“I’m sorry you had to go through all that thinking that I was dead,” Jake said quietly. “Mac Forrest made the decision to release the news that I’d died. He thought I’d be safer that way.”
Crash laughed, but it sounded kind of crazy, more like a sob than real laughter. “This is so unbelievably great.” His voice broke. As he crossed to Jake, he pulled a chair over to the bed and clasped the older man’s hand in both of his. “Are you really all right? You look like hell, like you’ve been hit by a truck.”
If Jake noticed the tears that were brimming in his eyes, he didn’t comment. “I’m going to be fine. It’s going to take a little while, but the doctor says I’ll be up and walking in no time. No permanent damage—a few more scars.”
Crash shook his head. “I should have known. It was so easy to escape after the hearing. I should have realized I was being let go.”
“They gave you a little bit of help, but not much. There were only a few people who were allowed to know I was alive.” He squeezed Crash’s hand. “Good job with Garvin. That was one hell of a tape you made.”
“I’m lucky I had Alpha Squad there to back me up.”
“Speaking of Alpha Squad—you met Mac Forrest on your way in?”
Crash nodded.
“Alpha Squad’s under his command. He asked me to let you know that there’s been a special request made for your reassignment. Captain Joe Catalanotto’s asking for you to be placed on his team. He sent a personal note to Mac along with all the paperwork. These guys really want you to work with them.”
Crash couldn’t speak again. “I’m honored they want me,” he finally said.
“I’m glad to see you finally got a haircut. The pictures they kept flashing of you on the news were pretty scary-looking.”
Crash ran his hand back through his freshly cut hair. “Yeah, Nell likes it better this way, too.”
“Nell.” Jake said. “Nell. Would that be the same Nell who used to work for Daisy? Pretty girl? Great smile? Head over heels in love with you?”
“Don’t be a jackass.”
Jake grinned. “That’s Admiral Jackass to you, Lieutenant.”
“Jake, I can’t tell you how glad I am that you’re not dead.”
“Back at you with that, kid. I’m also glad you finally opened your damn eyes and saw what you had right there in front of you, ready to fall into your lap.” He paused. “You did manage to get yourself straightened out about Nell?”
“Actually, I haven’t,” Crash admitted. “I’m totally tied in knots when it comes to her.” He smiled ruefully. “But I’m loving every minute of it. She’s crazy enough to want me, and I’m sane enough to know that I’d be an idiot to let her get away. You know, she’s marrying me on Christmas. Will you stand up for me, Jake—be my best man?”
Now there were tears in Jake’s eyes, but still he tried to joke. “I’m not sure if I’m going to be standing by then.”
“Can we have the wedding here? There’s no law that says the best man literally has to stand.”
Jake held his hand more tightly. “I’d love that. It would be an honor.”
It had only been a year since Crash had done Jake that very same honor.
“Daisy always knew that Nell was perfect for me,” Crash said quietly.
“Daisy was…extraordinarily good at seeing the truth, even when it was hidden from the rest of the world’s view.” Jake looked away, but not before Crash saw the flash of pain in his yes. “God, I still miss her so much.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have…”
Jake looked up at him. “Shouldn’t have what? Said her name? Remembered how much we both loved her? Are you kidding?”
“I don’t know. I just thought—”
“Twenty years,” Jake said. “I had her for over twenty years. I would’ve loved forty or sixty, even. But twenty wasn’t bad. Twenty was a gift.” He looked up, pinning Crash with the intensity of his gaze. “Make every minute count, kid. Pay attention and really make sure you experience every step of the dance. You never know how many times you’ll get to go around the floor.”
Crash nodded. “I’m glad you didn’t die.”
“Me too, Billy. Me too, kid.”
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE a private wedding.
But when Nell’s father opened the door to Jake Robinson’s hospital room in the FInCOM safe house, there were so many people there, he and Nell almost couldn’t fit inside.
Lucy and Blue McCoy were there. Harvard and his wife, P.J., were there, too. Even Captain Catalanotto and his family had come. Bobby and Wes and Lucky were present, as was Crash’s swim buddy Cowboy and his new wife. Cowboy was holding a baby who was his exact spitting image—and he was holding the little boy comfortably, as if the kid were an extension of his arm. It was a pretty amazing sight to see.
But it wasn’t half as amazing as the sight of Nell, walking into that room on her father’s arm. She was wearing a beautiful antique gown she’d found downtown in a secondhand shop. Although it was a traditional-style wedding dress, with long sleeves and a high collar, it looked incredible on her. Even Daisy would have approved.
“I thought this was supposed to be a wedding,” she said, still looking around at all the extra guests with a smile, “not a surprise party.”
“I called Blue to see if anyone was going to be in town, because we needed another witness,” Crash told her. “Turns out everyone was in town.”
Nell looked around, and Crash knew she realized that each and every one of his friends had come here purposely to support him. Like her parents, they’d changed all of their Christmas plans to be here today.
Her father raised her veil and kissed her before giving her to Crash.
“I’m so glad all your friends could come,” she whispered to him as she squeezed his hand.
The ceremony passed in a blur. Crash tried to slow it down, tried to pay complete attention to the promises he was making, but the truth was, he would have promised this woman anything. And he would fight with his last breath to keep those promises.
The pastor finally told him that he could kiss his bride, and as he kissed his new wife’s sweet lips, he tasted salt.
She was crying again.
He looked at her questioningly, touching her cheek, and she shook her head.
“Tears of joy don’t count,” she whispered.
He laughed and kissed her again, holding her close and knowing that no matter how long they had together—one year or one hundred—he would cherish every moment.
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TALL, DARK AND DEVASTATING
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ON THE RUN AND UNDER FIRE…
Providing medical relief in a wartorn region helps Alex Peters forget his past and focus on the job—delivering babies. Less easy to overlook is his blonde comrade-in-arms, who knows nothing of the trouble he’s running from. Katie McCloud makes the assignment bearable, although her perky innocence proves to be an arousing distraction.Then, as combat explodes around them, their only option is flight.
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ISBN-13: 9781460334188
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TALL, DARK AND DEVASTATING
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