“Nothing’s up. I’m just happy, enjoying this beautiful day.”
“We’re inside, and you already said that. Wait. Did you finally meet one of those military men you’ve been swooning over? That’s why you’re grinning from ear to ear.”
“My good mood does have something to do with the military,” she said mysteriously.
“You met someone.”
Her assistant glanced at her watch. “You’d better hurry to make sure you get to court in time. Everything you need is in your office. I’ll fill you in tomorrow if you still have questions.”
“You better,” Rebecca said, shaking her head as she walked back toward her own office. “And I need to hurry before I’m late.” A second later she let out a shriek of joy as she saw Patrick sitting in her desk chair, arms crossed, blue eyes gleaming with amusement. The cotton tee shirt he had on hugged his muscular chest, the bandages wrapped snuggly around his ribcage showing through the soft fabric. Her purse fell to the ground by the door as she launched herself at him, momentarily forgetting about his injuries.
He slowly stood to his full height, grunting as she collided with his solid chest.
“Oh God, I’m sorry. Did I just hurt you?” she asked, pulling back.
“I’m fine,” he said in a low voice, his blue eyes warming as he wrapped his muscular arms around her and pulled her close. His large hand cradled the back of her head as he held her to his chest, and she inhaled his clean, masculine scent, instantly relaxing into his solid warmth. “If an IED couldn’t take me out, neither can you.”
She burst into tears.
“Shh, sweetheart, don’t cry,” he said, running a hand down her hair. “I was just teasing you.”
She looked up and met his gaze as hot tears continued to fall down her cheeks, and then he was ducking down and kissing her, thumbing away her tears. He tasted of peppermint and something else that was pure Patrick, and she kissed him deeply, not caring that anyone else in the office might walk in and see. His full lips moved over hers again, equally soft and demanding, and then his tongue slowly sought entrance between her parted lips.
He caressed his tongue against hers, leaving her gasping for breath as he held her.
Finally he pulled away, both of them breathing heavily.
Her hands slid down his chest, feeling the bandages beneath his tee shirt. He held perfectly still, his gaze fixed on her movement.
“Am I hurting you?”
“Hell no. I’ve dreamed of kissing you, touching you. That’s what kept me going. You couldn’t hurt me if you tried.”
“But when did you get here? How? I thought you were supposed to be at Walter Reed?”
“I told them I needed to be home in time for your doctor’s appointment,” he said, the corner of his mouth tugging up in a smile. “I almost made it, too. Traffic was hell.”
“But how? I thought you’d be up at Walter Reed for a few weeks. They told me you were flying there today.”
“My stitches are healing perfectly. My ribs are still broken, so I’ll be moving extra slowly for a while. And I’ll have to do physical therapy for six weeks minimum. But they discharged me from the hospital. I can rest at home just as well as in a hospital bed at this point.”
“But shouldn’t you be at home in bed right now?”
“Nope. I’ve been up walking around all week slowly getting my energy back. I mean, I won’t exactly be doing PT every morning—well, not the military version anyway. Physical therapy on the other hand will keep me busy for a while. I was pretty damn lucky, to tell you the truth. They flew me into Andrew’s AFB this morning, but Blade came and picked me up. We just drove all the way down. That damn beach traffic made it longer than expected.”
Her eyes raked over him again, scanning for further injuries. He was standing slightly stiffer than normal, and she knew he had to be in some pain. But for a man who’d been airlifted to a hospital in Germany after sustaining injuries on the battlefield, he looked pretty damn good. “I can’t believe you’re here—that this is real. I feel like I’ve been waiting so long to see you. You must be exhausted after that long flight. And the time difference?”
Patrick shrugged, wincing at the movement. “I’m used to sleeping on planes. I actually slept an hour in Blade’s pick-up truck, too, on the drive down. The meds I’ve been on the past couple of weeks totally wiped me out. It feels better to be taking plain old ibuprofen at this point. And I’m still finishing up antibiotics to make sure I don’t have an infection.”
“Where are you stitches?”
“Right here,” he said, gesturing to his side. “Between that and the broken ribs, I won’t be doing any heavy lifting for a while. Or driving.”
“I can drive you around. And I’ll drive you to physical therapy in the morning. We’ll hire packers and movers this summer to get Abby and I moved in. I didn’t even tell you that I met with the realtor again.”
“Sweetheart, there’s an entire SEAL team that can move you and Abby into my place. They can pack up your stuff, too. We don’t need to hire anyone.”
“Oh, we can’t ask the guys on the team—”
“It’s already a done deal. Blade insisted when he picked me up. Hell, I appreciate the help. And the fact that those guys were looking out for you when I couldn’t. They know we’d do the same for them. I have done it,” he added with a low chuckle. “I’m not really used to leaning on the others for physical help like this, but if it’ll get you living with me faster, I’m all for it.”
“All right. Wow. This is just—it’s just too much. I still can’t believe that you’re even here. I thought I’d be driving the kids up to Walter Reed for a few weeks to see you. Holy crap,” she said, suddenly glancing around. “I have to get to court! Where are the papers I needed?”
Patrick cleared his throat. “That was sort of a guise to get you back in the office quicker. My idea,” he added. “When I called your assistant earlier, she told me you had the afternoon free. Apparently, the court time did get changed by the judge—to next week.”
“And you wanted to meet me here in the office?” she asked with a laugh.
“I was actually planning to meet you at the doctor—I wanted to surprise you there and get to see what the doctor said about the baby.”
“Oh! I have the ultrasound. Wait, where’s my purse?” she asked, looking around.
“You can show me in a minute,” Patrick said, taking her hand. He lightly ran his thumb over her knuckles, and she shivered, loving the way he always made her come undone with a single touch.
“I just can’t believe you’re really here. Alive. Okay. The kids and I are already packed to drive up to see you tomorrow.”
Patrick cupped her cheek in one hand and ducked down and kissed her again, his lips softly brushing over hers. It had been so long since they’d been together, her heart actually ached. She’d come so close to losing him.
Never seeing him again.
Never feeling his touch or looking into his eyes.
To have him here in front of here was almost too much. She felt like she might actually explode from happiness.
“I did have something else in mind that we could do one weekend,” he said, his voice husky.
“What’s that? You probably can’t do much of anything at this point., and that’s fine. Just relaxing and being together is all we need.”
Patrick smiled, his blue eyes heating as he gazed down at her. “It’s something I’ve been meaning to do for a while. That I should’ve done a long time ago.” His hand slid into the pocket of his cargo pants, and her heart caught in her throat as he slowly produced a black velvet box. He flashed her a knowing look before he eased himself down on one knee.
Rebecca gasped, her hands flying up to her face. “Patrick!” Tears smarted in her eyes, and her heart began pounding in her chest.
“Rebecca,” he said, taking her hand once again. His cool blue gaze met hers, but at the moment, it was filled with nothing but love. “I couldn
’t wait a second longer,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I bought this ring long before my recent deployment, long before we found out that we were having a baby. I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to ask you, but hell—no moment is more perfect than now. Nothing is more perfect than seeing you for the first time after I thought I never would again. I’ve loved you since the moment we first met, and I want us to spend the rest of our lives together. You’d make me the happiest man in the world if you’d be my wife. Rebecca, sweetheart, will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she whispered, fresh tears rolling down her face as she began to tremble. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you.”
“You’re shaking,” he said, sliding the diamond solitaire onto her ring finger. She looked at it in amazement, admiring the single diamond sparkling in the light. At one point she’d never imagined finding someone again—marrying someone again. And Patrick was everything she’d ever wanted.
“I’m just so happy,” she said as he rose to his feet. “I thought I’d never see you again—that I’d lost you. And now you’re here right in front of me—”
Patrick ducked his head and kissed her softly. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. I told you I’d always come back to you. And I want more than anything to marry you.”
“I love you,” she whispered, smiling up at him.
“I love you, too.” His fingertips grazed her cheek as he wiped away a stray tear. “I know neither of us want a big wedding. What do you think about getting married on the beach next weekend?”
Chapter 14
THE SUN DIPPED LOW behind Rebecca, the beams from it stretching out across the endless golden sand. Waves crashed quietly in the distance, and a few seagulls swooped through the air. A soft breeze rustled her hair, and she brushed a wavy strand back from her face, the diamond of her engagement ring sparkling in the sun. Her eyes landed on Patrick, where he stood waiting with the officiant on the beach twenty feet away.
Abby skipped happily ahead of her, clutching her small bouquet of flowers, her pretty dress swirling around her. Logan was already standing beside his dad, grinning from ear to ear.
But Patrick.
He stood in a dark suit and dress shoes, his dark hair cropped short, and his cool blue eyes locked only on her. His jaw was set in a hard line, and he looked slightly stiff. Although he was certainly used to formalities from life in the military, Rebecca knew walking from the boardwalk down onto the sand had been more difficult than usual with his injured ribs and healing wound.
Not that he’d never admit such a thing.
Patrick.
The man who jumped out of airplanes and led an entire team of Navy SEALs into battle.
But two weeks after nearly losing him, she was amazed he’d been able to walk around on his own at all. That he’d spent hours in physical therapy every single day, regaining his strength, pushing himself harder and harder.
There was no keeping a man like Patrick down, and if someone told him he couldn’t do something, he’d work ten times as hard to prove them wrong.
His eyes shone as she gazed at him, and she wished this exact moment could last forever. This perfect feeling of bliss and anticipation as she got ready to walk toward her future husband in her wedding gown, on the beach just like she’d always imagined.
She wished she could bottle up this moment to capture it for eternity.
They’d take their honeymoon a few months from now, when Patrick was cleared to travel and they were both back to feeling one hundred percent.
But for right now?
Neither of them could wait to be man and wife.
Her heart pounded furiously as she began to walk toward Patrick and the kids, and she willed herself not to cry. Her entire world was right in front of her. There was nothing more important in the entire universe than Patrick and their kids.
The slim white gown she had on rustled against her bare legs as she took a step, and she clutched her bouquet of roses tightly, inhaling the incredible floral scent. Grains of sand shifted beneath her feet, and she was half-tempted to run toward Patrick and the kids. To start their forever immediately.
Abby beamed up at her from Patrick’s side as she approached.
“Mommy, you look like a princess!” she shouted.
Rebecca smiled, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask Abby to quiet down. Not when she was so excited to see her mom getting married.
“You look beautiful,” Patrick said, taking her hand as she stopped at the end of the makeshift aisle at his side. His strong, muscular hand wrapped around hers, and she smiled at him, gripping his hand nervously as they both turned toward the officiant.
He looked between the two of them before beginning. “Rebecca and Patrick, you’ve chosen to keep this ceremony small, with your children and God as your witness. Both of you found one another under somewhat trying circumstances. You’ve endured much more than most people, and your love and devotion to one another is only stronger for it. I can see it shining from both of you right now. You’re standing here today after Patrick’s near-death injury several weeks ago on his deployment. You’ve faced difficult times together, and your love has only grown. It is an honor and privilege for me to join the two of you together in marriage. I understand you’ve written your own vows?”
“Yes,” Patrick said, his voice deep as his gaze shifted back to her.
He took Rebecca’s hand again, and she felt like he could see into her very soul.
“Rebecca, I never imagined I’d find love again. From the moment you walked into my life, it’s never been the same. I would die to protect you and Abby. I promise to spend the rest of my life protecting you and our children, cherishing you, and loving you. I don’t know what I did to deserve someone like you in my life, but I’m never letting you go. You had my heart from the very first moment we met, and I can’t wait to spend forever with you. I love you.”
Tears smarted her eyes, and she hastily wiped them away. Patrick’s gaze softened, and even as the kids restlessly stirred beside them, she looked deep into his eyes.
He reached out and wiped a stray tear spilling down her cheek before she began.
“Patrick, I never thought that I’d find love again. I was happy living my life with Abby, and then you swept into my life and showed me all that I was missing. You, Abby, Logan, and I are a family. I never worry about anything when you are near, because I know you’ll do everything in your power to protect us. I promise to spend the rest of forever loving you.”
“Do you have the rings?” the officiant asked.
“Right here,” Patrick replied, pulling them from his pocket.
Rebecca had never seen him so much as flinch under pressure, but he fumbled with them for a moment, nearly dropping them onto the ground.
“Now repeat after me,” the officiant said.
A second later, Patrick was sliding the delicate platinum ring onto her finger. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
She held Patrick’s larger, more masculine ring with trembling fingers, and slid it onto his left hand. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
“And now,” the officiant said, “with the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Rebecca’s heart caught, and Patrick ducked down, his hands landing on her hips as his mouth brushed against hers. He kissed her a second time, slowly, sweetly, with the promise of much more to come later on.
“We’re married!” Rebecca said, tears filling her eyes once again as she looked up at her husband.
“We’re married,” he agreed, his voice thick with emotion. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Applause broke out in the background, and she glanced up to see a crowd on the boardwalk had stopped to watch. It almost felt like they were in a movie or something, with onlookers stopping to watch the wedding ceremony.
Their wedding ceremony.
“Let’s go celebrate,” Patrick said with a grin. “After dinner Sarah will g
et the kids, and we’ll go enjoy our first night as husband and wife.”
“Sounds fantastic, Mr. Foster,” she said with a smile, feeling heat spread over her cheeks. He grabbed her hand, raising it up to his lips and softly brushing his mouth over her knuckles, sending shivers racing down her spine.
“I agree, Mrs. Foster.”
Chapter 15
PATRICK CHUFFED OUT a laugh as he heard Logan asking for more ice cream as his sister led the kids away later that night.
“Not tonight, kiddo,” Sarah said. “But when we get home, we can have a sleepover in the living room.”
Rebecca watched them go, and Patrick tugged her closer to him. A family dinner had been exactly what they needed to celebrate, but Sarah had met them to pick up the kids, and at long last, he and Rebecca were finally alone.
Patrick’s gaze raked over her again. She looked so gorgeous with her wedding gown skimming over her curves and the long locks of her hair trailing down around her shoulders. He leaned back against the side of the building and tugged her toward him, not caring about all the curious whispers and smiles of the onlookers.
Rebecca smiled, a flush spreading over her cheeks, as his hands rested intimately on the upper curve of her bottom as he ducked down for a kiss.
“Shall we go to our room for the night?” he asked, his voice husky.
“Yes. I can’t wait to collapse into bed all alone with you.”
“It kind of kills me that I can’t carry you across the threshold,” he said. “I’ve had visions of carrying you off to bed every night on our honeymoon.”
“There’s no need to injure yourself,” she said lightly. “I’m just happy you’re here in one piece. Alive. After that phone call?” She shuddered.
“Hey,” he said, brushing a strand of hair back from her face. “None of that talk tonight.”
“Can’t I be thankful you’re here and alive?” she asked.
“That you can,” he said, taking her hand. “And when I’m fully recovered and you’re over your morning sickness, we’ll take our honeymoon. Hell, I’ll carry you into our room every night then. I might not ever let you leave.”
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