Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Protecting Sarina (Kindle Worlds Novella)
Page 9
“Did Tanya tell the boys about the cruise yet?” I ask, rinsing out our coffee mugs from earlier in the sink.
“No, we thought we’d tell them tonight over dinner.”
“I’m excited,” I say, grinning.
“Me too.”
We’ve both been working hard lately, so we decided a family vacation was in order. In six weeks, we’re taking Tanya and the boys on a ten-day cruise to the Caribbean. We got a cabin for ourselves, one for the boys and another one for Tanya. We’re planning to help with the boys so she can rest and relax.
When we first moved in together, I wasn’t sure Ford would ever want more than that. He’d never lived with a woman before, and we jumped into it quickly. But he tells me often how much he loves me and wants what he calls “the whole package”.
Every time I see him with his nephews, I know he’ll be an amazing father. He plays with Tyson and Bryce, who are eleven and eight, but also spends time listening to them and telling them how to be good men.
“It means a lot that you love my family,” Ford says, wrapping his arms around me from behind.
I dry my hands off on a dish towel and turn to face him. “Of course I love them. They’re great. Tanya is like the sister I never had. And not only are the boys good kids, they look just like you. It’s so cute to see the way they look up to you, too.”
Ford grins down at me. “They did get my looks. Shouldn’t have any trouble with the ladies.”
I roll my eyes and he kisses me softly.
“I mean until they find the one, like I was lucky to do,” he says.
“So lucky. Don’t you ever forget it.”
“I can’t wait ‘til we have a family of our own.”
I break out in a huge smile. He’s said that he wants kids with me, but this is the first time he’s come out and said he can’t wait for it.
“Me either,” I say.
His expression turns serious. “Did you see that email about Chad being up for parole?”
“Yes. Do you think he’ll get it?”
“Depends on prison overcrowding and such. I’m sending in a letter of opposition to it.”
“Opposition to his parole?”
He nods. “Damn right. After what he did to you? He’s safer behind bars, because if I ever see that son of a bitch again—”
I silence him with a finger on his lips. “That’s in the past now, babe. The terrorists were killed in the FBI raid that night, Chad was sent to prison and he’ll be a felon forever and the vaccine is in FDA trials.”
“The fact that you were rescued doesn’t excuse what he did.”
“I know.” I wrap my arms around him in a hug, feeling him relax in my arms. “And I know you’ll always have a protective streak when it comes to me.”
“Yeah, I will.”
“If we ever have daughters…” I laugh. “It’ll be an adventure for sure.”
Ford holds me close. “Everything’s an adventure with you. I never thought I’d have someone who means so much to me.”
“Me either.”
He takes a step back and meets my eyes. “So I thought you needed something to match that bracelet I got you.”
I look at my wrist, where I still wear the leather bracelet he gave me in the cabin. The GPS device is gone now, but I still love the bracelet and the memories it holds.
“What’s that?” I ask him.
He reaches into his pocket and then gets down on one knee. I start crying before he even gets a word out.
“Marry me, Sarina.” He holds out a black box with a sparkling round solitaire set in platinum.
I’ve dreamed of this moment my whole life, and it’s everything I ever wanted and so much more. It’s not because of the ring, or the words, but Ford.
“Yes,” I say tearfully. “Of course I will.”
He stands and kisses me, tears shining in his eyes.
“I thought about planning something fancy, but we’re not really fancy people, you know?” he says.
“This was perfect.”
He slides the ring onto my finger and I admire it.
“I’m so glad it was you who rescued me that day,” I say softly.
Ford looks down at me and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “You rescued me right back, Spitfire. You’re the only one who could have saved me from a life of brooding and loneliness.”
“Oh, you still brood,” I say playfully.
“Yeah, but you like it.”
I laugh and cup his cheeks in my hands. “You know, you’re right. I kind of do.”
Check out the rest of the books in the Special Forces: Operation Alpha Kindle World HERE
Author’s Note
Thanks so much to Susan Stoker for inviting me to write in her Kindle World. I think highly of Susan and her work, and I’m thrilled to be a small part of the world she’s created for readers.
Beta readers Janett Gomez, Michelle Tan and Chantal Gemperle helped shape this story. Taylor Bellitto edited it like a rock star. The cover photo and design (which I adore) are by Sara Eirew.
Biggest thanks to you, reader, for taking a chance on this story.
Also by Brenda Rothert
Lockhart Brothers Series
Deep Down
In Deep
Drawn Deeper
The Now Series
Now and Then
Now and Again
Now and Forever
Stand Alone Books
Protecting Sarina
His
Dirty Work
Barely Breathing
Unspoken
Blown Away
Hooked
Healing Touch
Fire On Ice Series
Bound
Captive
Edge
Drive
Release
On the Line Series
Killian
Bennett
About the Author
A former print journalist, Brenda made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From contemporary romance to romantic suspense, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She’s a lover of Diet Coke, chocolate, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.
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