by Carly Fall
He closed his eyes, and the warm sun soothed his bones. Most of the kids from spring break had gone, so the pool was somewhat quiet. Behind him the ocean waves crashed against the sand lulling him into a peaceful sleep.
“Landon.”
He slowly opened his eyes to see Maya standing above him smiling. “Wake up, sleepy head.”
“I fell asleep.” He yawned.
Maya laughed and sat down on the lounge chair. “I know.”
“What did you want to do tonight?” He took her hand in his.
She shrugged. “I’m a little tired, so I would really just like to relax.”
“Sounds good. How about room service and a movie?”
“Perfecto.”
They held hands as they made their way up the path to his building. He stole a kiss from her in the elevator, and he realized that even though he had just woken from a nap, he was still tired. Dinner in and a movie would indeed be perfecto.
“I’m going to take a shower,” she said when they got into the room.
“I’ll order dinner. Do you want wine as well?”
“Si.” She shut the door.
Just as he was about to call for room service, his cell phone went off. He froze. There was only one person who would be calling him, and that was his commanding officer, Marty. Shit. This was the phone call he was dreading and hoping for all at once. Would he go on one more mission, or was he done? One thing that was for certain was that he wasn’t going to find out by simply staring at phone.
He grabbed it. “Walker,” he barked.
Closing his eyes, he listened to his C.O. After a moment he said, “Got it, Marty. Thank you.”
He slowly set the phone down and exhaled. He turned around to walk over to the hotel phone to place their room service order and was startled to see Maya leaning against the wall just outside the bathroom door, her arms across her chest.
“I forgot my bag,” she said quietly, but didn’t move. “You told me two weeks, Landon.”
He met her stare. Maya knew what it meant when his cell phone rang. His C.O. was the only one who called when he was in Cabo, and that was always the signal it was time to ship out.
“Maya—”
“Don’t.” She held up her hand as if she were a crossing guard in a crosswalk. “I don’t want to hear it.” She strode across the room and grabbed her bag.
“Maya—”
“Landon Walker, I told you I don’t want to hear it! You told me two weeks. Minimum. Dos. And now you’re leaving again after one week!”
Her voice jumped up octaves at a time, and she started yelling at him rapid Spanish.
He didn’t understand much of it, but he caught some cursing.
“I appreciate you serving your country!” Tears flowed down her face. “But I’m tired of being the second!” Even when she was this upset he found her broken English endearing.
“Maya—”
“Cállate!” she screamed. That he understood. Shut up.
Landon was pretty certain she had reached hysteria. Definitely not an expert on women, but if he had been a betting man, he would lay a hundred down on silence being the best option.
More rapid-fire Spanish was yelled at him, and she turned for the door.
Two strides later, he had her in his arms.
“Maya—”
“Let go of me!” she screamed. If she kept this up, security was going to be called, so he slammed his mouth over hers while pinning her up against the wall. He forced the bag out of her hand and locked those flailing fists down while dodging a knee to the groin. He pressed his body into hers so that she couldn’t try that again.
When the fight went out of her, all that was left were the sobs. Easing up, he let go of her hands and she sunk to the floor, burying her head between her knees, her black hair cascading all over her back and shoulders.
He knelt before her.
“Maya—”
“When do you go?” she asked in a small, defeated voice.
“I don’t.”
She was silent for a moment, and slowly lifted her head. “What?” she whispered.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m out, Maya. I didn’t tell you because there was a chance I would have to go one more time, but my C.O. said no. I’m done.”
He watched the shock on Maya’s face.
“I just need to head back to San Diego and sign some paperwork, but that’s it.”
She stared at him.
“Maya, if you’ll have me, I want to stay here and be with you.” His voice was quiet and filled with need. “I want us to be together for the rest of our lives. I’m hoping like hell you want that, too.”
She continued to look at him, and she had stopped breathing.
“Honey, you need to breathe.”
“You’re…done?”
He nodded.
“You’ll never go on another assignment?”
“No.”
“You want to stay here and be with me?”
He nodded again, smiling. “Yes, chica bella.”
Maya threw herself at him, making him fall backward onto the hardwood floor. As she lay on top of him, more tears started up, and she covered him in wet, sloppy kisses.
He laughed, feeling as though his soul was finally free. That phone call had allowed him to embark on the future that he wanted, that he was ready to embrace. He would be able to stay with his Maya. He took her head in his hands and looked deep into her eyes. “I love you, Maya.” He meant the words with every fiber in his being.
“Te amo también.” I love you, too.
“Does this mean you want me to stay?” he asked. He was certain he knew the answer, but he had to hear it from her.
She tilted her head and gave him a small smile. “I don’t know,” she said in a teasing voice. “I think you need to persuade me.”
He laughed, standing up with her in his arms in one fluid motion. He marched to the bathroom.
“What are you doing?” She laughed.
“My persuasion techniques are very effective in the shower,” he said with a smile.
Epilogue
One year later
Landon snapped his laptop shut and looked out over the ocean, his work done for the day.
His business, providing security and house sitting for the celebrities that frequented Cabo, was doing well. He had two employees working for him who happened to both be fellow SEALs who also decided to get out. It was easy hiring them as he had trusted them with his life for many years.
He and Maya had found a small house on the beach. Jamming his feet into the sand, he stared out into the water. This was now his office.
“Hi, chica,” he said before he saw her. He had become acutely aware of when she was around, like his sixth sense was only tuned in to her.
“Hi,” she said, bending down and giving him a kiss.
“How was work?”
Maya continued to work at the hotel bar, even though he didn’t like it. He cringed when he thought of men…and boys…hitting on her.
“Excelente! How was your day?”
“It was good. Your favorite celebrity called. He wants us to come housesit.”
Maya threw her head back and laughed. “When do we move in?”
“A week from today.”
“I’m excited,” Maya said, sitting down on the sand and laid her head on his knees.
He ran his fingers through her silky hair as they watched the final glimpse of the sun disappear over the horizon, coloring the sky a magnificent pink, a light purple, and then a dull gray.
“How are you feeling?” he asked softly.
“I’m good. Feeling a little tired, but good.”
He looked down at her, unable to believe that she was his wife and pregnant with their child. They had married three months ago, and had wasted no time in starting a family. Maya’s stomach was still flat, although he was enjoying the plumpness of her breasts. For the first time in many years, he felt a true peace within him. L
ong gone were the nightmares and the exhaustion. Instead, he was excited by his future with Maya and their child.
“Come on,” he said standing up and helping her to her feet. “I’ll make dinner tonight.”
“Okay.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “Love you, Landon.”
He kissed the top of her head and gave her a squeeze. “I love you, too, chica bella.”
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Carly Fall is a wife, a mother, and slave to the dog Nicky. She loves to laugh, thinks chocolate and wine should be considered their own food group, and Christmas should happen twice a year. A wild imagination and the voices in her head force her to spend hours in front of the computer writing hot romance with happy endings.
You can visit with Carly at:
www.carlyfall.com
Absolution by Diane Alberts
Eva can’t believe Joseph dares to show his face after he cheated on her with a stripper. She kicked him out, and despite his claims of being assigned to protect her from the Cartel, she has no desire to let him back in. Her life very well might be in danger, but she fears more for the safety of her heart.
Six weeks ago, Joseph’s life with Eva was decimated. Every day since, he’s fought to win back her love. But everything conspires against him. Even her father has kept them apart…until Eva’s life is jeopardized. Joseph could care less if she despises the very thought of him being by her side. His duty is to keep her alive, even if being her bodyguard ends up being the death of him.
Can they put their painful history aside and work together against her enemy? Or will the past prove too strong to be overcome?
Fractured Paradise by Alexa Bourne
Technical analyst for the International Protective Network, Rachel Grant arrives in Sunderland intent on tidying up her grandmother’s cottage, but the disaster she discovers requires more than a gentle sweep of a dust rag. Determined to please the most important person in her life, she trades her computer keyboard for a hammer and nails to make the repairs. She doesn’t count on the chilly reception from the locals who want to claim Nan’s home as their own.
Tour guide Aidan Camden wants to buy the cottage. He’s determined to acquire the property no matter how attractive he finds the current occupant. However, when tragedy strikes, throwing them both into a tailspin, he discovers he wants more than the house. He longs for the sexy American as well. Can Aidan put his own ghosts to rest in time to save the woman who’s claimed his heart?
Contents
Title page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Epilogue
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
