by Liz Johnson
Someone like Aaron.
Hope bubbled deep in her chest, drying her tears and wiping the frown from her face.
She wasn’t looking to replace Aaron. She was looking for Zach.
“Don’t you see? I can’t be what you want.”
Now it was her turn to shake her head, only she gave him a full-blown smile as she did so. Snagging both of his hands, she squeezed them in front of her, praying she could convey all of the love in her heart.
“Zach McCloud, I disagree. Completely.” One of his eyebrows rose, but he didn’t interrupt her. “You may be all those things—rough-and-tumble, handy in a fight, called away at any moment. And maybe I didn’t want those things when I was younger. But you’ve proven to be everything I never knew I needed.”
He sucked in a quick gasp, and she giggled.
This was both harder and more wonderful than she’d hoped.
“You’ve been beside us through all of this. Any other man might have run, might have decided we weren’t worth the effort.”
“Never.”
Her insides turned to mush, and she brought his hand to her heart, so he could feel it gallop. “You are the most stable man I know. You stand beside your convictions. You sacrifice for those you love. You never once got angry with me for not doing my own dishes.”
That made him laugh, and he pulled her a step closer. She went willingly, craning her neck so she could see the lights dancing across his face.
“I didn’t know I was ready to fall in love again, but you made it so easy. And I want to spend next Christmas and the next and the next with you.”
With a quick tug, he pulled her all the way against him, wrapping his arms around her waist. “That was my line.”
“It was?”
“Uh-huh.” He nodded into her hair. “I was going to tell you that I’ve been in love with you since we were sixteen.”
“You were?” His confession was somehow infinitely surprising and not at all stunning. He’d been a good friend. And he’d always cared.
“But I never knew I could love someone this much until I married you.”
Suddenly his embrace fell away, and she opened her eyes to find him kneeling before her. His hand rested on one knee, and he looked up at her with a playful grin. “Kristi McCloud, will you marry me?”
She shoved his shoulder to cover the tears that had returned. Her perfect proposal. Third time was a charm, they said.
“We’re already married, silly.”
“Let’s make it real this time.”
She fell into his arms and pressed her lips to his. “I think it already is.”
EPILOGUE
Five months later
The back door slammed behind Zach as he carried a tray of hamburgers from the grill to the countertop.
“You can set them there.” From her position in front of the sink, Kristi nodded toward the open spot between a plate of lettuce leaves and tomato slices and a bowl of fruit salad.
He did as she asked, sliding the still-sizzling meat into the buffet line before slipping up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist.
“Hey.” If she was trying to sound affronted, she failed miserably. Pressing a kiss to her neck, he laughed when she shivered.
“You shouldn’t do that,” she scolded.
“And why not?” He’d been waiting way too long to be free to kiss her and hold her and love her as he did now. He had no intention of wasting any more time.
With a tip of her head toward the backyard, she rolled her eyes. “We have company.”
So what? He didn’t particularly want an audience, but he wasn’t bothered by letting his family see how much he loved his wife. Besides, everyone else was in the backyard. Cody and Jordan. Matt and Ashley. Tristan and Staci and all of their kids. And the rest of the guys from the team would be by soon enough. The adults were sipping lemonade and sitting in the shade. Well, all of them except Jordan, who had been chasing Cody and Tristan’s oldest, Whitney, with a water gun last Zach had checked.
“They’re outside. We’re inside. Besides, you’re my wife.”
Her cheeks glowed pink as she turned in his arms, wrapping her own around his waist and holding him close. “I like it when you call me that.”
“What, wife?”
She nodded.
He liked it, too. He liked that she was no longer his wife in name only. He liked that they’d committed before God and friends and family to love and honor one another, to care for one another, to stay together forever.
He liked the idea of forever.
Especially where Kristi was concerned.
Because she was going to own his heart at least that long.
Pressing his nose into her hair, he breathed in her scent. She smelled of honeysuckle and sunshine and the icing on Cody’s birthday cake.
“I like that you’re my wife.”
“Me, too.”
A scream of glee from outside made her jump, and he squeezed until she giggled. “That man likes hanging out with Cody because he can act like a kid.”
“True. Although Jordan’s never needed an excuse to act like a kid.” But he had been spending an awful lot of time at Casa McCloud over the last few months. “Maybe he just hangs around because he likes the good food.”
She pinched his arm playfully, and he jumped like she’d seriously injured him. Laughing, she said, “Maybe he’s lonely. We should set him up.”
“No.” The word popped out before he could even register where it came from. But with it came a host of memories. The tremble in Amy’s voice when Zach told her Jordan wasn’t coming for their date. The coolness in her eyes the next time he saw her. The awkward silences when they’d met up.
All over a date that hadn’t even been his to break.
“The last time someone set Jordan up on a date, it did not go well. So I’m staying out of that.”
She wrinkled her nose, like she might have a better idea. “Maybe I know someone.”
“Don’t even think about it. Just let him play with the kids.”
Something flashed in her eyes. But her bangs were in the way, and he wondered if he’d imagined it. Brushing her hair back with both hands, he leaned in until their noses were nearly touching. “What are you thinking, wife?”
Her eyes darted toward the backyard and the sounds of water balloons and children’s laughter. “What would you think if there was another kid for Jordan to play with?”
His mind tumbled the words together but couldn’t make much sense of them. “Do you want to have a baby?”
She bit into her bottom lip. “We haven’t really talked about it, but…”
It was true. They hadn’t talked about it. They’d had other things to worry about like getting Cody healthy, navigating life as a real married couple and feeding Jordan half the time.
Babies were a life changer. They came with late nights and endless dirty diapers, midnight feedings and scattered toys. Dirty dishes in his sink would be the least of his worries if they added a baby to the mix.
But he wasn’t opposed to the idea. Especially not if it was a little girl with her mother’s smile.
“When you’re ready to talk about it, I’m open.”
Suddenly tears filled her eyes, and he frowned. He’d said the wrong thing. Whatever that was.
“Kristi? Honey? What’s—”
She shook her head and began to cry in earnest. “I’m pregnant.”
He couldn’t think. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t speak.
He must have stood like that for a long time because finally she nudged him. “Zach, say something. Are you mad?”
“Mad?” His legs shook, and suddenly he dropped to his knees, pressing his ear against her stomach and pulling her to him. “Mad?”
That wasn’t even in the same galaxy as the emotions flooding through him. Joy. Elation.
Wonder.
That was closer.
There was a baby. And it was his. And Kristi’s.
It felt like a kick in the chest followed by the warmest hug he’d ever known.
The life he’d wanted—the one he’d begged God for all those years ago—had been given to him. When God deemed the time to be right.
Turning his head, he nuzzled her belly and pressed a kiss to the place where their baby grew as she cupped each side of his head and forced him to look up at her.
“Tell me the truth. Are you happy?”
Clearing the lump from his throat, he hunted for the words. “Happy doesn’t begin to cover it. I’m married to the love of my life, we have an amazing son and we’re going to have another one.”
“It might be a girl.”
He kissed her stomach again, pressing his hands to each side and imagining what it would be like to feel their baby kick and watch it grow. “I didn’t even know I wanted to have a baby until now. But I’ve only ever wanted one thing as much.”
“To be on the teams?”
He frowned. “No. You.”
She laughed and leaned over, pressing her lips to his and promising him a future filled with as much joy, laughter and love as they could squeeze into it.
*
Don’t miss these other MEN OF VALOR
stories from Liz Johnson:
A PROMISE TO PROTECT
SEAL UNDER SIEGE
NAVY SEAL NOEL
NAVY SEAL SECURITY
Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com.
Keep reading for an excerpt from MISTLETOE REUNION THREAT by Virginia Vaughan.
Join Harlequin My Rewards today and earn a FREE ebook!
Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards
http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010003
Dear Reader,
Thank you for joining Zach, Kristi and me on this adventure. I hope you enjoyed reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Zach appeared in the first Men of Valor book, A Promise to Protect, and he’s been waiting not-so-patiently for his own story ever since. In fact, he’s been waiting for a lot of things, especially Kristi. I love how he’s willing to sacrifice his own happiness for hers. And I love that his sacrifice begins to open her eyes to a love she never expected.
Both Zach and Kristi—and even Cody—get second chances at the right time. I’ve never been one who likes to wait, but Zach and Kristi remind me that God’s timing is perfect. I hope when you feel like God hasn’t heard you or that you can’t possibly wait any longer, this story will remind you that everything has a season and God’s timing is best.
Thanks for spending your time with us. I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me at [email protected], Twitter.com/LizJohnsonBooks or Facebook.com/LizJohnsonBooks. Or visit LizJohnsonBooks.com to sign up for my newsletter.
Liz Johnson
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense story.
You enjoy a dash of danger. Love Inspired Suspense stories feature strong heroes and heroines whose faith is central in solving mysteries and saving lives.
Enjoy six new stories from Love Inspired Suspense every month!
Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
Harlequin.com/newsletters
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
HarlequinBlog.com
Join Harlequin My Rewards & Instantly earn a FREE ebook of your choice.
Earn points for every Harlequin print and ebook you buy, wherever & whenever you shop.
Turn your points into FREE BOOKS.
Don’t miss out. Reward the book lover in you!
Register Today & Earn a FREE BOOK*
*New members who join before Dec. 31, 2016 will receive 2000 points redeemable for eligible titles.
Click here to register
Or visit us online to register at
http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010001
Mistletoe Reunion Threat
by Virginia Vaughan
ONE
Assistant District Attorney Ashlynn Morris’s hands were shaking as she hurried down the steps of the courthouse toward her car. It couldn’t be him. It just couldn’t. But it had been Garrett Lewis in the foyer of the courthouse. The one man she’d never expected to see again.
She hadn’t seen him in years—five to be exact—and she hadn’t allowed herself to think about him in all that time except when she looked into her son Jacob’s face and saw Garrett’s eyes staring back at her. But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing how he’d devastated her when he abruptly ended their engagement, choosing his life as an army ranger over a life with her and Jacob.
The December wind nipped at her cheeks as she reached her car and opened the door, dumping belongings that had been in her briefcase onto the seat. She hadn’t even bothered to slip on her coat in her haste to get out of the courthouse. She’d gone stone cold when she’d seen Garrett standing in the hall, his hands casually in his pockets and his easygoing manner apparent. His sandy hair was long on his neck and ears, and a goatee decorated his face, but his eyes were unmistakably kind when he turned to look at her, his expression just as surprised as she knew her own must be. She’d frozen in place, engulfed in a trance until someone had bumped into her, knocking her briefcase from her hands and spilling its contents on the floor. After quickly recovering her items with the stranger’s help, she’d turned and rushed from the courthouse.
“Ashlynn,” Garrett called, his baritone voice another shock to her system. “Ashlynn, wait.”
How could she face him now when she’d loved him so amazingly deeply? He’d shattered her world by rejecting her, leaving her a twenty-two-year-old law school student suddenly on her own with a baby on the way.
It had been a struggle to raise a child alone and finish law school, but she hadn’t given up. She’d fought for a better life for herself and Jacob just as she’d battled for everything good in her life. Her mentor, Judge Warren, often called her a survivor, and she was. She handled more pressure on a daily basis in her job as a prosecutor than most people ever faced, and she never blinked. She wouldn’t—she couldn’t—let Garrett see her blink, either.
Steeling herself against the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her, she shut her car door quickly before she acted on her need to jump inside and roar away. She would face him. It was time to finally put this behind her once and for all. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she took a deep, fortifying breath then turned and closed the distance between them. “Garrett, what are you doing here?”
His green eyes bored into hers so intensely that it made her breath catch, and when he spoke, his low, husky voice was just as she remembered; his deep southern drawl unmistakable. “I’ve started mentoring foster kids through my local church, and one of the boys is here to see his mother, who was picked up for drugs. I’m here to support him.”
Her mind spun at the idea that he was mentoring foster kids. Yes, he’d been one, and yes, he’d found a successful career as an army ranger, but what kind of role model ran out on the people who needed him most? He might fool some with his good-guy act, but not her, not after how he’d abandoned her. But he’d misunderstood her question. “No, what are you doing here in Jackson?”
“Oh, that. I’ve been back in town for a while now. I’m living over on Sutton Lane out by the Reservoir.” He gave her an uncertain shrug. “I didn’t know whether or not to call. I heard you’d gotten married and started a family.”
Yes, she’d gone on with her life after he’d left her. No need for him to know how it was currently falling apart. Her marriage was over, and her ex-husband wanted Jacob to live with him full-time. But those were her problems, and he didn’t need to know about them.
“It’s better you didn’t,” she said, determined not to let her vulnerability show. “We’ve both moved on.”
“I’m wor
king with the police now. I took a job training local law enforcement in anti-terror response tactics.”
She gasped at this revelation. “You left the army?” Being a ranger had been everything to him. He’d chosen that life over a life with her, having promised to marry her during an extended leave from the rangers only to change his mind once he rejoined his unit.
He nodded, but his voice caught and she thought she spotted something lurking in his eyes—pain? “I did.”
For Ashlynn, that was a final blow to her ego. He’d told her he couldn’t be a ranger and be with her, then he’d abandoned them both. Now he would be around town and working with the police. She might see him through the course of her work. Jackson, Mississippi, was a big town, but law enforcement was a small community, and in her job as a prosecutor she often worked closely with the police. It was just one more insulting kick in the teeth to her already encumbered life. “I have to go. I’m expected at home.”
She hurried away from him and back toward her car. It unnerved her to think he was so close now and she might see him regularly. She made a mental note to conduct as much of her business as possible at the secondary jailhouse, where she would be less likely to run into him again instead of the primary jailhouse where he was now working. But, for now, she needed to concentrate on Jacob and looked forward to winding down after an incredibly hectic day by snuggling with him on the couch tonight and watching A Charlie Brown Christmas on television.
She was nearly to her car when an explosion rocked the air. Ashlynn was thrown backward, landing hard on the asphalt. She tumbled back against a car, ramming her head. Blinding pain ripped through her and her head felt heavy, but she managed to glance up to see her car in flames and debris falling all around. People were running toward her. Garrett was the only one she could make out clearly. He appeared to be screaming, but she couldn’t hear him or anything over the ringing in her ears.
He reached her and pulled her to her feet then hurried her away from the debris and flames. Her body was numb, but when her knees buckled beneath her, he scooped her into his arms and carried her. Noise began to seep back through to her—the huff of air through Garrett’s lungs as he ran, the distant wail of sirens and the roar of the fire raging a few feet away. The overwhelming smell of burning rubber permeated the air. She caught the worried expression on Garrett’s face as her vision faded, and she laid her head against his chest and slipped into unconsciousness.
