She swallowed, but it didn’t take the terror out of her eyes.

“The guys are deploying for three months to a cushy little outfit in the Caribbean. They needed a few of us to stay behind, and because I have Finley, I’m staying.” I kept my voice calm and even despite the panic trying to claw its way out of my gut. It was as if my body was responding to hers, or maybe I was just that scared of losing her.

“Finley?” she questioned.

“Right. I have a family care plan, but they took mercy on me. I don’t have to go.” I stroked my thumbs over her cheeks.

“You’re not going.” Breath by breath, she relaxed.

“He’s ditching us,” Sawyer complained. “But don’t stress yourself, Morgan. We’ll be back by the end of September.”

“You okay?” Fuck, I should have talked to her about it way sooner than this, but I wasn’t going, so it hadn’t been at the top of my list.

She nodded.

“Paisley!” Ember laughed as Peyton grabbed fistfuls of her hair. Then her laugh turned to a grimace.

“I’ve got you.” Sam picked Peyton up, but he didn’t let go of Ember’s hair.

“Peyton Carter Bateman!” Paisley chided, hopping up from Jagger’s lap.

“I’ll get him.” Morgan chuckled and headed over to untangle Ember’s hair from Peyton’s enthusiastic grip.

“Peyton Carter, huh?” I asked. Damn, this guy was everywhere.

Paisley beamed. “Yeah. He’s named after my sister and—”

“Will,” I answered.

Her jaw dropped for a second before she composed herself. “She’s told you about him? Sam told me she was struggling with that—talking about him.”

“It’s hard to ignore that giant truck in her front yard, but yeah, she’s told me what she can.” I tried to offer her a reassuring smile. “And every day she’s capable of a little more.”

Her expression shifted from shock to envy and settled on pure gratitude. “I’m glad she has you, Jax.”

“I’m lucky to have her.”

“Paisley, your son is freakishly strong!” Morgan called out.

Jagger moved, but Paisley touched his forearm. “I’ve got him.” She rose from Jagger’s lap and headed for the baby.

“He likes the red hair.” Jagger laughed.

“Man after my own heart.” Josh grinned as Paisley untangled Peyton from his wife’s hair.

“So you guys done with the interrogation?” I asked as the girls walked toward the beach.

“I’m good,” Josh remarked. “Sam vouched for you.”

“You worried about passing muster, coastie?” Jagger challenged with a smirk.

“Nope. I honestly don’t give a fuck what you think about me. But it would sure make it easier on Morgan if you didn’t think I was complete dick.” I shrugged.

“You can stay.” Jagger laughed. “How did you get Morgan on an aircraft, anyway? Family day?”