Free Once a SEAL by Anne Elizabeth

the work, but there was still a lot to do. Amazingly enough, they’d managed to move the contents of Aria’s entire apartment and his clothes, footlockers, and gear into the house. His possessions were paltry compared to hers, not that it mattered very much. What was hers was hers, and if the rumors were true from his married friends, what was his was hers. He was fine with that, too. If he didn’t want someone in his stuff, it wouldn’t be in the house and he wouldn’t have joined his life to another’s. As it was, he was more concerned about the darker details of his life—never being able to explain what he did or where he was going.
    The only question he had now was…where to stash his guns. He’d been collecting them since he joined the Navy, and there were at least thirty of them. Someday he’d share the reason for their presence in his life. For now he just needed to make sure they were safely stored. “Aria, I know I must have asked you this before, but how much training have you had with firearms?”
    He opened a case, extracted one of his favorites, pulled the slide back, and inspected the barrel of the 9 mm Sig Sauer. Empty and clean as a whistle. He held the sweet weight in his hand, then wiped it off and laid it back in its case. Securing the latch, he tucked it among the others. “Aria, did you hear me?”
    “Yes.” Her voice carried from the kitchen, where she was unpacking dishes. “I told you before, I can shoot single and double-barreled shotguns. I used to hunt with my dad. We have deer, bear, and a ton of other game in Vermont. I think I ate game before I ate cow for the first time, which was when I was seven.”
    He nodded his head. Right. “We definitely have a lot of work to do, and we most certainly need a gun safe.” Looking in the master-bedroom closet, he saw the perfect place for one. It was hidden enough not to be obvious to strangers, yet an easy spot to access if necessary. Tucking the collection of guns and cases into his semi empty duffel, he zipped it up and slapped a combination lock on it. It wasn’t much protection, but it’d have to do for now.
    “What did you say?” she shouted. The sound of pots and pans clanging together was an annoying cacophony. “Speak up or come in here.”
    When she didn’t get an immediate response, she yelled, “Dan!”
    “Yes,” he said softly, standing behind her.
    Startled, she leaped into the air, dropping the pans she was holding onto the floor with a loud bang, and then reeled on him. “Don’t do that.”
    Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her soundly on the lips. “Don’t do what?” His arms wrapped tightly around her.
    “That,” she said, rubbing her nose against his and responding to his touch. “You scared me. Don’t do that Spec Ops sneak thing.” She wound her arms around his neck and rubbed her lips on his.
    “Oh, but I enjoy watching your body move so quickly.”
    “Jerk!” She pushed her hands against his chest.
    He refused to let her go. “I’d never hurt you.”
    “I know. I just…don’t do well with surprises.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “My first surprise ever wasn’t pleasant. Remember, I told you…when my parents died.”
    Of course he remembered. She’d been nine years old, about to turn ten. Her mom and dad had gone to buy “special” Ben & Jerry’s ice cream from the store. They’d been expecting Jimmy any day, so her mother’s pregnancy cravings ruled the house. A drunk driver had hit them head-on. Her father had been killed instantly, and her mom had gone into labor. She had survived long enough to give birth before she died too.
    Aria drew in a ragged breath. “It was the worst day of my life.”
    He could feel silent tears soaking through his shirt. With one hand, he gently rubbed small circles on her back, and with the other, he held her tight.
    “It was up to me after that to keep the family together.” She sniffed a few times.
    “I’m sorry.” He hugged