Snatched (Coronado Series Book 2)

by Hart, Lea

  “I was drawn to the SEAL mythology, I wanted to be part of that brotherhood that would allow me to get up every day and put everything on the line including my life. I was lucky enough to find a group of men who were just like me.”

  “So… yeah… football was my sport.”

  “It seems that you have recreated the brotherhood with your company. You are doing much the same work with a lot of the same people.”

  “That was the idea behind it. I wasn’t ready to leave the teams and I wanted to keep as much of it as I could in civilian life.”

  “I think you have succeeded. I think what you and your partners have created is something to be very proud of. You all are doing good work with people you respect in a way that honors all the years of service that you gave this country.”

  “That is the second nicest thing you have said to me. Thank you.”

  “What was the first?”

  “When you told me you loved me. I didn’t expect it. When I flew down here - I was just hoping to keep you safe and get a second chance. I had no idea that I was going to win the lottery.”

  “I don’t think I’m the lottery.”

  “I do.”

  She took his hand and squeezed it as she looked out the window. She lifted her glasses and wiped a tear that started to roll down her cheek.”

  He lifted her hand to his mouth and gently kissed it. “Would you like to know where we are going?”

  “Sure.”

  “We are going to the Little Palm Island Resort. I think you are going to love it. I have everything planned. We are going to stay a week and really enjoy ourselves.”

  “Oh Max, thank you. I’m so excited.”

  “Me too - ten days with the woman of my dreams.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

  Rory stood at the door with her bag, “I’m leaving.” She watched him walk out of the bedroom with a funny look on his face. “I have everything, and I’m going down there.”

  “Do you want me to walk you over?”

  “No, I think we have already broken all kinds of traditions by spending the day together. The next time I see you will be at the beach. This is your last chance to get out of it.”

  He walked up to her, tugged her in close and kissed her hotly… roughly for a minute, devouring her mouth. “Not on your life. I can’t believe you agreed to marry me.”

  “What the heck, it’s not like I had anything else planned this afternoon.”

  “Good thing your schedule was free. The photographer is going to meet you at the spa for a few pictures and then follow you to the beach.”

  “She leaned up and kissed him, “See you later. I will be the one walking towards you in a white dress.”

  Ok, I will be the one standing next to the minister with a big smile on my face.”

  “See you when I see you.” She gathered her things and walked to the spa - they were going to buff and polish her to bridal perfection. She felt remarkably relaxed for a woman who was about to get married. She wondered if it was a good sign… it probably was. All she had to focus on was getting pampered and meeting Max at the beach at Sunset. Somehow she had escaped the usual wedding madness, which was a good thing. Being pregnant was exhausting, all she wanted to do was sleep and have relations with Max. I wonder if this is typical. He didn’t seem to mind her enthusiasm - in fact he seemed to be enjoying it. I don’t thinks it’s typical to have it three or four times a day. It was probably because they were on vacation and they were so new to each other and she had pregnancy hormones. Oh well, enjoy it while it lasts.

  Max sat on the patio looking at the ocean and counting his blessings. In a couple of hours he was going to marry the woman who had him nuts. Truth be told, he would not totally relax until there was a wedding band on her finger. He knew that he was crazy when it came to Rory, and he accepted it and tried to make sure that she never completely figured it out. He was obsessively, aggressively, crazily in love with her. He’d known the first day he met her that he would do anything for her and would protect her at any cost. He couldn’t believe that five days ago he was flying across the country and had no idea where she was and if she was all right. Now in a couple of hours, he was going to marry her and they had a baby on the way. This must be his gift for putting his life on the line every day for fifteen years.

  He thought about all that they had dealt with over the last two months and was reminded of how much strength she possessed. She was such an amazing combination, she was strong as flint, able to confront her stalker. Yet when he kissed her - her entire body became fluid in his hands. It was as though he was the only one who knew the combination to her heart. He was going to make sure that he was the only one who ever had it too.

  He got up and decided to go for a quick ten mile run, he needed to burn off of his extra energy, before he met her at the beach. He checked his phone and read the texts that confirmed all the details of the evening. He wanted it to be perfect for her. He enjoyed the fact that he was the one in charge of all the details of the wedding. He felt like he was giving her a day to remember and it gave her the opportunity to relax and enjoy. In his heart he felt like she was pregnant with twins and wanted to do everything for her to make the next seven months as easy as possible. She was giving him the greatest gift, she was marrying him and giving him a child. He considered himself the luckiest son of a bitch in the world.

  ***

  Rory walked through the grounds of the lovely resort and tried to take everything in and breathe deeply as she made her way to the beach. She felt fairly relaxed after the last several hours in the spa and was ready to see her fiancé. The photographer was taking pictures as she walked which made her feel a little silly, but she decided not to worry about it.

  Max waited next to the minister in the clothes that Rory had picked out for him in Miami. He felt comfortable and liked the shirt and pants that she chose. How many men could say they got to marry the woman of their dreams in bare feet? The minister was a retired judge and had spent time in the Navy during Vietnam. They were having a great conversation as the sky started to soften, reminding them that the sun was about to set.

  He heard the music start and knew it signaled that Rory was getting close. She chose ‘Marry Me’ by Train as one of their songs. He turned towards the resort and took a deep breath and waited to see his bride walk down the path that lead to beach. He saw her start to come around the corner and felt his heart stop for a moment. He felt the same way he did when he saw her for the first time at Mark and Birdie’s party. After one glance, I belonged to her completely. He put his hand over his heart as he watched her approach and wait at the entrance to the beach. She wore a beautiful white dress that was strapless and flowing. He had never seen her look so radiant, she seemed to glow from within and her happiness showed in her smile. She slipped off her sandals and waited for the song to change, ‘I can’t help falling in love’ started playing as the woman of his life started walking towards him. He felt a tear run down his face as he smiled and watched Rory walk towards him. She stepped up next to him and ran her hand down his face. “I’m sure glad I didn’t have any other plans this afternoon, I would’ve hated to miss this.”

  He let out a big laugh and leaned down to give her a quick kiss. They heard the minister clear his throat, and they both turned towards him, “Let’s get you two married first, then you can kiss each other for the rest of your lives.”

  Rory held on to Max’s hand and squeezed, “I’m ready if you are?”

  “I was ready two months ago.”

  She turned towards the minister, “Let’s get started.”

  ***

  “Mrs. Bishop, would you like any more ginger ale?”

  “No, thank you Mr. Bishop.” She laughed and lifted her glass to his in a toast, “You sure know how to put on a wedding.”

  “Thanks, there is still more to come.”

  “Are you talking about me ….later on this evening?”

  He watched her eyes get big, a
nd her hand cover her mouth as she started to laugh. “Why yes, Mrs. Bishop. In fact you will ….several times. I plan on fulfilling my husbandly duties several times.” He liked all the laughter in her eyes, she had been under so much strain over the last several months, and he was glad to see that it was finally lifted off her shoulders.

  “I know you’re going to think this is strange, but I’m actually glad that I had a stalker.” She held up her hand as he was about to protest, “If that was the price I had to pay to meet you - then it was completely worth it. I know I’m saying that after everything is over, but standing on the beach with you at sunset and pledging my life to you was completely worth it.”

  He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and leaned his head against hers, “I’m going to agree with you, but I could have lived without seeing a man with a knife in his hand in your office.”

  “But look at us now.”

  “Whatever brought us here… to this moment …. is worth it.”

  They heard the waiters approach with dinner, as they sat on their private beach with tiki torches surrounding them and music playing in the background. They were served a delicious meal in complete privacy as they heard the waves lapping at the shore while the smell of sea salt washed over them. “I can’t thank you enough for an amazing day. I can’t imagine a better wedding day, I don’t know why everyone doesn’t do this?”

  “I agree, this is all the best parts of a wedding without the pain and agony of a big hoopla. Though we are going to have a big party eventually.”

  “I think already being married takes the pressure off. It will just be a party without all of the angst attached to it. I’m going to hand it over to James and relax and enjoy the party. I don’t care about the napkins or any of the silly things that people seem to lose their mind over.”

  “Mrs. Bishop, I would like you to tell me five things that you want from me over the next fifty or sixty years. I want your list of things I can do - to make you happy.”

  “Max, that’s a lot of pressure. Can I give you a couple of things and then add to it later on?”

  “How about if we keep one at home and change it as it becomes necessary. It will become the living, breathing directions of our marriage. It’s bound to change over the years. Let’s keep it up on the fridge, that way we are conscious of it on a daily basis. Something to aspire to…. to work on.”

  “That is a brilliant idea. Ok, these are just off the top of my head. I will probably change them in the first year. First thing is - I would like for you to keep kissing me and hugging me, whenever you think about it. I don’t want you to stop doing that. The second thing is…. tell me how you feel, whether you think I’m going to like it or not. The third thing is - I want you to laugh at my jokes - no matter how bad they are. The fourth thing is - I want you to trust me and give me a little space. The last thing is that if your feelings change - I want you to tell me first.”

  “I can do that.”

  “Tell me yours.”

  “First thing I would like is - for you to keep looking at me the same way you did as you were walking down the aisle today. The second thing is - I want you to keep holding on to me when you sleep, and I would like to hear that sigh you make when you are settled in against me. The third thing is…I want you to trust me and rely on me to take care of you and our family. The fourth thing I want is - for you to turn to me when you need something. I want to be the one that does that for you. The last thing I want is - for you to tell me how you feel whether you think I’m going to like it or not.”

  “I can do that. I really like this idea Max. This is a great wedding present.”

  “You will get your present when we get home.”

  “Ok, how did you know to get me a present?”

  “I got this for you in hopes that we could enjoy it together. I had no idea that we would get married down here.”

  “I didn’t get you anything yet.”

  He put his hand on her stomach, “Oh yes you did. You are making me the best present in the world.”

  “I’m going to think of something else to go with it.”

  “Not necessary, today was the best day of my life.”

  “Me too. I’m getting a little tired, are you ready to go in?”

  “Absolutely.” They walked up the beach into their suite and Rory lost her breath. There were tiny candles scattered around the room, and there was a path of rose petals leading into the bedroom. He picked her up and carried her over the threshold of the bedroom and kicked the door closed with his foot. “Mrs. Bishop, would you like to consummate this marriage?”

  She let her feet hit the ground and looked around the room at a scene that was worthy of a movie. She turned and let the clasp from her dress free, it slithered down her body, and she was left standing her pretty La Perla thong and nothing else. “I guess… I am.”

  He let out a growl and swept her up and gently laid her on the bed that was scattered with rose petals. He quickly got rid of his shirt and pants and was glad he decided to go commando. He lowered himself onto his wife and covered her completely. “I love you.”

  She responded on a moan, “Love you more.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

  They sat in their seats waiting for the plane to take off, and Max grabbed her hand as she looked out the window. “I don’t want to leave, this has been the best two weeks of my life.”

  She turned and looked at him, “I know sweetheart. We can come down again next year maybe we can make it an annual trip.”

  “I wonder what it will be like traveling with a baby.”

  “I guess we will find out a year from now. We have to go home and get ready for Christmas and Mark and Birdie’s wedding.”

  “I spoke with Birdie the other day, and she said everything is under control, James is taking care of everything. All I have to do is get a dress and plan the bachelorette party.”

  “Well, I guess we are going to be busy over the next three weeks. I want you to take it easy though, as much as you can. You are growing a baby and that is our first priority.”

  “Life goes on, it’s not as though I can sit on the couch for the next seven months.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I have a lot of things to do. I spent all that time with your partners in all the offices and I have quite a bit to accomplish before this baby comes.”

  “I don’t want you to worry about that, I want you to relax.”

  “Not going to happen. I also have a wedding to plan and things to buy for the baby.”

  “This is how it’s going to happen: I want you to hire several people to take care of all the projects you have planned at the office, then I want you to hire James to plan the party and then I will go and get whatever we need for the baby.”

  “OK, bossy bossington. Do you remember when I said that you needed to work on being high handed?”

  “I might recall something you mentioned… briefly.” He watched her pull out a piece of paper from her purse and flatten it out on her lap. “I knew signing that was going to come back and bite me in the ass.”

  “Are you starting to feel the sting of the bite? If not, wait a minute, and I’m sure you will.”

  “You and the baby are my first priority, and I want to make sure that you are both healthy, safe and happy. That is not going to change, no matter what you made me sign.”

  “I did not make you, you signed it freely.”

  “You had me sign it after you had your way with me. I would have signed anything you put in front of me.”

  “Why do you think I gave it to you sign when I did? I’m a smart business woman, and I understand the importance of taking advantage of timing, when it’s in my favor.”

  “I’m going to remember that the next time you start putting your mouth on me.”

  “Should I not try and put my mouth on you anymore?”

  “Oh no, I just said I’m going to remember it. You just keep doing whatever you feel is necessary.” She leaned over
and kissed him and it felt the same way it always did when she put her mouth on his: like the whole world clicked into place and made sense.

  “By the way, I agree with all of the things you suggested.”

  “Then why did you give me a hard time and pull out the piece of paper?”

  “Because you are bossy and you promised to back off a little. This piece of paper says that you promise not to be a dictator and listen to me.”

  “So we are talking about the delivery and not the message?”

  “Yes, I am your partner not your recruit.”

  “Ok, I will work on my delivery. I’m a little crazy when it comes to you and now we are adding a baby. I don’t know how much it’s going to change.”

  “I know, I just need to believe that you are trying.”

  “I get it. I will try to back off and relax a little.” He watched her nod her head and look out the window. “I love you Mrs. Bishop.”