Page 65 of Rescuing Brinley

“Oh, poo. I’ve enjoyed talking to you guys so much! When can we do it again? Better yet, when are you going to bring Brinley down here to Phoenix so I can meet her in person?”

“Easy, Mom. I’m trying not to scare her away this soon in our relationship.”

“Whatever. I’m doing you a favor. I can tell her all the good things about you. You know, not about the time you skipped school and put all those plastic forks in the principal’s yard and had to clean out the trash cans in the cafeteria for a month as a result. But instead, things like how you stood up for that boy who was being bullied on the school bus when you were in the seventh grade, and when you rescued a kitten from two older boys who thought it was funny to tie a bunch of little bells to its tail and watch it freak out.”

Shadow chuckled. “We’ll talk. Brin’s busy, and I’ll have to get with my boss and see when it might be a good time to take leave.”

“All right. I miss you, Dash. And I’m so proud of you. When your dad died, I thought for sure I’d screw things up in raising you by myself, but every day you make me more and more proud. I love you, son.”

“I love you too, Mom. You’re the best.”

“I am,” she said with a huge smile. “Brinley, I’m completely sure you’re probably too good for my son, but he’s a good boy. He’ll do right by you. He’ll bend over backward to be the kind of man you want and need. He’ll be your biggest fan and staunchest protector. And I can already see that you’re absolutely perfect for him.”

Brinley looked at Shadow, and he couldn’t read the emotion he saw in her eyes. “He’s awesome,” she said quietly, before turning to look back at his mom on the screen. “Except for the dishes thing. He doesn’t know how to load a dishwasher properly.”

His mom laughed long and hard. “I guess I failed him there. But I’m sure you’ll teach him in no time.”

“It was very nice meeting you, Pauly.”

“Same. Have Dash give you my number. Call whenever you feel like it. I wouldn’t mind talking with you more.”

“I will. Have a good night. I hope you feel better soon.”

“Oh, I’m sure I will. My nap today did me a world of good. Take care of her, son.”

“Plan on it, Mom.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too. Talk to you soon.”

“Bye.”

“Bye.”

Shadow clicked the button to end the connection and put the phone down. He turned to Brinley. “Told you,” he couldn’t help saying.

She laughed. “You did. She’s great.”

“Yeah. My mom is the shit. She’s always been that way. Supportive and encouraging, without spoiling me.”

“You’re a mama’s boy.”

“Yup,” Shadow said without hesitation, not in the least ashamed of the moniker. “You still want to watch an episode of the baking show?”

She smiled. “If I said no?”

He did his best to keep the disappointment he felt from showing—and obviously failed.

She giggled. “Kidding! I know you want to know who gets kicked off next. Let’s do it.”

Shadow settled back on the couch and grabbed the remote. Warmth filled him as Brinley snuggled against him. Being in a relationship wasn’t all about sex and looking your best. It was times like this that were coming to mean the most to Shadow, relaxing and doing nothing on the couch. Loading the dishwasher together, talking to his mom, teasing each other. It was something he’d never had, and even though he’d only been with Brin for a short while, he already couldn’t imagine what his life would be without her.

They still had some hurdles to cross, the biggest being how she’d deal with him being deployed. Most of the time he wouldn’t be able to tell her where he was going or when he’d be back. Or in the winter, when he spent a week or more at a time in the field, training the units who rotated in and out on arctic survival methods.

But deep down, he was pretty sure she’d handle the separations with grace and patience. Brinley wasn’t the kind of woman to be clingy. She was happy about every bit of attention she got from him, but didn’t seem to need it. Which was why Shadow enjoyed spoiling her as much as he could. Because she appreciated every little gesture so much.

Her head came to rest on his shoulder, and Shadow put his arm around her in return. One of her hands rested on his chest and she curled her legs up against him. He sighed in contentment.