Her Temporary Hero (a Once a Marine Series book) (Entangled Indulgence)

by Jennifer Apodaca

  Forgetting the men, she grinned. “You’re the veterinarian with the little boy. It’s great to meet you.” Becky dropped her gaze. “Looks like little Cole will be having a brother or sister soon.”

  “Great to meet you, Becky.” She patted her baby bump. “Four more months. Next time we visit, we’ll bring Cole so you can meet him. He’s staying with my mom.”

  “So how do you juggle work and kids?” They wandered off to a table.

  “It’s going to be harder with a second one. I may take on another vet and cut back to part time. Adam and I are talking about it. But I couldn’t do any of it without my mom.” Megan glanced over to her husband. “Adam didn’t know about Cole for the first couple years of his life. I was a single mom.”

  “I bet that’s a story.”

  Megan laughed. “Oh yeah. I’ll tell you sometime. But right now, why were you asking about balancing work and family?”

  “I’m going back to school to finish my nursing degree. Or I think I am.”

  “Is that what you want?”

  “Once it was. But now…I’m not sure.”

  Warm hands settled on her shoulders. “Sugar, you’re going. Even if you never use your degree, it’ll still be yours. Finish it.”

  Megan’s light blue eyes moved up to Logan, then drifted down to her. “He’s right. Love doesn’t mean giving up your dreams. It means you work together to make both your dreams come true.” She tilted her head toward the mechanical bull. Abby had somehow gotten Sophie from Pricilla and the two of them were sitting on the bull. “Looks to me like Sophie will be well cared for if you and Logan aren’t home.”

  Her baby’s shriek of delight sounded over the music and voices, and Becky’s heart swelled. How could anyone have this much joy? She put her hand on Logan’s. “That means your dream, too. Even if we have to start from the ground up, we’re going to build Camp Warrior Recovery.”

  Adam pulled up a chair by his wife. “What can we do to help?”

  Becky leaned forward. “We’re going to need the perfect location. We want a ranch environment, outdoors and away from civilization. These men and women need a chance to get away from the pressure of trying to assimilate back into civilian life while coping with their PTSD symptoms.”

  Becky flushed. “You were probably asking Logan, not me. He can explain it better.” She wasn’t the one who had dealt with combat PTSD and spent all the time and money working to build the camp to help other veterans.

  Logan angled his head down to catch her eyes. “You explained it perfectly.” He squeezed her shoulder. “You’re so going back to school. We need you at Camp Warrior Recovery. Get your RN then you can specialize and help these vets.”

  “You mean that?”

  Hunter dropped into the seat next to her. “Compassion and understanding like yours goes a long way, Becky.”

  “She volunteered at a VA hospital in high school and college. Becky’s talked to a lot of veterans.” Logan’s eyes consumed her. “I didn’t even realize how much she’d absorbed until just now.”

  The idea took hold of her. Excited her. “I’ll call my guidance counselor, see what the options are. Oh, and maybe I can—

  “Logan.”

  Pam’s strained voice cut her off. Becky swung around in her chair to follow Pam’s pointed finger. “I’ll tell him to leave if you want.”

  Brian Knight stood just inside the door. His graze traveled the room.

  Voices fell off as people realized who had come to the party.

  “No.” Becky jumped up and dug her fingers into Logan’s arm. “Brian made the effort, he can stay if he wants.”

  Logan’s mouth thinned.

  Ava slipped up to Becky’s side, holding Sophie. “He threatens you and I’m going to neuter him.”

  Becky briefly wondered when Ava got possession of Sophie. “He only did that when he thought I was using his son.”

  Ava glared. “He threatened my goddaughter, Becky. I don’t forgive that.”

  “You will. He’s her grandfather.”

  Brian’s gaze landed on them and he made his way over. Whispers started, then built. By the time Brian stopped, they were surrounded by everyone there. All their family and friends including Lucinda, Mac, Brody, all Adam’s buddies from Once a Marine.

  Brian faced them both.

  Logan shook off Becky’s fingers and put his arm around her in a possessive gesture. “Becky won’t let me throw you out.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Brian, you’re welcome here. Dinner should be ready soon. Would you like a drink?”

  Surprise softened the deep lines in his face. “I have something to say.” He took a deep breath. “I’m proud of you both. Logan, you stood up like a man, defended your wife and child and chose them. And Becky, you did what you thought best to protect your child. After I’d made it clear you were to leave with nothing but the stuff you brought, you asked for one thing—that I give Logan his land.”

  Logan swung his eyes to her.

  “I told you that. Besides, it didn’t work. You signed it away for me and Sophie.”

  He pulled her close. “I’d do it again. No regrets.”

  Brian regained their attention. “I regret that I ever let you go, son. I should have gone after your mother that very first day she left.”

  Logan turned. “Why didn’t you?”

  “My father stopped me. Told me to choose, either you and Indigo, or the ranch. I was so humiliated and felt so betrayed by Indigo, that I chose the ranch. Took me eight long years to grow the balls I should have had that day and go get you back. I was furious when I found out the life you were living. It was one thing for Indigo to betray me, but you were a kid. She had you sleeping in bars, or sometimes alone on the bus while she performed in dives.” He shook his head. “When Kendra brought me that contract detailing your and Becky’s temporary marriage, I felt betrayed all over again.”

  Becky fought a cringe. They had deceived him.

  Brian went on. “Logan, in the end, you had more integrity than I did. You stood by your family, and now that I’ve had time to think, I respect that.” He turned to Becky, handing her an envelope. “The deed to Logan’s land. My son made a stand and I won’t insult him by returning it. He wouldn’t take it. He chose you, and he won’t go back on that. So this is my wedding gift to you, 100 percent free and clear.”

  Becky ignored the envelope, slipped from Logan’s hold, and hugged her father-in-law. “Thank you, Brian.”

  He seemed startled, his arms hanging at his side.

  She leaned back. “I’m sorry, too. We tried to scam you, and we ended up hurting all of you.”

  His eyes softened and he hugged her. “Accepted. Can I hold my granddaughter?”

  Becky took Sophie from Ava, and handed her to her grandfather. “You don’t have to ask. We’re family.”

  Brian smiled, his eyes lighting up when Sophie went right into his arms.

  Pricilla put her hand on his arm. “I’m proud of you.”

  Brian shifted Sophie and curved his hand around Pricilla’s hip. “I love you, Pris. More than any other woman. I’ll say it every damned day, just don’t leave me again.”

  She sucked in a breath. “I’ve already come back. You didn’t have to say it.”

  He smiled her at. “I know.”

  Pricilla closed her eyes and leaned into her husband.

  Logan turned Becky to face him. Taking her hands, he smiled. “You’re wearing your mom’s rings. She’s here with us, too.”

  Her throat filled at that. For a fleeting second, she could almost feel her mom there, telling Becky that she loved her and wanted her to be happy, but that it was time for her to go be with Becky’s father and brother. She and her mom had gone through a lot together, Becky could let her go with peace, knowing her father and brother would care for her now.

  “She knows Sophie and I are happy, loved, and safe.”

  “And?” He reached behind him on the table.

  She didn’t k
now what he meant. “What else is there?”

  He held up a small black box and lifted the lid. “You’re mine.”

  Glittering beauty shimmered against black velvet. “Logan, it’s breathtaking.” A white gold engagement ring with three diamonds. Nestled next to it was a slender band encrusted with diamond chips.

  He slipped the rings out, and put them on her finger. “You’re my wife, my lover, and my friend. I want the world to know that I love you, cherish you, and I will stand by your side and guard your back all of our days together.”

  She threw herself at him, knowing he’d catch her and hold her. Always.

  Acknowledgments

  I’d like to thank Alethea Spiridon Hopson for working so hard to help shape this book, and for always being the calm in the storm! You make the impossible seem possible every single time. And a special thanks to Kate Fall for whipping the first draft into a stronger book.

  To all my friends who listen to me whine whenever I hit a wall in writing a book, thank you for not changing your phone number or email address, or blocking me on Twitter and FB. You guys rock and keep me sane!

  To my husband, because you believe each and every day.

  About the Author

  Jennifer Apodaca is the author of a mystery series and sexy romances. During the full moon, she releases her wicked side, named Jennifer Lyon, to write her dark and steamy paranormal novels. Her books have won several awards and been translated into multiple languages, but her greatest achievement is a happy and satisfied reader.

  Jen lives in Southern California with her heroic husband, their three sons and Bailey, the sweet and spoiled dog. Jen loves to write, bake, read and hang out with her family. She sincerely believes that the four major food groups should be coffee, Diet Coke, chocolate and wine.

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