Remember the Night: a Heroes of the Night military romance novel by Nicole Leiren

you. A thank you gift for watching Annie. She would've been miserable and, as a result, would've made the experience miserable for us by reminding us how a princess should not have to endure such common things as hikes through the wilderness."
    Evelyn took the necklace and held it up for inspection. It appeared to be a beautiful white shell with a symbol painted on it. The picture had a diamond shape in the center with an oval loop extending from each of the four points. "What is this symbol?"
    "A pagan symbol for happiness." Cody answered before Melodie.
    Her sister grinned. "Yeah, what he said. We found it at a shop run by a local artisan, and I wanted you to have it." Melodie reached out and clasped her hand. "Want you to be happy."
    Between Cody and Melodie's well-meaning wishes, Evelyn's patience wore thin.
    "I would be happy if everyone stopped worrying about me."
    A repeating vibration from Cody's bag eased the tension between the three of them, and he reached in to retrieve his phone. His gaze narrowed as he reviewed the identity of the missed call. "Speaking of worrying, that was my sister. I'm going to go call her. If you two will excuse me."
    Cody walked away from the noise of the beach, the phone already at his ear.
    "He makes you happy." Melodie's announcement grated on Evelyn's strung-tight nerves.
    "He makes me many things. Happy isn't one of them." A half-truth was better than an outright lie. Right?
    "What does he make you then?" Melodie's curiosity went to work again.
    Maybe she should've stayed with Bruce and Lydia today and avoided being caught on an island with no way off. "He makes me hungry. When do we eat?"
    Deflection and redirection, two skills necessary for any successful attorney. Melodie crossed her arms. "We eat in a few minutes, and I'd like to remind you that for the past several years, one of the main purposes of your life was to find a man suitable for me who would make me happy. Why can't you let me return the favor?"
    "Your point is moot as I didn't successfully find a man for you. You went and found one for yourself, on a plane, no less. Maybe I should use up some of my frequent flier miles and see if I can find a passenger willing to step up. What do you think?"
    Evelyn immediately regretted her words, even before the hurt registered on Melodie's sunburnt face.
    "I think you've been miserable for so long, you've forgotten what happy feels like." Melodie stood. "Do whatever you want with the necklace. Keep it, or give it away. Thanks again for watching Annie."
    With those words, Melodie walked away. Evelyn ran her thumb over the symbol, the ridges of the shell creating an interesting contrast to the smooth lines. How had the artist been able to render such a steady hand on an uneven surface? Cody would know.
    She sighed. Probably not the best time to ask him. She slipped the necklace around her neck, which now felt a little more at ease from Cody's efforts. Why couldn't she stop associating everything happening to her with the man who beguiled her from the first moment they met? For a moment longer, she allowed herself to remember how amazing he'd made her feel when they were together in India. It wasn't just the sex—though that hovered right at amazing. No, it was more the overall affect he had on her. Supporting and challenging, understanding and direct, sincere and funny, passionate and realistic. Simple yet complicated.
    Complicated. That was what he did to her life—complicated it beyond measure. She sighed and rolled over onto her stomach. Since third degree sunburn no longer factored into her concern, she could hide her face from the rest of the world. She'd never shied away from anything or anyone before because of complications. Hell, lawyers made their living making things more complicated than they really were.
    Children's laughter reminded her that while she may be willing to do complicated, her kids deserved, even needed, for her to keep things simple right now. Her choices