Captivated in Cancun
Page 26
“Attention on deck,” Josh ordered in that commanding voice. All motion ceased. When Lilly turned to face the man she loved, her panties got wet.
Josh, in a uniform, was a sight to behold. He fit the part of commanding officer and the part fit him. “Listen up, men. These things are a pain in the ass, and other places as well, but we endure because we are men.”
Lilly rolled her eyes. What bullshit. But her boys were enthralled, mesmerized by the man in front of them. A white hat with lots of gold across the black visor was under his injured arm. Black boards with four gold stripes sat on his broad shoulders. But it was the block of ribbons on the left side of his chest that held her attention. Each one of those was a specific and personal honor he’d received.
Josh was a hero and the proof was right there for all the world to see. Above it was his trident pin. She knew what hell Jack had gone through to get his and below it was a set of jump wings. Jack had those too and he’d talked about jumping out of an airplane into the black of night at a high altitude with an oxygen bottle so he could breathe.
It hit Lilly right then and there what Josh had gone through to defend his country. Not to mention the scars on his body hidden under all that white. Yes. He was one of the good guys.
She fell into love a little more.
“Lilly.” At the sound of her name on his lips, she raised her eyes to meet his. “Are you all right?”
She nodded. Then blurted out, “I love you.”
His glance slid to the boys who were staring at their mother.
Greyson ran to Josh and hugged his legs. “I love you, too, Mr. Josh.”
Preston came around the end of the couch and sidled up beside Josh and put his arm around Josh’s waist. “Me, too, Aquaman. I love you.”
Lilly sniffed and realized she’d ruined her make up as tears streaked down her cheeks.
Tracy slid out the door to the quad, her smile brimming ear to ear.
“I love all of you.” Josh hugged the boys, lifting them both easily into his arms. “When this is over, we need to talk about how we’re going to make this work.” He kissed each child on the cheek then looked longingly at Lilly who stood on the other side of the couch. “Come here.”
She stumbled over the corner of the coffee table and stepped into the family hug. She lifted her face and touched her painted lips to his.
“I need to go repair my face.” She stepped back. “Preston, please take these shirts to Calita and have her throw them in the dryer for a few minutes. She knows what to do. It’ll soften them up and they won’t feel so stiff.
Preston looked up. “You look pretty, Mommy.” He hugged her and grabbed the shirts, running while yelling for Calita.
“I’ve got Greyson. Go get ready.” Josh tilted his head toward the door. “We’re on a schedule, and Maranda is bound and determined to start on time. I’ll see you at the end of the aisle.”
“See you there.” She caressed the black boards at his shoulders, feeling the rough gold lines. Her fingers dropped to the rows upon rows of varying colored ribbons, each about an inch long. “You really are my hero, I hope you know that. But that’s not the only reason I love you.”
Josh glanced down at Greyson who had tucked his small head under Josh’s chin. “I know.” With one hand he turned her toward the door and swatted her butt. “Now go. We don’t have much time left.”
Lilly lifted her skirt and dashed across the quad to the estrogen-filled pool house. Maranda almost had a heart failure when she saw Lilly’s face, then softened, “Did something bad happen?”
“No,” Lilly admitted, “Something really good happened.”
“Quick then,” Maranda ordered. “Go fix your face. We’re lining up in five minutes.”
Two hours later, when Kenderly and Jamie passed cake to their table, Preston and Greyson dashed over. Smelling like sweaty little boys—they’d had their cousin Addison on the dance floor wiggling beside their Chel second cousins—they gobbled the beautiful cake that had once featured a cascade of edible starfish, coral and shells in the wedding colors of coral and blue.
“Come back out and dance with me,” Addi begged as the boys finished their cake. Leaving nothing but a few crumbs, they left Lilly and Josh alone at the table once again.
Stacie wandered over and sat across from them, Jeff a few feet behind her. “I love Jillian’s dress,” Stacie gushed. “She looks like a Greek Goddess.”
“That gold beaded bodice really shows off her tiny figure,” Lilly noted. “And the matching dress for Addi.” Both women cooed.
Jeff and Josh gave each other a tolerating glance.
Stacie folded her hands on the table. “So, Josh, what time do we take off tomorrow?”
Lilly’s gaze flew to Josh. He must have read the concern in them because he lifted her hand and placed it in his. “You are leaving for Chicago tomorrow afternoon, right?”
“Yes. They sent for another plane for me and the boys, but I’m not sure what time we’re leaving. Mom and Levi are headed to China hoping to salvage that agreement, but I see my brother wheeling and dealing over there with local government officials. He’d mentioned his backup plan was to build a factory down here and make the parts ourselves.”
Josh lowered his voice. “We’ll make this work, Lilly. I promise.”
She was as determined as he was. She was even willing to move her offices to D.C. and put the boys in a new school next year, but she hadn’t shared that idea with anyone yet. “Yes, we will.”
Josh turned back to Stacie. “Plan on around five.” To Jeff he asked, “Have you made up your mind yet?”
Jeff tore his gaze from Stacie and looked at Josh. “Yes, sir. I’m with you. I’d like to stay and help out until Jack gets back from his honeymoon. BACats will be impossibly shorthanded if I leave tomorrow.”
“No problem, son.” Josh glanced over at the newlyweds then back to his agent. “I’ll put you on a month’s leave. That should give Jack enough time to find your replacement. We’re wrapping up this mission anyway and you have a few weeks coming for end of op. I’ll just extend that.”
“Thank you, sir.” Jeff looked relieved. “Stacie, want to dance?”
“Sure.” As she stood, she commented, “I don’t get an end of op vaca, so I’m going to make the most of tonight.”
Lilly watched the couple and wondered out loud, “Are they...together?”
“No.” Josh then added, “That would be against the rules. We have a no fraternization policy, especially when working together on an op.”
“But they are no longer working together now, right?” Lilly gave him a sly smile.
“Not tonight.”
The babysitter Maranda hired for all the children appeared at their table. “Excuse me, Mrs. Girard. I’m here to get Greyson and Preston.” She referred to her official wedding-plan clipboard. “They need baths and are to be put to bed in bedrooms four and five, correct?”
“They know where they go.” Lilly called the boys and they trotted over. “Hugs and kisses then off to bed.”
After a few, unsuccessful tries at negotiating for ten more minutes of partying, Preston and Greyson kissed both Lilly and Josh goodnight.
“Oh, Amy,” Josh called. “Don’t forget Greyson’s heart medicine.”
“Got it.” A boy’s hand in each of hers, they galloped like horses to the stairwell.
“His isn’t the only heart that needs care,” Lilly admitted.
“I know.” Josh lifted her onto his lap. “You captured my heart and you’re holding it for ransom. What’s your price, Lilly Girard?”
“A lifetime with you.” She bent and kissed him then rested her head on his broad chest and watched the wedding party bounce to music that was too modern for her taste.
“I feel like getting out of here.” Josh shifted, and she stood up.
“A walk on the beach?” Lilly suggested.
“No. I’ve seen too many headed that direction. It’s got to be crowded by now.” Josh stretched and gl
anced toward the garage.
Lilly smiled fiendishly. “The Spyder.”
“I’m driving,” they both said at the same time.
Lilly lifted her dress and strode toward the garage door. “We’ll compromise,” she proposed, “I’ll drive first, since I know where I’m going around here, and you can drive back.”
Josh grabbed her arm and whirled her into his arms before crashing his lips to hers. “See. We can make this thing work.”
The End
If you have enjoyed Captivated in Cancun, please consider telling others in a review on Goodreads.
You also may enjoy the following books by KaLyn Cooper:
Cancun Series
Christmas in Cancun (#1)
Conquered in Cancun (novella #1.5)
Captivated in Cancun (#2)
Claimed by a SEAL (novella #2.5)
Cancun Crossover / Hot SEALs
Crisis in Cancun (#3)
Coming Soon
Standalone
Explosive Combination
About the Author
KaLyn Cooper writes romantic suspense based in fact. Twenty-seven years as a military wife has shown her the world and the men and women who protect it every day. Thirty years in PR taught her fact can be stranger than fiction, but she leaves it up to the reader to separate truth from imagination. She and her husband live in Tennessee on their micro-plantation filled with gardens, cattle, quail, and a bird dog. When she’s not writing, she’s at the shooting range or paddling on the river.
Website: www.KaLynCooper.com
Email: KaLyn@KaLynCooper.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kalyn.cooper.52
Blog: http://kalyncooper.wordpress.com/
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Twitter: @KaLynCooperbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7920863.KaLyn_Cooper
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