Finding Glory

by Sara Arden

  That was a novel idea to him and he was sure that it was for her, too. Not all was lost. Or that’s what he kept telling himself on the way home.

  Something smelled delicious in the kitchen. He held up his hands in mock surrender. “I surrender. Just let me have some of tha—” He stopped midsentence. The sight in the kitchen was definitely not what he expected.

  Yes, he definitely wanted some of that, but it wasn’t the roasted lamb that had just come out of the oven. It was Gina herself.

  She was laced up, beribboned and wrapped in pink silk. Her long hair hung soft and wild around her shoulders and she was definitely a sight.

  “It’s stupid, isn’t it?” She blushed, the stain on her cheeks matching the color of the negligee.

  “It is the furthest thing from stupid. Do you really not know how beautiful you are?”

  “Emma said I should tell you exactly what I want.”

  “I’m a fan of that.” He nodded. “When you left...” Reed closed his eyes. “Woman, if you want to have a serious discussion, I can’t do it when you look like that.”

  “Emma said that was a good thing.”

  “Emma is saying a lot of things but I’m not trying to spend my life with Emma.”

  “Am I easier than Emma?”

  His eyes widened. “I really don’t know what you want me to say here. Or do. I want you. I love you. And you shut me down. Explain it to me.”

  She pursed her lips. “The way you asked me... I don’t need you to skywrite it, or shower me with diamonds, but I’d like to know that you’re asking me because you love me. Because you want me. Not because you want to tell Amanda Jane some label we put on ourselves.” She took a deep breath. “And not because being with me is easy.”

  “Being with you is the furthest thing from easy, Gina.”

  “It’s easier than with anyone else. We’re already legal. How would you explain what we have to someone you were trying to date? And even more so, what kind of person would tolerate that kind of treatment? Or being second place all the time?”

  “Don’t you think that could be because we belong together? Not because you think I’m shortchanging us both.”

  “Emma said that, too.”

  “I guess Emma can keep talking. But again, none of this is about Emma,” he said softly.

  She strode over to him, the kitten heels causing her hips to sway in a pronounced manner.

  “Then what is it about?”

  “I think it’s about finding glory.”

  “What does that even mean?” She braced her palms on his shoulders and didn’t shy away when his hands encircled her waist.

  “I think it’s both literal and figurative. I think it started when I came back. When I could see this place as something more than a prison, more than something trying to keep me down. That wasn’t Glory, that was me. I think we’re both seeing the town for what it is and the future we can have here.”

  He dragged his cheek against hers and inhaled the sweet, feminine scent of her.

  “And I think the figurative is finding the glory in ourselves. In the lives we’ve been given and not being afraid to embrace it. I was. I’m sorry for that. If I’d been honest, if I’d done it the right way—” Reed found that once he’d plunged forward, it got easier. The words kept coming and the feelings he’d been afraid of weren’t so giant and terrible, after all. She’d felt the same things about herself.

  “There is no right way. If I’d already found my glory, I wouldn’t have needed you to do it a certain way. I could’ve just said yes because I knew you loved me. Because I loved myself enough to let you love me.”

  “We’re quite the pair, aren’t we?” Reed asked.

  “We are, but I don’t think we should punish ourselves for it. I think we’ve done that enough.”

  “No more sorries?” He leaned down to bury his face in her neck. “Should we keep with that theme?”

  “I think I like that, so I don’t have to apologize for earlier.”

  “Our slates are pretty even, Gina. But if you just let me untie this ribbon—” he fingered the pink scrap that kept the filmy material in place “—I’d say we’ll both be in the clear.”

  She pulled the ribbon for him and the material slid to the floor.

  “Wow, that happened just like I wanted it to.” She flashed him a smile.

  “How else do you want things to happen?”

  “I want you to take me upstairs, or right here is fine, make love to me and then I want to live happily ever after.”

  “We can try that.” At one time her words would’ve caused him to feel a noose tightening around his neck, pressure of expectations that he could never live up to. But he felt none of that, only the thrill of taking his woman to bed and knowing that she was there for him.

  Because she wanted him.

  Because she loved him.

  Her needs weren’t so different from his own. She wanted to know he wanted her for herself, he could understand that. He wasn’t going to berate himself for his clumsy attempt earlier because what they’d gotten out of it was so much better.

  She told him what she wanted from him and he found he could give it to her. There was a lot to be said for living to be happy, letting go of the fear.

  Gina looped her arm around his neck. “Yeah, we’ll just try it. If the happy-ever-after doesn’t work out we could always go to Vegas instead for happy right now.”

  He swept her up. “We can do both.”

  “I like how your brain works, Mr. Hollingsworth.”

  In that moment, it was as if they’d been together forever. It was easy, because it was right. He carried her up the stairs and to his bedroom.

  “I think you should consider moving.”

  “Me, too.” She leaned in, her breath warm on his neck. Gina pressed her lips to his skin, her mouth hot.

  “Better watch that or I might drop you.”

  “Then you’ll just have to take me on the stairs.”

  “And then we’ll be on some documentary about how sex sent us to the emergency room,” he teased.

  She pressed her palm to his cheek. “I love you.”

  It resonated inside of him, the ringing of some long-silent bell that he never knew he had. It was that sound that finally silenced the dark things, and healed the things that hurt.

  He put her down on the bed and stared at her for a long moment before returning the sentiment. His eyes drank her in, his fingers and hands devoured the texture of the cream of her skin; he wanted to experience her in all ways.

  This time between them was different. For Reed, it had always been about more than lust, more than physicality, but the barriers were finally down and they were both raw, bare in a way that they hadn’t been with each other before.

  Every touch, every caress, it all had another meaning, another layer.

  It felt damn good, that was for sure, but it wasn’t only about the physical stimulation. There was so much more between them—and he could show her with his mouth, his fingers and even his cock.

  He pulled her on top of him, allowed her to take the reins. Trusted her to push them both toward that spiraling pleasure.

  She moved them together, their bodies finding that synchronicity, that harmonic where their every motion was as one.

  He surrendered to it, to her, and the waves of pleasure took them and washed away all the old hurts, all the old angst. It was like being reborn.

  They were lying in each other’s arms, sated and content, when she asked, “So are you going to ask me again?”

  “No,” he answered and kissed the crown of her head.

  “What?” She sat up and looked at him.

  “No. I’ll ask you again when we’re both ready.”

  “I don’t like
you,” she said, but the insult didn’t have any teeth. Not when she lay down again, replete and happy against him.

  “Yes, you do. You love me.”

  “Doesn’t mean I like you.”

  He grabbed her again. “Great. How about some hate sex?”

  She slapped at his arm. “How about...no?”

  “How about you wrap those long legs around my shoulders?”

  Gina blushed. “How about yes?”

  “Yeah, how about that.” Reed winked and rose above her only to enjoy the trip down.

  * * *

  THE FOURTH OF JULY was a couple weeks later and the biggest of spring and summer events, what with the proximity to Fort Glory. It was a whole-week affair from parades to a community barbecue until finally, the night of the Fourth, everyone chose a venue from which to watch the display.

  Many of the residents of Glory would go to the lake on Fort Glory and spread out blankets early in the morning and stay all day feeding ducks, eating slow-smoked hot dogs, hamburgers and sometimes a whole pig.

  Kids ran around playing, setting off fireworks way too early and eating ice cream.

  Gina and Reed brought Amanda Jane and they chose a spot down by the river with their own little grill. They invited Gray and Emma to join them as well as Betsy and Jack.

  Betsy’s brother, Caleb, crashed the party. He was technically on duty with his partner, India, but in Glory, even crime stopped for fireworks.

  Patriotic music blared over the speakers that were normally used for the tornado sirens and for once, Gina Townsend was happy in the moment.

  She wasn’t worrying about what came next, or tomorrow, or what had come before. She was living in the breath and she was, most important, happy.

  Caleb reached over a hand and tried to steal another cupcake from Betsy’s picnic basket, but Jack blocked him without even looking.

  “Come on, I need another one.”

  Jack eyed him. “No, you don’t. You’re going to get fat and then India will have to take care of all your light work and your heavy work.”

  “I work out every day. Give me the cupcake,” Caleb demanded, serious.

  Betsy slapped his hand. “No. There aren’t going to be any left for Amanda Jane.”

  “Hmm. Just for that, I’m going to follow her on her first date in the police cruiser.”

  Amanda Jane looked up from where she was throwing down snappers on the concrete walk so they popped. She shook her head. “Nope. You can’t follow me.”

  “And why not?” Caleb grinned, waiting to hear what she would say.

  “Because you’re going to be driving. We’re getting married, you know.” She threw another popper down and laughed.

  “Oh, really?” Caleb answered.

  “That is if India will let you have him.” Betsy cast a side eye at the statuesque blonde who was midbite on a double cheeseburger.

  “She can have him. All yours, kiddo.” She chomped another bite. “But by the time you’re dating, he’ll be old.”

  “Old?” Amanda Jane turned up her nose. “Like my daddy?”

  “He’s older than your daddy.” India kept chewing.

  “Gina-bee, I think I need to rethink my strategy.” She looked at Caleb. “I’m sorry. I’ve changed my mind.” But once she’d snagged the last cupcake, she went back to throwing snappers.

  India laughed. “That’s cold. So cold.”

  Gray and Emma were strangely subdued, quiet. But as the darkness started to fall and the sky faded from blue to inky velvet, she noticed that they’d linked hands.

  “Can I ask her yet?” Amanda Jane whispered to Reed.

  “No. Not yet.”

  “What are you two up to? No more sugar tonight or she’ll never go to bed.” Reed was bad about indulging her, but sometimes, a little indulgence was a good thing.

  Reed pulled her against him. “You’ll see.”

  “Oh, this sounds like trouble.”

  “Daddy, now?” Amanda Jane asked.

  Reed laughed. “No. Not yet.”

  “Yes, yet.” She nodded emphatically. All attention was on Amanda Jane and Gina really wondered what kind of trouble they’d gotten into.

  “No, wait for the purple one.”

  As the first fireworks of the night began, the sky exploded with starbursts and in the center of all the commotion two words had been written in the sparks.

  Marry me.

  She shot a quick glance to Reed, who smiled at her. “Now, Amanda Jane.”

  Amanda Jane gave her a small velvet-covered box.

  Gina accepted it with shaking hands. Inside was a solitaire diamond ring.

  “Will you marry my daddy?” Amanda Jane clapped, knowing what the answer would be.

  She turned to Reed. “Much better.”

  “Do I get an answer this time?”

  “Yes. I was just...living in the moment. Feeling it happen around me. Missing Crys, but loving this life. Loving you.” She flung her arms around him. “Of course I’ll marry you.”

  It didn’t matter that they’d already signed the paperwork, that according to the state of Kansas, they were already married. Or that they were married in their hearts. This was the moment that she’d always remember.

  And he knew it.

  He whispered into her ear, “See, this is that happy-ever-after thing you were talking about. I think it starts now.”

  Amanda Jane was pulled into the embrace and their friends clapped for their joy, because together, they’d found glory.

  EPILOGUE

  “ANY OTHER DARK secrets you plan on keeping from us?” Helga asked Maudine as they sipped their sweet tea from the rocking folding chairs and watched the light show.

  “It wasn’t really a dark secret.”

  “Oh, it most certainly was,” Ethel Weinburg said from her place on the checkered blanket, her feet tucked neatly beneath her red-and-white-striped crinoline. “You managed to keep it a secret from me, and I know everything.” Ethel wasn’t shy about adding that.

  Maudine shrugged. “I didn’t want it to be a big deal. There were more important things to focus on.”

  “And those things are now accomplished?” Regan Marsh asked, her fingers drawing little circles in the air as she conducted the music along with the big band that played patriotic tunes from the makeshift gazebo stage.

  Maudine exhaled heavily, the scent of sulfur still in the air and the cheers and claps still coming from where her granddaughter had set up base. “I suppose, but this matchmaking gives me purpose. Speaking of matchmaking, where exactly is Marie?”

  “She had a guest who checked in to Cora’s Cottage,” Rose Cresswell whispered as she took a bite of cheese.

  “It’s the Fourth. What does that matter? She should’ve made him wait,” Ethel said.

  “Nuh-uh.” Rose shook her head. “He was her husband’s commanding officer.”

  “And what does that matter?” Regan asked.

  “I just smell a romance.” Rose sipped her tea.

  “Who do you think we should help next, then?”

  “Helga’s grandson.”

  Helga narrowed her eyes. “He doesn’t need any help. He’s doing just fine.”

  “Or he’s told you not to meddle.” Rose grinned.

  Helga arched a brow. “I think there are more dire candidates.”

  “Such as?” Ethel stirred her tea with her straw.

  “Caleb Lewis and India George. They’re a perfect match, don’t you think?” Helga smiled.

  “I think if they were going to get together, they already would’ve done it.” Ethel wrinkled her nose.

  “Pish.” Maudine perked. “I love this idea. If anyone needs our help, they do.”

 
“Relatives are easier,” Regan said.

  “Who said this was about easy? It’s about doing good things in our community,” Maudine said.

  “It’s about entertaining ourselves and living vicariously is what you mean,” Ethel corrected her.

  “To-may-to, to-mah-to.” Maudine shrugged.

  Rose grinned. “Actually, I think I have a plan.”

  Another meeting of the Grandmothers was in session and new hearts and happily-ever-afters were on the line and another round of fireworks exploded in the sky.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from UNFADED GLORY by Sara Arden.

  “Return to Glory is full of heartbreak, hope and redemption.”

  —New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter

  If you loved Finding Glory, don’t miss these other tales from Sara Arden!

  Return to Glory

  A Glorious Christmas (novella)

  Unfaded Glory

  Available wherever ebooks are sold.

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  CHAPTER ONE

  BYRON HAWKINS HAD an earworm.

  Most people got them at one point or another—a Top 40 hit they couldn’t escape, a catchy ad jingle, a children’s song heard one time too often. A bit of auditory flotsam that’s busywork for the brain, a refrain that plays over and over.

  Byron had such a loop, but he wasn’t lucky enough to have anything as innocuous as the last song he’d heard on the radio. He had the screams of his team as they died.

  Their terror and pain was always with him whether it was a damning whisper or a roar that sounded like the army of hell.

  He knew it was no less than he deserved for his failure. If he hadn’t given the order to pursue the guerrillas, they’d have all made it back to camp. They’d have gone home to their families at the end of the mission.