Embattled SEAL Quotes

“I’m sure you’re wrong,” Cat murmured. “Teachers have to like all kids. It’s in the job description.”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“You are the most amazing woman. You’ve put up with so much of my crap and I pray that you’ll put up with a little more. I’m trying to do the best I can but it’s a process, you know?” She snorted and sniffed, nodding. Wrapping her arms around his neck she buried her face against him. “I love you, Harper. I would have waited for you, but it was getting so hard.” Fresh tears dripped from her jaw but he wiped them away and cupped her face to look at him. “I know, babe, but you don’t have to do it alone now. I promise you I will be here when you need me, any time. And I will never shut off communication like that again. Just write off that year and a half to me being a stupid, stubborn, idiotic man, okay?” Sputtering, she rocked her head against him. “I will,” she whispered. “I love you, Cat. So very much.” “I love you too, you stubborn man.” They”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“Fuck, Cat, I didn’t think I needed to tell you. I’m so invested in you, in us being together again I can’t think straight. Why do you think I came down here? Yes, I had loose ends but I also just plain wanted to see you again. When you walked in that hospital room door you started an irreversible chain of events. I would have come back eventually, somehow, but getting shot made you come to me sooner. I’m actually appreciative that I got wounded because I don’t know when I would have taken the initiative to do anything about our situation. You forced me to see that we’re better off together. I love you, damn it. How can I not be with you now?” Tears”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“Well,” she murmured, “I didn’t expect that when I opened the door.” Harper began to laugh and he hugged her to him.”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“I haven’t felt this gutted,” he growled, “since the day I left Virginia. Those kids are killing me.” Cat opened her arms and he stepped into them, tucking his face into her neck. “I love you,” she told him softly. “And I think this is good for everyone. We all had a chance to reconnect—now we’ll let the connection mature and remind us that we have an amazing family. We’ll be back together in no time.” He”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“You were very gracious and warm. And nonjudgmental. That’s a big deal in our group.” Cat nodded, understanding what he meant. Some of the guys there were really chewed up. Zeke had shown up just before they left and her heart had ached for the guy. But being through that kind of ordeal just made them stronger men, she would hope at least.”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” he drawled, running his gaze up and down. Harper snorted at the joke the two of them had never heard before. Cat laughed more appreciatively. But Duncan’s attention had been caught by the kids coming in behind them. “Duncan, you know Cat, but these are my kids, Dillon,” he rested a hand on her shoulder, “and Tate.” Harper lifted the boy up into his arms. Duncan pushed up out of the chair and circled the desk, his face creased in a smile. He shook each of the kids’ hands. “It’s a true pleasure to meet you. Your dad is really something.” Harper caught the narrow-eyed look Duncan threw at him and he knew there would be questions later, but that would be all right. He could deal with questions. “Hold”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“Cat packed the truck, suddenly struck with nervousness. They were about to completely flip their lives on end on the mere hope that they could be together as a family again. Her parents were not going to be overjoyed. Just then Harper walked out of the house. His straight dark hair was almost an inch long now, but it looked really good on him. For years it had never been much longer than a half inch. The granny shades had been retired, replaced with a reflective set of wraparound Oakleys. When he had those glasses on you couldn’t even see the scars. That sharp jaw had been shaved clean, just like she liked it. His body was well on the mend. Every once in a while she caught him wincing as he reached for something, but those times were fewer and farther between. As he hefted his duffle into the back of the truck her eyes traced down his magnificent body. The new blue jeans cupped his ass to perfection and the knife she had given him was snugged into the corner of his pocket. The Damascus blade had been packed away with care. The black Henley shirt he had stretched on over his massive chest and taut abs made his eyes look even more silver. He considered the color tactical but she just considered it sexy. When he looked up at her and graced her with one of his rare smiles she couldn’t help but return it. Yes, she had hope. More than enough for all of them.”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“I love you, Harper.” His hands reached up but he only cupped her hips, letting her continue on her journey. She pressed a kiss to the scar across his right deltoid, an old injury from one of his first deployments, then his left collarbone, broken on a training trip to California. Then, moving carefully, she pressed kisses to the new scar still healing on his chest. That one had been too close to taking his life. Thank goodness he had been able to receive medical care as quickly as he did. Cat moved down Harper’s muscled abs and the slim line of black hair there. “I think everything about you is beautiful.” He puffed out a little laugh but she looked up at him with reproach. “I do. Your body is superb, even wounded. It always has been. That’s why I always have to beat the nurses off you.” She flashed him a grin. “Your mind is devious and brilliant, but I love that. The loyalty to your family and your men is humbling.” She stroked a finger over the tattoo that echoed those sentiments on his right pectoral. “Your unfailing courage in the face of everything that has happened is astounding. I know whatever we have to face you will conquer with that same indomitable, dogged, Navy SEAL will. And your heart,” she moved back up his chest to press a kiss to his sternum, “your heart is more loving and willing to try than I ever could have hoped. We’re going to put our family back together,” she promised. Harper stared up at her for several long seconds before he closed his eyes, but not before she’d seen the shine of moisture in their depths. He pulled her down on top of him, burying his face into her neck. “You are every bit the woman you’ve always been, calm and understanding, willing to put up with my shit. And I have to tell you. All of those things you see in me? I wouldn’t be any of them without you. And I mean that. You’ve supported me through everything. You flew across the country to be at my bedside even though you didn’t know the kind of reaction you’d receive. It amazes me that you would take that chance. But I’m so glad you did. I love you, Catherine Marie Preston. I always have.” She flashed a smile at the use of her full name. “And I love you, Harper Broderick Preston. I always will.” They”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“Cat woke to giggles and a jiggling bed. “Mom,” Tate singsonged. She cracked an eye open, smiling. “Hey, little man.” Then her eyes widened. Both kids and Harper were standing over her. They were all grinning and Harper held a wooden tray with food on it. Cat pushed herself upright in the bed, glad she’d slipped on a t-shirt at some point. “What’s going on?” “We made you breakfast,” Dillon told her. Cat’s brows lifted in surprise. “Really?” The more amazing thing was that Dillon was grinning up at Harper like she used to. Cat met Harper’s gaze and he gave her a little nod. Huh. There was a story there she’d have to get later. Cat dug into her dubious breakfast but loved every minute of it because her family surrounded her, looking on with fun and enjoyment. For a moment her eyes filled with tears as she looked at their dear faces. “I love all you guys,” she told them softly. Harper leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her lips. “Hey, Mom? If you love me can I have your last piece of bacon?” She pulled back, laughing. “Yes, my little dispose-all, you can have my last piece of bacon.”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“What happened?” Harper swallowed, unsure what to tell his daughter. What had Cat told her? “I was shot a couple of weeks ago.” Her eyes flashed to his as if to see if he were telling the truth. “Seriously?” He nodded. “But I’m okay. No big deal,” he assured her. She shook her head, stepping closer. Her hand lifted as if she wanted to touch the wound but she stopped. “Does it still hurt?” “Not much. I’m kind of used to it.” Crossing her arms, she looked up at him, considering. “Mom told me you had been hurt but she didn’t say how or why. I thought she was lying to me again.” Harper winced. “She wasn’t lying. I was shot in the chest and I was hit by glass when my scope was hit. I lost the vision in my right eye.” He rubbed at the scars on his face a little self-consciously. She blinked. “Isn’t that your shooting eye?” Harper looked at her, considering. Damn, she was sharp. “Yes, it is. I’m going to have to teach myself to shoot again. I don’t really shoot much at work, but it’s a skill I need to keep.” Dillon shook her head again, her expression forlorn. “Where do you work now? Mom didn’t know. And we haven’t heard from you in so long. It was like you disappeared off the earth. And now you’re hurt.” Tears filled her eyes again and one slipped down her cheek. She swiped it away angrily, but more began to follow. “Oh, honey.” Harper dared to take a step toward her, heartened when she didn’t bolt. “I’m okay. I really am. And I’m sorry I haven’t talked to you. Believe it or not I’ve missed you too—I just didn’t feel like I could be at home with you for a while. Not because of anything you did, but because of things that were going on in my head. I had to get them straightened out so that I could be with you guys.” Dillon didn’t look like she believed him, but at least she was listening. “I swear to you I wanted to come home, but I couldn’t risk you guys. In my old job with the SEALs I had to go to war in bad places.” “Afghanistan?” He stopped, surprised. But then, why was he surprised? Dillon was damn smart. “Yes. I was there for a good while. And a bunch of other places. And when you get used to doing something, like fighting in a war, it’s hard to change when you come home. I had problems getting used to not fighting. Do you understand?” She nodded, arms still wrapped around herself. “So rather than run the chance of maybe waking up one night and hurting you guys I moved out. It wasn’t because your mom and I had problems, it wasn’t because I didn’t love you and it definitely wasn’t because of anything you kids did. It was just me. Fighting myself in my head. And I worried that if I talked to you guys I wouldn’t be able to stay away.” Tears were still dripping down her cheeks. Harper dared to reach out and tuck a mussed strand of her dark hair behind her ear. “But I promise you I won’t leave you again. Not like this. And I promise I will always talk to you. Okay?” She nodded and took a step forward, as if seeking reassurance. Harper opened his arms for a hug and she folded into him, sobbing. “Oh, baby girl, I love you so much. I’m sorry I hurt you but I really did think it would be better if I just disappeared.” He ran his hands down her long hair and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Do you think you can forgive me? I really miss talking to you.” She nodded her head against him and wrapped her arms around him to squeeze, then pulled back with a gasp. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” Harper smiled. “Nope. Not enough to notice.” He pulled her back for another hug and another kiss on top of her head. “Wanna grab some breakfast?” Dillon nodded and they headed to the kitchen, his arm around her shoulders.”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“How do I reach her?” he whispered. Cat shook her head against him. “I’m not sure. It may take a while.” He heaved a sigh as if he had already assumed the answer. As”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“It seemed to Tate that all was forgiven. Or forgotten. Dad was back and all was well again. But even his enthusiasm began to wane in the face of Dillon’s icy reserve. At one point he leaned over, whispering to his sister. Harper glanced at them in the rearview mirror. Dillon shook her head, arms crossed over her narrow chest, then turned back to the window. Harper had no idea what he needed to do. The only thing he did know was that it was going to take time. Cat”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“Tate saw him first and bolted toward him, Iron Man backpack falling from his fingers to the concourse floor, gap-toothed grin wide. Harper leaned down and caught his son as he slammed into him, lifting him into his arms. Then Tate’s strong little arms were unyielding in their strength as they wrapped around his neck. Harper absorbed the unbridled joy and returned it tenfold. “You’ve grown so much,” he whispered, amazed at what a man his child was turning into. Both kids were beautiful. Tate looked a little wild after sleeping on the plane. Dark hair stood on end and his fair skin was flushed, but his burnished golden eyes, the same as his mother, shone with happiness. Dillon had the dark hair but had inherited his own gray eyes. And right now they were as cold and unyielding as he knew his own could be. The girl stood cradled in her mother’s arms. There were tears in her wounded eyes but she refused to let them fall. Still carrying Tate Harper walked forward, one hand held out. But Dillon turned her face into Cat’s chest. He tried not to be hurt at the rebuff, but he was. And she had every right to treat him that way. Time after time he had let her down. Hell, if he boiled everything down he’d basically been a sperm donor. Other people had been there to welcome her into the world, cheer her on for all her milestones. As he thought about everything he had missed nausea turned his stomach.”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“Cat sat in a rocking recliner, her foot pushing the chair into motion steadily. She looked up when he came down the stairs but didn’t say anything. Harper felt like a royal ass when he saw her tear-stained cheeks and the tissues clutched in her hand. Cat was a strong woman. It took a lot to see her cry. The fact that she was crying now made him feel like the lowest kind of scum. Crossing the room, he knelt down in front of her, stopping the chair. “I’m sorry I didn’t respond to you. I’m kind of in shock. When I fell in love with you I just always thought it was forever. Even though my lifestyle didn’t create stability, you did, Cat. You were always my stability. Walking away was the hardest thing I ever had to do. But I did it in the hopes that I could make myself better. It’s not like a damned driving test where if I mark a wrong answer I get to take the test over again. I’m a trained killer. If I had screwed up in our house you or the kids were going to pay for it, possibly with your lives. I couldn’t chance that.” Fresh tears rolled down her face and her expression crumpled. “I know. I knew that was why you left. Or at least that was what I had hoped. But it’s been eighteen damn months—a year and a half—with you not letting us have any contact. If you had talked to us, or wrote…just something to let us know that we weren’t all alone.” Cat sobbed and it broke his heart. Pulling her into his arms then down onto his lap, he held her as she let all her emotions out. Tears choked his own throat as he cradled her to him. “If I had called I would not have been able to stay away.” And that was the gist of his angst. God, yes, he wanted to be with them, but he was willing to give up his own happiness if it kept them safe. Cat’s arms wrapped around his neck and she looked up at him. “I have always had more faith in you than you have yourself. Always.” Nuzzling his face into her damp hair, he nodded. “I know that. Without a doubt. And whether you were with me or not your faith kept me going.” Relaxing into his hold, Cat’s tears began to slow. “I love you, Cat.” Her arms tightened around his neck till he thought something was going to pop. “I love you too, damn it.”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“But when I married you I knew there was a chance that something could happen. Did I expect a normal life? Hell, no. You were a Navy SEAL, one of the most elite fighting machines in the country. I knew when the government called you were gone.” She choked out a laugh. “What woman would sign up for that craziness?” She heaved a great sigh and leaned against his back. “A woman who loved her fierce, dedicated warrior and knew his country would always take precedence over his family.” He shifted as if to argue but she rocked her head against him. “But the problem is, even after you left it was still taking precedence. I know you were worried about retribution because of what you had done over there, but the chances of that actually happening are so slim. And I realize that going from running a million miles a minute, saving people, shooting guns to suburban home life is a devastating change. I had hoped that the training job would be a good transition between the two, but it didn’t seem to even have a bearing.” “It did have a bearing,” he disagreed. “I had started to slow down. But you’re right. It’s so hard turning off the war machine. Over there you expect to be shot at. You expect to lose your best friends. When you sit in the dirt to talk to a guy and watch his head explode in front of you, it’s hard not to be that way.” Tears flooded her eyes and ran down her cheeks at the harsh visual, but Harper just breathed through it. Cat tightened her arms around his back, hoping her presence could help him in some small way. “I’m sorry.” He turned to look at her. “I’m not telling you this for sympathy. I just wanted you to understand how drastically different our lives were. I had to find a way to adapt to all those changes. Dr. Singh is helping me do that. And I’m beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.” He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’m amazed at all you’ve had to put up with and humbled that you’re willing to put up with more. For a while there I wondered if just letting you go wouldn’t be better for everyone.” “It wouldn’t,” she murmured, resting her head against his chest. “You are a part of us. We can’t let you go like that.” His”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“It had been a long time since her body had felt this way. As she stepped under the water and lathered she took note of all the sensitive places. The stubble on his jaw had chafed her chin and cheeks, his hands had bruised her hips a bit. But it was all done in the heat of passion and love. She loved feeling like this. The other half of her heart was sleeping out there on the bed. As she left the bathroom she took care to move quietly when she slipped between the sheets. It was still fairly early for her, but what the hell. It had been such a long time since she’d had the chance to sleep with her husband. Harper didn’t move. Feeling daring, Cat backed her ass into the curve of his lap. Immediately his heavy arm wrapped around her hips and pulled her back into him. Sighing, she savored the feel of his heat as long as she could before she let sleep overcome her.”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“It had been a long time since her body had felt this way. As she stepped under the water and lathered she took note of all the sensitive places. The stubble on his jaw had chafed her chin and cheeks, his hands had bruised her hips a bit. But it was all done in the heat of passion and love. She loved feeling like this. The other half of her heart was sleeping out there on the bed. As”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“I always worried that you would find another man to take better care of you. You’re a good-looking woman and I wouldn’t have blamed you. The wife of a SEAL is not an easy job.” The quiet words held brutal honesty. “I wouldn’t have cheated on you. I had opportunities definitely, but that’s not the kind of person I am.” Harper smiled and looked down at his lap. “What?” she asked. His hard silver-grey eyes flicked up to her face, seeming to glow. “Is it wrong that I like knowing men wanted you?” Cat shook her head, laughing. “Really? I profess my commitment to our marriage and you get jacked knowing men were after me?” Harper made a face, looking sheepish. “What can I say? You’ve always turned me on but there’s something about having what another man wants that satisfies the competitive caveman in me.” By the pleasure curling in her stomach it apparently satisfied something in her as well. The desire she had banked all day returned. Cat played with her half empty water glass, swirling the base in the moisture on the table. “It always made me excited when I saw women looking at you as well,” she admitted. “But I worried when you weren’t around.” Harper narrowed his eyes and leaned forward, invading her personal space. “I never cheated. Ever. Were there opportunities? Of course. But I was never tempted. Most of the women that hit on me I couldn’t even stand to listen to.” Some knot of tangled emotion eased in her chest. Harper was a virile man. He had a healthy sex drive. When they’d been together they’d loved almost every day. But in the back of her mind had been the fear that he’d sated those drives with someone else. Tears smarted her eyes as the relief flowed through her. She looked down at her plate, unwilling to let him see. Hard fingers tilted her face up. Anger sparked in his silver eyes. “I would never cheat on you. I take my marriage vows seriously. I always have.” She nodded and a tear dripped down her cheek. “I know you have but a year and a half is a really long time. Longer than any of your deployments. I guess I kind of expected…well, I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had.” “But I would have blamed me and that’s not something I need on my conscience, not along with everything else,” he told her firmly. “Besides, I’ve never been drawn to anyone else since I met you. Did I tell you you look beautiful today? Because you do.” With”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“Mercy said to tell you hi next time I talked to you and that she thanks you for sending her bear back.” Damn. Cat must have done that too. She’d been a busy woman the last couple of days. “Tell her I appreciated the loan.” “I will. Enjoy yourself, buddy. The company can run without you for a while. Get your marriage in order. A few months ago I wouldn’t have understood how important that is, but I do now. If she’s the one for you you need to invest time in her.” Harper knew he was right; it was just hard taking a step back. Daring to go out on a limb, he cleared his throat. “I left because of the anxiety and the paranoia. I thought I was going to hurt someone.” Silence stretched for several seconds. “But if you leave the good because you’re worried about the bad, the bad wins, right? You have a better chance of getting right in the head if you have the right foundation at home.” Harper sighed. Though he had a few years on his boss age-wise the guy had the right of it. “Yeah, I know what you’re saying is sound—it’s just hard. The worries are persistent.” “I know, but I also know you’re more persistent. You’re a damn bull. You need to find a way to keep your family together.” There”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“Harper let his hands drift down her waist and they ended up cupping her ass. They both paused as he squeezed and he knew she was wondering if he would pick her up like he used to. Pulling her tight, he tested the pain in his chest. Manageable. Probably wouldn’t hurt too bad. “Don’t.” Damn, she was a freaking mind reader. Smiling against her mouth, he pulled away to grab a breath. “You were remembering too, weren’t you?” The wash of color under her pale cheeks and her dilated pupils spoke volumes. “Hard not to. You used to haul my ass everywhere.” Harper grinned, remembering. Hell, he used to have her hop on his back for him to train with, her weight and balance perfect. Before he could lean in again she pulled away and crossed back to the sink. “I think it’s a little early to get physical. You’re still healing.” “Fuck that. We’ve made love when I was worse off before. Seems like I remember a visit late at night at Walter Reed.” Her cheeks pinkened before she turned away. “That was different.” Chuckling, he decided to let her have her freedom. She could stew on her arousal; then the next time he approached her she would be more receptive.”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“Harper became a little distracted watching her. This morning she wore a soft t-shirt he didn’t recognize and a pair of blue jeans he seemed to remember ripping off her a time or two. His anger faded away as he watched her lean body move. There was no wasted motion with her. It was one of the things that had drawn his eye when he first met her. She hadn’t been through the training he had, but she had a natural grace to her that was spellbinding. Cat was competent and controlled in all things, body, mind and spirit. Even at twenty-two when he’d first met her, he knew he’d been none of those things. His body had been maturing faster than his mind. His spirit had never caught up. The most complete his spirit had ever been had been when he was living with her. All of the fucked up shit he’d grown up with had faded away. There were a couple of brief, shining moments he remembered being completely content with everything in his life. Stupid things like watching her cook him a monster dinner after being deployed for months. Real food made with loving hands after living on government supplied freeze-dried crap made by machines. Playing in the snow on a trip up north, Cat pregnant with Dillon at the time. Watching her tinker under the hood of the truck with him, grease streaked on her cheek. Cat had been at the center of all of those. The past year and a half had been hard. Remembering those brilliant moments had kept him moving through his monotonous life. “I miss watching you,” he admitted. She paused long enough to smile at him, hand propped on her hip. “And I miss feeling the weight of your gaze on me.” Arousal”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“Choking down a swallow, he searched for the calm center in his being, but she’d just walked out the door. Cat had always been his calm. Even when he wasn’t with her just thinking about her slow smile and steady disposition leveled him out. Harper looked down at his hands, unsurprised to see them quake. The thought of not having Cat in his life or even connected to it devastated him. Resolution filled him. He couldn’t let her think he didn’t want to be with her. Shoving”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“I don’t know if I can stay here for two weeks.” Cat flinched internally at the flat words. “Why not?” Out of her peripheral vision she could see his hands tighten on the chair arms, the only outward sign he was uncomfortable. She forced herself to stay relaxed. “Because I need to get back to work. I can’t leave LNF short-handed.” “They’re not. Duncan said he’d had to hire three people to take your place, but the new guys are already working. Your position is secure, however. I checked with Wilde before I arranged all this.” The information didn’t seem to relax him at all. The wood creaked beneath his massive clenching hands. “Why are you stressing?” she asked calmly. “I don’t know if I can stay here with you that long.” Searing pain shattered her heart at his cold words, but she forced herself to breathe. Icy determination pushed away the pain. “Well, you’re going to have to, because this is the last time I’m doing this. This time here at the house is also meant to be for us to decide where this marriage is going, because right now it’s circling the drain. I can’t hang in this limbo anymore and it’s not fair to the kids to expect them to either. So before you bolt out of here just be aware that this is the last time I am going to fight for our marriage.” Unable to stay still any longer, she pushed up out of the chair. “I’m going to go soak in the tub. Or something.” She”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“Cat woke him for dinner. When he shuffled out, grungy and out of sorts without the arm brace on, she gave him a dirty look but didn’t say anything. She offered to cut up his oven-baked chicken, but he waved her away. “I can do it, damn it.” Hands up in entreaty, she left him alone to struggle through the meal. “That”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“They slid out of the vehicle and Cat watched to make sure he was steady on his feet. When he wavered just a bit she stepped close and wrapped her arm around his waist on the right, uninjured side. Harper shifted as if to nudge her away, but Cat held on. “Just go with it, stubborn.” There was a grumble of laughter before his heavy arm landed on her shoulders. “Fine, stubborn. But if I go down we’re both going down.” After”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“I couldn’t breathe in that place,” he admitted. Cat marveled at his senses. Even with his eyes closed he’d known she was looking at him. That crazy sixth-sense of his kicking in. “Completely understandable. You have a lot of not so great memories in there. In several hospitals in several states and several countries.” Harper grinned, the flash of teeth bold and vibrant. “At least this hospital wasn’t being bombed like the one I went through in Iraq.” “Or in the path of a once in a lifetime blizzard like the time you were at Walter Reed.” He gave her a nod, his smile fading. “You’ve been at most of them with me. I appreciate that, Cat.” Wow. She sucked in a breath at his softly spoken words. “I was your wife. Where else would I have been?” Harper rocked his head toward her. “You could have stayed home like a lot of the wives did.” She shook her head, grimacing. “That’s not where a wife belongs when her husband is hurt. She belongs at his side. Rooting him on to recover as fully as possible.” “There were a lot of guys that had no one, either in Germany or when they got home.” “I know,” she admitted. “But with my parents living within easy driving distance, I had an advantage. They were always ready to watch the kids at a second’s notice.” He”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“Harper opened the blade of the Kershaw knife. It wasn’t nearly as big as what he was used to carrying, but it was as big as she wanted to get him. He tested the weight of the blade and the sharpness of the edge before clipping it into the corner of his pocket. When he looked up there was appreciation in his expression. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed having something there. Thank you.” Cat actually did have some idea. His hand had gone to his hip several times over the past few days, whether he realized it or not. “You’re welcome. Just don’t flash it at the nurses.” He chuckled then winced, holding his chest with his un-slung arm. “What are they going to do, kick me out?” Cat laughed. “I think they’re already kicking us out early. They just don’t want to deal with your temper tantrums. God forbid you hit one of their scrawny asses. You’d break them.” He”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“When her hand landed on the tense deltoid muscle, he reached up, grabbed her hand and dragged her into his heavy arms. Cat knew the hug was for his own peace of mind, but she savored the touch. For just a few seconds she allowed herself to burrow into his chest, the scalding heat of his skin wrapping her in a heavy cocoon. It was no surprise to hear the strident knock on the door of the room a few minutes later. “I’d better go smooth some feathers.” Even in the dim light she could see the flash of his white teeth as he grinned. “Just like old times, huh?” Cat snorted. “Absolutely.” When”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL

“His gaze fell to the rolling table beside his bed and the tattered brown teddy bear resting there. “Your boss said the little girl you saved wanted you to have it while you were sick, but she expects to get it back.” Emotion constricted his throat and he had to look away from Cat to clear it. Reaching out a finger, he stroked down the stuffed animal’s head. “She didn’t have to do that.” “Chad seemed very surprised she had given it up.” He nodded, his head throbbing from emotion and physical pain. He wanted to crawl into bed and drag Cat with him. She seemed to sense as well that he had almost reached his limit, because she peeled the blankets back on the bed. “Why don’t you chill for a little bit? We’ll go over our options later. Want me to help you with the sling?” Without argument he turned to let her release the Velcro strips, then shifted himself back to the mattress, dragging a spare pillow over his aching eyes. The lack of light immediately eased some of the tension in his head. “Can you hang out with me for a while?” She stroked her hand down his arm and squeezed his fingers. “I will.” Huffing”
― J.M. Madden, Embattled SEAL