Page 97 of Her Guarded Hero

“Elsa Lyle is behind everything, she needs to be secured,” Dalton said harshly. But no matter how angry he sounded, the hands that were stroking Aurora were gentle and loving.

“Dex has it taken care of. The piece of shit he took down. The one who was shooting at this car. He gave her up,” Hunter explained.

So much for that love affair, Aurora thought. She snuggled deeper into Dalton’s hold.

Siren sounded in the distance.

17

It was only three weeks since the rescue. She and Gunnar were in the orchard. In some ways it was more special to her than the stables, because it was where she had had picnics with Grandma Mae and Gunnar.

“It’s kind of cold for a picnic,” Gunnar smiled. “But I think it works out well.”

“I’d say so. You kind of made it winter proof.” Aurora spread her arms wide to take in the tarp, covered by the five horse blankets and the propane heater.

“Just remember what your soon-to-be husband has to live up to.” His eyes twinkled.

Aurora blushed. She was glad that her grandfather hadn’t questioned Erwin too closely as to why they had the tarp and propane heater, otherwise he’d realize Dalton had already purchased them for a more intimate outing not so long ago. He’d also brought along flowers and a ring.

“Drink your cocoa Darlin.” She sipped the hot chocolate he’d poured from the thermos.

“What did you want to talk about?” she asked.

“Everything. Anything,” he answered.

“That’s quite the list.” Aurora settled down in the little camp chair. Seriously, she had everything to make a pregnant woman feel comfortable. She smoothed her hand over her round stomach.

“Have you decided where you’re going to live? Have you decided if you can really and truly deal with marrying a Navy SEAL?”

“Grandpa, he said he would quit and move up here with me. Can you believe that?”

Gunnar snorted. “Are you seriously going to ask him to do that?”

“Good God no.”

“How do you feel with Dalton being away on a mission right now?” Gunnar asked seriously.

Now that was a hard one. “You know the other Navy wives tried to reassure me at the baby shower they threw for me.”

“Didn’t you say there were like ten of them or something?”

“There was Kenna, Aliana, Miranda, Sophia, Lydia-”

“Stop already,” Gunnar laughed. “Obviously you’re surrounded by estrogen down in San Diego. So they tried to reassure you about the SEALs going on missions, huh?” he prompted.

“Yeah, but it was when Lindy and I went to dinner that everything came into focus. One, she couldn’t be anything else but a police officer. Two, she’s trained down to the ‘nth degree. Grandpa, you should have seen her at the Olympic Center. The doctors said she should never have been conscious, let alone up and killing Mort. This is in her blood. Having seen it up close and personal, I know it has to be the same for Dalton. I trust him. I trust him to come home to me and our son.”

“I worried how you might handle that.”

“Well if you think you’re worried about me, I’m worried about you. Yeah, it looks promising moving down to San Diego, I could definitely make some friends, and Lindy’s close by in L.A. But I won’t have my Grandpa.”

“I worried about you having a support system when he was gone. It’s good to know that won’t be a problem.”

She leaned over awkwardly and grabbed his hand. “I want you to move down with us. Dalton and I have talked about it. He’s looking for a house that’ll be comfortable for all three of us, and the baby.”

Gunnar cupped her cheek. “God love you. There is no way I’m going to move in with newlyweds and a new baby. But I’ve been thinking, you’re not going to be happy just being a wife and mother, you’re going to need horses too.”

Aurora sighed. She was going to miss Valhalla. “I’ll be up for lots of visits, especially when Dalton is on a mission.”