by Tawny Weber
They’d have goodbye sex so incredible that the memory would keep her warm for years. And, she vowed with a wicked smile, it’d be so mind-blowing that it’d make Sam miserable every time he remembered what he’d given up. He might leave her, but she’d be damned if he’d ever forget her.
As if hearing her thought, the doorbell rang.
She glanced in the mirror on her way to the door. Her blonde curls swept over her shoulders and her blue eyes were shiny with tears, but a couple of stubborn blinks got rid of those.
One more deep breath and an extra notch of brightness to her smile to match the white lights twinkling on the tree, and she pulled open the front door.
“Sam,” she said quietly, her heart stuttering as it always did whenever she saw him.
He was so gorgeous.
Why did he have to be so damned gorgeous?
“Bryanna.” Even his voice was sexy. Husky and low, always sounding like he was just on the verge of laughing. “You look great.”
Bryanna glanced down at her fuzzy socks, then frowned.
Great?
Really?
He must really want one last bounce.
Then he handed her a rose. A single pale peach rose just starting to unfurl. Her favorite.
What was he up to?
She lifted it to her nose, using the excuse of breathing in its heady scent to give him a suspicious once over. But Sam was too good at hiding his emotions, too well trained at hiding his expressions. So she had no idea what was going on.
“Can I come in?”
Instead of answering, Bryanna turned on her fuzzy socks and strode into the living room. She wanted to sit, but couldn’t relax enough to bend her body. So she stood, waiting.
She didn’t wait long. He walked right in, not looking at all guilty over her pending heartbreak.
“You decorated the tree,” he noticed with a frown.
“Christmas is in three days,” she reminded him.
“Yeah. I should have helped you decorate it.”
Since it would have been the first time he’d decorated one with her, she was glad he hadn’t. It would make Christmas the next year a little easier.
When she didn’t respond, Sam’s frown deepened.
“That’s a cool Navy Santa tree topper.” He tapped the sailor Santa. “I didn’t know they made things like that.”
She didn’t know if they did either. She’d had it custom made, thinking she’d make it part of his Christmas gift.
“Not a lot of presents under there, though,” Sam said, as if reading her mind.
She glanced at the pale blue tree skirt with its silver bells at each corner and shrugged. She hadn’t been in the mood to wrap.
“Why are you here?” she asked quietly.
“Why wouldn’t I be here?”
“Because we had a fight. And even if it didn’t bother you, it did upset me.”
A lot.
“I apologized already, but I don’t mind saying it again. I’m sorry I screwed up your evening. And that you decorated the tree without me, even though it was my fault.”
Bryanna had to clench her teeth to keep from responding to that smile of his, so filled with boyish charm.
“Maybe this will help?” Sam reached into his pocket, his eyes intent on her face. “I have something I’d like you to put under there.”
He handed her a small box wrapped in festive reds and greens, the bow glittering in the overhead light.
Her heart took a nosedive into the toes of her fuzzy socks, making Bryanna work to keep her chin from dropping to her chest. Why wasn’t he acting the way she’d thought he would?
She knew Sam. She’d known him for most of her life. When he had to do something ugly—like show his mom the dent he’d put in her car—he got right to it. No dilly-dallying, no hesitation, no prevarication.
She looked at the gift, barely large enough to fill her palm. Then she peered at his face, trying to figure out why he was dilly-dallying his prevaricating heart out now.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, crossing over to stand next to her. Close enough to touch if she reached out, but not so close that she felt justified in telling him to sit somewhere else.
“I don’t have your Christmas gift yet,” she lied quietly. She deliberately kept her gaze away from the tree where the hand knit fisherman’s sweater, fancy ratchet set and customized display case for his medals were wrapped and waiting.
“That’s okay.” He shrugged, poking at the package in her hand with one finger, a small frown creasing his brow. “It’s not really a Christmas gift.”
He’d got her a going away gift? Bryanna didn’t know if she was touched or pissed. Her stomach was tight as she tried to decide. What did two years of whispered secrets, mind-blowing lovemaking and joyful friendship merit?
Because it hurt to think about it, she set the package on the small side table next to a bowl of holiday hued M&Ms.
Then, aiming for distraction and more than ready to initiate that one last time sex she knew he wanted, Bryanna slid her hands up Sam’s chest, skimming the delicious breadth of those strong muscles before curling her fingers behind his neck.
“How about I open it later,” she suggested, rising to tiptoes to brush a teasing kiss over his lips. “Much, much later.”
She added a seductive flick of her tongue, letting him know just how tasty dessert would be. Her heart melted with gratitude when he took the invitation.
Sam’s hands gripped her hips, pulling her tight against his body. His tongue delved deep, taking the kiss from teasing to tempting with one swift thrust. Bryanna melted into his body, her pulse racing, desire coursing through her system. Even knowing he was about to break her heart, she couldn’t resist the lure of passion that flared hot and needy between them.
Apparently he could, though.
Because he pulled away, reached over to pick up the box again and thrust it into her hands.
“Open it now.” His tone allowed no argument.
Reluctantly, she took the package again and made a major production out of carefully peeling away the bow and untying the ribbon. Her red polish glinted against the paper as she unfolded the wrapping.
The paper draped over her hand, Bryanna flicked open the velvet box.
A sparkling diamond winked back at her.
If he’d punched her in the gut, told her she had lousy taste in footwear or that she sucked in bed, she couldn’t have been more shocked.
“It’s a ring,” she said, forcing the words past the knot in her throat. Her wide-eyed stare kept shifting from the box to him and back again.
“It’s an engagement ring,” he clarified.
Bryanna tried to piece together what was happening. He was supposed to be dumping her. She knew Eli was still in town, and Russell had told her about the strong-arm and beer get-together their brother had had with Sam.
“Why?” she breathed.
“I want you to marry me. I want us to be together. I want to know that you’re here when I come back from missions, that you’re a part of my life forever.”
“But...”
“But SEALs shouldn’t be married?” he said, correctly guessing what she’d been unable to say. “That’s Eli’s theory. It’s Noah’s superstition.”
“I thought you believed it. I thought...”
His brows rose when her words trailed off.
“Is that why you were so pissed the other day? Not because I went out drinking and blew off our date like an ass. It was because you thought I was listening to your brother preach the speech of freedom.”
“I thought you agreed with him. You took that vow. I didn’t know if you’d wait until you had your trident or if you’d do it sooner, before you leave for SQT. But I was sure you were going to end things between us.”
“You didn’t act like it.”
Oh, hell. Did she have to confess her crazy actions? How did a guy take hearing that his girl tried to manipulate him with food and sex? He was saying
he wanted to marry her. Would he change his mind when he heard the truth? Bryanna glanced at the ring in her hand and wet her lips. She had to risk it.
“I freaked out about it a lot, actually. So much that I came up with a crazy plan. I figured that if I made you see what you had here, with me, that maybe you’d rethink getting your trident.” She had to stop and take a breath before she could continue. “I sexed myself up, spent a fortune on food and stuff, hoping you’d like it so much that you’d drop out of training.”
“Drop out?” Sam looked like she’d just told him that she thought he wore dresses the third Saturday of each month to offer table dances to pygmies. “I’d never drop out.”
She bit her lip, but this time couldn’t look at the ring that suddenly weighed so heavily in her hand.
“But if you graduated, if you got your trident, you’d leave me.” She blinked hard to clear the burning tears from her eyes. She’d be damned if she’d have this conversation while crying. “You took a vow, Sam.”
“I agreed to a concept before I knew what it really meant. Before I knew better.” He paused, grimaced, then shrugged. “I wasn’t going to tell you this. But Eli did have me pretty convinced. He quoted divorce rates, told stories about guys who were distracted on missions, and threatened to kick my ass for hurting his little sister.”
“I didn’t think you’d need convincing.”
“I did. I never forgot my dream of being a SEAL. But until Eli reminded me, I totally forgot about that vow to be a single SEAL. So yeah, I listened to his reasons. And I bought into them. For, like, a day.”
“What changed your mind?” She had to know, because as much as she was reveling in his words, she was desperately afraid he’d change his mind right back at any time.
“The day you booted me out of here, I talked to a guy I admire a lot. He showed me pictures of his kids. He’s been married awhile, he has a cute family and he’s the best SEAL I know.” He reached out to take her hand that wasn’t holding the box, lifting it to his lips and watching her over it. “But I’d already decided to quit the Cadet Club.”
“What?” Her heart was pounding like a bongo drum, that’s why she must have misheard him.
“I told the guys in the Cadet Club that I was leaving. So that vow I took before I was legally of age? I quit it.”
Her heart was dancing and her mind racing. But Bryanna could only stare as a smile grew wider and wider on her face. This was it, she realized as she stared into Sam’s dark eyes.
This was what it felt like to have a dream come true.
“I love you,” she said softly. “I adore you and admire you and want to be with you forever.”
“So that means you’ll marry me?” He sounded like he was holding his breath, his words tight and his expression hopeful.
“Are you sure? Do you want to wait until you finish training, until you have your trident? Until it’s easier?” She wanted to bite the words back, but she’d feel miserable if she did. So she let it all be said. “Getting married while you’re starting out as a SEAL will be tough. I can wait. A year or two, whatever you want. Just until you’re sure.”
“I’m sure now and I don’t want to wait,” Sam insisted. “I don’t care if it’s tough, or if I have to work harder to focus when I’m on a mission than a single guy would. I’m willing to do that. More than willing. Because I’m not about to go through life without you. Not if I have any say in it.”
She couldn’t stop the tears this time. They coursed a trail, hot and happy down her cheeks.
“Well?”
“Well, what?” she asked, blinking at his impatient tone.
“Well, are you going to marry me?”
For the first time, Bryanna saw the nerves in Sam’s eyes, the worry creasing his brow. He wasn’t sure?
“I love you,” she said, quiet joy bubbling through her words with the same headiness as champagne. “I’d love to marry you. If you’re sure.”
“Sure? Bryanna, you are my everything,” he said as he slid the ring onto her finger. Before she could do more than sigh at the vision of it there, he pulled her into his arms.
“And now,” he promised just before his mouth took hers, “You’ll be my wife.”
—The End—
A SEAL’S SACRIFICE
by Tawny Weber
A SEAL’s Sacrifice: Chapter One
Glitter, gloss and glam combined with champagne, music and revelry made for quite a night. Add in dancing and laughter and a rooftop venue lit bright against the San Francisco night sky and it was guaranteed to be a night to remember.
A ballroom filled with people dressed to the nines, booze flowing like water and unobtrusive waiters circling the area with trays of hors d’oeuvres made it that much more special.
Once, this type of party would have been a novelty, but they had become Gwen Kirkpatrick’s norm thanks to Russell Spencer, commodities broker extraordinaire. A year ago she’d been a junior financial analyst for a bank when Russell had lured her to his investment firm with the promise of excitement, challenges and, yes, enough events like this one to guarantee she’d put her evening shoes to good use.
And she had, so much that she’d added to her collection a pair of silver Prada pumps, two strappy pairs of Louboutins and the gorgeous pair of Giuseppe Zanotti double-banded stilettos she’d worn tonight.
Gwen glanced down at her feet and sighed in appreciation. They were so pretty. And, more importantly, impossible to run in. An important requirement tonight.
Teetering on the edge of the ballroom entrance, Gwen took a deep breath, but couldn’t quite make herself officially join the party.
She loved events like this one.
Be it for work or pleasure, she truly enjoyed socializing, meeting people and having fun. And that tonight’s party was an engagement party? That was like those fancy iced roses on top of a delicious cake.
Or it would have been. If the party were held on any night but New Year’s Eve.
The one night of the year that Gwen wanted nothing more than to curl up in her flannel jammies with a gallon of Chunky Monkey and a Friends marathon.
She couldn’t blame the newly engaged couple for wanting to celebrate on New Year’s Eve. After all, it was a great time to celebrate beginnings.
But to Gwen it meant endings.
As if reading her mind, her date brushed his hand over the small of her back. Needing the support, she leaned into him for a moment, then summoned a smile as bright as the glittering chandelier overhead.
“Are you up for this?” Russell asked, his handsome face set in considerate lines. “I know you usually make a point of staying home on New Year’s Eve.”
Gwen’s smile softened. What a great friend. Russell was understanding and supportive without being pushy or pressuring her to get over herself and her past. What made him an even better friend was that he did all of that without even knowing what it was about her past that she was hiding from.
Which was just the way she wanted it.
“I’m fine. I appreciate you bringing me,” she said, rubbing her hand over his forearm. The move sent a shimmer of light sparkling off the sequins of her halter dress, the silver vivid against her long black hair. “Besides, I’m thrilled for Bryanna and Sam. Your sister is a sweetheart and she and Sam are perfect for each other. New Year’s Eve is a great time to celebrate their engagement.”
Just because it’d marked the end of Gwen’s once upon a time didn’t mean she couldn’t be happy for someone else. Sure, Russell’s younger sister had just gotten engaged to a Navy SEAL, and Gwen had been dumped by the love of her life because he’d sworn that SEAL duty and relationships didn’t mix. Or as Eli—Noah’s best friend and Russell’s brother—had put it, the two could only succeed if they were mutually exclusive.
The idiots.
And yes, Bryanna’s fiancé was the younger brother of Gwen’s ex and had always mouthed the same beliefs about relationships and Navy service as his big, bad heroes, Noah and E
li. But unlike some people, Sam had gotten over thinking like a narrow-minded, commitment-phobic weenie. So Bryanna would get her happy ever after.
It was great. Just great.
Gwen pressed her lips together to keep the tears at bay. Okay, so she might need to work on that genuine enthusiasm a little bit. But somewhere underneath her miserable envy and the reminder of her own loss, she really was happy for the couple.
“Russell, you’re here!”
Gwen’s stomach clenched as she watched the bubbly blonde in a glittering red dress head their way with a smile bright enough to light the city. Gwen figured she had about three seconds to kick that enthusiasm into gear.
It took Bryanna twice that to hug her brother. One arm wrapped tight around his waist, she turned to give Gwen a warm smile.
“Gwen,” the younger woman greeted, slightly out of breath from her little happy dance. “Thank you so much for coming.”
“Congratulations on your engagement,” Gwen said, not having to dig for sincerity when she saw the joy in the younger woman’s eyes. “I’m so happy for you and Sam.”
“Thank you,” Bryanna said softly, her smile taking on a worshipful glow as she looked past Russell’s shoulder.
Unable to help herself, Gwen followed her gaze.
Thanks to hours of practice her smile didn’t dim when she saw the groom-to-be across the room. But practice couldn’t stop the shaft of pain in her chest at the sight of him.
Because from his dark hair, slashing brow and hazel eyes to his crooked grin, Sam Morelli was a younger, huskier version of his brother Noah.
She knew most people—including her friends and family—didn’t remember that she and Noah had been a thing three years ago. She wasn’t even sure Russell realized the reason behind her annual trek into New Year’s Eve hell. After all, Gwen might have crushed on Noah all through high school, but they’d only dated for a few months during her summer after college. They’d been the most overwhelmingly incredible, sexually intense, emotionally charged months of her life. But she and Noah had spent most of them in private, huddled together exploring every delicious realm of pleasure they could find in each other’s bodies. Then he’d dumped her to live his dream as a Navy SEAL.
