Welcome to Forever

by Annie Rains

  Kat turned at Val’s voice in the doorway.

  “Ladies.” Her friend’s smile was devilish as usual. “Shall we get started?”

  Kat’s hands folded on her chest. “I didn’t know you were coming. I thought you had something else to do.”

  “Well, now I don’t.” Val plopped a large duffel bag on the bed.

  “What’s that?” Kat’s eyes widened as Val pulled the zipper, revealing a host of beauty products. “Am I so ugly that I need that many cosmetics?” She looked up at her best friend, whose smile deepened, poking soft dimples in her cheeks.

  “No. You’re beautiful. But tonight is special. It’s just like Cinderella going to the ball or something.”

  Julie nodded in agreement. “Definitely. And you of all people deserve a Cinderella moment.”

  Kat smiled sincerely this time. “You girls are wonderful. You know that?”

  Val and Julie looked at each other. Since Kat hadn’t known that Val was coming, Julie and Val must’ve conspired together to make this happen. They’d hated each other since high school, but now, maybe they could become friends. Especially since her sister was staying.

  “Okay.” Kat looked between them. “Anyone bring the Xanax?”

  Val lifted a bottle of starter wine. “This’ll have to do. Only half a glass before you go because you’re wearing heels, and you’re clumsy in heels.” She angled Kat toward the mirror and started to work, brushing Kat’s thick, blond hair off her face and pinning it to her head so that she could curl one piece at a time. In their reflection, Kat looked up to meet Val’s eyes. “You’re a good best friend,” she said quietly. “I wish we’d been better friends growing up.”

  “You’re the best best friend.” Val’s brush snagged on a knot of Kat’s hair.

  “Ouch!”

  “Oops. Sorry.” Val met her gaze in the mirror. “And me, too. Think of all the trouble we could’ve caused back in the day.”

  Kat shook her head. “I never got in trouble.”

  “All the more reason we should’ve been friends. You could’ve kept me in line, and I could’ve gotten you to walk on the wild side a little. A perfect match.”

  Right. Just like Ben had declared she and Micah were. A perfect match.

  “What’s next?” Kat asked after Val had fixed her hair and Julie had worked magic with makeup.

  “The things that go under the dress,” Val said, already walking toward Kat’s dresser. She got lucky on the top drawer and held up a pair of granny panties. “Is this all you have?” she asked.

  “Really?” Julie said, lifting up another pair. “This looks like something Mom would wear.”

  Kat snatched the undergarments and tossed them back in the drawer. “I have sexy underwear, too.” It’s just the sexy underwear were reserved for when she’d been with John. She couldn’t wear them with another man. It wouldn’t be right. It’d—

  Julie held up a hand. “Stop right there. Your brain is working too hard. I’ll be right back.”

  Julie left and returned a minute later, holding up a tiny, black thong with the tags still on it. “I bought these for myself the other day. They’re brand-new and they’re all yours. I certainly won’t be wearing them.”

  Val smiled approvingly. “Those are exactly what that black dress needs underneath.”

  “The dress is staying on tonight,” Kat said, only partially convincing. She took the thong anyway. Because her clothes never seemed to stay on when she found herself alone with Micah. He seemed to have that effect on her. And after the ball tonight, she would definitely need a distraction of the sexual kind. “Fine. I’ll wear these,” she said.

  —

  Micah pointed a finger at Ben as he reached for Aunt Clara’s doorknob.

  “I know, Dad. Listen to Aunt Clara and Uncle Rick. In bed by nine-thirty.” Ben looked at Clara with a small smile that Micah wasn’t supposed to be able to interpret. Yeah, he remembered being a boy at Aunt Clara’s house. She’d always let him stay up at least an hour later than he was supposed to. And she’d never made him eat his dessert after dinner—he got to have it first.

  Micah pointed a finger at his aunt, whose eyes widened a little. “You. Thank you.”

  Her expression softened. “Anything for my favorite nephew. Stay out late. All night. I’ve got Ben until tomorrow after breakfast.”

  “Yay!” Ben squealed from the kitchen table where he was supposed to be doing his homework. Micah knew the pen would stop moving as soon as he closed the door, though.

  He nodded, slipping on his dark navy jacket. It was adorned with golden medals that he’d earned during his three tours in the desert. “How do I look?”

  Uncle Rick entered the room as he posed the question. Pulling off his John Deere ball cap, his uncle nodded. “You look like a man who’s been wrapped so tightly around a woman’s finger, you can’t hardly see straight.” He chuckled under his breath, eyeing his wife. “I know this from experience.” He pointed at his glasses. “I haven’t seen straight since her.”

  Clara tsked. Then she shooed Micah out the door. “You look great. Just remember what I told you.”

  Micah nodded, even though he didn’t need his aunt’s advice in the dating arena. “Yes, ma’am.” Glancing at Ben, he said, “ ’Bye, son.” Shutting the door behind him, he headed toward the Jeep. Kat should be ready by now. He didn’t want to keep her waiting too long. But if she wasn’t ready, he didn’t mind. Tonight was about her, not him. Kat deserved to be treated right. What had Aunt Clara said? Treat her like one of his roses? Not that he planned on watering her, but he understood what Clara meant. Handle Kat with care. Admire her.

  Micah smiled to himself. He’d always liked the idea of having family nearby. Being a military brat, he and his parents had moved throughout his childhood. He’d never gotten to know his cousins. Not really. And he’d never had a friend long enough to want to buy a school yearbook.

  He sat behind the wheel and drove the short distance to Kat’s home. He noticed two other cars as he pulled into her driveway, recognizing one as Val’s. She always parked next to Kat in the school parking lot. He guessed the other car belonged to Kat’s sister, Julie.

  Great. There would be three females greeting him when he rang that doorbell. He sucked in a deep breath, reminding himself that the night was about Kat. That was his mantra. If she was happy, the date would be good. But Kat deserved better than good. Going to a military event wouldn’t be easy for her, and agreeing to be his date was above and beyond her principal duties. At this point, if she had backed out of going to the ball, he’d still be helping with the after-school program. He liked the kids and it was something he wanted to continue doing after he was out of the Marine Corps.

  He pulled on the collar of his dress blues jacket, making sure it was in place, then pressed the doorbell, hearing a scurry of female commotion inside.

  The night is about Kat. About Kat. About—

  She opened the door and his mind went blank. She was all he could see. All he could think about. Yeah. He definitely wouldn’t have a problem following his aunt’s advice. The night was definitely all about Katherine Chandler.

  “You, um…” Words stuck in his throat. Julie and Val were staring at him. That didn’t make this easier. “You ready?” he asked again, getting his thoughts out this time. All three ladies nodded, which brought a smile to his face. He was only taking the one. His gaze moved back to Kat. Whatever her female posse had done tonight, they’d somehow improved upon perfection.

  She stepped forward and turned as Val stuffed a glittery clutch bag in her hand. “Have fun. A lot of fun.”

  Emphasis on “a lot.” Micah reached for Kat’s hand. Yeah. He was going to take his aunt Clara’s advice on revolving the night around Kat. He couldn’t divide his attention at this moment if he tried.

  “You look amazing,” he said as he helped her get into the Jeep.

  She pulled her dress safely inside, then looked up. “Thank you. But it’s not me.
It’s Julie’s and Val’s handiwork.”

  “It’s you,” he said, closing the door and walking around to the driver’s side. As they drove, he listened to Kat’s nervous chatter about her sister’s and friend’s efforts to get her ready for the ball.

  “I’ve never been good at dressing up,” she said. “I skipped my high school prom.”

  “Yeah?” He glanced over. “Why is that?”

  She shrugged. “No guy. No dress.”

  “I find it hard to believe you couldn’t find a guy to be your date.”

  She laughed. “I didn’t say that. I just couldn’t find one that I wanted to spend an entire night with.”

  They entered Camp Leon and the conversation suddenly lulled.

  “You all right?” he asked, wondering for the millionth time if this was a bad idea. Yes, he’d needed a date for tonight, but asking Kat to be here with him was asking a lot. His gaze went to her hands, wringing absently in her lap.

  She looked over and nodded unconvincingly. “Yes.”

  “I can turn around. We can leave and just go have fast food.”

  “In this?” She gestured toward her fancy dress and heels, forcing a laugh. “Really, Micah. I can do this. It’ll be fine.” The small smile stayed stamped on her lips, as if trying to convince him, and maybe herself, too.

  She was tough. He’d give her that. It was one of the things he admired about her. He wasn’t buying her tough girl act, though. Inside, she was terrified. He could see it in her eyes. It was the same fear he’d glimpsed when she’d first seen him in uniform at the school.

  He was about to make the call and just turn the Jeep around. There was no way he was letting Kat go through with this for his sake. It was idiotic of him to let it get this far. “Listen,” he said, lifting his foot off the gas pedal.

  She reached over and placed her hand on his, as if reading his thoughts. “This is something I want to do. I need to do. I want to prove to myself that I’m strong.”

  He divided his attention between her and the road. “You don’t need to convince me. I already know that.”

  A real smile, not forced, bloomed this time. “I can do this.”

  After a long moment, he nodded. “Okay then.”

  The parking lot for the Pavilion Center was crowded as they pulled in, and more vehicles spilled in behind them. He parked the car and reached across the seat to squeeze Kat’s hand. “You say the word and we’re out of here, though. You promise? Leaving wouldn’t make you any less strong.”

  She focused on their interlocked hands and then squeezed back. “Promise.”

  They got out and began to walk among the other couples, the women wearing fancy gowns of every color. Kat bumped up against him as they walked. He suspected it was the heels, but maybe some part of her enjoyed staying close to him, too. Or maybe, being here just made her need to be closer, which he was happy to oblige. He protected the people he cared about, and he cared about Kat.

  “Hey.” Micah stopped before leading her inside. “Thank you for coming with me.”

  She arched a brow. “Like you couldn’t find a number of women to volunteer for the job.”

  His mouth quirked. “I’m usually the type to come alone. Easier that way.”

  Tilting her head, she revealed the long curve of her neck. “But not this time?”

  “This time, being with someone, with you, feels right. So thanks.” He faced the building again, then slid a glance in her direction, holding out an elbow. “Shall we?”

  She released a wobbly breath and straightened. She was tough, just like the pink lily in his garden. Compared to everything she’d been through in the last two years, attending the Marine Corps ball was a cakewalk.

  “Ready,” she said.

  The breath whooshed out of Kat’s body as she stepped through the entrance of the Pavilion Center. It was like stepping back into the past, only John wasn’t with her.

  Micah’s grip tightened on hers. Okay. She could do this. Maybe.

  “Just say the word,” he reminded her.

  She nodded and forced another smile. Her face was already starting to hurt from all the fakery. But someone had once advised her to “fake it until you make it” and she’d found that to be good advice. It’d gotten her this far.

  Micah’s gaze hung on hers for a long second, his dark eyes revealing that he wasn’t buying her brave act for a second. “Do you want some punch?” he asked.

  She nodded, hoping to God it was spiked.

  “It’s not spiked if that’s what you’re thinking,” he said with a sexy smile.

  Her mouth fell open. “How did you know?”

  An easy laugh escaped his lips as he pulled her toward the table of treats. “Because I wondered the same thing my first time at one of these events.”

  This wasn’t her first ball, though, she wanted to say, taking the cup he offered her. She took a timid sip and then gulped it, hoping the sugar would cause a kind of euphoria that would make her forget where she was. She glanced around at all the couples in their dress blues and sequined dresses. She’d never really enjoyed an event like this, even before John’s death. It’d always felt like a lot of pressure to look just right and to make sure you said hi to all the right people. Heaven forbid you forgot someone’s name or got his or her rank wrong.

  She took another sip and looked at Micah. “So, who are we supposed to be mingling with?” she asked.

  He shrugged, tossing his cup in the trashcan nearby. “I’m supposed to be mingling with you. That’s all.”

  She narrowed her gaze, loving his smile and the way, when he looked at her, everyone else in the room seemed to fall away. “You don’t care about appearances?” she asked.

  “Sure, I do. I care that I’m exactly who I represent myself to be. Nobody different.” He wobbled his head. “Now, if you’d asked who my father would prefer I be mingling with right now, then it’s that crowd against the wall. Don’t worry, though. I’m the CO’s son. They’ll all come to me.”

  Kat leaned in to hear him better over the crowd, and to get a better whiff of his cologne. “Why is that?”

  “Because I’m the one they think they’re supposed to be sucking up to. It’s like a game. Not the military. The military is a noble profession. But the politics here are a game to some people, and I don’t want to play.”

  “Then why did you bring me?” His scent begged her to touch him. She curled her fingers at her side to keep from doing so, knowing that people were watching them.

  “Whatever my original reasons, they’ve changed. I brought you tonight because I like being around you. How’s that for a motive?”

  She chewed her lower lip. “I might enjoy your company, too, Sergeant Peterson.” They were flirting, and she loved every second of it. Maybe being here tonight wasn’t such a scary thing, after all. Not with Micah beside her.

  His arm slid around her bare back, making her spine straighten. She could think of other places she’d rather be with Micah right now, though. Less formal places, where fitted dresses and high heels weren’t allowed. Where no clothing was allowed and she could touch him all she wanted.

  “I apologize in advance,” he whispered in her ear, startling her from her thoughts.

  “Apologize?” Her brows lowered. “For what?”

  “For the conversation we’re about to endure.” He straightened and reached out his hand to the man walking toward him. “Colonel Peterson.”

  Kat’s eyes widened. Peterson.

  The older man had the same dark brown eyes as Micah. His face was sterner than his son’s, though, with his mouth set in a hard line under a crooked, eaglelike nose. The man smiled, the gesture not quite meeting his eyes, and offered a hand to Kat. “And who is this lovely lady you’ve brought tonight?” he asked with a rigid smile.

  Micah pulled Kat even closer to him. “Katherine Chandler. She’s the—”

  “Principal of Seaside Elementary School,” his father finished for him. “Your reputation preced
es you, Ms. Chandler.”

  Kat’s body stiffened. “Thank you. I think.” She glanced, unsure, at Micah. “Nice to meet you, Colonel Peterson.”

  “Likewise.” He straightened and studied Micah. “Have you thought about what we discussed?”

  Kat watched Micah’s body language change. Scanning the room, he avoided his father’s eyes. “Yep.”

  The older man’s face grew almost imperceptibly harder. “Good.”

  Micah’s jaw ticked on one side.

  Then, after a long, awkward second, Colonel Peterson’s attention returned to Kat. “Have a lovely evening, Ms. Chandler. I had just taken command of Camp Leon when I first heard your name. I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  She swallowed, lowering her gaze from his. That was the reputation that had preceded her. “Thank you, sir.”

  “And what an honor to have you with us tonight. It’s a testament to your strength.” He glanced at Micah. “That’s something we value here in the Corps. Strength and commitment. Perseverance.”

  Micah’s jaw continued to tick as Colonel Peterson nodded and moved on to another couple across the room. “I’m sorry,” he said when his father was out of earshot.

  “You said that before he walked up.”

  “It’s worth saying again,” he said, his mood notably darker. “Are you okay?” He pulled her toward him, guiding her to look into his eyes.

  “I’m fine.”

  “I had no idea he’d bring up—”

  “It’s fine. Really.” She mustered a smile for Micah’s sake. He looked more taken aback from the conversation than she did. “What was that other stuff about anyway?” she asked, wondering at his drastic change in demeanor. If Micah and his father hadn’t resembled each other so closely, she might’ve guessed they were enemies rather than family. She hadn’t seen her mother in several months, but when they met, it was usually with a hug. “What did he want you to think about?”

  Micah shook his head, his gaze scanning over the room. “It’s not important. He wanted me to think about my future in the military, and there’s nothing to think about anymore. My father just doesn’t know it yet.”