Hot SEALs: Protecting Julie (Kindle Worlds) (SEAL of Protection Book 0) by Susan Stoker
Authors: Susan Stoker
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rescue. He was there to support her, to make sure his men didn’t say or do anything that would hurt her further. He’d told her they wouldn’t, but he was still there, having her back.
The door opened, and Julie watched as Cookie, Wolf, and four other men entered. Four sat in various chairs around the table in the room, while Cookie and one other man stayed standing, leaning again one of the walls.
Julie didn’t beat around the bush; she started right in, deciding that drawing it out wasn’t the best course of action for her rapidly beating heart and her psyche.
“Thank you for coming down to Mexico to rescue me. I know you did it because of my dad, but I appreciate it nonetheless. I’ve already had this talk with Cookie and Wolf, and I realize you probably don’t need or want my thanks, but you have it anyway. I know it was your job, and you’ve done it before and you’ll probably do it again, but please know that even though I looked unimpressed and acted like a selfish child, I appreciate it more than you’ll know.”
Julie then turned to Cookie. “And I said it to you yesterday, and I’ll say it again today in front of your teammates. I’m sorry about how I acted. I was scared and hurting. That’s no excuse, because I know Fiona was too and she didn’t act like me. The thing I’m most ashamed of is trying to get you to leave that stupid hut without telling you someone else was there too.” Julie looked down at her hands, clasped in her lap under the table. She dug her fingernails into her palms, trying to gather the courage to say what she needed to say. Patrick put his hand over hers and squeezed, letting her know he was there for her.
She looked up into Cookie’s eyes. “It doesn’t change anything that happened or anything I said or did, but I’m trying to be a better person.”
Cookie put her out of her misery. “As I told you yesterday, Julie, you’re welcome. I can’t lie; you weren’t the most enjoyable person to be with in the jungle, and I did have a hard time forgiving you for almost allowing me to leave Fiona there. But, she didn’t get left. She’s here, alive, and she’s doing great. I don’t need your thanks or your apology, but they’re appreciated all the same.”
Julie sagged in relief. Again, though they’d kind of already had this conversation yesterday in the boat, him accepting her apology and her thanks in front of his comrades somehow made it different. More official. She nodded at him, grateful.
The other man standing against the wall spoke up as well. “I’m Dude, and you’re right, Julie. No thanks are necessary, but to be honest, it’s nice to hear every once in a while.” He came over to where she was sitting and held out his hand. Julie put hers into it and was surprised when he pulled her out of her chair and into his arms for a big bear hug. “I’m glad you’re changing your life around.”
The other men in the room also came over and hugged her, each accepting her thanks in a personal way. Afterwards, they filed out of the room. Finally it was Cookie’s turn. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eye. “You ready?”
Julie knew what he meant. She nodded.
He walked to the door and looked out and gestured to someone. Fiona came into view and Julie watched as Cookie took hold of her hand and held it as she entered the room. Cookie closed the door behind them.
Again, knowing she had to jump right in, Julie immediately apologized. “I’m sorry I was a bitch, Fiona. You did nothing but try to help me out there. You were gracious and even though you were suffering, you still tried to comfort me. I threw it in your face, making fun of your counting and even being greedy with the food. I played into your insecurities about not being the one they were there to rescue. It was inexcusable and I’m sorrier than you’ll ever know.” Julie’s words were rushed, as if she thought Fiona would butt in and cut her off before she
The door opened, and Julie watched as Cookie, Wolf, and four other men entered. Four sat in various chairs around the table in the room, while Cookie and one other man stayed standing, leaning again one of the walls.
Julie didn’t beat around the bush; she started right in, deciding that drawing it out wasn’t the best course of action for her rapidly beating heart and her psyche.
“Thank you for coming down to Mexico to rescue me. I know you did it because of my dad, but I appreciate it nonetheless. I’ve already had this talk with Cookie and Wolf, and I realize you probably don’t need or want my thanks, but you have it anyway. I know it was your job, and you’ve done it before and you’ll probably do it again, but please know that even though I looked unimpressed and acted like a selfish child, I appreciate it more than you’ll know.”
Julie then turned to Cookie. “And I said it to you yesterday, and I’ll say it again today in front of your teammates. I’m sorry about how I acted. I was scared and hurting. That’s no excuse, because I know Fiona was too and she didn’t act like me. The thing I’m most ashamed of is trying to get you to leave that stupid hut without telling you someone else was there too.” Julie looked down at her hands, clasped in her lap under the table. She dug her fingernails into her palms, trying to gather the courage to say what she needed to say. Patrick put his hand over hers and squeezed, letting her know he was there for her.
She looked up into Cookie’s eyes. “It doesn’t change anything that happened or anything I said or did, but I’m trying to be a better person.”
Cookie put her out of her misery. “As I told you yesterday, Julie, you’re welcome. I can’t lie; you weren’t the most enjoyable person to be with in the jungle, and I did have a hard time forgiving you for almost allowing me to leave Fiona there. But, she didn’t get left. She’s here, alive, and she’s doing great. I don’t need your thanks or your apology, but they’re appreciated all the same.”
Julie sagged in relief. Again, though they’d kind of already had this conversation yesterday in the boat, him accepting her apology and her thanks in front of his comrades somehow made it different. More official. She nodded at him, grateful.
The other man standing against the wall spoke up as well. “I’m Dude, and you’re right, Julie. No thanks are necessary, but to be honest, it’s nice to hear every once in a while.” He came over to where she was sitting and held out his hand. Julie put hers into it and was surprised when he pulled her out of her chair and into his arms for a big bear hug. “I’m glad you’re changing your life around.”
The other men in the room also came over and hugged her, each accepting her thanks in a personal way. Afterwards, they filed out of the room. Finally it was Cookie’s turn. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eye. “You ready?”
Julie knew what he meant. She nodded.
He walked to the door and looked out and gestured to someone. Fiona came into view and Julie watched as Cookie took hold of her hand and held it as she entered the room. Cookie closed the door behind them.
Again, knowing she had to jump right in, Julie immediately apologized. “I’m sorry I was a bitch, Fiona. You did nothing but try to help me out there. You were gracious and even though you were suffering, you still tried to comfort me. I threw it in your face, making fun of your counting and even being greedy with the food. I played into your insecurities about not being the one they were there to rescue. It was inexcusable and I’m sorrier than you’ll ever know.” Julie’s words were rushed, as if she thought Fiona would butt in and cut her off before she
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