Band of Bachelors: Alex, Book 2 Read online

Sydney watched as he peeled off the freeway to the country road his friend’s winery must be on.

  “We need to talk. I’m crazy about you, Sydney.” He grabbed her hand. “Your hands are cold.” He kissed her knuckles, which further melted her defensive exterior. “But some things have happened, and we need to talk first. This time, we have to talk.”

  No kidding!

  “So, I’m going to drop off the things I brought for Nick, and then maybe you and I can go have a private chat somewhere.”

  His cell phone chirped. Sydney could hear a man’s voice on the other end. It sounded like Nick was telling him they were on their way to the hospital.

  “That’s great news, man. We’re probably ten minutes away. I’ll drop off your order if someone can let me in.”

  There was chatter.

  “That’ll work. Give me the name of the hospital.” He turned to Sydney. “Santa Rosa Memorial? Okay, I think we can find it. Maybe see you in an hour? Give you a chance to settle in?”

  She heard more chatter. “Well, call me if something changes. Hey, man, congratulations! You’re almost a father. That’s cool. Very cool.”

  Sydney looked out the passenger window as they wound under the freeway and down the two-lane country road.

  “Well, that kind of changes things a bit. They’re off to have their baby. Mind if we stop by?”

  “Of course not,” she said to the window.

  She felt his hand on her shoulder, shaking her slightly. “You okay? Everything okay?”

  “Everything’s fine.”

  When she didn’t look him in the face, he dropped his hand. Soon, they were at the gravel driveway of Sophie’s Choice Winery. She remarked how beautiful the golden hills were that bordered the bucolic valley of green vineyards and olive trees. They came upon a field of lavender before arriving at the tasting room entrance. A large water fountain embellished the entrance. The parking lot was empty. Alex drove around the side to the back where several modern structures and a warehouse were located.

  From his large bag, Alex took out a long black nylon zipper case Sydney recognized was for a long gun. “I’ll give you a tour,” he said.

  The back door to the main house was open. He took her hand. “You’ll love this place. Come on.”

  He seemed to warm the longer they were inside. Alex led her up the wooden staircase to a set of double doors leading to the master bedroom. He placed the case on the floor of a walk-in closet. A large four-poster bed dwarfed the room. Antiques and hand-hewn furniture decorated the space. The ambiance of the home was lovely.

  “There’s Devon’s office down there. Nick has one of the spare bedrooms up here for his. Downstairs they have a guest room and bath.” He grabbed her hand tighter this time. Her unease was beginning to dissipate. They stopped at the top of the staircase, overlooking the living/dining/kitchen great room downstairs. Straight across were clearstory windows showing the lush green of the rows of vines. “You like?”

  The whole house and surrounding property made her breathless. “What’s not to like? It’s incredible. So this, this is what you guys were talking about doing up here?”

  He gave a half laugh. “You understand Nick and Devon have been working on it for several years. All her income and what he inherited from his sister went into making this place what it is today. Took a lot of work and a lot of money. We don’t have the luxury of either. But we’re working on it.”

  “But this is the inspiration, the vision, right?” She felt the heat from his body as she stood close to him. She leaned against the railing bending one knee so that when their eyes met, they were level to each other. He watched her mouth as if it was the first time he’d noticed her.

  The tug of the chemistry between them was still there. His hand came up to the back of her head as he pressed his lips to hers. She let her inner demon out and pulled him into her, which made him chuckle through the deepening kiss. “Don’t tell me you’re staying anywhere else but my bed, sailor. Don’t you dare tell me that.”

  “Well, all right,” was his answer. His sigh was music to her ears. He was falling into the urgency of their proximity to each other. The attraction was undeniable and just as strong as it had ever been.

  And then he pulled away. “Come on. We have to talk.” He led her down the stairs to the kitchen, pulled out two glasses and poured them each ice water from the dispenser, handing one to her. “Just a minute while I check on something first.” He disappeared around the corner and returned a minute later. “Zak and Amy are up here. Thought maybe they were staying in the guest room. But we’re alone.”

  Sydney sat and waited for whatever he was going to tell her. The knowledge that he’d not lost his feelings for her buoyed her spirits. But something had come between them, and there were some things she feared more than others.

  Alex pulled up a chair made out of rustic branches from a pine tree, and sat across from her, his knees touching hers. She leaned forward. Whatever he was going to tell her, she was going to face head-on. She was anxious to get it over with.

  “I’ve been invited to try out for the DevGru Team. That’s more commonly known as SEAL Team 6, although the group has special forces from other branches as well. Kind of a boys’ club with all the badasses in all branches. They do all the high-level stuff, not that we don’t on Kyle’s team, but these guys, these guys are the best of the best.”

  “Okay. So what does that mean?”

  “Well, I have to try out. They have to vet me as well, with interviews. Someone high up must have recommended me, because you don’t ask to be on one of these, and it’s an honor to even be approached.”

  “I’m proud of you, Alex. That’s quite an honor.”

  “It is.” He leaned in further, taking her hands in his. “But it means I will be gone much more. It also means I could be gone for longer periods, part of that in training missions or training other forces. I wouldn’t really have a home life, so to speak.”

  She was beginning to understand what he’d been struggling with. It pained her, but she realized he was telling her she would not, could not, be as prominent in his life as perhaps she wanted, or they’d planned on. This was the change pushing him away.

  “And you think I’ll be whining at home, baggage under your feet. You do know I have my own set of plans.”

  “Yes, that’s why I thought perhaps this would work. But as much as I’d love to just move forward with us, if I take this job, our relationship, everything about us has to go on hold.”

  “So this is for uncommitted guys.”

  “No. Some are married, but they came into the program married. Or they sorted it out and got married. But what I’m saying is that I can’t do both right now. And I don’t want you to sit with any false promises or expectations. I might not make it, which means maybe I’d be reassigned to another team, maybe back East. If I do, I wouldn’t be home much for the first couple of years. This is more than a full-time job. And it requires my complete attention. Complete.”

  Their eyes met again. She found it in herself to not show him the disappointment she felt. What she showed him instead was how proud she was, because that was there too.

  “So you’ve told them yes, then?”

  “In a manner of speaking. I’ve not filled out the paperwork. I’ve talked it over with Kyle, and, Sydney, I’d like to try doing this. I’ll never know if I don’t give it a shot.”

  Now she knew she wouldn’t be able to tell him about her secret. He’d made up his mind without her counsel, which was totally appropriate. So that meant she had to make the same decision for herself without counseling him. But it still didn’t sit right with her. She knew then and there she was going to have this baby, with or without Alex at her side. And she’d have to wait to tell him.

  That was the hardest thing of all. Telling Carly would be a piece of cake compared to that. But some day, when the time was right, she’d tell him. But that day wasn’t today.

  “Go for it, Alex. I hear what
you’re saying and not saying. You’re asking me not to wait for you, that you might not want me when you’re done. I understand the stakes, believe me. And maybe this is as close as we’re ever going to be.”

  He released her hands and sat up straighter.

  “I—I guess you’re right. I didn’t think about that.”

  It was so incredibly hard, but she’d find the strength within herself to make him fall in love with her all over again. Make it hurt when he went away. Make him find he needed her more than ever, and he’d for sure come back. If there ever was going to be a chance for them, her job would be to blow his mind so that he’d never forget her. “So what you’re saying is your ass is mine this weekend and then I got to get over you.”

  He started to object, but she cut him off.

  “Ah?” She put her finger in the air. “Hear me out. If you come back, and I’ve met someone else, you’ll have to accept it, right?”

  “Well—”

  “It has to be that way, Alex. You have to give me the same freedom you are asking me for.”

  “Well, I guess that sounds fair. Sydney, I’m not sending you away.”

  “Oh, but you are. You’re telling me that your job is going to come first. I get it now.” She sucked in a big gulp of air, masking her nervousness. “I can do this on one condition.”

  “And that is?”

  “If we’re agreeing to walk away after this weekend, you better show up, at least for the next two days. I mean fully. Do we have a deal?”

  Chapter 26

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  Alex held her hand as they drove to the hospital. “This will be a first for me,” he said, kissing her knuckles.

  “Me too.”

  Sydney had been quiet. He couldn’t believe how incredibly understanding she’d been. He was expecting the weekend to be painful, and then he’d go home to San Diego, sign all the paperwork to start the application for SEAL Team 6, and just move on with his life, trying to forget her. That was for her sake, not his. Otherwise, he’d have a weak moment between tours or trainings, look her up, have a weekend of sex and then not be able to offer her anything else—going back to work and knowing he used her. He respected her too much to do that to her.

  So he’d also decided not to try to force himself on her, arranging to stay at Nick and Devon’s. That felt like taking too much advantage of her.

  So why am I here then?

  Because he wasn’t a heel. He wasn’t going to just give her the phone call, or write a letter and end it. She deserved to hear it from him in person. When he’d left for Iraq so much had been unspoken, but he knew she felt it too.

  When the DevGru guys contacted him, suddenly he found he was willing to put himself through that one more test. He wanted her to understand that. And he thought now she did.

  He hadn’t considered this alternative she gave him. The good-bye weekend. Something special to remember each other by. It was beyond his wildest dreams that he’d finally met someone who was okay letting him be who he wanted to be and not some stuffed-shirt replica of her idea of the perfect boyfriend. He could walk away with no regrets, and the best part of it was she could too.

  She was the strongest woman he’d ever met.

  He didn’t want to think too far out into the future, but he could see that after the next couple of years, they could seriously have one together. As long as he wasn’t pressured before that time.

  He also liked that she had something she was as passionate about as he did. She wasn’t living her life through him, depending on him to bring it to her. She had her own. How had he gotten so lucky?

  As the minutes passed, he found it safer to touch her, to hold her hand. He felt her unthaw as well. Her stiffness had gone away, her smiles had returned, and she became more lighthearted. Suddenly the weekend looked to be a real adventure. He might even suggest another zombie movie. She’d love that! And he’d let her bring it on however she liked, as long as it was started on her side of the fence.

  The Labor and Delivery unit was on the third floor. A check-in volunteer led them to a cozy waiting room which was empty. The attendant left after promising she’d let Nick and Devon know they were waiting.

  “Hey there, Alex!” Nick was dressed in blue jeans. Alex expected he’d be in scrubs or something sterile, so he hesitated to give him a hug. The two were not close friends yet, but the occasion was a celebratory one, so they embraced quickly. “So how’s it going? Is it baby time yet?” asked Alex.

  “No. We have a ways to go. But right now, Alex, I’m higher than a kite, right there with her, man.”

  “Where’s Zak? Thought he was staying with you guys.”

  “Haven’t been able to get hold of him yet. But they’re staying with Amy’s dad. A couple other guys from Team 3 came up yesterday. They’re probably partying.” Nick stuck out his hand, reaching for Sydney. “We’ve not been introduced, but man, I feel like I know you from somewhere.”

  “Oh God, I’m sorry,” Alex blurted out. “Nick, this is Sydney Robinson. Sydney, Nick Dunn.”

  Sydney shook Nick’s hand and smiled. “You’ve probably seen me play on the beach down south.”

  “I’ve been up here almost three years now. I’m thinking it was that sports magazine cover? The one where you were—” He demonstrated by raising his arm from the shoulder, elbow high in the air, with his back arched. “That was you, wasn’t it? Little yellow thong, showed waay too much?” He quickly checked with Alex and then finished in a whisper. “I had that picture on my locker at Gunny’s before I moved up here and got married.”

  Alex knew just what picture that was since Sydney had it framed on her bedroom wall in San Diego. He’d stared at it that morning after.

  Sydney blushed and put her hands on her hips, slouched to one side since she towered over both of them. Alex could see she liked Nick. “I’d love to be in that kind of shape again someday.” She glanced at Alex. “I’m going to go use the restroom, if you don’t mind, okay?”

  “Sure.”

  Nick tilted on his heels to get a good shot of Sydney walking down the hallway. He shook his head and punched Alex in the arm. “Don’t know how you guys do it.”

  Alex ignored him and asked about Devon.

  “She’s a trooper. She’s already dilated four centimeters.”

  Alex had no clue what that meant.

  “When Sydney comes back, I’ll let you guys go in and see her.”

  “Whoa, no way, man. This is your time. I’m not going to infringe on that. Besides, I’ve just come from a plane stuffed with people. We’re only here to give you moral support.”

  “Oh relax, Alex. Not like she’s naked and you’re going to see her parts and all. She’s in a nightgown, except she has monitors stuck to her all over under her gown.”

  Sydney returned.

  “Nick says we can go in and visit for a little bit. You want to?”

  “I don’t want to impose. Sort of a strange time to meet someone when she’s in labor and all. I’m not sure I’d want to meet strangers under those conditions.”

  “Oh, she’s totally fine. She said you guys could come in. The nurses are cool with it too. Whatever keeps her calm.” Nick motioned for them to follow. A nurse stopped him in the hallway, and he told her his wife was expecting them.

  Devon’s hair was done up in pigtails, like the day he’d attended the wedding at the winery. “Hi there, Alex. I guess today’s the day!”

  Her face was flushed, and her forehead had wetted her bangs. She had a bright red floral shawl over her shoulders. The light in the room was turned down low and some sea music was playing on her cell phone.

  Alex leaned over the bed and gave her a peck on the cheek. “Hey, Mama. You look beautiful.”

  “Oh please, you’re such a liar.”

  Once again, he’d forgotten to introduce Sydney. Devon was angling to be able to greet her. “You must be Sydney.”

  Alex put his arm around Sydney’s shoulders and then brought her toward the
bed.

  “Nice meeting you. I—I hadn’t planned on barging in here. So sorry.”

  “Oh, nonsense,” said Devon as she made a face and exhaled. “Hold that thought for a minute. Here comes another one.” She leaned back into the pillow. Nick was at her shoulders, giving her an upper spine massage, running his fingers up the back of her neck and into her hair. She took deep breaths, letting it out slowly until the contraction appeared to be over.

  “How long’s it going to be?” Sydney asked.

  “We have no idea. But she’s coming along. We’re making progress, aren’t we, sweetie?” Nick squeezed his wife’s hand.

  “It’s up to the baby. We’re on her time,” Devon said.

  Sydney spoke up again. “You know it’s a girl?”

  “Nope. I want a girl. He wants a boy. We don’t care. It’s a friendly argument.”

  Nick was perched on the edge of Devon’s bed. “Have a seat for a little bit. You want something? They have custard and Jell-o down at the nurses’ station. Other stuff too I don’t want to tempt her with.”

  “No, we’re fine,” answered Alex. “But can I get you something, Devon?”

  “I’d love a cool towel for my forehead.”

  Before the men could get up, Sydney was at the sink wetting down one of the folded washcloths stacked neatly there. She squeezed it tightly, then brought it over to Devon’s face. “Here you go.” She pressed the white cloth to her forehead, lifting her bangs before doing so. She dabbed her cheeks, then under her chin, across her lips and down her neck to the top of her chest. “That feel better?” she asked.

  “Heavenly.”

  Alex watched Sydney’s tenderness. Something about the scene touched him. Some kind of invisible bond had already formed between the two women. It added to his respect for the mystique of womanhood. He wondered why some women had it and others, like his mother, didn’t seem to have a clue. Or maybe she’d stopped trying when life got too hard at home.

  “Devon, Sydney is a beach volleyball player,” Nick whispered. He turned up the noise of the ocean. “This probably makes you feel at home too, Sydney,” he added.