Page 19 of Protecting Clove (Loved by the SEAL #5)

B ud wasn’t sure why he’d suggested he could sleep at Clove’s place. When he’d hugged her earlier, she’d felt right in his arms. The hug had been an impulse, one he should have controlled.

After thanking Thario for everything he was doing, they headed home.

He kept checking, making sure no one was following them.

It was hard to keep up with the traffic, but no one turned behind them on the road that led to their neighborhood.

He wished Thario lived closer, but Thario’s place had wide doorways and supports in the bathroom, so Bud understood why Thario wouldn’t want to move.

After parking, he checked the area, looking for any cars that didn’t belong. He didn’t see anything new, and no cars were driving down their street.

Clove got out of her car and helped Neo out of the back seat. Neo grabbed her school bag and slung it over her shoulder before grabbing the keys from her mother.

“I want to go to the library and get a book about prosthetic limbs this weekend.”

Clove smiled down at Neo and nodded. “Sure, honey. We can go tomorrow morning.”

Neo raced to the front door and entered the place. Bud chuckled and shook his head.

“She’s a smart one.”

Clove angled her eyes his way. “She is. She used to straight up ask people what happened, but I told her she can figure it out on her own. And she can, usually.”

“Well, she’s a good kid and smart.”

“Do you think Thario got mad that she made a comment about his legs?”

He shook his head. “No. Thario doesn’t shy away from it.”

“Good. I wouldn’t want him angry. He seems like a good guy.”

“He is. I need to do a few things inside, and then I’ll be over.”

She nodded then winced. “I ate a little bit of the food but froze some of the meat. I can pay you back for?—”

He held up his hand, cutting her off. “Don’t even think of paying me back. I’m just happy the lunch meat and cheese didn’t go bad.”

“I can run to the grocery store for you.”

“There’s no need.”

Her lips pressed together. “I guess you will be at my place in the morning. I have eggs and other stuff for breakfast.”

He didn’t want to argue with her about that, so he nodded, knowing he would need to buy her some food because he ate much more than she did.

“Text me when you’re headed over. I’ll be at the door waiting.”

“Sure.”

He stepped into his place, taking stock of the area.

No dust had gathered on the surfaces, and the place smelled like cleaner had been used recently.

She’d cleaned his house for him. He needed to make her understand she didn’t need to do that, but he appreciated the effort.

Usually, he spent a few hours cleaning after coming back from a mission.

He was glad he didn’t have to dust or clean the toilet.

After putting away his things and making sure he didn’t need to do laundry, he gathered his toothbrush, a few clothes, and some reading material before texting Clove that he was heading to her place.

She opened the door as he approached and let him in.

He didn’t want to act weird, so he set his bag down in the corner and joined Neo at the kitchen table.

She was on her mother’s tablet, looking at information on war injuries that required prosthetic limbs.

It was a little gruesome, but Clove could see what Neo was looking up and didn’t tell her not to look at the information.

“Do you know anyone other than Thario who was injured?”

Bud nodded. “I’ve been in the Navy for a while, so yes. I know guys who were injured.”

“Do all of them have dogs like Frog?”

He shook his head. “No, Frog is special.”

“Why is the dog named Frog? He’s a dog, not a frog.”

“I think it’s because the dog was supposed to be a military dog.”

Neo’s face scrunched up. “How does that make sense?”

“Sometimes military guys like myself and other special forces guys are called frogmen.”

“Oh, so Frog would be a part of the group.”

“Yes. Frog is a great name for a military dog.”

“Well, I think Frog is happier being with Thario.”

“I’m sure he is.”

“Hey, bug, go get ready for your shower. I’ll come up in just a few.”

“Awe, Mom. Do I have to?”

“Yes, love. You didn’t shower last night or the night before. You need to get clean. Go up and get ready, please. Then we can read a few stories before bed.”

Neo huffed but headed up, dragging her heels the whole way.

He fought that urge to laugh out loud. Neo was smart, but she was still a kid who didn’t want to do what she was told.

He understood her desire to sit down here with him.

He was the novelty, and if he was her, he would do everything he could to stay downstairs with the adults.

“I need to get her ready for bed. It will take about an hour, maybe more time because you’re here, but please make yourself at home. I’ve thrown some spaghetti bake into the oven, and it will be done when the timer rings. If I’m not down here when it rings, would you turn off the oven?”

“Sure. I’ll turn it off. Do you need anything else?”

She flashed a smile. “Oh, I just remembered that you had a baguette that I cut up and put butter and garlic on and wrapped in foil. If you could pull it from the freezer and pop it in the oven for the last ten minutes of the spaghetti bake, that would be great. It looks like there are thirty minutes left on the oven right now.”

“Got it. That sounds great. I’ll set a reminder to get it into the oven.”

“Thank you.”

He wanted to watch her go up the stairs, but he turned away and focused on the kitchen. When he heard Neo talking to Clove, he went into the kitchen and made sure he could find the bread. It was in the freezer and labeled very clearly as garlic bread.

After checking the time left on the spaghetti bake, he grabbed some reading material and opened it up.

The specifications were detailed, and the reading was deep.

He only got two pages in when his reminder went off.

He put the bread into the oven and groaned at the scent of the food.

It had smelled good before opening the oven door, now the scent twisted around him, teasing him.

He heard the shower running upstairs and Neo’s voice rising above the din. He laughed as she belted out “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and then “I’m A Little Teapot.” Very smart, but still a child.

The timer beeped around the time Neo and Clove came down the stairs.

Neo danced around, laughing as she sang a song about spaghetti.

They sat at the small table and ate the food, Neo asking questions about navigating in the water.

He talked to her about shipping routes and how the Navy kept from wrecking into other boats.

He enjoyed telling her about his time in the Navy and being on huge ships.

After dinner, Clove helped Neo brush her teeth, and then Neo asked if he would read to her. He said he would and joined Clove and Neo upstairs. He sat beside her bed and read from a novel that looked way too thick, but Clove assured him it was fine.

Neo was asleep in less than ten minutes, and his heart squeezed as he and Clove snuck out of the room.

He’d never felt that deep, heart-wrenching emotions for anyone.

The feeling took his breath away and made him wonder if he could be a father.

He’d never really considered having kids before, but he wanted to protect Neo and watch her grow up.

It was weird, and he wasn’t sure he should tell Clove how he felt, or anyone else for that matter.

“You okay?” Clove asked as she moved to the kitchen and pulled out a glass, filling it with water. She handed him a glass of water, too.

He shrugged. “I’ve never spent much time around kids, but watching her fall asleep and leaving the room, it was like I would do anything to keep her safe.”

Clove nodded. “Yeah. You get used to that feeling as a parent, but it is shocking the first time you feel it.”

“How often do you just watch her sleep?”

Laugher spilled out from Clove, and he glanced upstairs, wondering if the sound would wake Neo up.

“Don’t worry, she’s exhausted, and nothing will wake her when she’s like this.

” Clove motioned to the couch, and they both moved to the den to sit.

“I’ve watched her a few times, but I don’t want to risk waking her while she’s sleeping.

We’ve had way too many early mornings together because she wakes up at like four or five, and I want to sleep until nine. ”

He chuckled and took a sip of his water. “I want to install a good security system at your place and then put in security measures that would keep people out.”

“Like what?”

“There are some braces you can buy for the front door. Even if someone kicked in your door, they wouldn’t be able to get it open.”

“That would be good.”

He nodded and glanced around. “How often do you check the windows to make sure they are locked?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know.”

He stood and moved to the first window close to the front door. It was locked, so he moved to the next window, which was also locked, but the window directly behind the couch was unlocked.

Clove came over, shaking her head. “Wait, it was unlocked?”

“Yes. They were turned but not fully locked.”

“Shit. I wonder how long that window has been that way?”

He pushed the locks closed and tried the window again. It really was locked now. “Let’s check everything else down here.

She followed him to the kitchen and found the window was locked, but in the bathroom downstairs, it was unlocked. She looked very concerned.

“I swear I locked them when we moved in. I don’t think Neo would unlock them.”

“They’re locked now.”

He stepped out of the bathroom but stopped. She moved out of the bathroom and ran into his back. He turned and reached out, steadying her. What he should have done was release her the second he realized she was okay to stand, but he didn’t.