by Anna Sugden
She cleared her throat. “My reasons are personal.”
“I see.” He glanced down at his desk and shuffled a few papers, selecting one, before looking up at her again. “Unfortunately, I’m going to have to deny your request.”
“Deny?” Her word came out sharper than she’d intended, so she tried again. “Could I at least have a reason, sir?”
“A higher-ranking officer has already made a request on your behalf.”
“I see,” she said, lowering her gaze to her lap. Obviously, Ben had wanted her out of the post so badly that he’d made the request himself.
“No, Trooper, I don’t think you do see.”
At the sound of Ben’s voice behind her, she froze. Pulling the door fully open, he stepped around Polaski’s desk so that both of them were facing her.
“You see, Trooper Morgan, Lieutenant Peterson has requested that I deny any request from you for a transfer,” Polaski explained. “Additionally, he has requested that he never be in a position of direct authority over you.”
She looked back and forth between them. “I don’t think I understand, sir.”
This time the commander didn’t bother hiding his smile. “I’ll let the lieutenant explain that himself. You two are dismissed to continue this discussion elsewhere.”
In the hall, Ben extended his hand to shake hers. “Peace?”
“Peace,” she responded, still not understanding.
But when he gripped her hand, he held on a few seconds longer than necessary—long enough to truly confuse her. Slowly, he leaned in so that his breath feathered on her cheek.
“I can’t be your supervisor because, eventually, I plan to be something else.” He paused before adding, “Your husband.”
Her breath caught. Had she heard him right? Could everything she’d ever wanted be packaged in those two little words?
Ben didn’t even look back but continued down the hall through the squad room and out the steel door toward the parking lot. Was she ready to put her trust in Ben, to put her heart in his hands? The answer to both of those questions was a resounding yes. Delia hurried through the squad room, not bothering to acknowledge the snickering troopers she passed.
In the parking lot, Ben sat in his SUV, off duty and waiting. Ignoring her own car, Delia threw open the door to his car, climbed up on the step and propelled herself toward him. His arms were there to catch her when she landed.
“I’ve been waiting forever for you to get here,” he said, his lips already brushing kisses along her hairline.
She smiled at him, his lips and ecstasy only inches away. “That’s great to hear because I’ve been waiting a lifetime for you.”
EPILOGUE
Two Months Later
“GUESS YOU DON’T really need a best man when you have that thing with you.”
Scott pointed to the plaque Ben still grasped under the sleeve of his dress uniform, despite the ceremony for the Michigan State Police Bravery Award having ended an hour before. Though some other recipients were still at the reception, his group had relocated to the Brighton Post squad room for a little celebration of their own.
Ben shifted the plaque so he could see where his name was beautifully engraved on the front. “It’s a little hard to put down. I still need a best man, though.”
“It’s okay to be a little proud, you know,” Scott told him as he pulled the rings from his pocket to make sure they were still there.
Delia stepped up next to them, looking beautiful though the only thing she’d changed about her dress uniform from an hour earlier was to trade her cover for a simple veil—and she also carried a small bouquet of flowers.
“Oh, he’s proud, all right.” She read the award and then brushed her hand across the engraving. “I wouldn’t expect any less.”
“Thanks, Dee.” He leaned in and gave her a deep kiss that was not at all ceremony appropriate.
Rather than being embarrassed or shooing him away, Delia wrapped her arms around his neck and gave Ben another kiss that he felt all the way to his toes.
“Save it for the honeymoon, will you?” Shane called from the opposite side of the room.
Delia sent a frown his way before turning back to Ben and Scott. “Anyway, since I get to carry flowers, it’s only right that he should get to carry something, too.” She glanced down at the plaque and looked up again, waving her index finger at him. “But don’t even try to bring that to bed tonight.”
“Don’t worry about that,” he said, grinning.
As if she suddenly realized they had guests, Delia jerked her head toward the state police chaplain, who looked particularly embarrassed. “Sorry,” she whispered.
“Let’s get this show on the road,” Vinnie called out. “We have partying to do.”
With several murmurs of agreement, their tiny group of guests took their seats, which had been arranged in the middle of the squad room. It was a select group. Only their closest friends and spouses, just the way they liked it.
“Want me to take those flowers for you?” Kelly asked as she stepped into her maid-of-honor position.
They’d joked that Delia had chosen Kelly because she was the only other female trooper on second shift, but it was great to see that the two of them had become close friends. In fact, Delia had become friends with all of the Brighton Post team members.
Ben and Delia joined hands as the chaplain began the ceremony. Two wounded souls had found hope and healing in each other, and now they could make a difference while serving their community together through the Michigan State Police.
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781488006555
Strength Under Fire
Copyright © 2016 by Dana Corbit Nussio
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ISBN-13: 9781459295933
Copyright © 2016 Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:<
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A Perfect Compromise
Copyright © 2016 by Anahita Sugden
All I Am
Copyright © 2016 by Nicole Helm
Kayla’s Cowboy
Copyright © 2016 by Callie Endicott
Strength Under Fire
Copyright © 2016 by Dana Corbit Nussio
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All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
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