SEALed Under the Mistletoe

Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

KNOX

T he front door of the lodge swung open and a gaggle of laughing women walked in. Knox was on the way down the stairs to the lobby with his brothers, all of them still riding high from their impromptu football game victory. Gage was nursing a bruised ego after Campbell’s game-winning interception, and Carson, as usual, was stirring the pot.

“You should’ve thrown left,” Carson said, laughing as he clapped Gage on the back. “Wide open. I mean, I’m just saying.”

“Keep talking,” Gage grumbled, raking a hand through his wind-tousled hair. “You weren’t exactly Randy Moss out there either.”

Knox chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. His brothers’ bickering was familiar, grounding. As they reached the landing, Knox spotted the women returning from their spa outing. The sight of Vickie in the midst of her sisters and the others made him smile. Her cheeks were flushed, and her hair framed her face in loose waves. She looked relaxed, but there was something guarded in her eyes that told him last night’s conversation—and that kiss—wasn’t enough to break down all her walls.

He didn’t hesitate, stepping away from his brothers. “Hey, Vickie,” he called, his voice low enough to be casual but loud enough for her to hear.

She looked up, startled, then offered him a tentative smile. “Hey.”

“Can we grab lunch?” he asked, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets to keep himself from fidgeting.

The murmur of conversation around them seemed to fade as she tilted her head, considering him. “Lunch?”

“Yeah. Not here, though. I’ve got a place in mind. My treat.”

Vickie glanced at her sisters, who exchanged knowing looks, then back at him.

“Let that boy take you to lunch,” Grams said. “I mean it, kiddo. Go!”

“Okay,” Vickie said after a small pause.

“Great,” Knox said, his smile widening. He turned to Carson and snatched the keys to the rental SUV from his brother’s hand.

“Hey!” Carson protested. “Where are you going with my wheels?”

“I’ll bring it back in one piece,” Knox promised, already heading for the door. “I owe you.”

Carson muttered something under his breath, but Knox didn’t wait to hear it. He opened the passenger door for Vickie, then jogged around to the driver’s side. The engine rumbled to life, and they pulled away from the lodge, heading toward the winding mountain road that led to the nearby town of Grand Ridge.

As they drove, the tension in Knox’s shoulders eased. The quiet hum of the road beneath the tires and the faint scent of Vickie’s perfume created a bubble of calm he hadn’t realized he needed.

“Where are we going?” Vickie asked, glancing at him.

“There’s a little diner in Grand Ridge,” he said, keeping his eyes on the road. “It’s called The Rusty Crab. The food’s great, and the owner, Corky, is an old friend.”

“Grand Ridge,” Vickie repeated, looking out the window. “I’ve never been there.”

“It’s a small town,” Knox said. “A few of my friends live there. Guys I served with who have left the service. I kept in touch with a few of them, and some of them settled in Grand Ridge. There’s even a little community there called Valhalla. My former team leader, Hudson, started it.”

“Valhalla?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Knox smiled. “Yeah. It’s a neighborhood for former military guys. Hudson lost his leg below the knee in an op a few years ago, and when he retired, he decided to create a place where vets could live and support each other. It’s grown a lot since then. He’s got guys from all branches there now. When men get out of the military and don’t know what their next mission in life will be, they can go there. They can come for a short time or settle in and make a life. It’s a second chance.”

“That’s… incredible,” Vickie said, her tone softening.

Knox nodded, his gaze flicking to her briefly. “Hudson’s one of the best men I’ve ever known. He’s tough as hell, but he’s got a heart of gold. He’s helped a lot of people find their footing again.”

As they drove into town, Grand Ridge revealed itself in all its holiday glory. The main street was lined with old-fashioned lamp posts wrapped in red and silver garlands and white twinkling lights. Shop windows were decorated with wreaths and festive displays, and a towering Christmas tree stood in the town square, its branches heavy with ornaments.

“It’s beautiful,” Vickie said, her voice tinged with wonder. “It’s like something out of a book.”

“It is,” Knox agreed. “They go all out for the holidays here. The whole town feels like something out of a Hallmark movie.”

She laughed softly, the sound warmed him more than the SUV’s heater.

When they reached The Rusty Crab, Knox parked in the small gravel lot and hopped out, opening Vickie’s door for her. She smiled at the gesture, and they walked inside together.

The diner was bustling with people. The scent of homemade food filled the air, mingling with the sound of clinking dishes and cheerful conversation.

“Knox!” a gruff voice called from behind the counter.

Knox grinned as a stocky man with a salt-and-pepper beard emerged from the kitchen. “Corky,” he said, extending a hand.

Corky ignored the hand and pulled Knox into a bear hug instead. “Been too long, brother.”

“Too long,” Knox agreed, clapping the man on the back.

Corky stepped back, his sharp eyes moving to Vickie. “And who’s this pretty lady?”

“This is Vickie,” Knox said. “Vickie, this is Corky. He owns the place.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Vickie said, smiling warmly.

“Any friend of Knox’s is a friend of mine,” Corky said, nodding toward the dining area. “Go grab a seat. I’ll send Delilah over to take care of you.”

Knox led Vickie to a booth in the back corner, away from the busier part of the diner. They slid into their seats, and a moment later, an older woman with a kind face approached with a notepad.

“Knox,” she said, her voice tinged with affection. “It’s been a couple of years since we’ve seen you here.”

“Too long, Delilah,” he said with a smile. “We’ll take the special.”

“Don’t you want to know what the special is?” Vickie asked him.

“Nope. Whatever the special is, I know it will be delicious. Corky is quite the chef.”

“It’s a good choice,” Delilah said, jotting it down. “I’ll be right back with your drinks.”

As she walked away, Vickie looked around the diner. “You seem to know everyone here.”

Knox shrugged. “It’s a small town. And Corky’s like family. He’s been there for me more times than I can count.”

They fell into small talk, discussing the diner’s charm and the snowy weather outside. But as the food arrived—steaming plates of chicken pot pie, fresh salads, and warm rolls—Knox decided to shift the conversation.

“So,” he said, leaning back in his seat. “It’s been a long time. I know you said you moved to be with your grandma. How’s life been treating you?”

She hesitated, then smiled. “Busy. I actually moved across the country to Little River, Virginia.”

Knox froze, his fork halfway to his mouth. Did he hear her correctly? “Little River? You’re kidding.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head, clearly amused by his reaction. “I moved there a few months ago. My grandmother refused to leave the house she lived in with my grandfather. She looks like she’s okay, but she just turned eight-nine last year. She needs some help getting around. I opened a real estate firm there. It is smaller than what I was used to, but so far, so good.”

Knox set his fork down, processing her words. “Little River. Of all places.”

Her brow furrowed. “Why? Do you… I know there’s a base nearby. You don’t live there too?”

“Yeah,” Knox said with a dry laugh. “I moved there last year after... well, after everything happened. Needed to slow things down a bit. I’ve been slated to start teaching recruits who want to be SEALs at the naval base nearby. It’s not as hands-on as the field, but it’s solid work.”

Her lips parted, surprise flickering across her face. “You? Teaching recruits? I thought you’d never leave the front lines.”

“That was the plan,” he admitted, his tone quieter now. “But plans change. Got shot on a mission last year. Not my first injury, but it was bad enough to sideline me for a while.”

Vickie stared at him, her fork hovering over her plate. “Knox,” she said softly, her voice laced with concern. “I didn’t know. Are you?—”

“Fine,” he said quickly, offering her a small smile. “It took a while, but I’m good now. The Navy figured if I couldn’t be out there anymore, the least I could do was help train the next generation. I’m going to make sure they’re as prepared as they can be.”

She nodded slowly, her gaze lingering on his face. “That’s... admirable. And a little surprising, if I’m being honest.”

“Surprising?”

She smirked. “You don’t come across as the teacher type.”

He chuckled, leaning forward. “Fair point. I’m not. But, this... it isn’t teaching in the conventional sense. It’s more like mentoring and training. I’m not standing in front of a chalkboard and lecturing. Now that, I couldn’t do.”

Their laughter mingled, easing the tension that had crept in.

“Do you like Little River so far?” Knox asked, shifting the focus back to her.

Vickie hesitated, her gaze dropping to her plate. “It’s felt like a fresh start,” she said finally. “After everything that happened with us... and my career in the bigger city, it’s been nice to step away. Little River seemed like the perfect place to slow down.”

Knox’s jaw tightened at the mention of the past, but he forced himself to keep his expression neutral. “I get that,” he said instead. “Little River’s got a way of slowing life down, making it easier to breathe.”

She nodded, a faint smile touching her lips. “Yeah. It does.”

For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, the clinking of dishes and murmurs of other diners filling the space around them. Knox couldn’t help but notice how the light from the window caught in her hair, or the way her fingers curled around her glass of water.

“Knox,” she said suddenly, breaking the silence.

“Yeah?”

“Why did you bring me here?”

The question caught him off guard, but he recovered quickly. “Because I wanted to spend time with you away from all our family and friends,” he said simply.

Her cheeks flushed, but she held his gaze. “Why now? After all this time?”

He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “Because I’ve been an idiot,” he said honestly. “I should have tried harder than just one voicemail. I could have found you, if I’d really wanted to. I got into my own way. I thought if you wanted me, you’d call. And you never did. And because seeing you again... it reminded me of everything I never stopped wanting. You, Vickie. I want you.”

Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she looked like she might argue. But then Delilah returned to clear their plates, and the moment passed.

As they left the diner, Knox thanked Corky and slipped him a quick handshake that turned into a shoulder squeeze. “Good to see you, old man,” Knox said.

“You too, kid,” Corky replied, his grin softening as he looked between Knox and Vickie. “Take care of her, yeah?”

Knox didn’t respond, but the weight of Corky’s words followed him as he held the door open for Vickie.

The drive back to the lodge was quieter, the conversation easy but subdued. They talked about the Christmas decorations in Grand Ridge and how quaint the town was. Vickie admitted she hadn’t done much exploring since moving to Little River, and Knox offered to show her around sometime when they got back.

When they arrived back at the lodge, Knox parked the SUV and turned to her. “Thanks for coming with me,” he said, his voice softer now.

“Thanks for inviting me,” she replied, her smile tinged with something he couldn’t quite place.

As they stepped out of the vehicle, Vickie hesitated. “Knox,” she said, turning to face him.

“Yeah?”

She opened her mouth, then closed it again, shaking her head. “Never mind. I’ll see you later.”

Before he could respond, she was walking back toward the lodge, her scarf fluttering in the breeze. Knox watched her go, frustration swirling in his chest. He wanted to push her, to demand she become his, but he knew he couldn’t. Not yet. She needed time, and he needed to prove to her that he was worth the risk. He figured God gave him a present… an entire week with Vickie without the distractions of real life getting in the way.

With a deep sigh, he turned toward the lodge. The entire group was going skiing in an hour. He smiled, knowing he’d see her again real soon.