Remember Me Always

by Jen Talty

  “Fucking cunt,” he hobbled backward. “You’re going to pay for that.”

  Panic squeezed her heart as she headed for the family room. She needed to get out of the house. Her neighbors were always outside, so all she had to do was go running and screaming, and someone would help her.

  A strong arm came around her stomach.

  She turned and swung, landing her fist right in the center of Wendel’s nose.

  A second later, something cold smashed against the side of her face. Her vision blurred as she dropped to her knees. A sharp pain radiated across her head and down the back of her neck. She blinked, trying to focus, but her peripheral vision became smaller and smaller. She fought the darkness threatening to take over.

  She had to fight.

  She would fight.

  To the bitter end.

  Hopefully it wouldn’t be her end.

  The taste of metal dribbled down her throat.

  “See what you made me do?” Wendel lifted her by her shoulders to a standing position.

  Her legs wobbled as if she were a newborn horse trying to gain his balance for the very first time. She saw two of everything but focused her gaze on the gun. If she could get the gun from him, she’d have the upper hand.

  “Bend over the sofa,” he commanded as he shoved her, turning her body. He pressed his hand on the small of her back, pushing the top part of her body.

  She gripped the back of the couch. One of his hands slipped down between her legs while the other one rested next to hers with the gun.

  Get the gun. That’s all she had to do.

  She took in a long breath, letting it out slowly.

  “That’s it, baby, relax. You’re going to love this.”

  “You might be right,” she whispered.

  For a second, he froze.

  She took that opportunity to reach for his weapon with both hands. The metal felt cold to the touch. Yanking it from his hands, she butted him with her ass, sending him backward. He lost his footing and fell to the floor. “I’d stay there if I were you.” With a shaky hand, she aimed the gun at his heart.

  “You won’t shoot me,” Wendel said just as the front door flew open.

  “She won’t, but these cops will.” Harper stepped to the side as two armed officers raced past her.

  “You’re under arrest,” one of them said as he hoisted Wendel to his feet, pulling his hands behind his back and cuffing them.

  “Are you okay?” Harper asked, gently taking the gun from Arcadia’s hand.

  Arcadia nodded. “How did you know to come here?”

  “Your call never ended with your patient. He called 9-1-1.” Harper guided her toward the kitchen and eased her onto one of the chairs and pointed to the phone.

  The last thing Arcadia wanted to do was cry, but she couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. “Where’s my son?”

  “He’s with Ace heading toward the yacht. Gunner’s on his way back here.”

  Arcadia watched as the officers continued to read Wendel his rights.

  “You better get that piece of shit out of here before Gunner gets back.”

  No sooner did she say that than Gunner appeared in the front door, his hands already forming fists.

  “You fucking asshole,” Gunner yelled, lunging forward.

  One of the cops stepped in his way, but Gunner just shoved him aside.

  “I’m telling you, Arcadia is quite the piece of ass,” Wendel said with that same stupid grin he always sported.

  Gunner cocked his arm.

  “Let him do it,” Harper said.

  Both officers stepped aside, and Gunner’s fist landed on Wendel’s nose, making a crackling sound.

  “You can’t let him do that!” Wendel stumbled backward, holding his bloody nose.

  “Do what? I didn’t see anything, did you?” one of the officers asked.

  “Not a thing,” the other one said as he took Wendel by the arm and hauled him out of the house.

  “That wasn’t necessary,” Arcadia said softly.

  Gunner knelt, running his finger across her forehead.

  She winced.

  “Okay, maybe he deserved it,” she said.

  “Damn right he did,” Harper said. “I’ll be outside. The ambulance should be here any minute.”

  “I’m so sorry I left you.” Gunner held her gaze. “I should have waited.”

  “No. If you hadn’t, David would have been here, and I wouldn’t have wanted him to see what just happened. It’s going to be horrifying enough when he sees my face. Is it bad?”

  “Let’s just say you’re going to need at least five stitches, but you’re still the prettiest woman in any room.”

  “Flattery will get you everywhere.” Her head throbbed, and she still couldn’t see straight. A wave of dizziness made the world go black for a second. “I’m a little woozy,” she said.

  “I’m pretty sure you have a concussion.”

  “That sucks.”

  Gunner let out a slight chuckle. “Here comes the paramedics. Let’s get you on the gurney and to the hospital.”

  “Is that really necessary?”

  “It is. I’ll call David and let him know you’re okay. Do you want me to have someone bring him to the hospital, or have him stay with Ace?”

  “Let him have fun. Why don’t you go too? I’m fine.”

  “I’m never leaving you again. Ever. You’re stuck with me for the rest of your life. I want more than to co-parent our kid. I want us.” He brushed a piece of her hair from her face. “I love you, Arcadia. I always have, and I always will. I mean it. Now tell me you love me and that you’ll marry me.”

  “If I say it now, it’s just the concussion talking.”

  Gunner helped her up onto the gurney. She lay back, closing her eyes. All she wanted to do was sleep and dream about a world where Gunner wanted her to be his wife.

  Someone tapped at her shoulder. “Say yes.”

  “I love you, Gunner. Always have. Always will,” she whispered. She fought to keep her eyes open, but the bright sun made her head explode. She heard voices as the paramedics lifted her into the back of the ambulance, but she couldn’t make out the words.

  All she knew was that Gunner was at her side, holding her hand…

  And he loved her.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  Epilogue

  One month later…

  “Good morning, husband.”

  If someone had told Gunner just a few months ago that he would be a married man with a ten-year-old kid, he would have laughed so hard it would have given him a hernia. He set his mug on the counter and poured himself a cup of coffee, smiling. “Hello, wife.” The warm tropical ocean breeze filtered through the open sliding glass windows of their private bungalow in Key West. “We’ve been married now for eighteen hours.”

  “What do you want to do on our one-day anniversary?” Arcadia looped her arms around his waist and nuzzled her face in his neck, her plump lips pressing hot against his skin.

  “Go back to bed.”

  She laughed. “This morning in the shower wasn’t enough for you?”

  “You’ll always be more than enough.” He ran his fingers through her long hair and took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet smell of coconuts. He cupped her face, tilting her head back. Her loving gaze captivated him, sucking out all the oxygen from his lungs. “You know, we should think about having another kid.” He hadn’t meant to blurt that out, but it was something that had been on the back of his mind ever since he proposed. Of course, she made him do it again when she wasn’t lying in an ambulance while semiconscious.

  “Is that what you want?”

  “We’re barely thirty, so it’s not like we’re too old. I get that there would be a huge age difference with a new baby and David, but so what. Do you think he’ll be okay with the idea?”

  “What do you think, Dad?”

  Gunner smiled. “Yeah. He’d be agreeable. Now what about you?�
��

  “Well, Dad, I think I can make a baby happen in about seven months.”

  “I thought it took nine?”

  Arcadia arched a playful brow.

  “You can’t be serious. You’re pregnant?”

  “Happy one-day anniversary, husband.”

  Thank you for taking the time to read Remember Me Always. Readers Rule! Please feel free to leave an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, and Bookbub. I sincerely thank you for your support!

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  About the Author

  Jen Talty is an award-winning author of Romantic Suspense. Dark Water hit #10 in Barnes and Noble and her books have been in the top 50 on Amazon. Jennifer grew up in Rochester, New York. She recently retired from being a full-time hockey mom as her children hung up their skates. She and her husband still live in Rochester while her children travel globe. Jen was the co-founder of Cool Gus Publishing with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer.

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  Also by Jen Talty

  SPECIAL FORCES: OPERATION ALPHA:

  FIRE PROTECTION SPECIALISTS

  Burning Desire

  Burning Kiss

  Burning Skies

  Burning Lies

  Burning Heart

  Burning Bed

  Remember Me Always

  The New York State Trooper Series

  In Two Weeks

  Dark Water

  Deadly Secrets

  Murder in Paradise Bay

  To Protect His Own

  Deadly Seduction

  When a Stranger Calls

  His Deadly Past

  Federal Investigator Series

  Jane Doe’s Return

  The Butterfly Murders

  The First Responders Series

  Playing with Fire

  Private Conversation

  THE MEN OF THEIF LAKE

  Rekindled

  THE SARICH BROTHERS

  The Lighthouse

  Her Last Hope

  The Last Flight

  The Phoenix Agency: The Raven Sisters

  The Lost Sister

  The Lost Solider

  The Lost Soul

  The Brotherhood Protectors: Out Of The Wild

  Rough Justice

  Rough Around the Edges

  Rough Ride

  Paranormal Dating Agency

  The Blind Date

  Spring Fling

  Sassy Ever After

  Lady Sass

  All That Sass

  There are many more books in this fan fiction world than listed here, for an up-to-date list go to www.AcesPress.com

  You can also visit our Amazon page at:

  http://www.amazon.com/author/operationalpha

  Special Forces: Operation Alpha World

  Denise Agnew: Dangerous to Hold

  Shauna Allen: Awakening Aubrey

  Shauna Allen: Defending Danielle

  Shauna Allen: Rescuing Rebekah

  Shauna Allen: Saving Scarlett

  Shauna Allen: Saving Grace

  Brynne Asher: Blackburn

  Jennifer Becker: Hiding Catherine

  Julia Bright: Saving Lorelei

  Julia Bright: Rescuing Amy

  Victoria Bright: Surviving Savage

  Victoria Bright: Going Ghost

  Victoria Bright: Jostling Joker

  Cara Carnes: Protecting Mari

  Kendra Mei Chailyn: Beast

  Kendra Mei Chailyn: Barbie

  Kendra Mei Chailyn : Pitbull

  Melissa Kay Clarke: Rescuing Annabeth

  Melissa Kay Clarke: Safeguarding Miley

  Samantha A. Cole: Handling Haven

  Samantha A. Cole: Cheating the Devil

  Sue Coletta: Hacked

  Melissa Combs: Gallant

  KaLyn Cooper: Rescuing Melina

  Liz Crowe: Marking Mariah

  Jordan Dane: Redemption for Avery

  Jordan Dane: Fiona’s Salvation

  Riley Edwards: Protecting Olivia

  Riley Edwards: Redeeming Violet

  Riley Edwards, Recovering Ivy

  Nicole Flockton: Protecting Maria

  Nicole Flockton: Guarding Erin

  Nicole Flockton: Guarding Suzie

  Nicole Flockton: Guarding Brielle

  Casey Hagen: Shielding Nebraska

  Casey Hagen: Shielding Harlow

  Casey Hagen: Shielding Josie

  Casey Hagen: Shielding Blair

  Desiree Holt: Protecting Maddie

  Kathy Ivan: Saving Sarah

  Kathy Ivan: Saving Savannah

  Kathy Ivan: Saving Stephanie

  Jesse Jacobson: Protecting Honor

  Jesse Jacobson: Fighting for Honor

  Jesse Jacobson: Defending Honor

  Jesse Jacobson: Summer Breeze

  Silver James: Rescue Moon

  Silver James: SEAL Moon

  Silver James: Assassin’s Moon

  Silver James: Under the Assassin’s Moon

  Becca Jameson: Saving Sofia

  Kate Kinsley: Protecting Ava

  Heather Long: Securing Arizona

  Heather Long: Guarding Gertrude

  Heather Long: Protecting Pilar

  Heather Long: Covering Coco

  Gennita Low: No Protection

  Kirsten Lynn: Joining Forces for Jesse

  Margaret Madigan: Bang for the Buck

  Margaret Madigan: Buck the System

  Margaret Madigan: Jungle Buck

  Margaret Madigan: December Chill

  Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Baby

  Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Bride

  Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Twin

  KD Michaels: Saving Laura

  KD Michaels: Protecting Shane

  KD Michaels: Avenging Angels

  Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound

  Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound 2

  Wren Michaels: Shadow of Doubt

  Wren Michaels: Shift of Fate

  Wren Michaels: Steeling His Heart

  Kat Mizera: Protecting Bobbi

  Mary B Moore: Force Protection

  LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Butterfly

  LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Goddess

  LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Vixen

  LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Heartbeat

  MJ Nightingale: Protecting Beauty

  MJ Nightingale: Betting on Benny

  MJ Nightingale: Protecting Secrets

  Sarah O’Rourke: Saving Liberty

  Debra Parmley: Protecting Pippa

  Lainey Reese: Protecting New York

  Jenika Snow: Protecting Lily

  Jen Talty: Burning Desire

  Jen Talty: Burning Kiss

  Jen Talty: Burning Skies

  Jen Talty: Burning Lies

  Jen Talty: Burning Heart

  Megan Vernon: Protecting Us

  Megan Vernon: Protecting Earth

  Fire and Police: Operation Alpha World

  Freya Barker: Burning for Autumn

  KaLyn Cooper: Justice for Gwen

  Aspen Drake: Sheltering Emma

  Barb Han: Kace

  Reina Torres: Justice for Sloane

  Stacey Wilk: Stage Fright

  As you know, this book included at least one character from Susan Stoker’s books. To check out more, see below.

  SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series

  Securing Cai
te

  Securing Brenae (novella)

  Securing Sidney

  Securing Piper (Aug 2019)

  Securing Zoey (Jan 2020)

  Securing Avery (TBA)

  Securing Kalee (TBA)

  Delta Force Heroes Series

  Rescuing Rayne (FREE!)

  Rescuing Aimee

  Rescuing Emily

  Rescuing Harley

  Marrying Emily

  Rescuing Kassie

  Rescuing Bryn

  Rescuing Casey

  Rescuing Sadie

  Rescuing Wendy

  Rescuing Mary

  Rescuing Macie

  Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series

  Justice for Mackenzie (FREE!)

  Justice for Mickie

  Justice for Corrie

  Justice for Laine (novella)

  Shelter for Elizabeth

  Justice for Boone

  Shelter for Adeline

  Shelter for Sophie

  Justice for Erin

  Justice for Milena

  Shelter for Blythe

  Justice for Hope

  Shelter for Quinn

  Shelter for Koren (July 2019)

  Shelter for Penelope (Oct 2019)

  SEAL of Protection Series

  Protecting Caroline (FREE!)

  Protecting Alabama

  Protecting Fiona

  Marrying Caroline (novella)

  Protecting Summer

  Protecting Cheyenne

  Protecting Jessyka

  Protecting Julie (novella)

  Protecting Melody

  Protecting the Future

  Protecting Kiera (novella)

  Protecting Alabama’s Kids (novella)

  Protecting Dakota

  New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Tennessee where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, Indiana, and Texas. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.