Formatted Seal Of Honor edit2 (3 page)

her life and then having had lost Sergei. She was so wil ing to believe him and their plan to runaway

and start anew only to be left alone, running from his mother. Could she believe Zach’s words and

actual y put her trust in someone and hope that it didn’t backfire?

“Zack, it doesn’t worry you in the least? Any of this?” Jordyn asked gently.

“No, it doesn’t,” he answered. “I was raised by a woman, a so-cal ed mother, who married a

man only for his money. Then when he died, she treated my stepsister like crap until she ran off and

didn’t give a damn about anything that was due her. I found out later that she ended up living on the

street and becoming a junkie before dying from an overdose. My mother didn’t even care. She

thought she’d done something good by stealing an inheritance for me. Then she systematical y

destroyed and cried down every girl I dated. I was dating this girl named Jenny and she got

pregnant. My mother acted like we were bringing the antichrist into the world and she made Jenny’s

life miserable. Even cal ing her at her house just to torture her. Jenny’s mother told me the day I was

going to confront my mother that she lost the baby.”

“Oh, Zack, I’m so sorry. How could your mother be so cruel?” Jordyn gasped.

“She’s an evil woman. Jenny blamed me just as much as my mother. When she lost the baby

she refused to see me and soon left the town I grew up in. My mother was thril ed, of course, but I just

said fuck it and left. She swore I’d come back on hands and knees. I laughed in her face. I was

twenty when that happened and I’ve never seen her again.” Zack ran his finger along her cheek.

“That was fifteen years ago and if that taught me anything it is that we can’t choose who sires us, but

we can choose how we love and if you let me, I wil love your daughter and I’l love you.”

“Oh, Zack,” she whispered.

He kissed her gently. “Don’t say anything now. Just think about it, okay? I look at it this way. I’ve

been mental y wooing you for a few months now. I can wait a bit longer.”

She turned over as best she could with her burgeoning bel y until her back was spooned against

his chest. He wrapped his arms protectively around her bel y and Jordyn felt so cherished that it

brought tears to her eyes. She’d been alone for so long, scared and pregnant. She ran to a place

that she didn’t know and tried to make a life for herself and her unborn daughter. And life seemed to

drop a gift in her hands in the form of Zack. He was offering to love and protect her and, yes, the

attraction was there. They’d both had hard lives, yet it seemed some invisible force drew them to

each other. Did she dare? Her heart leapt at the possibility and also that, lying in his arms, at that

very moment, felt so right.

“Zack?”

“Hmm?”

“I think I’d like to marry you.”

She felt a gentle kiss on her ear and shivered.

“Good, because I wasn’t planning on taking no for an answer, Ms. Royale.”

Jordyn giggled. “Real y?”

“Yes, real y.” Zack placed another kiss on her ear. “Sleep, honey. Tomorrow is another day.”

“Thanksgiving is Thursday,” she murmured sleepily.

“We’l get a turkey and al the fixings tomorrow.” Zack’s voice rumbled against her ear. “Pumpkin

pie?”

“I’l make one,” she answered.

“Yummy.” His voice was soft.

Jordyn let her mind drift away and for the first time in a long time, every noise and sound didn’t

make her sit up, scared for her life. She actual y slept and felt like everything was going to be al right

and that running was no longer a necessity.

The next day dawned bright and clear. The forecaster said it would be a mild seventy-five

degrees and the winds would be balmy. Zack had the sunroof down on his Nissan Armada and the

sun was warm on Jordyn’s face. After breakfast, they went to her apartment to gather what they could

of her things. He saw the devastation of what was left of her apartment and she saw his body

reverberate with rage. She couldn’t hold back the tears when she saw what they had done with her

baby’s nursery she had been trying to fix up. The crib, drawers, changing table and everything she’d

bought were thrift store items, but she’d restored them with love and care. Now it was al destroyed

and decimated, even the baby clothes were ripped to shreds and tossed aside.

“We’l start over at my place.” Zack pul ed her into his arms. “Shh, baby, she’l have her nursery

again.”

“I saved and bought this stuff by bits and pieces.” Jordyn sniffed. “It was al I could afford, but I

made sure she’d have whatever she needed.”

“You did a wonderful job, sweetheart. Ugly people did this and trust me, when I find them, they

wil answer for it,” Zack promised.

“Zack, I don’t want you getting hurt over these things,” she said.

“That’s only part of it. This is twice I’ve seen you cry because of this woman and her actions.

Whoever her minions are, whoever she sent, wil answer for your tears and the fear you’ve felt,” he

said.

They packed up her clothes and what she could salvage from the nursery before leaving and

going to the management office of the complex. Because of the break-in and the extent of the

damage, plus the neighborhood, they were more than wil ing to let her out of her lease, especial y

with Zack there in his uniform looking serious as ever and asking al sorts of questions about their

security.

From there, they went on to the Oahu courthouse and got their marriage license and then

headed towards Pearl Harbor. This was the first time she was on the base and Zack took the scenic

route. They passed the USS Arizona and the bold, massive statement of survival from that

devastating day. December seventh would mark another anniversary of the attack and Zack would

be a part of the ceremony. She’d seen firsthand the tribute for al those fal en seamen on that fateful

day and one of the men in the tribute would be her husband.

Oh, my God. I’m going to be married to a Navy SEAL,
she thought. She was expecting to feel

terror and dread, but none came, only excitement. Especial y when he kissed her hand and looked at

her with desire, possession and affection in his eyes.
Could I be in love already?
Jordyn wondered

to herself. She had seen how he looked at her for months when he came in to get his coffee every

morning. She even shared a few flirtatious glances herself. Her co-workers always commented that

the commander didn’t come in for the coffee, but for her. She had slipped him a scone or a few

cookies with his coffee more than once in the mornings. It was al part of the mating game it seemed

because she now found herself beside the man who carried two simple Celtic rings in his pocket

and heading to his Admiral’s office.

His superior officer had agreed wholeheartedly to perform the ceremony and didn’t raise an

eyebrow when he saw her pregnant bel y. Jordyn assumed that he’d seen more than a few

impromptu weddings. She’d chosen to wear a simple maternity sundress and soft sandals. They

were comfortable and cool since the bigger she got she tended to overheat. The simple ceremony

was over quickly and in less than twenty minutes she was Mrs. Zack Hennessey. While she felt

flustered, Zack looked cool as a cucumber and kissed the ring that was now on her finger. Jordyn felt

the tiny flutter of excitement in her bel y.

“One more stop before we head back and you can put your feet up,” Zack said.

“Two more, actual y. We’ve got to grocery shop for Thanksgiving,” Jordyn said. “Do you have a

tree you set up for Christmas?”

He shook his head. “Honey, most of the time when Christmas came around we were

entrenched somewhere not so nice. I don’t usual y celebrate Christmas. It has always just been

another day for me.”

“It’s the one time of the year when the whole world seems caring and happy,” Jordyn said. “I

grew up as a ward of New York State. It seemed Christmas was the only holiday when they seemed

to give a damn about us. I celebrate Christmas each year even if I’m alone.”

Zack helped her into the car. “Then we’l celebrate. Nothing is too good for my wife.”

She laughed. “Can you actual y believe we went through with this?”

“Yes and I’d do it again. Hel , I should have asked you out months ago and we’d be an old

married couple by now,” he teased. “I may have even been able to give you a proper wedding night.”

“And why can’t you now?” she asked brazenly and then bit her lip and inwardly winced.
Geez,

way to put the horny out there, Jordyn
.

“You’re so far along I wouldn’t want to hurt you or the baby.” Zack cleared his throat. “I’d be

gentle. I’m not saying I’m a randy goat or anything, and my last relationship was a year and a half

ago. Plus, we get tested every few months and I’m good to go.”

Jordyn fanned the heat from her cheeks, hoping that her blush wasn’t noticeable. “Um, here’s

the thing. Women can have…sex up to the time of birth. Not that I’m expecting that you’d want to

sleep with me; I’m like Shamu-sized by now. But I’ve not slept with anyone since I got pregnant. Plus,

al my tests have come back clean as wel .” She covered her face wither hands. “Oh, God, just forget

I said anything and if you pass a manhole just drop me in it.”

Zack chuckled. “We’ve both put our foot in our mouths. Basical y, we’re attracted to each other

and al systems are go. If it happens, it happens, sweetheart. Let’s just leave it at that for now.”

“Okay,” she agreed.

“We’re here. This is the military police. Now we’re married and we’re going to get help and have

them intercede with island law enforcement,” he explained as they pul ed in front of another building

on base.

He helped her out of his Armada and held her hand as they went inside. They sat down with the

military police in charge and she told her story. The man behind the desk listened to them with a look

of sympathy on his face and took notes on his computer while she answered questions. She gave

them as much information as she could, including Sergei’s last name and what she knew of his

mother. By the time they left, Jordyn felt more at ease. The police would be coming by Zack’s house

in the next few days for a formal statement.

Afterwards, they had lunch at the base commissary and Thanksgiving dinner shopping went

quickly. She had to admit that by the time she got back in the SUV she was exhausted and actual y

dozed off in the passenger seat.

“Wake up, sweetheart, we’re home.” He nudged her gently.

Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around and saw that they were parked in his driveway.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I dropped off.”

“Honey, if you were tired you should’ve said. We could have come home hours ago,” Zack said

softly.

“No, I had fun. Honestly, I did.” She took his hand. “Beats what I used to do. I would work and

then go straight home and hide because I figured I was being watched. I live in Oahu and I’ve only

been to the beach once.”

“Wel , we are going to fix that,” Zack said. “You’re going to rest for a bit and then we’re taking a

sunset strol on the beach and maybe take a dip in the water. I read it relieves pregnancy pains if

you’re buoyant in water.”

“As good as that sounds, I can’t swim,” Jordyn admitted.

He pul ed her close and kissed her nose. “Don’t worry. I won’t ever let anything happen to you.”

She felt her heart jump at his words. “Christmas on an island wil be different. I mean, no snow

and no lights. I’m accustomed to the big lit up trees and houses in New York.”

“Oh, honey, there wil be lights, just wait and see, and then there’s something special I have

planned already,” Zack said.

“You barely remembered Thanksgiving and you don’t real y celebrate the holidays,” she teased.

“How could you have something planned already?”

He tapped his temple. “This machine right here works fast.”

“Okay, Robo-SEAL.” She laughed and looked over as she heard talking. The sight that greeted

her made her mouth drop open. “Um, Zack, your neighbor is sitting in the middle of a pineapple

grove reading out loud.”

Zack sighed. “Yeah, that’s Mrs. Pond. She is as fruity as a Christmas fruitcake. She reads to

her pineapples.” Jordyn laughed and he shushed her. “Shh, if she hears you she’l want to talk… Oh,

too late.”

The older lady waved and put down her book and came through the pineapple grove to Zack’s

driveway. “Hey, soldier, who is this beautiful and very pregnant woman?”

“Mrs. Pond, nice to see you. This is my wife, Jordyn Royale, now Hennessey,” Zack introduced

her.

“Wife and new baby. Zachary, what have you been hiding from me?” Mrs. Pond laughed. “Nice

to meet you, new Mrs. Hennessey and by the looks of it you’l be having this baby in the next few

weeks.”

“New Year’s,” Jordyn said. “Nice to meet you as wel .”

“Oh, honey, I’m a retired nurse. You are probably going to have that little one before then, he or

she is riding low,” Mrs. Pond supplied. “When is your next appointment?”