Page 15 of The Hero’s Bride (Unbreakable SEALs #2)
Thalia’s soft voice hit him as he closed his hand around the cold metal doorknob.
He turned, capturing her gaze. In his oversize clothes, with her hair loose around her shoulders, she looked adorable.
Longing struck him hard. He wanted to see her just like this in his apartment, in clothing she was comfortable to steal out of his dresser.
Moments kicking back on his couch, drinking a beer, flipping through channels.
He didn’t want to entertain anything beyond friendship at the moment, but the brief vision of burying his hands into her thick hair and kissing the hell out of her made his cock jump.
She held his gaze for a moment longer, then opened her mouth and closed it again.
“Please be safe.” Her voice trailed off into a whisper meant just for him.
His pulse pounded at the base of his throat as affection flooded him.
“You too,” he said just as softly and stepped over the threshold, closing the door behind him.
Her words were on his mind as he walked through the lobby and exited the hotel.
He wasn’t sure what about the simple request to be careful warmed his heart, but it had all the same.
Maybe it was growing up knowing that his parents would never show up for him.
Of the bone-deep knowledge that even if he followed in their footsteps to be the drummer or guitar player they’d wanted him to be, their own dreams and aspirations would always come before him.
Mason slipped on his sunglasses and navigated past stores and street vendors.
The heat was at its peak, rising from the pavement and hanging thickly in the air.
His thoughts continued to drift back to a sweet smile and large green eyes.
He’d only just reconnected with Thalia and felt more care and concern from her than he’d ever received growing up.
When his parents were on tour, each weekly call was dominated by talk of the parties they’d been to or some crazy stunt a fan pulled to get close to them.
No inquiries into his emotions or well-being.
They either didn’t care, or assumed he’d always just be there waiting patiently.
Each time he hung up the phone, he was left hollowed out, wondering why his parents had even had a child.
A drop of sweat trickled down his back beneath his shirt as he continued down the street, passing a pink and yellow cathedral.
He took a turn down a cobbled stone street lined with vendors selling what appeared to be everything from ceramics to hand-made art and candy.
The sounds of brass and percussion instruments from a mariachi band filled the market.
He slowed by a stall with woven blankets and clothing.
An elderly woman sitting on a wooden stool gave him a smile, deep creases forming around her eyes and mouth, and went back to knitting.
He glanced through the dresses, pausing on a long coral sundress with beaded flowers.
“Pretty,” the woman noted, her lips quirking.
“How much?”
She rattled off an amount and he pulled three hundred pesos from his pocket, handing it to her.
She grinned and took the dress down from the display, then pointed to a stall across the street selling beaded sandals.
He was glad for the tip and purchased a pair that looked like they might fit Thalia.
As he got closer to the hotel, he stopped in a nearby restaurant and placed a large takeout order.
The waiting area was packed with patrons, so he made his way back outside.
One of the storefront displays caught his eye and he wandered inside the jewelry store.
An armed guard stood sentry in the entryway, while a man behind the display case hurried over to assist him.
“Something I can help you with?” he asked.
“Yes, there’s a ring in the display I’d like to see.” He waited while the man unlocked the front case and removed several rings.
“Is there a particular one?” the jeweler asked, setting them on top of the glass counter. He noticed the guard took a step forward, eyeing him closely.
“This one.”
“Exquisite,” the man said, his English impeccable.
“Did you know Mexico is one of very few places in the world where turquoise is found?” He gestured toward the greenish-blue center stone veined with deep blue.
“More precious than even the diamond halo surrounding it. The band also features four of these larger leaf-cut diamonds on each side. An excellent choice for a unique engagement ring if that’s what you’re looking for. ”
The breath caught in his throat with the realization that he wanted Thalia to wear his ring.
This ring. Whether they were legally married or not, he wanted Thalia to have this gift.
A piece of her past and a promise of bright things ahead in her future.
He had no idea what size she was, but he figured they could get it adjusted at any jeweler once they got across the border.
“I’ll take it.”
The man named a price, and Red nodded, not surprised in the least by the cost. Without the pesos needed to cover such a large purchase, he used his credit card. The jeweler placed the ring inside a velvet box and placed the certificates verifying the gems into a bag with the ring.
“Take care walking down the street with such an expensive item,” the guard tossed out as he neared the door. He nodded his thanks and took the ring box out of the bag, slipping the ring box in his pocket, feeling lighter than he had in a very long time.