Epilogue
Six months to the day, Rowan sat on the edge of the lake at the house and sighed. Summer Solstice meant rising temperatures, lazy heat, and a restlessness she couldn’t contain. Had it really been six months since she spent Yule with the best man she’d ever met? He’d followed her home from the Lake House, staying with her in her too tiny apartment for the next week. Fortunately, Christmas break meant she only had to work three days before having five days off.
They never did make it to her parents’. Before New Year’s, though, she had to drive him to the airport—kiss him goodbye, and wait. Ten days of bliss and six months of waiting. He’d not waffled once, calling her every chance he had and, three days after he left, she’d received a delivery of three roses, one red, one white, and one yellow along with a spring of mistletoe—and she’d received similar deliveries once per week since. They always said the same thing.
Save me the kiss….
“How do you feel about North Carolina?” The deep voice was the last thing she’d expected to hear. Whirling around, she saw only Kaiden’s smiling face and let out a whoop. It took her no time at all to leap to her feet and race toward him. He caught her in a tight hug, and then his mouth was on hers and everything else faded away.
When she came up for air, her heart raced and her soul sang. “North Carolina?”
“Camp Lejeune. That’s my assignment. I don’t know for how long, but they’re looking for a few civilian contractors for their IT needs—we’d have to get you clearance, but….”
“Yes.” She didn’t care. Hooking her arms around his neck, she grinned. “If it means I get to be with you, then yes.”
His smile dimmed and his expression sobered. “Rowan, I need you to be sure—you’d be leaving everyone here.”
“What does your gut say?” She teased the short strands of his hair and wondered what it would be like if he were ever able to grow it out. She’d seen the pictures of him in high school; he’d had the most adorable curl that drifted over his forehead then.
“It says you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me and if you can get a job there, then this assignment means we can be together.” He’d changed again, but she didn’t see darkness in his eyes—only hope.
“Then I’m certain.” She had a job. She could get another job. Moving away didn’t mean losing her friends, it meant they’d have to come and visit. “I’ve missed you.” More than she could express in words.
“Yeah?”
“Oh. Yeah.” Stretching up onto her tiptoes, she began to pepper his face with kisses. “And I believe I owe you about thirty of these.”
His laughter vibrated against her. “Those weren’t what I was counting.”
Heat scorched her and she leaned away. “Really?”
“Oh. Yeah.” He spread his palm over her hip and then stroked over the tattoo hidden by her tank top. “Thirty or more. At least.”
“I love you, Sergeant Grumpy.”
He nuzzled the corner her mouth. “Say it again.”
Feeling freer, fuller than she had in months, she giggled and obeyed. “I love you, Sergeant Grumpy.”
“Enough to be Mrs. Grumpy?”
Tears blanketed her vision and she swallowed. The proposal threatened to undo her. “Really?”
“Yes, really.” He scowled. “I’d have asked you before I left, but you didn’t believe me enough to trust my gut.”
She flushed and glanced down. “You’re right, I didn’t—but you didn’t give up on me.”
“Hell no, so you go ahead and say no. I’ll ask you again tomorrow.” He claimed her for a branding kiss, letting go of her long enough to say, “and then I’ll ask you the day after that.” Another soul-burning kiss. “And the day after that.”
“You don’t give up, do you?” she managed when he let her have some air.
“No, ma’am. I don’t. Not when you’re mine.” The declaration held such sensual promise and determination, she gave up the ghost of resistance. Six lonely months had been enough.
Pressing her hand to his shirt, over the steady beat of his heart, she smiled. “Yours.”
“Be sure,” Kaiden warned her, his grip tightening. “Because I can go to your apartment, pack you up, and rent the U-Haul right now.”
“Or you can take me up to the house and we can make love all afternoon while everyone else plays in the lake?” She didn’t even finish the question before he swept her up and over his shoulder. Laughing, she paddled his back. “Kaiden—everyone can see!”
From the lake, she heard the whoops and the whistles. Busted already.
“Let them watch.” His pace didn’t slow. “I’ve got some kisses to collect.”
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Heather Long lives in Texas with her family and their menagerie of animals. As a child, Heather skipped picture books and enjoyed the Harlequin romance novels by Penny Jordan and Nora Roberts that her grandmother read to her. Heather believes that laughter is as important to life as breathing and that the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus are very real. In the meanwhile, she is hard at work on her next novel.
You can visit Heather at:
www.heatherlong.net
The Always a Marine Series
Always a Marine
Series so Far (in order by release)
Once Her Man, Always Her Man
Luke & Rebecca
Retreat Hell! She Just Got Here
Logan, Jazz & Zach
Tell It to the Marine
James & Lauren
Introduction of Matt McCall and Damon Sinclair
Features an appearance of Logan Cavanaugh
Proud to Serve Her
Damon & Helena
Matt, James, Lauren, Luke and Rebecca mentioned
Her Marine
Brody & Shannon
No Regrets, No Surrender
Logan, Jazz & Zach
James featured
The Marine Cowboy
A.J. & Sheri
Phone call from Luke
The Two and the Proud
Rowdy & Kim
A Marine and a Gentleman
Brenden & Liam
Appearances of James, Logan, Jazz, Shannon, Rebecca, Lauren
Combat Barbie
Kyle & Mary
Jazz makes an appearance via phone
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Joe & Melody
James makes an appearance
What Part of Marine Don’t You Understand?
Matt & Naomi
Appearances by James and Logan, Damon is mentioned
A Marine Affair
Eli & Rick
Marine Ever After
Paul & Lillianna
Multiple appearances at Luke & Rebecca’s wedding
Marine in the Wind
Greg & Georgia
Appearances by A.J. & Sheri
Marine with Benefits
Derek & Kara
Appearance by Logan
A Marine of Plenty
Charlie & Jana
Appearance by Naomi
A Candle for a Marine
Isaac & Zehava
Appearances by Zach & Shannon
Contents
Title page
Welcome Letter
A Note from the Author
~Dedication~
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Epilogue
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
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Marine Under the Mistletoe (Always a Marine) Page 9
