Page 6 of Hayes (Voodoo Guardians #37)
“He didn’t hurt me,” sniffed Victoria. “Not physically.”
“What do you mean?” asked Stephanie, the other women huddled around her.
“He’s tired of me being scared to leave the property. He wanted me to just get over it and come and live in San Diego with him. I’m just not ready for that,” she said, wiping fresh tears.
“Oh, honey. You have to find a way to get over that,” said Ajei. “He means well, and I’m going to guess he’s lonely. And. As awful as it sounds, he may be tempted by women coming on to him.”
“Wh-what?” gasped Victoria.
“I didn’t say he’s done anything, but he is a man.
A very handsome, well-built young man who is also a Navy SEAL.
Luke and I knew we loved one another. While he was at Annapolis, I was in nursing school in Baltimore.
We saw one another all the time. But believe me, I noticed the women watching him all the time.
“Then we came back here and married. I lived near base for a while, and then when I got close to delivering Garrett, I came back here until he retired.”
“It was the same for Eric and me,” said Sophia Ann. “But everyone is different.”
“Cam and I definitely were,” frowned Kate. “I had his son and kept that from him. It was so wrong of me, and I regret it every day.”
“Hex and I met later in life,” said Gwen.
“We all have different stories,” said Lia, Scout, and Lucinda, seated beside her. “Yours is unique, Victoria, because of your fear of leaving the property.”
“I agree with that,” said Julia, “but you can’t expect him to have a ten- or twenty-year career as a SEAL, and the woman he loves lives across the country or the world, unable to come to him if he needs her.”
They all looked at Julia, surprised by her direct approach.
“I don’t mean to be cruel, Victoria, but you can’t expect him to not see anyone else if you’re not willing to go and visit him now and then. Think about all the weekends and days off that he has, but it’s not enough time to come home. You’re here, able to go and see him, but you won’t.
“I know it’s difficult for you. I know it’s an awful thought, but you have to find a way to do it for him or let him go. Even if it’s just for now.”
“I don’t want to let him go,” she said in a shaky voice. “I love him.”
“But do you love him enough to let him go?” asked Julia in a soft voice.
“I know you love him, honey, but there needs to be a give and take in this relationship,” said Ajei.
“I don’t know what to do,” she said, looking out the window.
She watched as Hayes emerged from the offices, the other men following him. When he entered the cafeteria, she stood and walked toward him. He said something to her, and she nodded.
Leaving the building, the team watched them head toward Victoria’s cottage, watching them closely. It seemed, at least for now, they were talking about options. Then, just a few days later, he would be gone again.
Brax watched the young couple, both nodding, both looking as though they’d reached an agreement. Neither looked like they were upset by anything, and then Victoria hugged him, turning and waving at him.
Hayes looked up to see Brax and Stephanie and walked toward them. To ask them a favor.
“Hi. Everything okay?” asked Brax.
“Not really. I’ve been called back. I thought I could be here for your big day, but it’s just not possible.”
“Brother, I understand that better than anyone,” smiled Brax. “It’s all good. You’ll be home soon.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I hope so,” he nodded. “Listen, watch out for her for me. Okay?”
“Hayes, you’ll be back soon to watch over her yourself,” said Stephanie.
“No. We agreed that we should, uh, see other people,” he said, swallowing. He looked away, trying to hide his tears, but just couldn’t. “I love her so much. I just don’t understand why she can’t do this one thing for me.”
“Oh, honey,” said Stephanie, hugging him. “Give her time.”
“I’ve given her years, Steph. I can’t keep waiting. I want to, but I’m afraid of what I’ll do behind her back. I guess I’m a weak, pathetic male.”
“No. You’re a man with male urges, desires, and wants. I’m not going to judge you for that,” said Brax. “If it’s meant to be, it will happen. For now, I’m proud of you, Hayes. It’s hard to let someone you love go, but you’ve done the right thing.”
Hayes nodded, wiping his face with the back of his hands. He stood tall, looking at Brax, and gave another quick nod. As he moved toward the waiting vehicle, Hoot in the driver’s seat, he turned back one last time.
“Do me a favor? Don’t let her be alone for the rest of her life.”
Hayes spent a few weeks just feeling like shit and lonely, then he went out one night with the guys and actually had a great time. They had a few beers, shot some pool, watched the game, and that was it. But he enjoyed himself.
He found that he enjoyed the attention of the women in the bar, and he enjoyed the fact that women wanted to be with him, wanted to spend time with him.
Yet every time he got close to kissing the woman, taking her home, he backed up and shook his head. He just couldn’t do it.
“I’m sorry. There’s someone back home,” he said to the woman that night.
“She’s a lucky girl that you’re so honest,” she smiled. “Listen, Hayes. You’re a great guy. I’ve watched you since you came to the area, and you’re a gentleman, you’re smart, and everyone knows that you’re a SEAL. Yet you don’t touch another woman.”
“What’s your point?” he frowned.
“Put a ring on it, and make her yours,” smiled the girl.
“It’s not that easy. We, she had a rough childhood and is terrified to be away from home.”
“That must be awful for her,” said the girl compassionately.
“Awful for her? What about me?”
“You know what, that’s the first selfish thing I’ve seen in you. A terrified woman generally has a reason to be terrified. If she’s worth turning away women willing to go to bed with you, my advice is to marry that girl and find a way to work this out.”
She stood and bent down, kissing his cheek. As she walked away, Hayes wanted to run after her but knew that it would be useless. Damn his soul, he was completely in love with Victoria.
He just needed to find a way to make it work between them.