by Lea Hart
Matt was pulled and looked as dazed at his opponent. His face and body were bloodied and, for a second, Bree couldn’t process it. Bruce and Nate were jumping around shouting and she felt her legs give. She collapsed into her chair and covered her face. Seeing Matt in the cage was indescribable and a part of her felt numb.
Bruce lifted her up and twirled her around, and she felt tears stream down her face. Matt had just secured his third title and she couldn’t believe it was over.
Twenty thousand people expressed their enthusiasm and, for the first time all night, she heard it. She turned around, looked at the crowd, and realized they were celebrating Matt’s win just the same as she was.
Before she knew what was happening, Bruce was leading her over to the gate of the cage and helping her mount the stairs. Standing at the entrance, she saw Matt with the championship belt in his hands as he held it over his head. When he caught her eye, she moved toward him and he held open his arms. She stepped toward him and hugged him as much as she dared. He was bruised and bloodied and she didn’t want to hurt him any more than he was. “I’m so proud of you,” she said against his mouth.
“I love you, Bree, and you made this possible.”
“All you, champ,” she said as she kissed him. “All you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Mobile, Alabama
Saturday, July 15th
Bree sat on the sun porch of her family home, looked out at the bay, and wondered what Matt and her daddy were doing. They’d been in the study for over an hour behind closed doors and she couldn’t figure out what they were talking about. As far as she knew, fishing wasn’t that interesting and didn’t require privacy.
She thought about walking past the door again to see if she could pick up any bits of information and then decided against it. Whatever they were discussing would be revealed soon enough because she had ways of making Matt talk.
She returned her attention to her computer and decided to go through her emails. Might as well be productive. There was one from Nicole that looked interesting, so she opened it first and read it quickly. Seemed Grayson had made a full recovery and was heading into rehab. Her brother had been in touch with him regarding the shooting and that’s how she’d found out.
A chapter of her life was closed once and for all. As far as she could tell, they never needed to see or speak again. And it wasn’t because their relationship had caused her so much pain and agony, but more because they had nothing left to say to one another. He had sent her a note a month ago and apologized, and she hadn’t responded. What was she going to say? She sure as sugar wasn’t going to tell him it was fine. Because it wasn’t. But it was O-V-E-R. That was for damn sure.
The sound of her daddy’s study door opening made her wonder if they were finally done in there with their super-secret talk.
Leaning back against the cushions of the wicker couch, she waited to hear Matt’s footsteps. Instead, she heard her mama’s sandals against the wood floors. Mama popped her head into the room and gave her a smile. “Hey, Mama.”
“Hi, baby girl. What are you doing with your computer? You’re supposed to be on vacation.”
Bree watched her mama fuss with her hair as she settled onto the couch. “Where you off to?”
“Daddy and I are going over to the Howards’ for bridge. You and Matt are on your own for supper. There’s some chicken in the fridge if you want to put a little picnic together.”
“Thanks, Mama. That’s a good idea. Maybe we’ll go down to the dock and watch the sunset.”
“That sounds perfect.” Leaning over, she picked up Bree’s hand. “I’m so relieved to see you happy and healthy. Seeing you in the hospital is not something that I’m likely to ever forget.”
“Well, it’s done and I’m as good as new. In fact, I’ve never been happier. Work is going well, I’m in love, and my boyfriend is the MMA Middleweight Champion.”
“I sure do like him, baby. He’s a good man through and through and the way he looks at you lets me know that he’s going to take good care of your heart. Which is all Daddy and I want for you.”
“I love him, Mama, in a way that I didn’t think was possible. I never thought I’d find someone who makes me so happy. He’s everything.”
“Who’s everything?” Daddy asked as he walked into the sunroom.
Bree ignored the question and studied her father. “What have you and Matt been talking about behind closed doors?”
“Man things. Nothing you need to worry about.”
Mama stood up and straightened her dress. “We better get going, Ned. We don’t want to be late.”
Bree watched her mama hustle her daddy out of the sunroom and questioned why bridge at their friends’ house was so exciting. She narrowed her eyes and wondered what was up. “Have fun,” she called out to their retreating backs. “Very peculiar,” she muttered to herself.
Matt strolled in and asked, “What, honey?”
“Nothing. My folks just hot-footed it out of here and it seemed a little strange.”
He collapsed on the couch and picked up her hand. “What do you want to do tonight? Since we’re on our own, maybe we can go out to the dock and smooch.”
She closed her laptop and moved it to the table. “I can make a picnic and we can go watch the sunset if you want.”
“Sounds good.” He leaned his head against the cushions and looked up at her. “What are you worried about?”
“Nothing.” She lifted her hair off her neck, twisted it up, and secured it with a rubber band. “That thunderstorm didn’t help a bit. I’ve been out West for too long and I’ve become soft because I’m about ready to start complaining about the weather.”
“Eighty-nine and humid does take some getting used to,” Matt replied as he kissed her shoulder.
A small breeze came in through the screens and brought the smell of the bay, and Bree filled her lungs with it. The deep, salty scent of the sea air made her realize that every good thing came with something that wasn’t as pleasant. The scent of the magnolia trees and the bay was something she loved and with it came the hot humid days of July. Nothing was ever all good or all bad and that included Grayson. He was still on her mind and she realized that without him, she would have never been ready for someone like Matt. She needed to be broken wide open and Grayson had accomplished it beautifully. When she put herself back together, she was different enough to take a chance on Matt. And thank God, because he ended up being the man she wanted to kiss…forever.
“Honey, you’re thinking real loud. Anything you want to share?”
“I got an email from Nicole, and she told me that Grayson had fully recovered and is in rehab. It seems that he’s going to get a second chance to do something with his life.”
“And…”
“If it wasn’t for him, then I never would’ve been ready for you. So, I guess I should thank him for…”
“I’m the one who should thank him. If he hadn’t ended your engagement, then I would’ve never had the opportunity to meet you and fall in love. I have the chance to make you happy and I’m damn grateful.” Shrugging, he stared out at the bay. “But I’m not grateful enough to not want to beat the hell out of him. I fight for a living and the man I’ve wanted a shot at most has eluded me.” He shook his head. “Pisses me off.”
Bree squeezed his hand. “Well, you can comfort yourself with the fact that he was shot up and almost died. Maybe that will have to do.”
“Guess so.” He sat up and gave her a kiss. “Enough about Grayson. Let’s grab some drinks, walk out to the dock, and stick our feet in the water.”
“Okay, I’ll put some snacks together and we can go down.” She lifted his arm and checked his watch. “We have about forty minutes. The sky is already starting to look pretty.”
“I’m going to run upstairs. I’ll meet you back here in ten minutes.”
“Okay.” Bree heaved herself off the couch, and as she walked into the kitchen, she realized that she ne
ver found out what he and her daddy were talking about. And why was he going upstairs? If he had to go potty, he could use the one next to the family room. Peculiar.
***
Matt sat next to Bree on the dock and tried to hide his nerves. She had been giving him funny looks ever since he met her in the kitchen. She was too smart not to know that something was up and he prayed he could hold out before she started interrogating him. He lifted his glass of sweet tea and tried to remember his speech. He’d been working on it for almost a month and he hoped like hell he didn’t screw it up.
Bree lifted her hand and pointed at the sky. “Those puffy clouds sitting on the horizon look like an alligator.”
He tilted his head and didn’t see any alligator. “It looks like a plane to me.”
“Maybe.” She turned and smiled at him. “What were you and Daddy talking about today?”
“Life.” The chances of her accepting that answer and not asking a hundred questions were…
“What about life?”
Impossible. Better just get to the asking because she wasn’t going to be held off. “Before I get to that, let me ask you something.”
“Okay.”
He lifted her hands and forgot every word of his speech. Shit. Better just stick with simple. “Bree, I love you and want a chance to see how happy I can make you, and I was wondering if you would do me the honor of marrying me.” He saw her eyes grow huge as she gasped. “Honey, you okay?”
“Did you just ask me to marry you?”
He dug his hand into the pocket of his cargo shorts and pulled out a small black box. “I forgot this.” He opened the box and held it up. “Marry me, Bree, because I can’t imagine a life without you.”
Tears sprang to her eyes and she covered her mouth. When her head bobbed up and down, he took a breath before he passed out. “Is that a yes?”
Her hands were flapping and her face was wet from the tears. Good or bad, he had no idea. “I love you, honey. Thumbs-up is a yes and thumbs-down…I throw myself into the bay.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
He lifted her hand and shoved the ring on her finger before she could change her mind. “Yes, you’ll marry me.”
“Yes,” she repeated more loudly. Throwing herself into his arms, she buried her face into his chest. “I love you, Matt, and I’d love to spend the next sixty years with you.”
He fell against the dock and held her tightly against his body. “Goddamn, you make me happy.” The next thing he knew, she was covering his face with kisses, and a bubble of happiness exploded in his chest. Turned out Bree made him a hell of a lot happier than any championship belt he’d ever won.
“Matt, you found parts of me I didn’t know existed, and in you, I found a love I no longer believed was real. Thank you for bringing me back to life.”
“Once in a lifetime…if you’re lucky you meet someone who changes everything. I love you, Bree, and we’re going to make a hell of a team. Together, we’re unbeatable. No one will ever take us down.”
“No takedown. Only love,” Bree replied.
“Let’s get married here at sunset.”
Bree lifted her head and looked out at the bay. “Perfect.”
Matt gazed at Bree’s profile and then admired the pinks and oranges that were lighting up the sky. “Yeah, perfect.” He’d known from the moment he saw her that she was the one, and seeing her with his ring on her finger and a happy smile told him he’d just won the biggest championship of all.
Spending the rest of his life with his dream girl was all he was ever going to need.
THE END
INSPIRATION
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BOOKS BY LEA HART
CORONADO SERIES
Latched
Betrayed by her ex–fiancé, Birdie James decides a sexy fling will give her the excitement she needs without the problems of a relationship. Luckily for her, Mr. Right Now is gorgeous, interested and curls her toes with one look. There’s just one problem.
Lieutenant Commander, Mark Frazier sees Birdie, and he only wants one thing. Her, forever. As a SEAL, he flourishes beneath both trials and adventure. However, changing the mission directive of this woman may be the biggest challenge of his life.
What happens when a woman whose life is based on certainty targets a Navy SEAL who thrives on the unknown? Can Mark find a way to overcome her stubborn mindset and convince her to give them a chance? Or is her heart latched against him?
Snatched
When a stalker targets Rory Basso, she thinks she can handle the situation on her own. Then it escalates. Fearing for her safety, she take the advice of her best friend and hires a security professional to help her track down and eliminate the threat. But Max is more than she expects.
Max Bishop hasn’t met a target he can’t acquire or a mission he can’t complete. Until Rory. As a retired Navy SEAL and CEO of Security Alliance International, he has spent most of his life in charge. Now his mission is to convince this headstrong woman that he can protect her….and love her.
Can Rory trust Max with her safety and her love? Will he convince her to place her protection and heart in his hands? Or will the person terrorizing her snatch the opportunity away?
Attached
Cary Simmons is a kindergarten teacher. Her boring life leaves her craving a summer of adventure, a kick start into an exciting future. However, when her car breaks down in the middle of the California desert, she decides to make the most of it. After all, a biker bar holds some pretty adventurous men, right?
Travis Mathers can’t believe his eyes when a pretty little thing walks into the roughest bar in Ripley wearing a flowered sundress. Instantly, the retired Navy Seal knows this woman needs his protection, and he’s going to give it whether she wants it or not. Besides, who could possibly have more to show her about adventure?
Can Travis convince Cary that he can turn around her boring life? Can Cary fight the allure of a risk-taking alpha male? How long can they resist becoming attached?
Catch
Rachel Miller made a mistake. A year later she is still paying the price. Too embarrassed to ask for help, she tries to manage it on her own. Until, that no longer is an option.
Retired Navy SEAL, Chris Iceman Ellis has spent his whole like protecting people. When he discovers that the woman he’s had his eye on for a year is being threatened, he steps in immediately. Whether she wants it or not.
Can Chris persuade Rachel to accept his protection and convince her that he will always be there to catch her?
What happens when a mighty warrior falls for a woman and becomes her hero… and she becomes his saving grace.
Match
This is a collection of short stories about the couples, that didn’t get their story told in the first four books.
What happened when Birdie matched Ed up with her friend Amelia?
Also, what about Frank and Cat? Does he win her over and prove that he’s a good man?
And, please let Derick find someone. Maybe Birdie’s friend Gracie would be perfect.
Then of course, there’s Laird and Lexi…can he win the heart of a woman who has so much going on in her life?
And, finally David…sweet lord, please let this man find someone who will make him cookies.
All is revealed in this collection.
CORONADO II SERIES
Bewitched
Paige Bennett finds herself in the hands of terrorists in northern Jordan. Not completely unexpected considering her career in the diplomatic corps, but not welcome, either. She and a fellow diplomat need the cavalry, and they need it now.
Unfortunately, their captors’ talk of executing them is increasing rapidly, so the chances of a rescue are slim to none. Unless Lieutenant Commander
Blake Carmichael and his fire team get there in time.
Blake and his team find themselves faced with the usual dangers in the hills of Sakib as ISIS makes a play for the region. The one danger he didn’t see coming was the tiny tornado from Texas.
A routine snatch and grab turns into the mission of his career as he finds himself captivated by a woman who works her magic on him without even trying.
Watch what happens when a SEAL finds himself bewitched by a diplomat. Will he surrender to the spell she’s cast, or will she disappear from his life forever?
FIRST AND TEN SERIES
First Down
Star defensive end, Jack Ellis works harder than almost anyone in the game. His focus has been on his career and little else. Until… he meets Dr. Ana James. Immediately smitten, he makes a play for her attention.
Dr. Ana James is unimpressed with the flashy football player and does everything she can to resist his moves.
Not one to let an obstacle get in his way, Jack decides to up his game and prove to her that he’s worth the gamble. He wants Ana forever and makes the play of a lifetime.
Does he have the right moves to win her heart? Will he prevent Ana from making an end run? Or will Ana stop the play?
Second Down
Ronnie DuMond’s focus is on building her wealth management business.
Chase Bedford’s focus is on trying to convince Ronnie to give him a chance.
Does a head coach from the NFL team in Jacksonville, have the right moves to make a winning play?
Watch what happens when a sassy southern girl gets tangled up with a northerner. The sparks that fly between them make the blaze at Twelve Oaks look like a campfire.
