by Kate Aster
“I think I like that kind of sneak attack,” I tell him breathlessly as he guides me a few feet away from the reach of the water. “How did you know I was here?”
“You told me once you always like to come here for sunset. I remember that, you know. I remember everything you say to me.”
“That so?”
“Yeah. Like how you said you weren’t looking to stick around here. You didn’t want something permanent. From Hawaii. Or from me.”
My stomach curls into a tiny ball in the pit of my gut. I don’t like hearing it. I don’t like that I said it and meant every word at the time, and have now completely done a 180. I’m a traitor to myself.
“Makes us a good pair,” I say cautiously.
“Yeah.”
His brief reply makes my heart sink and my eyes stray from his, seeking the comfort of the setting sun.
“Yeah, it did,” he continues, the past tense making my gaze dart to him again. “I didn’t think I was capable of commitment anymore. But I look at my life, and I was dead wrong. I commit all the time, to my family, to my country, to the Rangers, to Stella. And I’m committed to you, Annie.”
My breath sucks inwardly. “What?”
“I mean, I’m committed to you. I love you. And it doesn’t even matter to me whether or not you feel the same way right now. It just is. And whether you leave tomorrow or next year or never, that commitment is going to stay.”
I give my head a bewildered shake. “What did you say?”
“That I’m committed to you.”
“No. The other thing. The—” I don’t dare repeat it.
“The love thing?” he asks, offering me a wide grin. “I love you, Annie Bradshaw. I love you. And even if you leave and go back East, you’re still going to keep hearing me say that because I didn’t survive an IED blast just to let a few thousand miles between us scare me away.”
Chills sweep over me and I struggle for my next breath. I feel it all—the sand between my toes, the warmth from the sun, the salty breeze tickling my skin. But despite it all, I’m not convinced of this reality until I feel his grasp on my arms steady me as my stance falters.
“I love you, Annie,” I hear him say again.
I’m breathless, almost dizzy from it, but I manage to get out the words, “I love you too, Cam.”
“You do?”
“Yes.” A laugh escapes me. “Yes, I do. Of course I do. I—I didn’t think you’d want to hear it. I didn’t think—”
He silences me with a kiss I feel down to the tips of sand-buried toes, a kiss that heats me to my core and claims my soul.
He loves me. I revel in the knowledge of it as I taste him, as I feel the warmth of his embrace and know that this sensation inside of me is something that will last.
“Whale!” I hear a tourist cry out near us. But I don’t turn to see it. Not because I’m jaded to the beauty that surrounds me, the constant miracles that reveal themselves here in paradise.
I don’t turn because I know that I’ll see it again some other time.
Because as Cam lifts me off the ground and carries me to a soft place in the sand without letting his lips leave mine, I know I’m not going anywhere.
I’m home.
Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER
- CAMDEN -
It’s fucking cold and fucking wet.
I know—the voice in my brain sounds like a petulant brat, especially when Stella’s grandmother was telling me just yesterday that this fifty-degree weather is actually unseasonably warm for Pennsylvania right now.
But there’s this part of me, as I stand on the covered porch with Stella watching the rain fall in thick sheets, that makes me want to bundle her up and take her right back to Hawaii where she belongs.
“Does it always rain here, Uncle Cam?”
I smile. “It rains in Hawaii, too, sweetheart.”
“Not on the Kona side of the island,” she says smartly.
I chuckle. “You’re right, kiddo. It doesn’t rain too often there.”
Her lower lip protrudes. “I don’t want to stay here.”
Her words are like a punch to my gut. I don’t want her to stay here either. Never in my life would I have thought I’d be so reluctant to let this little girl leave my side.
Two weeks ago, when her grandma said she’d fully recovered and would love to take Stella for the last few months of Lancaster’s deployment, I’d met the news with what could only be described as silent hostility.
Until Dodger talked some sense into me. Her grandparents are family, too, he’d reminded me. And Stella could have some precious memories with them before her dad gets back.
Still, I’d refused to send her on a plane to the other side of the world without checking out the situation for myself.
Her grandparents live on a picturesque plot of land in the middle of rural Pennsylvania. They have a goat and a few chickens and plenty of kids in the area for Stella to play with. Even though I hate to admit it, a little time here will build a bond between her and her grandparents just as strong as the one my brothers and I have with her.
I’d be selfish to keep her away.
But then I hear Stella say things like this, and I just don’t want to let her go.
“You remember that you can call me anytime. And if you ever need me, I’ll be on a plane before you can even hang up the phone.”
“I miss Uncle Dodger and Uncle Fen already.”
“And they miss you.”
“And I’ll miss Annie.”
I glance sideways toward the front door of the house. Annie’s in the kitchen giving some last minute instructions to Stella’s grandmother—instructions she’s already given her about four times. But like me, Annie’s just trying to stay busy so that she doesn’t completely fall apart.
“Annie’s going to miss you, too,” I answer.
She sniffles. “But I’ll miss you most.”
Ohhhhh shit.
My eyes well up like a baby who’s just had his favorite toy pulled away from him. Her words are like knives, slicing through my hard exterior and letting the mushy goo inside of me pour out.
“I’ll miss you, too, little angel.” I kiss her on the top of her head. “But you’re going to come visit me a lot, okay? When your dad gets back, he said he’ll bring you out to Hawaii for a vacation soon. You can show him the island.”
“Promise?”
“Promise. In fact—” I pause an instant, reducing my volume to a whisper. “—I’ll let you in on a secret. I’m going to ask Annie to marry me. And if she says yes, I want you to come back to Hawaii and be our flower girl.”
Her eyes light. “Really?”
I smile because I can picture it now, Stella’s cherub face crowned with plumeria blossoms and the bottom of a miniature gown sweeping along the sand at the beach wedding I can already envision in my mind.
“Really,” I tell her.
“Do you think she’ll say yes?”
“I hope so. I bought her a really pretty ring, just to increase my chances.” I glance over my shoulder at the door and pull it out of my pocket to show Stella. I’ve been carrying it since we boarded the plane twenty-four hours ago, nearly getting caught by Annie in security when I had to dump my pockets into the bin.
Fortunately, Annie was focused on Stella at the time.
“When are you going to ask her?”
“Probably sometime in the next few days,” I tell her. Annie and I plan to drive to my parents in Ohio tomorrow. I thought maybe she should meet my family beforehand so she knows what she’s getting into if she says yes.
Her eyes wide, Stella shakes her head slowly. “No, no. You should do it now, Uncle Cam.”
I laugh, looking out at the thick raindrops and unable to think of a more inappropriate setting. “I was thinking more like at a candlelight dinner, Peanut. Don’t you think that would be nice?”
“Please?” she begs in a sugary sweet tone that is hard to refuse.
“How about this? I’ll call you as soon as she says yes, okay?”
She shakes her head adamantly. “Please? Please ask her now. Then I’ll know I get to be a flower girl.”
I shouldn’t even consider indulging her like this. I’ve heard women love to retell the stories of their marriage proposals to their friends and family. And somehow, I just don’t think doing it on a weather-beaten front porch on a rainy day is going to impress anyone.
But then again, I’m not sure I’ll do any better in Ohio after she’s been inundated by my family. In fact, it might benefit me to seal this deal before my mom and dad riddle her with questions and express their hopes of being grandparents ASAP.
My eyes meet Stella’s.
“Do it now, Uncle Cam,” she urges. “She’ll never say no if I tell her I want to be a flower girl.”
True enough. But it’s probably not the basis for a lifelong commitment.
Though it might help build my case.
“You think?” I ask.
She beams as she nods, then jumps from her seat. “Annie, Annie, come here! Uncle Cam wants to ask you something!”
I manage to slide the ring box back into my pocket before Annie pops her head out the screen door.
At the sight of her, it’s like the rain just disappeared. I can still hear it pommeling the roof of the porch. I can still feel the thick humidity in the air. But to me, the sun just burst from the clouds.
And all I can think is, if not now, when?
Stella tugs Annie’s hand as she guides her over to me.
“Uh, Annie…” I begin.
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t practiced this moment a hundred times since I made that trip to the jeweler in Waikoloa. But now I find myself stammering my next words. “Uh… I sort of planned to do this after we visited my family. But Stella here thinks I should do this now.”
Annie glances from me to Stella, then back to me. She looks bewildered. Who wouldn’t be? How many men can face down terrorists, yet seem to crumble in resolve at the request of a little girl?
But since Stella is the reason Annie and I were brought together in the first place, maybe her presence makes a little bit of sense.
I send Stella my best here-goes-nothing look and drop to one knee.
Holy shit. I’m really doing this.
“Annie…” My entire speech, one paraphrased from sentimental greeting cards I perused in the store, evaporates from my mind. But I take comfort in the slow, tentative grin that I see sliding up Annie’s cheeks at the sight of me on one knee.
“Tell me you didn’t just drop something,” she breathes out.
“No!” Stella chimes in quickly. “He wants to marry you so that I can be a flower girl!”
Not good. If my brothers hear that Stella did the proposing, I’ll never hear the end of it.
I cringe, looking up at Annie. “For the record, I want to marry you for a few other reasons than that.” I pull the box out of my pocket again and open it. “I want to marry you because I live in the middle of paradise. But it’s not because of the weather or the palm trees or the ocean. It’s because you’re with me. And I want that forever with you.”
Tears fill her eyes as she brings her fingertips up to her lips.
“I love you, Annie,” I tell her—words I’ve become so accustomed to these past months, yet still never tire of hearing fall from my lips. “Will you marry me?”
I’m not stupid. Well, most of the time I’m not. So when I see her face glowing like the best sunset on A-Bay, I should feel pretty confident she’s about to deliver good news.
Still, I hold my breath.
“Yes, Cam,” she breathes out. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Stella lets out a squeal as I rise and take Annie into my arms.
I don’t mind sharing the embrace with Stella when she scrambles over and wraps her arms around us both. I don’t mind at all.
Because I’ll have the rest of my life to hold Annie close.
I’m looking forward to every minute of it.
From the Author
Want to read more about the Sheridan brothers in the future? Please take a moment to leave a review. If this one’s a success, I promise you a happily ever after for Dodger and Fen in the near future.
Five-star reviews truly do sell books, bringing me closer to the day when I might be able to give up my “day job” and do this full time. So I’m deeply grateful for them.
My endless thanks to my ohana in Hawai‘i. I could not have written this book without your technical help, ensuring I properly used my ‘okino and (hopefully) spelled all those beautiful Hawaiian words correctly. And my apologies for not using the kahako above vowels in a few instances. I tried to, but sadly, e-readers won’t recognize them. A big shout-out to one of my favorite charities, 808 Cleanups (www.808cleanups.org), who work so hard to keep Hawaii’s beaches clean. If you are ever lucky enough to visit paradise, I encourage you to give back to the island that gives to us and spend a day on the beach with some of their wonderful volunteers if you are able.
As always, my thanks to my family and to my two military technical editors (the one who married me, and the one who was smart enough not to!) who keep my books authentic.
Most of all, my thanks go to you for taking a chance on an independent author.
I LOVE to hear from readers! Feel free to drop me a line through my website at www.KateAster.com, and you’ll be the first to hear when my next book is available for release.
But wait! There’s more…
The billionaire branch of the Sheridan family has their own series, and I’ve tacked on their first book in its entirety as an added bonus for you! I hope you enjoy it, and that you’ll continue reading the series.
Let’s keep in touch!
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Books By Kate Aster
~ Special Ops: Homefront Series ~
SEAL the Deal
Special Ops: Homefront (Book One)
The SEAL’s Best Man
Special Ops: Homefront (Book Two)
Contract with a SEAL
Special Ops: Homefront (Book Three)
Make Mine a Ranger
Special Ops: Homefront (Book Four)
~ Homefront: The Sheridans Series ~
More, Please
Homefront: The Sheridans (Book One)
Full Disclosure
Homefront: The Sheridans (Book Two)
Faking It
Homefront: The Sheridans (Book Three)
~ Special Ops: Tribute Series ~
No Reservations
Special Ops: Tribute (Book One)
Strong Enough
Special Ops: Tribute (Book Two)
Until Forever: A Wedding Novella
Special Ops: Tribute (Book Three)
Twice Tempted
Special Ops: Tribute (Book Four)
~ Stand-Alone Romances ~
SEAL My Grout: A Novelette
BFF’ed
A is for Alpha
More books are coming soon.
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Bonus Book!
Want more Sheridans in your future?
Please let me know by posting a positive review of A is for Alpha wherever you purchase your books. Thank you!
Then, sign up to be notified about my newest releases at www.KateAster.com/contact-kate.
In the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my free, full-length novel, More, Please—the first in the original Homefront: The Sheridans trilogy…
More, Please
By Kate Aster
© 2015, Kate Aster
All Rights Reserved
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and events are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be interpreted as real. Any similarity to real events, loca
les, or people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.
Cover design: The Killion Group, Inc.
To every reader who wrote me asking for
“More, please!”
My heartfelt thanks for your enthusiasm and support.
Prologue
Seven months ago
- LOGAN -
Maeve traces her manicured hand up the length of my tandem kayak and the movement is enough to make any man drool.
She turns sharply toward me, her face incredulous. “Ohio? What the hell are you moving to Ohio for?”
I crack a smile, her harsh tone pulling my gaze away from her French-tipped fingernails and over to her eyes—the eyes of a very happily married woman and a good friend these past months. And even though I might have easily fallen in love with her had I been given the chance, I’m not unlike any other man who has met her. She’s just one of those women who would be easy to love.
Her husband is one lucky Lieutenant.
“That’s where I’m from, Maeve.” I’m not surprised I never told her, and doubt she or Jack ever asked. In the Navy, the question is usually Where have you been stationed? rather than Where are you from?
I’m guessing people look at a Navy uniform and assume the guy in it must have been raised someplace near the water to appreciate this way of life. But my childhood memories center around farmhouses and grassland, not ocean waves and sailboats.
She tsk-tsks quietly. “Is that why you’re parting with this? There’s no water where you’re headed?”
