Special Ops Christmas Read online

  Special Ops Christmas

  A Novella

  They were ready to call it quits, but Aiden realizes he can’t let his marriage die this Christmas season. Can he make it home to Vivianne in time to save their love?

  Edited by Carol Teegarden

  © 2012 Zulu 7 Productions, LLC and Kristen James

  Cover Design by Ramona Lockwood

  www.coversbyramona.blogspot.com

  http://www.romancenovelcovers.com/

  From the author of A Spy for Christmas and A Cowboy for Christmas

  Kristen James

  www.writerkristenjames.com

  www.facebook.com/WriterKristenJames

  Also by Kristen James:

  Embers of Hope, Book 1, Second Gift Series

  More Than a Promise, Book 2, Second Gift Series

  More Than Memories

  The Enemy’s Son

  Amazon Author Profile and Full Book List:

  http://amazon.com/author/kristenjames

  Special Ops Christmas

  Chapter One

  You’re right. We’ve haven’t gotten along or felt that special spark for several years. I understand why you want to give up. I guess we should get a divorce.

  Vivianne

  Aiden’s heart stopped. Not like the normal kind of stopping. This was the way his heart stopped beating when an IED—an Improvised Explosive Device—had detonated near Kabul and killed three of his team members.

  But this wasn’t a mission where he expected danger. This was his marriage. His eyes stung and watered as he read her email again. First came shock. Then anger. And beneath those emotions there was something strange he’d never felt before.

  This was the first time she’d ever ended a note with anything other than Love Always. Is that what he’d meant when he’d sent that email last night at two a.m.—give up on them? What exactly had he said? Aiden went back to his Sent Box and opened the email to his wife.

  Vivianne, baby, all we do is fight. Argue. It’s not worth it. I’m sick of it. Because we want a baby? Because you want me out of danger—when this is my job? This is my profession. It’s what pays the bills. You knew that when we got married…

  Wow. That was harsh. Cold. Mean. He hadn’t signed his email at all. Seven years together, three years married, and she wanted a divorce? They’d just celebrated their third anniversary, in fact. How could he lose his marriage over his profession?

  Aiden was immensely proud of his military career; he had worked hard to succeed and took his rank as Chief Petty Officer very seriously. He was totally devoted to his closely knit four-man team. The unit had just successfully completed another mission, and he was grateful.

  Despite his pride in his job and his team, Aiden regretted the timing of this particular mission, when he needed to work on his marriage. And right during the holidays.

  Why were they talking about a divorce now? At Christmastime? The team would be flying out for the States in two weeks, unless different orders came down. Plans were always changing; that was a way of life in this business. Still, they were counting weeks instead of months, and soon would be counting days instead of weeks. The team, as always, would spend three days decompressing at a mandatory TLD—Third Location Decompression area—once they arrived back in the U.S. This initial process allowed military personnel to begin to adjust after an operational deployment. It was especially useful to the personnel in formed units, such as Aiden’s, who often had stress issues or other concerns after a dangerous deployment. Following decompression, the unit would be allowed to go home. Home. It hurt to even think that word.

  Their commanding officer had tried to get them home in time for Christmas, but it just wasn’t possible. Aiden had even put in for an early flight home so he could see Vivianne for Christmas, but it was a no go. She was in San Diego, but that felt like Mars, measured in emotional distance. Here he sat email-arguing with his wife from half a world away, while at the same time wishing he could just hold her tight.

  Aiden had met Vivianne seven years ago at a bar on Coronado Island called Mc P’s. He was out with a group of friends. In the crowded room, he’d heard her laughing—musical and happy, and the clear, magical sound stood out among all the other laughing and talking. He’d searched the faces, looking for whoever could make that sound and found himself staring at the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Her long, dark auburn hair framed a sweet, inviting face that was next-door-neighbor pretty and overtly sexual at the same time. Like a naughty librarian. Her hazel eyes were arresting, confident and sparkly, pulling him in. She pulled in everyone, actually. The people around her were all turned toward her and clinging to every word, waiting for that infectious smile and laugh.

  She stood among her group of admirers and gazed back at him like no one else existed. Very slowly, she tilted her head, her smile turning flirtatious and curious. Her lips were glossy red, decorated for the holiday.

  At the time, Aiden had just completed BUD/S training on The Strand in San Diego in the Navy SEAL program. He was stacked, his muscles fine-tuned and sculpted. That evening at Mc P’s, people parted for him as he walked her way, never taking his eyes off her face. Once there, he offered his hand. “I’m Aiden O’Riley.”

  “Vivianne Basile,” she said. Her last name sounded French, and he guessed her features might hint that way as well. It was love at first sight. Aiden wasn’t looking for “the one” or even thinking about settling down, but in that moment his life changed course. Soon he was taking her out almost every night and calling her during the day. After a month, they went to Bear Mountain for a weekend ski adventure. Vivianne had told him how much she loved the snow; he surprised her with the trip.

  They arrived at the resort and hit the slopes within an hour, discovering they both loved to push themselves to the limit. He already knew she was ambitious—she was working and putting herself through nursing school—and she played even harder. She’d get a wicked grin when she tried to outdo him. Aiden loved that about her.

  That evening, they were walking outside, holding hands, when it started to snow. Vivianne laughed and spun with her arms out.

  The flakes grew fatter and fell quicker. She grabbed his arm and spun him against her to dance. When she looked up at him with snowflakes on her eyelashes, he hoarsely whispered, “I love you, Vivianne.”

  She smiled even wider.

  His love for her was so compelling, so authentic, that when he told his friends, no one even mentioned that he’d only known her a month. He asked her out to dinner and a movie, another ski trip, and then a whirlwind mix of serious and crazy outings, anything just to spend time together. Aiden couldn’t get enough of her, and she was head over heels in love with him.

  How had they gone from that—complete, happy, wildly in love—to looking at a divorce?

  “What’s up, bro? Why the face?” Daniels slapped a hand on his shoulder. Although this snapped his mind out of his memories, Aiden didn’t move. He didn’t look up from his iPhone where the email still stared back.

  “Bro?”

  He finally shook his head. “Nothing.”

  His best friend didn’t buy it. The two had known each other far too long and could read each other with just a glance. They had met in San Diego during BUD/S orientation and had endured the rigorous training together. Their friendship had strengthened over the years as they faced danger after danger during missions and shared their personal ups and downs. Aiden respected Daniels’ skills as well as his in-your-face, no bullshit personality.

  Daniels sat down on the edge of his bed and leaned over, elbows resting on his knees. Aiden pulled in a breath and started to explain, but he couldn’t talk. His chest and throat constricted. Running his hand down his face, as
if that’d wipe away this pain, he handed his phone over.

  A few seconds of silence followed. Then, “Damn.”

  Suddenly his phone whacked him in the chest.

  “What the hell?” They both spoke the exact same words at the same time.

  Daniels leaned across the space and shoved Aiden’s shoulder. “I told you when my mom died and when Ricky cheated on me. Why didn’t you say something?”

  “I know, I know.” Aiden was defenseless. Daniels’ dark eyes were full of hurt and worry. Aiden felt like he was crouched in a deep hole, shovelfuls of dirt clobbering him, burying him. Even though he had a tough exterior, he possessed true compassion for people he cared about.

  “You said it helped when you went home in September. Things have been falling apart since then, and you’ve said nothing?”

  War and tours of duty had put a strain on the marriage. Aiden had known that, but he had believed, one hundred percent, they would work through it.

  We had a job to do. They weren’t out for Sunday lunch here; they were Navy SEALS. Vivianne should realize the physical and mental intensity he dealt with daily. As far as Daniels, well, he didn’t feel he should share his personal crisis with his friend while on a mission because any distraction could endanger the team. But what might his silence cost?

  “I thought I could fix it!” Suddenly, Aiden’s mind filled with her eyes, how they looked as she watched him leave at the airport on his last trip home. Before, Vivianne had always put on her brave face for the last few minutes. She would stand strong and nod, clearly trying not to send her worries with him. But the last time home, she’d folded her arms across herself, and her big hazel eyes were teeming with tears. She was literally holding herself together. He looked back twice, and the second time he mouthed, “I love you.” It was all he could give her right then.

  Things had been tough, even desperate, that last trip home. She’d begged him not to go on his next mission. She wanted a husband who was around all the time, or at least more often. She wanted to start a family. He wanted those things too, but he had made a commitment to his country and his team.

  “I need some air.” He abruptly pushed up off the bed and rushed past Daniels.

  “O’Riley!” Daniels yelled after him. Aiden kept going, right out the door, as Daniels’ words followed him. “We’re not giving up on this.”

  He didn’t want to give up. But he’d messed up. Big time. Now he was losing his marriage. Vivianne. The best thing that had ever happened to him.

  Chapter Two

  Vivianne had hardly slept but didn’t allow herself to get up and check her email. She had written to Aiden last night so that he would get the message when it was morning in Afghanistan. They were on opposite sides of the planet, living opposite lives, and going in opposite directions like two bats out of hell.

  Here it was almost Christmas, and she was alone again. Aiden and the rest of SEAL Team Seven were supposed to be flying back home early next year, and then they would be stuck in decompression.

  How was that helpful, especially compared to being home with family? Okay, she knew decompression was beneficial, but it was hard for her to understand. Even though she was aware she was being selfish and irrational, she couldn’t seem to help it. Her hormones were off the chart, and she knew she’d been fighting mild depression for a while. The holidays were hitting her hard.

  She finally rose and made her way to the living room. A modest tree sat in the dark corner, just a soft shadow with its lights twinkling. In years past, she’d always turned on the Christmas lights in the early morning. They had a different kind of magic at that time, brightening the dawn as the world was gradually awakening.

  She’d woken up this morning and reached for him. Even through their arguing and the two-way hurt, she needed Aiden and missed his physical presence. She had actually rolled to his side of the bed before remembering that he was on a mission. Normally, she wasn’t like that, but she missed him worse this time— probably due to her condition. There was also her vivid dream… He was there, gently waking her up by trailing his fingers up her back and kissing her curve of her shoulder and neck. The sensations were so real she thought she smelled him. For a few glorious seconds she let herself think he’d somehow come home early and was actually in her bed with her.

  It was seven o’clock, and after she’d boiled water to make her favorite lemon ginger tea, she sat down in front of the laptop and turned it on. Her head pounded. Her stomach rolled and threatened to throw her tea back up. She set the steaming cup aside, wanting the comfort, but knowing she couldn’t handle eating or drinking right now.

  She used to be tougher, but Aiden had spoiled her. Whenever she was sick, he’d gently stroke her forehead, take over the housework, and make her homemade chicken noodle soup. Those thoughts made her smile, and she glanced up at a picture on the shelf above, right next to the fanciful snow globe Aiden had given her their first Christmas together. The picture was of the two of them at Big Bear, and she visually traced his movie star smile and his warm eyes glowing with happiness and pride.

  It seemed the two of them had all the right elements for a happy relationship. They were proud of each other, enjoyed long conversations, and liked many of the same things. However, this last year their relationship had changed drastically. In the beginning, Aiden dismissed it as a fleeting seven-year itch. She’d heard and read about that too—how couples went through a dry spell around year seven. They’d been together close to that, if she counted their time dating, getting engaged, and then being married. But it hadn’t been fleeting; things between them had gotten worse instead of better. And now his last email sounded so terribly final.

  Vivianne rubbed her lower stomach, wishing she’d stopped by Safeway for more crackers the day before. An icon in the corner of her laptop screen showed the internet was connected. Even so, it took her a minute to click on her email. There were a dozen spam messages, plus one from her mom, and another from a friend, but none from Aiden. He hadn’t even bothered to respond.

  A deluge of emotional pain hit with another wave of nausea, doubling her over right in the chair. She stumbled her way down the hall, fighting both tears and her stomach. She made it to the bathroom and collapsed on the floor. Her stomach relented, leaving her to cry into a green hand towel. She hated the sound of her own crying, the sound of weakness. She’d been strong for Aiden all this time. He needed to focus on his work, even more so when he was on a mission. She couldn’t worry him with mundane things from their life. She had to handle those things herself. That’s what the other Navy SEAL wives taught her early on, and she’d been tough, brave, and silent even when she needed Aiden.

  Now, holding her stomach and thinking of their child, she was scared to death she’d lost their future.

  Someone knocked on her door. Not now… She sighed as she struggled to her feet and made her way to the front door. Even before opening it, she somehow felt it would be her mom.

  “Hi mama,” she greeted, pushing a smile on her face.

  Martha tilted her head and twisted her mouth in a classic concerned-mother look. “Vivvy, I saw your car still in the drive so thought I’d stop. Are you not going to work today? Dear, you don’t look right…”

  “Thanks.” She ushered in her mom before too much cold air blew into the house. “I’ve been going in a little later in the mornings.” She didn’t explain why—her boss knew about the morning sickness and was allowing her to come in at ten. Before her mom could comment, Vivianne said, “You look fantastic, as always.”

  It was true. Her mom was nearly sixty but looked closer to forty.

  Martha beamed and leaned in to kiss Vivianne on the cheek. Then, leaning back, she took her daughter by the shoulder and studied her face for a minute. She sucked in her breath just as her eyes dropped to Vivianne’s stomach. “Oh. My. Gosh! You’re pregnant, aren’t you?!”

  Vivianne stepped back so she wouldn’t cry and collapse into her mom’s arms. She turned away, co
llecting herself, and tried to sound happy about it. “Yes, almost four months already.”

  Her mother was speaking too, murmuring to herself, counting the months since Aiden visited. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I honestly didn’t know at first.” She was relieved that her mom didn’t ask who the baby belonged to. It wasn’t like anyone had reason to doubt, but the timing could be subject to questions. “I mean, Aiden came to visit for a week, then he started this forever-long mission, and I was stressed. Then the holidays were coming up, and then…well, I started getting sick every morning.”

  She faced her mom, feeling like she could do this… could conceal her emotions behind a cheery false front. But it was hard when she saw Martha’s hands rise to her cheeks, accompanied by a huge smile.

  “Oh, I bet Aiden is beside himself!” She took Vivianne’s arm and guided her to the sofa in the living room. “What a lovely Christmas surprise!” Luckily, Martha didn’t wait for an answer or look Vivianne directly in the eye. Surely she’d have seen something was wrong.

  More than anything, Vivianne wanted to tell Aiden about their baby. But they had fought every time they talked since she’d discovered the news herself.

  Sitting down, Martha added, “You’ve been trying for, what, two years now?”

  Vivianne nodded, afraid of what her voice would reveal. Why hadn’t she confided in her mom before? She’d always been so darn proud, never wanting to admit weakness or ask for help. She had worked while going to nursing school and still earned a 3.98 GPA. After graduation, she’d put her time in at the nearest ER while looking for a job at a medical office. It didn’t take long. Not only did she have high recommendations from her manager and co-workers, she connected well with interviewers, male or female. Now she was a head nurse at an office close by her home.