Hot SEALs: Discarded Heart (Kindle Worlds; Danger Incorporated Book 2.5) by Olivia Jaymes Page A

investigation into Cal’s actions during the Alan Morton case was complete. He listened numbly to the words, not really comprehending what was being said. When they were done talking Cal hit the end button and shoved the phone back into his pocket, rejoining Jon, Mika, and Alex.
    He must have had a strange expression because Mika placed her hand over his. “Is everything okay?”
    “The FBI’s investigation on me is done.”
    Sympathy in her gaze, she squeezed his fingers. “I’m so sorry. It’s just not fair.”
    “You got a raw deal, bro. They’re losing a good man,” Jon agreed, nodding his head.
    “No. It’s not that.” Cal was still so stunned he was having a hard time expressing what he’d heard. “I was cleared. Of everything. Trainor asked me when I could be back in Chicago. They have a new undercover assignment for me.”
    Even in his deepest heart of hearts Cal had never expected the investigation to go his way. He’d been sure it was all a sham and he would be politely asked to resign, best case scenario. But here he was with a second chance at his chosen career. He was a damn good agent and he knew it. He’d put countless criminals behind bars in his years and the job was still challenging…
    He didn’t want to go back.
    Cal was home. Applewood and small town life had grown on him these last two months. Add in the love of his life and he couldn’t imagine why he would ever want to leave.
    Silence stretched awkwardly and Jon patted Alex on the shoulder, pointing to the buffet.
    “What do you say we go and find some more dessert? I think I see a dark chocolate cake over there and some vanilla pudding.”
    The two of them loped back into the warehouse leaving Cal and Mika alone at the table. Before he could tell her he wasn’t about to leave she pressed two fingers to his lips.
    “You don’t have to say anything. I know you didn’t think you would be cleared but now you have another chance.”
    She didn’t understand at all.
    “Sweetheart, let me explain–”
    “No,” Mika shook her head, her tone urgent. “You don’t have to explain. Things have changed.”
    Cal finally snapped out of his reverie and grabbed at both of her hands. “I told you I wasn’t going anywhere and I meant it, Mika. I’m staying here.”
    Tears shone in her eyes and she gave him a tremulous smile. “I don’t want you to stay because of a promise you made to me. I want you to be happy and I don’t want to stand in your way.”
    Cal had changed in more ways than one.
    “Your belief in me means more than I can ever tell you.” A lump in his throat made it hard to speak. “I love you, Mika, and I want to make a life here with you. You, me, and Alex. I think Applewood is a better place for him to grow up too. Wherever you are is home and that’s good enough for me.”
    “I just want–”
    “Are you trying to get rid of me?” Cal teased with a raised brow. “I tell you I love you and I want to stay and you try and talk me out of it. I might get a complex here.”
    Her brilliant smile was all he needed to make everything okay. The man that needed to climb the ladder and receive his validation from people he barely gave two shits about had finally grown the hell up. There were few people in the world whose opinion mattered to him and one of them was sitting right here.
    “I’m glad you’re staying. I’ve got big plans for next year’s haunted house.”
    Cal laughed and leaned over to brush his lips against hers. “I can’t wait to hear all about it, sweetheart. Consider me your willing slave.”
    “Does this mean you’re going to join your father’s carpentry business? I’m sure Abe would love that.”
    He’d thought long and hard about this very subject. Mika wasn’t getting much of a bargain in this relationship. Cal was middle-aged and unemployed, not a great combination. She could do a hell of a lot better than him and so finding a new career was high on his list of things to do.
    “No, I