Shadowed by Kariss Lynch Read Free Book Online Page B

“It’s nice to finally meet you.”
    She looked at his hand and grinned. “That won’t work in this house.” She stepped
forward and put her arm around his waist, rubbing her hand on his back with sisterly
affection. “We hug. Don’t even try to shake Mom’s hand.” She turned toward the house,
unfastening her life jacket as she went, revealing a black swimsuit. She stopped
when she realized he wasn’t following. “Welcome to the family, Nick. We’re glad you’re
here.” She nodded toward the house with a smile and kept walking as Micah and Sarah
Beth followed her.
    The plane hit an air pocket, and Nick’s mind flew back to the present. He still felt
the same way about Kaylan now, breathless, hopeful of what could be, what would be
if he had anything to say about it. For a time he thought marrying her was an impossible
dream, something he cooked up in the heat of a summer morning. Now he knew his gut
instinct was correct. He was ready to marry this girl.
    Life had changed her. Haiti had changed her. While his first memory was of a girl
becoming a woman, Haiti had solidified the transition to womanhood. A hint of sadness
colored the innocence and childhood laughter that once defined her. She used to say
that Sarah Beth defined full life, but Nick knew better. Kaylan defined that all
on her own. She just needed to discover the beauty that came after a person experienced
brokenness. She was finding her way back, learning to laugh again, learning it was
okay to love with all her heart. That joyful girl of summers past lay somewhere deep
inside, ready to burst past the hurt and death of innocence. He had determined to
help her find her way back to that girl, to remember the sweetness of a time when
life was beautiful just for a moment and remind her that they would make more of
those moments in the days and years to come.
    With thoughts of summer days, sunrises, and an auburn-haired beauty, Nick drifted
to sleep, Micah’s snores providing just the hint of home he needed to relax and let
go.

Chapter 7
    N ICK’S TEAM LANDED at the Naval Support Activity base in Souda Bay, Crete, at zero
five hundred on Tuesday after about fifteen hours of travel time. Nick felt grungy
and exhausted as he grabbed his bag and followed his team into the hangar where they
set up a small briefing area in a corner. He shook his head, hoping to dispel the
fog.
    The sun shone brightly on this hot September day, and Nick took a deep breath, inhaling
ocean air. What he wouldn’t give to take scuba gear and explore the waters around
the island. When he was a kid, his mom swore he was a fish out of water. “You should
have been born with gills and flippers, son,” she always told him.
    Nick helped his team spread out maps and photos on small fold-out tables. Guys from
the base rolled in a white board, dyed red in places from color that refused to be
erased. “They’re just kids.” Micah nodded as they exited the hangar. “Do you remember
when we were just kids?”
    Nick shook his head. “It’s been a while. But we definitely lost that boyish glow
during BUD/S. They scrub that right out of you.”
    Titus approached Nick and Micah with cups of steaming coffee. “Anyone for Turkish
coffee?”
    â€œTurkish?” Nick accepted the cup, bringing it close to his nose to inhale. The strong
scent cleared the lingering fog. He took a tentative sip. “Aren’t we in Greece?”
    Titus grinned, his white teeth in stark contrast to his dark skin. “I’m not always
big on being politically correct. They call it Greek coffee now, but the recipe never
changed. It’s just political stupidity from the 1970s when Turkey invaded Cyprus.”
    â€œWell, aren’t you just the walking encyclopedia?” Jay walked up and slapped Titus
on the back. “Where’s the café au lait, amigo?”
    Titus rolled his eyes. “Well,