She’d also been inspired by talking to Hiroko and visiting Manzanar. There were important stories yet to tell.
But really, if Shay had to point to just one thing that had, as Peter suggested, “made her heart grow back,” that thing was probably Dingo, and the way he’d been willing to sacrifice everything—including his life—for Maddie. And yes, he was still too old for the girl, but that wouldn’t last forever. In a few years—which would pass even more quickly now that he’d enlisted in the Marines—the age difference would be no big deal. Until then, promises had been made, and threats had been issued, and chaperones were permanently on standby for his rare visits home.
Bottom line, it was one thing for a Navy SEAL to be a hero. It was, as Peter would say, part of his skill set. But it was another thing completely when someone who had been somewhat morally challenged stepped up and went above and beyond.
Shayla had taken a screenshot of Dingo’s epic text, printed it out, and pinned it to her office bulletin board, typos and all.
She couldn’t read his words without getting misty-eyed and feeling her heart—still—growing bigger and stronger.
She was close to the end of writing her second book since “the garage.”
That’s what they called it.
“The garage.”
And while Maddie and Tevin and Frank, along with the many, many SEALs and friends who knew what had happened, believed that “the garage” referred to a local former—now incarcerated—druglord’s property in the little town of Clarence, California, Shayla and Peter both knew otherwise.
And yeah, okay, Izzy probably knew what they really meant when they talked about “the garage,” especially when they smiled at each other. But Izzy would never tell. He was a good friend, and doubly delirious these days because his wife Eden was happily pregnant and about to—his word—pop.
Life was good—even with Tevin off at college. His father’s son, he’d gotten into Berklee College of Music in Boston. It was far away, but it was where he belonged.
Tiffany had finally left Carter and was now dating a SEAL—smart young woman that she was. And, no, Shay’s old friend Kate still hadn’t left her douchebag husband, but maybe someday she would.
Anything was possible.
Shay’s phone whooshed as a text came in. She normally silenced it completely when she was writing, but Peter had been away with SEAL Team Sixteen for the past few weeks, and…
She looked, and yes, the text was from him.
Hello.
Shayla laughed and saved her document, then went to meet her Navy SEAL and properly welcome him home.
Dear Reader, Thank you so much for spending your precious reading time with Shayla, Pete, and me. In our amazing, busy, connected lives, there are endless options for entertainment, and I appreciate that you chose Some Kind of Hero.
If you enjoyed this story, please do me a huge-large (as Izzy would say!) and take a few moments to post some stars or a brief review at your favorite online bookseller’s website. In this noisy, crazy, static-filled world, authors need public feedback from readers more than ever. I appreciate it, too, when you share, post, tweet, and talk about this book and the entire Troubleshooters series! (Thank you!) In case you missed it, the legend of Boat Squad John is told—partly via Izzy Zanella’s irreverent point of view—in my Troubleshooters novella Ready to Roll. Pete (or Lieutenant Greene, as he’s known by his SEAL candidates) is also introduced in that story, which is set in San Diego just a few months before Some Kind of Hero.
Ready to Roll is the third in a trilogy of connected Troubleshooters stories that starts with Free Fall and continues in Home Fire Inferno. Find out more at SuzanneBrockmann.com or sign up for my e-newsletter at tinyletter.com/?SuzanneBrockmann to get the latest news about releases and appearances!
Thank you again!
Yours in love, laughter, peace, and hope, Suz Brockmann
For the die-hard fans—readers and writers alike—of my beloved romance genre. Your relentless belief in the power of love makes this crazy world a kinder, more hopeful place.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As always, I must thank my brilliant editor at Random House, Shauna Summers. Shauna has been by my side for almost every single Troubleshooters book, starting way back at the beginning of the series with The Unsung Hero. She was particularly patient with Some Kind of Hero, since although it didn’t take me very long to write this book, it took me several years to discover that Pete’s and Shayla’s was the story that I needed to tell.
Thanks, too, to the entire team at Random House and to the team at Blackstone Audio.
My deepest appreciation goes out to my family, particularly to my husband, Ed; my parents, Fred and Lee Brockmann; my daughter, Melanie, and my grandson, Aidan; and my son, Jason, and his new husband, Matt. (Jason got married to the most wonderful guy! Pictures are on my Facebook page!) Thanks, also, to Bill, Jodie, and Elizabeth. I love you guys!
Special thanks to Katherine Clements, Naomi Litrownik, and Dr. Isabel Legarda. Without your support, wisdom, and kindness, this book would not have been written.