The Final Reveal

by Dale Mayer

  She crossed to the closet and pulled out her dressy prosthetic leg. Sitting down on the bed, she quickly switched into her dressy leg and stood. Then she walked to the mirror, took a final look and sighed. “Well, Kat, if nothing else, you look beautiful.”

  She opened the door and proceeded to the stairs. She could hear lots of noise and presumed people had begun to arrive.

  As she got to the bottom of the staircase, Honey and Erick came in the door. Honey took one look and whistled. “Don’t you look divine?”

  Kat chuckled. “I could say the same for you.”

  The two women hooked arms and walked through to the kitchen. Badger was busy popping tops on beer for everyone as they came through, heading to the backyard. He took one look and stopped; the smile on his face was worth everything. He gave her a once-over, walked toward her, leaned down and kissed her hard. The kiss was possessive and hot.

  By the time she sagged against him, he stepped back, took one look at her face and said, “Now that’s exactly the look I needed to see.”

  “And what look is that?” she asked, her lips tremulous.

  “Well-loved,” he said in a teasing manner.

  Hot color rose over her face. She shot him a look, and he chuckled.

  She walked out the back door to mingle, but her stomach was roiling with nerves. People arrived in waves. Some she’d met; some she hadn’t. Dennis was here with his wife and little kids. She stopped to speak with him for a moment, then moved on to everyone else.

  Badger grabbed her and said, “It’s almost like everybody knows something’s going on.”

  She looked at him. “Well, it’s hardly a surprise birthday party, what with five of seven SEALs born in August and September gathered here today.”

  He nodded. “We need to get out some food. People are hungry with only snacks so far.”

  She then realized it was well past five. She took a deep breath, nodded and walked into the kitchen. There she found Alfred, already working on the food. Jim and his partner walked past, each carrying a large tray.

  Jim winked at her.

  She deliberately didn’t say anything, just kept on walking. After conversing with Alfred and realizing all was handled, she took a deep breath and tried to relax. Time raced by.

  Just then, Morning stepped up beside her. “Are you ready for this?”

  She shook her head. “I’m so not.”

  They stopped at the glass doors and surveyed the noise and chaos outside. Music played; people talked. The three little kids were in the pool, but always somebody was there to watch them.

  “This is definitely more of a big family barbecue party.”

  “It’ll change once the sun goes down,” Morning said.

  Kat took a deep breath. “It’ll change a lot very soon.” She glanced around. “Looks like the men are disappearing.”

  “Good.” Morning nodded. “We have a lot to get ready for in the next hour too.”

  “Some of the women have already started.” Panic grabbed Kat by the throat, and she stood there for a long moment, incapable of moving.

  Ice finally stepped up to her. “Go. It’s late already. You need to go.”

  Kat shot her a panicked look. “I don’t think I can.”

  Ice reached out, gripped Kat’s fingers hard and said, “Kat, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for. Be strong. You know why you’re doing this.”

  Kat nodded. “But what if it’s not fair to him?”

  The smile Ice gave her was full of sweetness and light and understanding. “Do you love him?”

  She smiled. “With all my heart.”

  “Then do this. It’s exactly what Badger needs.”

  Kat nodded once and disappeared. She wasn’t sure she was convinced, but she knew the effort she’d put in wasn’t something she would ignore now. Besides, six women were counting on her. Kat made it into the spare bedroom and stopped, seeing the women in various stages of dress—wedding dresses, bouquets, touching up makeup, adding flowers to their hair.

  She clasped a hand to her mouth. “Oh, my God! You guys are so beautiful!”

  The hairstylist was working on Minx, refreshing her hair, adding flowers. She worked patiently and efficiently.

  “I think we’re going to be late,” Honey fussed.

  “I’m not even close to being ready,” Kat cried out. She stepped out of her clothes and reached for her wedding dress. She had on brand-new lingerie underneath, and she gently worked her way into her wedding dress, exactly the same as the other women and yet unique to her. She stood in front of the mirror and sighed. “I can’t believe we’re doing this.”

  “Does everybody have their rings?”

  “I believe Levi has them all.”

  A knock came on the door, and silence fell inside the room. Ice called through the door, “Kat, it’s me. May I come in?”

  Kat walked over and opened the door, letting Ice in.

  Ice took one look, and tears came to her eyes. “Oh, my goodness,” she cried softly, looking stunning herself in a gold sheath, her hair in long loose curls.

  Kat hurriedly closed the door behind her. “I know, right?” She turned and asked Ice, “Can you zip me up please?”

  Ice zipped up Kat and the other women. And true enough, they were late. It was past seven o’clock when Ice said, “I have to go down.”

  “Don’t the men look gorgeous?” Kat whispered. “I can’t believe how debonair they look.”

  Ice chuckled. “They sure do. Every one of them has a different-colored tie as instructed.”

  “I just hope they have the right ties,” Kat said. “We really want to match our men.”

  Ice’s laughter trailed all the way down the stairs.

  Then it was Kat’s turn to get her hair spruced up.

  And finally they stood, all seven women staring at each other.

  The moment of truth.

  The moment they’d been planning for, for weeks and weeks, stared at them.

  “How do we make sure all the guests are outside so nobody sees us come down the stairs?”

  Kat opened the door and stepped out. There was Alfred at the top of the stairs. He stopped, took one look and smiled. “Now this is a sight for sore eyes,” he said.

  “Alfred, is there any way to know if all the guests are outside?”

  He nodded. “Jim and I and Marisa already did a full sweep. All are waiting for you ladies now.”

  They all slipped down the stairs, moving carefully in their wedding finery.

  At the bottom of the stairs they stood in a circle around Alfred. He was just awestruck. Tears were in his eyes as he said, “I’ve never seen such a bevy of beautiful women.”

  They laughed; nervous twitters raced around the circle.

  “We’re barely able to make that walk outside right now,” Kat said. “It’s bad enough to be nervous when your groom expects you. But to think seven men are out there with no clue …”

  Alfred gave a huge proud grin. “And not one of them will be upset either,” he said. “We have photographers. Levi is busy talking to the men. As soon as I give the word, Levi will line them up so they’re facing the glass doors. They will be standing off to the side. You’ll like the little altar Marisa put together, and the justice of the peace is standing there, mingling with the rest.”

  “Right,” Kat said. She nodded, firmed up her chin and said, “Let’s do this.”

  Alfred reached out, patted her hand and said, “Yes.” He walked ahead to the glass door.

  She peered around the living room as he gave the motion to Levi who spread the men slightly apart. The justice of the peace who had been standing behind Levi listened to something Levi said, nodded, then stood waiting in front of the altar. The men couldn’t see him because he was behind them.

  The guests all realized something was happening. There were murmurs and cries and whispers. And then the music started to play. Nobody spoke a word.

  Kat looked at the others and said, “That�
��s our tune.”

  The women nodded to each other. Each reached out a hand, grabbed each other and said together, “We’re doing this because we love them.” They released their hands, and Kat, knowing she had to lead the way, walked through the living room and out the glass doors.

  Instantly there were cries of surprise. But, as every woman came out—one, two, three, four, five, six, and finally Allison as the seventh—they stopped, bouquets in hand, on one side of the lawn across from the men in their wedding finery, staring at them across the way, and then slowly, one at a time, they walked to meet their man.

  Kat watched Badger’s face, noting the shock, almost the terror, as he glanced at the other men, wondering what was going on. She watched as all the men looked at each other and then locked gazes with the special woman coming toward each of them.

  As she got close, she said, “Badger?”

  “Yes?” he asked, his voice cautious.

  “Do you love me?”

  He nodded. “You know I do.”

  She smiled. “You know I love you, right?”

  He nodded his head slowly. “Yes, I do.”

  She smiled, reached out a hand and asked, “Will you marry me?”

  His jaw dropped, and he glanced at the other men. She stole a glance to see how the others were doing. She wanted to laugh at the shock on this row of men’s faces, but it was no longer a laughing matter.

  This meant everything to her.

  Kat studied Badger’s gaze, seeing the puzzle pieces fall into place, the women in their dresses, the matching colors on their men, the women all lined up, reaching out hands to their partners. Badger glanced around as she stepped up to his side and gently turned him to face the minister.

  She reached a finger to his lips. “The only thing you need to know is if you love me. And the only thing I need to tell you is how much I love you.”

  He couldn’t speak.

  She watched his Adam’s apple slide up and down his throat as he tried to clear it.

  She said, “You don’t have to say a word. Well, you will in a minute, but right now you just have to nod your head.”

  He smiled, picked up her fingers, kissed the top of them and whispered, “Yes.”

  And just like every other pair in the row, they faced the minister as he intoned, “Dear friends and family, we are gathered here today …”

  Kat’s heart was overwhelmed with joy and peace, knowing she had done the right thing. She went through the ceremony in a daze. Her heart opened as each couple’s names were called out and as each made their vows.

  As the justice of the peace asked for the rings, Levi stepped up and, one by one, handed out the rings each had chosen.

  When Badger took one look at the plain titanium ring, he smiled, and when he saw the ivory piece braided through it and her matching ivory ring with the titanium inlay, he sighed happily. “How did you know?” he asked in a daze.

  She held out her hand as he put the ring on her left ring finger, and she smiled. “You know? The one thing I can tell you for sure right now is that I do know who you are, Badger, on the inside and on the outside.”

  Just then the justice of the peace said, “And now you may kiss the bride.”

  Badger drew her gently toward him and whispered, “Thank God,” and he kissed her, and it wasn’t a gentle sealing-his-vows kiss, and it definitely wasn’t a kiss for public display. It was a heated and possessive you’re mine now kiss.

  And she couldn’t be happier.

  The crowd broke out in cheers.

  Badger was still in a daze. He didn’t quite understand how any of this had come to pass. When he’d turned to see Kat walking toward him in that absolutely beautiful dress, her floral bouquet matching the color of his tie, he’d finally understood why Levi had asked them to all wear these colors. And Badger realized just how much effort had gone into making this happen. He looked around at all his buddies, every one of them looking just as dazed, and yet just as happy as he was.

  Erick caught his gaze, lifted his shoulders as if to say, How did they pull this off?

  Badger knew the bewilderment in his own gaze was just as evident. But not one of them was willing to take their arm off the woman they held close. He glanced down at Kat, his arms still wrapped around her shoulders and said, “I don’t know how you did this, but thank you.”

  She brushed a finger gently across his lips and whispered, “Thank you.”

  He kissed her yet again. “And I thought it all had to do with Levi.”

  Just then Alfred and Jim grabbed several men in the crowd, and, within minutes, the tables were set up and heavily ladened with fancy wedding ceremony food. The crowd was still cheering and clapping, Dotty was barking, and the music was still playing, but Badger was numb to it all. He couldn’t believe his luck that he had found somebody who would love him as he was and would want to spend her life with him.

  She wrapped her arms around him and seemed so content to be here with him.

  Kat smiled and said, “Levi and Ice were a huge help.”

  Badger turned to look for Ice, who was wearing this minuscule gold dress that made her legs look like stilts. She stood beside Levi, a smile on her face, almost a tear in her eyes, and she looked young and absolutely ravishing.

  “She looks stunning, doesn’t she?” Badger asked.

  “They both do,” Kat admitted. “If there was ever a couple who needed to be together …”

  And, as they watched their friends, Levi turned, dropped to one knee, and the crowd fell completely silent. He held out his hand and lifted a ring box. Ice stared at him as everyone gasped. But the gasps of joy were muted because nobody wanted to miss hearing her answer. She looked at Levi with such shock on her face that Badger wondered if maybe Levi had overestimated this moment. Badger’s heart constricted in pain for the man who’d always been there for them.

  Kat leaned forward and whispered, “Looks like Levi had his own agenda.”

  Badger shook his head, not daring to speak and miss the moment.

  Ice unfroze just then and shouted, “Yes,” and she threw her arms around Levi, and the guests erupted in more cheers. Levi stood, captured Ice in his arms and swung her around before lowering her to her feet and kissing her passionately.

  Shocked and delighted, Badger hugged Kat close and whispered, “Did you see that coming?”

  Kat stared at her husband in a daze. “No,” she said. “I had no clue.”

  Badger chuckled. “Looks like Levi had the last surprise after all.”

  And Badger tugged Kat to him and kissed her yet again.

  This concludes Book 8 of SEALs of Steel: The Final Reveal.

  Read about Ethan: The K9 Files, Book 1

  The K9 Files: Ethan (Book #1)

  When one door closes … second chances open another …

  Ethan was lost after a major accident abruptly shifted him from a military life to a civilian one, from working with dogs to odd jobs … In that time, he’d spent months healing from his physical injuries. When he connects with Badger and the rest of his Titanium Corp. group of former SEALs, Badger offers Ethan an opportunity he can’t refuse. A chance to do the work he used to do … with a twist.

  Cinnamon works from home as a project manager plus is heavily involved in global dog rescues—dogs of all kinds. When Ethan walks into the next door’s vet’s office with an injured shepherd in his arms, she sees another lost soul—just like the canine ones she helps.

  Ethan knows he’s about to take a dangerous step, but he’s on the job, and no one—on the job or not—hurts animals while he’s around. This poor shepherd has taken enough abuse, and Ethan fears she is only the tip of a nightmare he’s determined to uncover. But he knows she’s going to lead him in the right direction.

  He has his sights set on saving one dog in particular, Sentry: K9 File 01.

  Book 1 is available now!

  To find out more visit Dale Mayer’s website.

  Author’s Note

&nbs
p; Thank you for reading The Final Reveal: SEALs of Steel, Book 8! If you enjoyed the book, please take a moment and leave a short review here.

  Dear reader,

  I love to hear from readers, and you can contact me at my website: www.dalemayer.com or at my Facebook author page. To be informed of new releases and special offers, sign up for my newsletter or follow me on BookBub. And if you are interested in joining Dale Mayer’s Reader Group, here is the Facebook sign up page.

  Cheers,

  Dale Mayer

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  About the Author

  Dale Mayer is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her Psychic Visions and Family Blood Ties series. Her contemporary romances are raw and full of passion and emotion (Second Chances, SKIN), her thrillers will keep you guessing (By Death series), and her romantic comedies will keep you giggling (It’s a Dog’s Life and Charmin Marvin Romantic Comedy series).

  She honors the stories that come to her – and some of them are crazy and break all the rules and cross multiple genres!

  To go with her fiction, she also writes nonfiction in many different fields with books available on resume writing, companion gardening and the US mortgage system. She has recently published her Career Essentials Series. All her books are available in print and ebook format.

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  THE FINAL REVEAL: SEALS OF STEEL, BOOK 8