Page 239 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs
He gave her a long look as he stood, his eyes tinged with pity. “All right.”
Addie’s first thought when she entered the room was that Corbin and Delaney looked exhausted. “Hey,” she said going to Corbin first and giving him a hug.
“Hey, sis. I’m glad you made it.”
His eyes were bloodshot, a layer of stubble across his jaw. He looked past her. “Where’s Maddox?”
“Getting some air.” The bite in her voice came out stronger than she intended. Corbin glanced at Delaney, a look passing between them.
“What?” Addie asked, eyes narrowing.
“Nothing.” Corbin pushed a hand through his hair.
Addie approached Delaney’s bedside and leaned over, giving her a tight hug. Delaney’s normally shiny, blonde tresses looked dull and stringy. She had on no makeup, her face pale. Still, she was beautiful. “How are you doing?”
Delaney offered a weak smile. “Good.” A sparkle lit her eyes. “Did you see Hope?”
“Not yet. I thought I’d come and say hello to you both first.”
Delaney’s smooth, melodic voice sounded so much like Maddox’s accent. Understandable, considering both were from Alabama. She and Corbin used to laugh, thinking how ironic it was that two siblings from Colorado had fallen for Southerners. Of course, it was Corbin’s friendship with Maddox that brought Maddox into her life. Corbin struck up a friendship with Maddox partially because he felt a kinship with him, being from the same state as Delaney. Around and around they went. None of that mattered now, however. She and Maddox were through. The knowledge settled like stone against her chest.
Addie looked toward the door. Pops was leaning against the doorframe, watching her so intently that she felt like he’d burn a hole through her.Stop looking at me!she wanted to scream. Instead, she gave him a steely look before pulling a chair next to Delaney’s bed. “How did the surgery go?”
Delaney made a face. “Ugh!”
Addie giggled. “That good, huh?”
“I’m just glad it’s over, and we have an adorable baby girl to show for it.” She gave Corbin a look of such complete adoration that it evoked a longing in Addie. She wanted what they had—to be so fiercely devoted to one another that nothing, not even Corbin’s profession, would stand in their way. Delaney was so petite and dainty, yet she was strong and resilient.
“Are you okay?” Delaney asked, concern touching her features.
Addie forced a smile. “Yeah.”
Corbin stepped up beside her and sat down on the edge of the bed. “Maddox and Sutton have been keeping me up to speed on the situation with Jordan and PZT. I’m cautiously optimistic that it’s over. I guess we’ll know for sure if Brent Barrett was the one behind everything after he’s interrogated.”
Her mind hung a little on the wordinterrogated. She looked at Delaney whose expression didn’t change, as if it were the most common thing in the world for a man to be arrested and interrogated for attempted kidnapping and possible murder. She hugged her arms. “I’ll be glad when it’s over.”
Corbin nodded in understanding. “I’m glad you’ve had Maddox to keep you safe.”
“Yes, he’s done his job well,” she quipped. “Now that this one’s wrapped up, he can move onto bigger and better jobs.”
Corbin raised an eyebrow, a teasing grin tugging at his lips. “Is it my imagination? Or do I detect some hostility?”
She half stood and shoved him.
“Hey,” he yelped, catching himself before he slipped off the bed. He straightened his shoulders. “In all seriousness, Maddox is crazy about you, sis.” He paused, holding her with piercing green eyes identical to her own. “It would be a shame to let petty grievances stand in the way of what the two of you have.” He gave Delaney an intimate smile as he reached for her hand. “If you play your cards right, sis, you might just end up finding something wonderful.” He raised Delaney’s hand to his lips and planted a kiss. He grinned like a lovesick schoolboy at Delaney. “Isn’t that right?”
“Absolutely,” Delaney exclaimed, breaking the word into syllables like Pops did. She looked at Pops who beamed. Color refilled Delaney’s face, making her look radiant.
Addie scowled, the mushiness getting to be a little much. “Please tell me you’re not gonna break into song.” Pops’ favoritecatch-phrase was “absolutely.” Delaney had been so impressed by it that she’d written a song about it that topped the charts, staying at number one for a record number of weeks.
Corbin chuckled. “Nah, Delaney’s had a rough day. We’ll give her a few days rest before she has to start earning her keep,” he winked.
Delaney shook her head, laughing. “Yeah, yeah. That’s mighty kind of you,” she said dryly.
“Well, you know, I’m kind that way,” Corbin drawled, mimicking a Southern accent.
A few lyrics from the song rushed through Addie’s mind.
