Remember the Night: a Heroes of the Night military romance novel

by Nicole Leiren

  "Then let's do this." Melodie grabbed Annie's hand and slipped the other in the crook of their father's arm.

  Evelyn followed Lydia out of the church to the courtyard where the wedding would take place. Rows of white chairs, separated in the middle, formed the aisle the bridal party had been instructed to walk down. The preacher waited at the front under a white arch decorated with ivy, pink roses and baby's breath. Very feminine and very much her little sister. The stringed quartet were off to the right and played the music to serenade the event. At the nod from the preacher, Lydia started down the aisle. She would be met halfway by Samuel, another army buddy of Daniel's, who waited to escort her the remaining distance. He was tall, dark, and handsome. Now that she thought about it, all of the men Daniel considered friends were lookers. Especially Cody.

  With a small push from Annie, Evelyn began her journey down the aisle toward Cody. She tried to not think about how Cody had captivated her from the first time they'd met. He did have a baby face—fuller cheeks, rosy lips and long, thick lashes framing the brown pools of his eyes. Soft black curls, even cut short, practically begged her to run her fingers through them. Any similarities to a baby, however, ended there. His body…full-grown, smoking sexy adult. Smexy, as she'd heard some of the younger women in the firm refer to a hot guy.

  His smile, a goofy grin, greeted her and drew her into his web, just as he did that first time. The warmth from his body reminded her of the hot Indian sun over Marina Beach heating their skins. She stifled the grin trying to surface as she considered how they'd made their own heat during the cool of the night. Get a grip. No time for this kind of mess right now. She inhaled deeply to calm her nerves. A spicy, all-male scent wafted around her, adding to his charm.

  "Stunning," he whispered through his smile.

  Heat crept up her face. One well-chosen word from him and her insides melted. The memories threatening to tear down the gates she'd carefully constructed around her heart and emotions when she'd walked away from him and that night. She'd put those desires to bed—alone—at least a lifetime ago. Hormones. Yes, hormones explained her intense and immediate response to his nearness.

  The rest of the ceremony whirred by in a blur. Her attention remained divided. Part watched her sister exchanging her vows, the other focused on Cody. She lowered her lashes and studied him. Mentally, she stripped away the tux, leaving only his briefs. Yes, briefs not boxers. One corner of her mouth quirked into a half grin. Actually, he preferred to go commando. She didn't remember complaining.

  "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

  Daniel's arms surrounded Melodie as his mouth descended on hers. Her sister melted into his embrace. No wonder she didn't want to get married inside a church. That kiss would be rated NC-17 at least, maybe R.

  "Eeeww, gross!" Annie and Jason's joint displeasure over the kiss echoed in the late afternoon air.

  Laughter from the audience broke the newlyweds apart.

  Daniel walked over and picked Annie up, giving her a big kiss on the cheek. "You should be used to us kissing by now."

  "I know." She sighed dramatically and lifted her hand to her forehead.

  He nodded to the preacher as he lowered Annie back to a standing position. "Go ahead, Pastor. Do your thing."

  Over the audience's ongoing laughter, the minister ended the ceremony. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bresland.

  The music began and the wedding party filed down the aisle in reverse order. They stopped right at the last row of chairs to allow the photographer to capture the moment for the album. Maybe she'd order a copy of this picture too. She regretted having no photos of Cody from their first time together. She didn't want to make the same mistake again. They would have to take some pictures after the guests departed with the whole wedding party, but getting through that would be a piece of cake compared to the reception. There she wouldn't be standing a few feet across from Cody. No, this time, they would be sitting next to each other and, more importantly, have to dance with each other. She sighed, unsure of how much more time she could remain in close proximity to Cody and not melt into his arms and kiss him senseless.

  CHAPTER SIX

  The decorations at the country club demonstrated a perfect blend of the newly formed family. The dark navy blue and red represented the patriotic sentiment running deep in both Melodie and Daniel. Tiny sprigs of pink and white suited Annie to a tee. Though not traditionally paired colors, Evelyn couldn't help but admire how well they balanced and provided a complete picture. If she had to portray her world right now, shattered stained glass would be the chosen medium. The picture she'd painted for everyone to see had been a mirage. Now that the colors were destroyed, everyone could see into the vulnerability of her soul through the transparent and broken pieces.

  A warm hand on her lower back pulled her from the negative thoughts. "Hey, you okay?"

  The deep timbre of Cody's voice caressed her raw nerves and lulled her back to safer ground. "Just a long day." Long year, long life.

  "Soon it will be over, and you can get some rest. Now it's time to find your smile and pretend we're famous as the cameras start flashing. You know the tradition to kick off the reception. The wedding party gets introduced, then the parents of the bride and groom, and finally the happy couple themselves. It's all part of the pomp and circumstance."

  She exhaled slowly and fought the urge to lean against his solid frame. She managed to avoid it throughout the entire photoshoot after the wedding, but she had to admit the will to fight against their natural attraction decreased every minute she stayed in his presence. "If I ever get married again, I'm going to skip the dog and pony show. Mel is such a hopeless romantic."

  He shrugged. "Loving someone is hard and making it last even harder. The wedding is a way to celebrate life and love before all the hard work really gets started."

  No question he'd been raised in a far more loving and supportive home than she and Mel had been exposed to on a daily basis. "Is that optimistic realism or realistic optimism?"

  Cody extended his arm as the doors opened and the announcement of the wedding party began. "Depends on the day." He smiled and whisked them through the open doors as their names were called. Time to perform.

  Though she'd managed to eat a respectable amount of the food, her stomach remained in knots. Right before the cake was cut, she and Cody would be expected to give their toasts. Her breath hitched as Cody turned and leaned into her slightly, his breath a whisper across her cheek. "I know weddings aren't your thing, but are you sure you're all right? It's almost time for our toasts. You ready?"

  Before she could answer, the now familiar sound of silverware tapping a glass repeated, prompting the bride and groom into yet another kiss. She avoided rolling her eyes in front of a hundred or so guests by turning toward Cody. "I give speeches for a living, remember?"

  His hand rested on her knee, generating sparks of desire traveling up her thigh and centering low in her belly. "That's right. Your job is to convert others to your point of view. I sketch to help others see the world through my eyes."

  She swallowed hard. He'd admitted to painting a picture of her in his mind when they first met. Without a doubt, she would regret the question, but his closeness rendered her unable to think clearly. "How do you see me?" She lowered her head, guilt resting heavily on her shoulders. "Has it changed since the first time we met?"

  A pause, long and weighted, forced her to tilt her head upward to gaze into his dark, decadent pools to see his expression. Hurt? Anger? Regret? He smiled and opened his mouth to say something when her new brother-in-law screwed everything up yet again.

  "C'mon, Cody. Whatever you and Evelyn are plotting will keep. I personally can't wait to hear what the two of you have to say." His voice over the microphone echoed loudly throughout the ballroom.

  That was it. She would give him his honeymoon, and then she was going to have to arrange for some serious
bodily harm to Daniel for his untimely interference.

  Cody smiled apologetically and squeezed her knee. "Later," he whispered before standing and turning to Daniel and the rest of the guests. "You'll wish you hadn't interrupted our plotting. I was trying to save your sorry butt."

  The audience laughed and apparently hadn't noticed the intense exchange she'd shared with Cody.

  "You are prepared to give your toast, aren't you?" The accusing voice of her mother served to extinguish any embers of desire still warming her.

  "Yes, Mother. I'm prepared to talk about love and happily ever after and play to the emotional heart strings of a hundred of Melodie and Daniel's closest friends and family."

  "Watch your tone, Evelyn. You may have messed up your marriage, but I won't have you doing anything to tarnish your sister's day. She deserves this."

  Up until a few months ago, she'd been the apple of Marie Alexander's eye while Melodie had never quite lived up. Now the shoe was on the other proverbial foot, and she'd experienced firsthand her mother's keen disappointment every time they happened to be in the same room together. They would need to talk through this…but not today.

  Cody tapped on his glass to bring the guests to attention. "On behalf of the bride and groom, I want to thank everyone for coming to celebrate this special moment in their lives. I've known Daniel for a long time and have to admit even I was surprised when he told me he'd found the perfect woman. Knowing Daniel's track record, well…let's just say I wasn't convinced." Muffled laughter rippled through the audience at his statement.

  Cody looked at Melodie and winked. "Then I met his librarian, and it all made sense. Not only does she possess a beautiful soul, but her heart is kind. Her curiosity is endearing, and she brings everything to the relationship he needs to be whole. Before you think I'm getting too sentimental, the fact she's smokin' hot didn't hurt either."

  Daniel pointed his finger at his best man in warning, and Cody raised his arms in surrender. "Okay, but I didn't want you to think the rest of us didn't notice. Anyway, please join me as I raise my glass to offer a toast to Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bresland to thank them for this perfect night and wish them many more perfect nights to come."

  Glasses clinked, and cheers were raised throughout the ballroom. Cody handed her the mic. Exhaling, she stood and did her best to contain the trembling in her hands.

  Looking at Melodie, she smiled. "Well that's a tough act to follow, but I'll try. For my toast, I want to say thanks to both of you. Daniel, thank you for seeing past Mel's defenses and helping her step out of the shadows of her life to find love and live again. And to my sister, thank you for demonstrating the courage to not give up on Daniel and for helping the rest of us see what a wonderful man he can be. You have both demonstrated the power in love to overcome the past and find happiness. Here's to your happily ever after." She raised her glass to initiate the toast and blinked back the tears brimming in her eyes again. She'd spoken the words about the power to overcome, but they'd been only that—words.

  Cody's hand covered hers briefly as she took her seat. "Nicely done, matron of honor."

  She jerked her hand away. "Why do males get to be the best man and I have to be a matron? Sounds like a crappy deal to me." Emotions suck. This is why she always kept a tight rein on them. She grabbed her wineglass and finished off the drink.

  His eyes flashed for a moment. "Technically, a matron is a married woman, a dignified and sober one. You keep putting away the wine at the rate you have been and your marital status won't be the only thing that disqualifies you from being a matron. You prefer maid of honor?"

  Thoughts of the dark-skinned, ebony-haired young woman, Monique, she'd hired to clean her house and pool sent her already spiraling mood down the drain even further. Her maid had been anything but honorable when she'd cleaned her way into her husband's heart and their marriage. No, she didn't prefer maid of honor either. "How about you call me Ms. Alexander and we'll leave it at that."

  She refilled her glass, sparkling grape juice this time, and turned her attention to Jason and Annie running about on the dance floor. Soon the music would start, and the required dances would begin, meaning she'd have to dance at least once with Cody.

  God, how she hated weddings.

  "Will the wedding party please come to the dance floor?"

  "Ms. Alexander, may I have this dance?" Cody extended his hand, smiling expectantly.

  She sighed. It wasn't like she had a choice. At least he hadn't said ma'am. Her hand in his renewed the tingling. Damn. She really needed to get a grip on her reactions. She followed him out to the dance floor and managed one deep inhale and exhale before her lungs stopped working. His free hand slid down her back and came to rest in the small curve at the bottom. One small flick of his wrist and her body melded into his. Less than the proper dance space but more than would cause talk amongst anyone watching—the perfect distance.

  The notes of the song filled the air, but with Cody's heat radiating throughout her body, she couldn't have named the title or artist, not even if her life depended on it. She allowed him to lead her throughout the dance, barely conscious of the steps she took. He stepped forward. She stepped back. He turned to the right, her body turned to the left. Opposites moving in perfect harmony. Oddly, the dichotomy comforted her.

  As the song began to wind down, the space between them disappeared, and the heat from his body intensified. His lips were so close to her cheek she could almost imagine the soft satin gliding along her skin. He wasn't kissing her, but she had a vivid imagination…at least where he was concerned.

  "Curves and edges," he whispered.

  "What?" Had he taken to speaking in riddles to keep her confused?

  "You asked me how I see you. The answer is I see you as curves and edges. Soft yet hard. Powerful yet vulnerable. Brilliant mind yet fragile heart. Controlled yet chaotic."

  The music stopped, and she stepped back only enough to peer into his soulful, dark eyes. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words wouldn't form.

  He lifted her hand and kissed the back. "Thank you for the dance."

  Vaguely, she heard a new song start, and a tug on her arm brought her out of the Cody-induced haze she'd fallen victim to once again. "Mommy, dance with me!"

  Jason's brown curls and sweet face made her smile. She and Nathan might have screwed everything else up about their marriage, but their two sons represented the best of both of them. She guided his hands to her waist and put hers on his shoulders as they began to sway to the music. Chances were she wouldn't see Cody after tonight anyway. She'd focus on her sons, her career, and ridding herself of those edges that exposed her to hurt and sadness. Leaning down, she picked Jason up and twirled him around, smiling as he squealed with glee. Yes, her family was where her focus needed to be. Time to repair the shattered picture and put the pieces back together.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  One week later

  Cody walked slowly through the apartment he'd been staying at this past week. Daniel and Melodie had graciously offered him the space while they were on the first week of their honeymoon. They'd rented a huge villa with several rooms so the bridal party and their family could join them in Cabo San Lucas the second week. He grinned. Daniel pretended to be tough, but he had a soft spot for Annie. Her adorable and nonstop pleas that everyone be a part of the celebration had worn him down in fairly short order. He was such a sucker for that little girl.

  Thoughts of the cute little blonde beauty led him straight back to his current dilemma—another blonde beauty—Evelyn. Ms. Alexander as she'd demanded he call her during the final hours of the wedding celebration. Their words had been cold and distant, but their bodies… He could still feel every soft curve as they'd danced. There would be moments when he swore the ice in her veins melted. They had a connection, and the primal heat between them sent his libido into overtime.

  He'd changed his mind a million times in the past seven days. Should he go to Cabo San Lucas and potential
ly put them in a difficult position for a whole week? It could be heaven, or it could be hell. He picked up a picture on the dresser in the spare bedroom, a younger Evelyn with her family. Those ice-blue eyes and that perfect body heated his blood like no one else ever had. Could he leave without giving it one more shot? She was single, and he wanted to prove to her the night they shared should be repeated. She deserved to find that hot, passionate woman he met halfway around the world. Decision made. He was going.

  After serving two tours in Afghanistan, the sight of crystal blue water stretching as far as he could see provided healing to his sore eyes. Within an hour of touching down in Mexico, he'd changed into his trunks and hit the beach. His toes wriggled in the soft, white sand. This kind of sand a guy could get used to. Like the sands of Marina Beach…

  Desert sand consisted of a coarser texture and managed to find every crevice on the human body. The sand clung to your skin and wouldn't come off until patches of irritation surfaced anywhere the damn stuff could hide. Add to that the constant fear of being shot at or blown up and, yeah, this sandy beach would win every time.

  A faint stirring, the desire to capture the beauty of this moment, tugged at his heart. It had been a long time since he'd drawn anything, even longer since he'd felt a creative urge. No desire to draw since he'd sketched Evelyn on the small pad of paper in the hotel room the morning after they'd made love. He kept the picture in the art book his sister insisted he bring to war. "A small light in the midst of darkness," she'd added to her request. Once the precious art found its home between the pages, he never went anywhere without it. Sentimental? Without a doubt. Sappy? Hell yeah, but that's what Evelyn had done to him.

  Prior to his impromptu sketch of her, the last thing he'd drawn was the violin for his sister, Janice. It had been his gift to her before leaving for his first tour of duty. The image, an instrument that appeared to be melting and running down the page, was his creative contribution for her business, Music Without Measures. The corners of his lips turned upward remembering the pure delight on her face when he showed her the design. She'd hugged him tightly as her tears dampened his shirt.