Her Loving Hero (Black Dawn Book 8) Read online

  Her Loving Hero

  Black Dawn, Book 8

  Caitly O’Leary

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also by Caitly O’Leary

  © Copyright 2019 Caitlyn O’Leary

  All rights reserved.

  All cover art and logo © Copyright 2019

  By Passionately Kind Publishing Inc.

  Cover by Lori Jackson Design

  Content Edited by Trenda Lundin

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, and places portrayed in this book are entirely products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  If you find any eBooks being sold or shared illegally, please contact the author at [email protected].

  Dedicated to those who struggle in the dark, fight back the pain, and attempt to find joy. You’re not alone.

  1

  “I’m just going to ask her out.” It was Delmar talking. Wyatt could clearly hear the teenage boy’s voice coming from the booth behind them.

  “Man, that’s so not going to work. You need to be savage. You need to give her a reason to go out with you. Tell her that you’re hung like a farm animal. Joey gets all kind of action with that line.”

  Wyatt glanced up at Emily to see if she could hear the boys. She gave him a solemn nod. But he saw her eyes twinkling.

  Thank God. After all she’d been through, it was amazing she could laugh at young teenage male mating techniques.

  “Brant, that’s so far from cool, it’s off the farm,” Petey Jenkins said, making the others laugh. “If Delmar says something like that, Farrah will throw so much shade his way that he’ll be in a forest, and her squad will end up sticking him.”

  “You’re an asshole,” Brant said. “What’s your fucking suggestion?”

  “He needs to say something slick. This is what I heard one of the seniors use, and the girl melted. Are your feet tired? Because you were running through my mind all night long.”

  A loud chorus of laughter erupted from the booth.

  “She’d get cavities if you said that,” Chris Robinson said.

  “How about, If you were a transformer, you’d be Optimus Fine.”

  Wyatt watched as Emily held in a giggle. It was Axle, the youngest of the boys who’d come up with that one.

  “Well I’m here, what are your next two wishes?” Petey said.

  Wyatt grinned at the kid’s suggestion. He’d never heard that one before.

  “If you didn’t like that one, how about, You’re so beautiful you make time stop.”

  “For real, where are you coming up with these, Petey? Do you read women’s magazines when they highlight your hair?” Brant asked scornfully. “Delmar, you’ll never get Farrah’s pink slip if you listen to him. All that syrup just makes girls yak. You’re going to come off too thirsty. A woman needs a man to be a man.”

  “So, what are you suggesting, if you’re so smart?” Delmar asked.

  “You can’t handle my suggestion,” Brant threw down.

  Wyatt winced, this was not going to end well.

  “Emily, shouldn’t we round up the kids now?” Wyatt suggested.

  “Let’s wait,” she said. “I can’t wait to hear this.” Her eyes were dancing.

  “Your breasts remind me of Mt. Rushmore, my face should be among them.”

  There was dead silence in the booth behind them, and Emily looked like she had been hit by a stun gun. “Really?” she mouthed.

  “Brant, you are crazy stupid. Farrah’s friends won’t stick Delmar, she will,” Petey said.

  “Nope, he’ll be sticking it in her after he says that, know what I mean?”

  Petey’s groan wafted over the high booth. “You’re ill, Brant.”

  “No, he’s disgusting,” Delmar said.

  Wyatt could hear Brant’s smarmy grin. He sighed as Emily lifted her eyes heavenwards.

  “Emily, how about I go give the Wanna-Be-Romeo’s some pointers, while you go gather the girls?”

  “Yeah, stop them before they’re let loose in the wild. Were you ever this bad?” she asked as they both slid out of their booth seats.

  He looked into her cornflower blue eyes and winced.

  “Probably worse.” Wyatt admitted reluctantly.

  Her smile brightened. “Good to know.”

  “Why did you say that?” he asked as she turned.

  “Then there’s hope for even Brant,” she smiled.

  He watched her walk away, doing his best to ignore the slight sway of her butt in her white jeans.

  Focus Leeds.

  Wyatt took a deep breath before turning toward the teens. Damn, Brant sure as hell was a dumbass.

  “Shit,” he heard Chris say as he tried to slip out of the booth when he spotted Wyatt.

  “No need to leave on my account,” Wyatt said easily. “Miss Hoag and I, have been enjoying your class on the best way to pick up women.”

  Brant gave him a nonchalant look. “Was she turned on?”

  Game over.

  Wyatt smacked him on the back of his head, not hard enough to slam him into the table, but hopefully hard enough to knock some sense into him.

  “Whatchya do that for?” Brant whined.

  “Give it a break, you deserved it you asshole,” Peter Jenkins looked across at his classmate in disgust.

  “Delmar, the last thing you should do is listen to Brant if you want a chance with Farrah,” Wyatt said. “Come on, we’re heading out.”

  As he drove the van back to the youth center, Wyatt kept his eyes on the freeway and the rearview mirror so he could monitor the teenagers in the back. Delmar and Farrah were sitting together. The kid had decided to ask for help with an English assignment, always an effective ploy. On the plus side, he might actually pass his class this semester, so it was a win/win.

  Brant was sitting alone in the second of the last seat of the van looking like his dog had died. Wyatt would bet his Ducati that Brant had been setting Delmar up to fail because he wanted to make a move on Farrah. Then there were the five girls that Emily was sitting with, a couple of whom were making eyes at Chris and Petey.

  Ah young love.

  Emily caught his eye in the mirror and grinned. Apparently, she was thinking the same thing. Wyatt winked at her. Was this the same woman he had met at the youth center five months ago? Damn, she sure had come a long way.

  Wyatt pulled up to the front of the YMCA.

  “We have arrived. Check around your seats and pick up any garbage that’s lying around your space. I don’t care if it’s yours or left by someone else, we
need to keep this van clean so that we can keep using it.”

  Axle and Petey were the only two guys who looked around to see if there was anything to pick-up.

  Figures.

  Everybody but Emily filed out, she started toward the back of the van.

  “Hold up,” Wyatt said. “As the driver, I get to do the heavy-duty clean-up, it’s part of the job. Meanwhile, you’re stuck checking our charges in at the front desk.”

  “That doesn’t seem fair,” Emily said as she picked up an empty bag of Dorito’s.

  Wyatt put his knee on the seat in front of where she was. “Emily, have you ever had latrine duty?”

  She gave him the side-eye. “I’ve been known to clean a toilet, does that count?”

  “I’ve cleaned the latrine for a barracks of forty men.”

  “What does that have to do with cleaning up garbage?”

  “I’m thinking we have something extra special waiting for us in the back of the van,” he said reluctantly.

  “Like what?”

  “All I know, is that Brant took a look and sat elsewhere.”

  “Eww,” she wrinkled her nose. “It must be bad.”

  “Yep,” he sighed.

  “In that case, thank you. This time I’m buying the coffee.”

  Have mercy!

  Emily hustled out of the van while Wyatt whistled his way to the toolbox that also contained latex gloves, industrial spray cleaner, a plastic garbage bag and paper towels. He’d seen the look on Brant’s face when he’d originally chosen to sit in the back seat of the van. There was something in the back seat that was probably a biohazard, because he’d quickly moved up a seat.

  Wyatt grinned and winced at the same time as he snapped on the blue latex gloves.

  “Hello Miss July, it is a damn shame what some young boy did to you.” He picked up the corner of the soiled magazine and dumped it in the sack. Then he wiped up the back of the van seat and the floor with the bleach and paper towels.

  Yep, there wasn’t a chance in hell he wanted Emily anywhere near this.

  He carried the bag with the gloves and evidence out and found the pretty blonde waiting for him. She raised her eyebrow. “So, was it as bad as you thought?” she asked.

  “Typical teenage hormones. But nothing I want a lady to have to deal with. Let me dispose of this garbage sack and wash my hands, then you can buy me coffee.”

  For a brief second, he saw a look of sorrow flash over her face, but it was quickly masked by an over-the-top smile.

  “Well, thanks for saving me. But that’s what you Navy SEAL’s do. You save me.” She did an about face and walked quickly into the YMCA building.

  Dammit. She’d been doing so well. Damn teenagers.

  Wyatt made a quick stop to the side of the building to the dumpster and threw away his bag, then walked slowly toward the building, trying to think of a way to make Emily smile again. How could he get her to not think about that awful time in Saudi Arabia when she’d been raped by those animals? Especially since he was part of the SEAL team that got her back to the states. He might not have been on the ground in the Middle East, but his voice had carried over the receiver, so he was still part of that nightmare.

  Fuck.

  He pushed open the door and was met with a blast of air conditioning and Emily’s hands on his chest.

  “I’m sorry Wyatt. I overreacted. I’ve got my head on straight now.”

  He searched her face. Her eyes were steady and calm, and she gave him a reassuring smile.

  How did she do that? How was she able to pull herself together like that?

  “Hey Wy! How’s it hanging?” He looked over Emily’s head at the woman sitting behind the circular reception desk, as Emily jerked her hands away. Halindra was an institution at the center. Apparently, she was one of the first employees and had been manning the front desk ever since.

  “It’s going great,” he called out.

  They walked over to the smiling woman. “Can I get a rundown on a couple of the kids?” he asked.

  “Sure Sugar, whatever you need. When you going to come in wearing your uniform? That sure would be a sight for sore eyes.” Her big brown eyes turned to Emily. “Wouldn’t you like seeing your man in his dress whites?”

  Wyatt watched as Emily blushed. “He’s not my man, Halindra. We’re just friends.”

  “If I were you, I’d take him out of the friend’s column. I’ve got an eye for good man, and he’s prime.”

  Wyatt shook his head and grinned. “If anyone’s going to claim me, I’ve been hoping it’d be you, Halindra.”

  The big woman let out a loud whoop. “You be careful Boy, I’m tempted to take you up on that, but I think Miss Emily would take exception.”

  Wyatt looked sideways at Emily. “Would you?” he teased.

  Emily blushed hotter and turned her head away from him.

  “Halindra, I really appreciate your input. I do,” Emily took a step away from Wyatt. “But we really are just friends, and even if we were dating, we’d only be in the getting to know you stage.”

  “Honey, your perspective is skewed. Around here, the time you’ve taken to get to know one another is the length of three relationships.”

  Wyatt winced. A couple of years ago, that would have sounded a little bit like him too, and he wasn’t real proud of it. At least he knew he hadn’t broken any hearts, because he’d always been careful to only date women who knew the score, but Halindra’s words just hammered home his regret.

  “Are you listening to us, Wyatt?” Emily asked.

  It took a second for him to digest what the woman had been saying. “I think Delmar and Farrah should take it slow,” he agreed with both women.

  “Wyatt, Delmar took three months to work up the nerve to ask out Farrah,” Halindra grumped. “He’s got nothing but respect for her. It makes an old woman’s heart proud to see two such nice kids making time with one another. It’d make me happy to see you two become a couple as well.”

  Wyatt saw Emily’s agitation. “She did promise to buy me a cup of coffee today. So, see, we’re getting there.”

  Emily shot him a grateful look.

  Halindra’s eyes turned heavenwards. “Wy, what is with your generation. You’re making her pay? Don’t you have any money?”

  Wyatt kept a straight face. “Nope, none.”

  “Damn, the Navy needs to pay you more, or you need to un-ass either that truck or motorcycle so you can take Sister Emily to a proper meal.”

  Emily laughed. “Don’t fall for his bull, Halindra, he’s joking you.”

  “I’m just saying it should be dinner, at this point I don’t care who pays.”

  The phone rang, saving them from hearing anymore suggestions from Halindra.

  “Thanks,” Emily whispered gratefully.

  “You’re welcome.”

  Halindra looked up from the phone, then put her hand over it. “Wy, can you call me later with your questions? This will be awhile.”

  He nodded.

  “So, you still up for coffee?” he asked Emily.

  “Only if you feel comfortable. I don’t want to make you feel weird.”

  Shit, he really wished Halindra would have kept her mouth shut.

  “Emily, us being together is never weird, what are you talking about? You’re my friend, remember? Halindra’s a matchmaker, don’t worry about it.”

  He watched a smile spread over her face.

  “Since coming back to the states I haven’t made many friends yet. I would hate to lose you.”

  Wyatt’s hand itched to tuck the tendril of hair behind her ear. “There’s no chance of that,” he assured her. “So, do you want Starbuck’s?”

  She pursed her lips in a frown. “Not when there’s Brenda’s Beans. You know I support local businesses.”

  “Yep, I know.” He gave her a slow grin.

  “Darn, I fell for your bull too. I should know better by now.” She punched him in the shoulder.

  “You
should,” he agreed.

  Wyatt guided Emily out of the center, and they walked companionably into the balmy San Diego summer night.

  “Thanks for picking me up today,” Emily said as he helped her step up into the truck. “However, I do have a car that doesn’t require a ladder to get into it.”

  “It’s a tin can Emily. If we get hit while you’re in my truck, we’re both going to come out of it alive. When are you going to let me take you car shopping?”

  “Never.”

  It was the same reply every time. He knew her parents wanted to pay for a new car. They wanted to buy her a house, but she wasn’t having anything to do with it. Why was she being so damn adamant about paying her own way?

  “Emily-”

  “Don’t start Wyatt, we’re having a nice night, and I don’t want to ruin it.”

  Eventually he was going to figure out what was up. Maybe not tonight, but pretty damn soon.

  He hopped into the driver’s seat.

  “So, are you going to be good?” Emily asked.

  “I promise, no probing questions. Except one. How committed to coffee are you?”

  “I don’t know?” she asked. “What do you have in mind?”

  “How about ice cream down at the pier?”

  “Sold,” she grinned.

  “Do you mind if we stop by my townhome and I go change and take a quick rinse?”

  “Let me guess, you need to freshen up after donning latex,” she said knowingly.

  Surely, she didn’t mean that the way it came out. He looked at her and saw no suggestive smile on her face. Nope, she wasn’t making a double entendre. After five months of friendship, Wyatt knew that Emily was as innocent as a spring morning. Which is why he’d kept her in the friend’s category. You could never have enough friends, right?

  Who the hell was he kidding?

  “Wyatt?”