Page 10 of Protecting Clove (Loved by the SEAL #5)
B ud didn’t like leaving Clove. They weren’t together, and she wasn’t his, but he felt responsible. He wanted to be there to help her and keep her from having to bow to some jerk who only wanted to harm her. He would have to trust his contacts to keep her safe.
On the flight overseas, he slept and woke to find Trip beside him. They were almost in Europe and had new intel. The man they were targeting hadn’t moved, but he had brought in five more guys. He must know something was up.
After another assessment of the area, they decided to wait twenty-four hours to go in. That meant they had a full day to go over their plan and make sure it worked. Kevlar’s team knew their positions and tasks. They were prepared, maybe too prepared, and wanted to move in but they had to wait.
He was eating an MRE when Kevlar came over and sat next to him. “Hey, how’s it going?”
Bud shrugged. “Good.”
“How is Clove?”
He let go a heavy sigh. “Good. I want to help her. She has had a hard life, and I want to make it easier.”
Kevlar chuckled. “You know that’s the beginning of it.”
He shrugged. “Is that so bad?”
Kevlar shook his head. “No, man, it’s good. I think it is good for you, too.”
He nodded. “I feel that. I never wanted anyone in my life, and now she’s right here, and I want her.”
“You taking interest and wanting her to have good things is wonderful. I think you two would make a good couple.”
He shook his head. “I’m not ready to call us a couple.”
Kevlar shrugged. “I think that will come soon enough.”
Bud hoped it would. He had gone from not wanting a relationship with anyone to needing something with Clove.
Would she want to be with him? He saw her looking at him sometimes and he thought he recognized the look in her eyes.
She was beautiful and kind, plus he really liked Neo. He would have a readymade family.
They spent that evening resting after checking their equipment one more time. Being prepared played a huge part in their success, and they needed to succeed with this mission.