by Cathie Linz
“You heard me. The first time I saw you, you were skinny-dipping at the pond. I hid in the bushes and watched you. And then fantasized about you for the rest of the summer. That’s why my guilt about Ted was so intense. Because despite the fact that I got engaged to him, I was still having these fantasies about you.”
“I wish I’d known.”
“I used to hang around the barn just to get a chance to look at you.”
“Wait a minute.” His eyes narrowed. “You were that girl, the one I never got a good look at, who’d always stand just out of sight. You had a white cowboy hat and you’d talk to Tony a lot. That was you, wasn’t it?”
She nodded.
“You never talked to me.”
“I was too tongue-tied.”
“I wish you’d told me sooner. So you really did mean it when you said you loved me? Because I sure meant it when I said I loved you. I can’t imagine my life without you.”
“I was trying to be noble and give you a chance to back out if you wanted….”
“There’s no way I want to back out.”
“I was going to wait until you got out of the hospital, but just so you don’t get any more wild ideas…” He reached inside the pocket of his Hawaiian shirt to fish out…a ring! “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
She was speechless.
He was nervous.
“I know that my being a Marine is difficult for you.” His voice was gruff. “That you think that I’m addicted to the thrill of danger. That may have been the case in the past, but seeing you lying on this hospital bed…well, suffice it to say that it made me rethink my priorities. I used to think I’d stay in the Marines forever, but now…” He swallowed. “Anyway, you don’t have to give me an answer right away. Take all the time you want…”
“I don’t want any time. I don’t need it.” She blinked back tears. “The answer is yes. I’d be honored to be your wife.”
“Ooh-rah!” He punched a fist in the air and his smile took her breath away. He took her hand in his and slid the diamond solitaire onto her ring finger. “You can trade it in for something else if you don’t like it. I told the jeweler I wanted something classic and elegant, like you.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Then why are you crying?”
“Because I’m so happy. And because I love you so much. You, not the money. You, the man with so much honor and commitment to his beloved Marines, to the greater good.” She cupped his face with her hand. “You’re my forever love, my destiny.” She tugged him onto the bed beside her.
“You’ve got that right,” Striker murmured against her lips before kissing her with his heart and soul.
Six months later…
“You were clever, I’ll give you that.” Striker gazed down at the headstone with his grandfather’s name engraved on it. He laid a small bouquet of bluebonnets on the grave. “You deliberately maneuvered things so they’d work out this way—with me interested in running King Oil.” The powers that be had transferred Striker from active to reserve duty so that he could take over the reins at the company. Should his country need him, he was still on call. But there were other things in his life now. He no longer had to live on the edge to feel alive. He only had to look into Kate’s eyes. “Sure, I leave the paperwork to others, but the vision of where the company is going and how it can get there is mine. I’m enjoying it, I admit it. I’ve even moved into your old office, which is what you probably had in mind all along. And I’m marrying Kate. Was that in your plans as well? Probably. In which case, I owe you big-time.” Striker paused a moment. “I’m sorry you’re not here today to see us tie the knot. But I have a feeling you’re up there looking down on us with a fishing rod in your hand and a smile on your face. Thanks, Granddad.” He touched the headstone with his fingertips.
“Come on, Striker, or you’ll be late to your own wedding!” his buddy Justice Wilder called out from the limo parked nearby. “If you are, your future mother-in-law will kill you and you’ll be joining your grandfather in this cemetery.”
As Striker joined him in the limo, Justice said, “That woman does not like having her schedule messed up. Reminds me of that drill sergeant in boot camp, remember? Sergeant Berg, the Second Hat.”
“He’s coming to the wedding.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
Striker just grinned.
He and his best man Justice were both wearing their dress blue uniform as were Striker’s brothers and Justice’s brother, Sam, when they arrived at the church with one minute to spare. Ben was still on deployment overseas and wasn’t able to attend.
“I was just telling your brothers how you caught the bouquet at my wedding,” Sam was saying.
“You hotshots better watch out, or I’ll have Kate toss her bouquet at one of you,” Striker warned his brothers.
“You better watch out, we’ve decorated your getaway car,” his brother Rad replied. He was the practical joker in the family. “By the way, nice bumper sticker you had on there. ‘I wasn’t born here in Texas but I got here as fast I could.”’ Rad slapped him on the back.
“Good luck, son.” His dad gave him an unexpected hug. Striker knew that his decision to leave active duty had been hard on his dad. They’d never talked about it, that wasn’t their way. But the look his dad gave him said he’d accepted Striker’s decision.
Everything was a blur to Striker after that. He did notice that Elizabeth and his mom were waving at each other across the aisle like best friends. Tex was grinning at him. The church was filled with Marines, and with employees from King Oil as well as Kate’s friends from Children’s Services. Tony was there, too, handing Consuela a tissue to wipe the tears away.
Then his focus was on Kate; on the moment when he first saw her walking down the aisle toward him on her father’s arm, looking heart-stoppingly beautiful in her wedding dress. She was wearing the pearl necklace he’d given her. Her blue eyes reflected her love for him.
Her voice was steady as she repeated their vows. So was his. But he felt the tremor in her fingers as he held her hand. He lifted her hand to his lips, to kiss her fingers in a silent reassurance.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may…” Neither one of them waited for the minister to finish before they kissed. The sound of the Dixie Chicks singing “Cowboy Take Me Away” filled the church, accompanied by the crowd of Marines letting out cheers of oooh-rah!
“I’m as happy as a short cowboy dancing with a tall cowgirl,” Striker murmured against her mouth.
Kate laughed, removing her lips from his, but not far. “You’re not dancing with anyone but me. You’re not kissing anyone, not loving anyone other than me.”
“I wouldn’t want to.” He adored her with his eyes, seduced her with his voice. “You’re the only one for me.”
As Striker lowered his lips to hers, Kate was filled with the satisfaction that only comes from knowing that this was where she was meant to be—in the arms of the man she loved.
And still the Dixie Chicks sang, and the Marines shouted, and above it all was the sound of Tex’s booming voice. “Now that’s what I call a Texas wedding!”
ISBN: 978-1-4603-5431-5
HER MILLIONAIRE MARINE
Copyright © 2004 by Cathie L. Baumgardner
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All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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*Men of Honor
†Three Weddings and a Gift