Why can’t you talk to me? Mac, please, look at me and tell me what’s going on.” When he didn’t, she pulled her hand away as if she’d been burned and stepped back. She wasn’t going to stand there in the cold when he insisted on remaining closed off. These moments when he withdrew deep inside himself were becoming irritating. They were still getting to know each other and every time he shut her out, it set them back. “Fine, goodnight then.”

“Wait.” He reached out, grabbed hold of her wrist, and pulled her into his embrace. “I’m sorry,
amore
, I was just thinking.”

“You can talk to me.”

“Let’s go inside.” He held her for a moment longer before finally letting his embrace drop away as he slipped his hand into hers. “Talking to someone is new to me. I’ve always been distance when there’s something I need to figure out, but I guess if you’re going to be in this for the long haul you have a right to voice your opinions.”