Afterburn

by Kira Sinclair

  Sabrina looked up at him in silence before staring over his shoulder at the commander.

  His heart stopped beating, honest to God stalled in his chest for several moments, before his brain kick-started it back into motion. She couldn’t do this. He wouldn’t let her.

  The commander continued talking, oblivious to the fact that Chase’s world was falling apart.

  “But the General has convinced me that there’s no reason to ruin the careers of two such fine examples of air force ideals. However, I don’t want you to think I’m happy—I’m not. And if anything like this ever happens again I’ll throw the book at both of you. Do I make myself clear?”

  Sabrina answered immediately, “Yes, sir.” It took him considerably longer. He really didn’t care about that right now. But when she looked at him, a single eyebrow raised, her lips drawn tight and her eyes narrowed in warning, he finally responded, “Yes, sir.”

  “Whether or not you get a divorce is completely up to you, but whatever you decide I expect the proper paperwork on my desk first thing Monday morning, understood?”

  Great, so the commander didn’t care. He did. He wanted Sabrina as his wife. He’d never wanted anything more. Taking a step toward her, he was intent on convincing her, with a kiss, with words, with whatever it took to get his wife back, that they belonged together. No matter what.

  Before he could reach her, she pierced him with her gaze, stopping him dead in his tracks. Her mouth was straight, her face a stoic mask. She was prim, perfect, cool and collected. She was Captain Rina McAllister, public affairs officer for the Air Force Thunderbirds.

  But her eyes were smiling. And for the first time since Blankenship had yelled out in the packed auditorium, the blood in his veins began to run warm again. For the first time in weeks he thought maybe this woman could really be his.

  “Chase?”

  This time he did reach for her, enjoying the smooth silk of her hair across his knuckles as his fingers cupped her neck.

  Commander Wright cleared his throat in warning. Chase ignored him, staring straight into Sabrina’s eyes. He’d break every last rule he had to in order to convince her they belonged together.

  “I’ll fight for you with everything I have, including the best divorce attorney I can find. I won’t let you go quietly. I love you, Sabrina Carden.”

  This time the smile touched her lips. Standing on tiptoe and looking over his shoulder, she answered, “I think we’re going to cancel those divorce papers.”

  Grasping her around the waist, Chase picked her up off the floor and crushed her to him. “Tell me.” He knew in his heart, but he needed to hear the words from her, see them on her lips before he kissed them away.

  “Charles Edward Carden, with you, I’m willing to try anything, do anything, risk anything, be anything. I’m even willing to fly.” Placing her lips to his, she whispered, “I love you.”

  Epilogue

  SABRINA—she was finally starting to get used to it—looked down the center aisle of the MGM Grand chapel at her husband. They might be renewing their vows a few months after their one-year anniversary, but the weeks of planning and waiting had been worth it.

  Chase looked amazing, just like he had on their wedding night, only this time he wore his dress uniform instead of a tux. Their family and friends filled the small chapel. Her father. His mother and sister. Jackhammer, Sadie. The officers from the squadron, including Commander Wright. They hadn’t gotten to share this moment with everyone that was important in their lives the first time around. They’d wanted that chance, to say their vows before everyone, and know they really meant them this time.The one person who wasn’t here was Elvis. She’d promised Chase, although she did have a surprise for the reception that would probably make him grin that wicked, charming smile. She’d also arranged for a bottle of champagne and a single tier of wedding cake to be waiting for them in the honeymoon suite. Now that would make her smile.

  The past few months had been hectic. Donald Blankenship was being held in a mental facility and would stand trial for threatening the President, not to mention them. Actually, there were rumors he intended to plead guilty. But no one expected he would spend time in jail. He needed help. It had taken some time for Sabrina to come to terms with that. He had threatened her husband after all, but Chase had slowly convinced her. The man wasn’t a danger to anyone but himself. At least, not now.

  She still had several more months with the squadron, but she’d already resigned her commission effective her last day with the Thunderbirds. It had taken her some time to decide what she wanted to do, but freelance writing had finally struck a chord. She’d always enjoyed that aspect of her career more than any other. It might take her a while to find success at it, but she was willing to put in the hard work. And it also had the added benefit of letting her stay home so they could start a family in the near future.

  They’d enjoy seeing the world together over the next several months and then see what happened. Chase still had one more year after she was finished, but he was already talking about what he might do after that time. He’d mentioned flying for a commercial airline, but it didn’t really matter to Rina. As long as he flew home to her, that was the important thing. If he was happy then she was, too.

  She looked at her father, waiting patiently at her elbow.

  “Ready?”

  Before she could even take one step, he reached over and lifted the veil from her face.

  “What are you doing?”

  Ignoring her, he placed a kiss on her cheek, quick, no lingering here. But as he drew back, he whispered, “I’m so proud of you, Sabrina.”

  She’d waited her whole life to hear those words from her father. Only now, she didn’t need to hear them. She already knew.

  As they drew close to Chase, she looked into his eyes and smiled through the tears clogging her throat.

  He mouthed, I love you, baby, and snarled his lip before reaching out and pulling her into his arms. His mouth touched down on hers, hot, insistent and so wonderfully familiar.

  Pulling back, he stared into her eyes, his own intense with the force of his love for her.

  “You aren’t supposed to do that yet.”

  “When have we ever followed the rules?”

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-3234-5AFTERBURN

  Copyright © 2009 by Kira Bazzel.

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

  ® and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.

  www.eHarlequin.com