He swallowed the lump locking his throat and said a silent prayer that she was wrong.
“No babe, you’re fine. You’re having a baby.” He couldn’t let on to her that he was worried, too.
“It hurts too much.” A whine tore at her whisper of a voice.
“Shhh.” He wiped the sweat from her brow with a cool, wet rag. “It’s back labor. You’re fine. The baby is fine. I can see it right here, a good, strong heartbeat for you both.”
She clutched the crisp white sheet in one hand, while squeezing his with the other. Her desperation stabbed at his heart. “No … I’m going to … die. I can feel it.”
“You worry too much.”
Another contraction hit her and she moaned. Her breathing heavy, her words came in pants. “We … have to … get … married.”
Despite her pain, Hunter smiled. “I thought you’d never ask.”
“No … now,” she whimpered.
“Let’s get this baby born first.”
“No … go get … a priest … now,” she pleaded. “Before it’s too late…”
“I’m not leaving you,” he grunted.
A knock banged on the door, and a doctor walked in. A gold nametag on his white coat read ‘Dr. Gerald A. Jones, MD’. Almost scruffy looking, a heavy beard covered his face. His big brown eyes warmed his face, and a smile curled on his fat cheeks. Distantly, Hunter realized that if the man’s hair had been white, he would look just like Santa Claus, rosy cheeks, red nose, and all.
How ironic, considering it was the day before Christmas Eve.
“It’s time to push,” Doc Jones announced with a buoyant voice. The nurse, dressed in innocent Winnie The Pooh scrubs pushed a cart covered with dangerous looking metal instruments next Lily. Another contraction hit Lily as her feet were lifted into stirrups.
The drone of the doctor giving her directions faded from his ears as he listened to his love’s cries. All he could think was please, please, let this woman live. He couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not ever.
Chapter Twelve
“I can’t believe it’s a little girl,” Lily awed. Her heart thumped with emotion as she cradled her daughter against her breast. Tiny, but long, the little Christmas angel had entered into the world measuring twenty-one inches but weighing only seven pounds and six ounces. Her hair was brilliant red, her skin a pale, rosy pink, and her eyes wide and dark.
Lily’s heart skipped a beat. Noel had her father’s eyes.
She looked up at him. She’d thought he could never look happier or prouder than when he’d gotten his astronaut news. But she had been wrong. There was nothing to describe his beaming face as he sat in the rocking chair next to her bed.
“She’s incredible,” he answered. “Just like her mother.” He leaned over to her bed, and pecked her on the cheek. “My soon-to-be wife.”
Lily heart ceased to beat for a moment. That was right. In her moment of pain and panic, she had asked him to marry her. Cheese and crackers!
“Hunter, I…” But she just couldn’t tell him. Not right now. It was too beautiful of a moment.
“Don’t say anything.” His hand stroked her face. “Unless it’s I love you.”
Cheese and crackers! Lily licked her lips, the words right on the tip of her tongue. But she just couldn’t get them out.
As if she sensed the tension, Noel whimpered, stretched, and began to fuss. Lily’s heart warmed and she pushed the button to her hospital bed. It buzzed as it laid her back just a little. She brought her daughter’s mouth to her nipple just as the nurse had taught her, and began to breastfeed her.
Her daughter was all she wanted to think about right now, she told herself.
But deep down, the truth was, she enjoyed this loving feeling between them.
* * * *
Hunter watched his daughter suckle at Lily’s breast. Emotion hit him hard. A strange feeling stirred in him. It was like having a pot of boiling water in his stomach, warming him, yet making his gut roil. He had no appetite, yet there was this deep, unfulfilled hunger in him. For what, he didn’t know.
There was nothing more powerful than seeing his child suckling at his wife’s breast.
Or, soon-to-be wife, he hoped. He had seen it. That wild and worried look in Lily’s sparking hazel eyes. His mention of marriage had made her frantic. He wasn’t dumb. She was ready to back out.
He hated to leave. But he had to get this ball rolling before she changed her mind. Just to be safe, he wouldn’t say a damn thing more about it to her until it was time.
It would be a surprise.
He reached to the back of the rocking chair and grabbed his coat. “I’ve got to go home, make some calls, get a shower. I’ll be back later this afternoon.”
Lily’s gaze lifted from the baby. “Oh. Okay.” There was something in her eyes, deep and longing. He could tell she didn’t want him to leave.
For a moment he debated staying. It came down to one simple fact: he had some things to take care of and he was sure he’d lose her if he didn’t.
“Take care of my girl.” He bent and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. Then he picked up her purse and opened her wallet. “I need your Mom and Dad’s cell number. I promised I’d call today.”
“It’s in the pocket,” she told him.
Discreetly, he pulled her license out. Then he got the tattered, folded piece of white paper with their phone number on it from the pocket. He tucked them both in his shirt pocket and shut the wallet without her ever knowing the difference.
* * * *
A half hour later, Hunter was parallel parking his Ford F150 in front of the Harris County Clerk’s office. He pushed the gear into park and got out. Taking two steps at a time, he ran up the cement stairs. He pushed through the glass doors and looked for a sign. There it was.
Marriage licenses were on the fourth floor, in the administrative office.
A whole group of people stood in front of the elevators. Not his cup of tea. He’d take the stairs, which were probably faster in the end.
He took the marble steps at a light jog. In no time, he reached his floor. He swung open the door and stepped out onto a white, pebbled tile floor. He took a left down the long hall and looked for the right counter.
There.
He approached the cherrywood counter, it coming to about his waist. A pen on a string hung off its side, and a golden tap bell sat with a sign that read ‘Ring For Assistance’. He clanged it twice, shuffling his feet in anticipation. Finally, a wiry-thin girl in a pin-striped sweater and black slacks approached the counter. Her hair was pulled back tight into a bun, but it was defiantly bleached blond. He had a feeling she wasn’t half as prim and proper as she attempted to look.
Perfect.
“Can I help you?” A deep, Texas accent slurred her words.
“I need a marriage license.” He answered, not liking the annoyed look in her cold blue eyes.
She pursed her lips together, shook her head, and shuffled for some papers. “Your fiancée needs to be present.”
Hunter’s heart dropped. He had a feeling this would be the case. “She just had a baby. I’m afraid she couldn’t make it.”
“Then you’ll need to take this absentee application, have her fill it out, and sign it in front of a notary.” She shoved the paper towards him. “Don’t bring it back not notarized.”
No way. It would be a while before he could get her in front of a notary. Hunter placed his hand on the paper, and pushed it back. “Help me out here. This is a surprise.”
“There’s nothing I can do.”
“Sure,” Hunter looked around, “sure there is. No one else is here, so why can’t we just pretend she is?”
She turned her back and started out of the office. “I’ve got two kids, mister. I’m not losing my job.”
He couldn’t believe what he was about to say. But he was desperate. “I sure bet an extra hundred bucks would help with the holidays.”
She paused, not looking back as
she spoke. “Two hundred would help even more.”
The woman was a smart one. He nodded, and pulled out his wallet. “If that’s what it takes.”
She looked around. “You have her ID?”
“Right here.” He laid it on the desk, along with his, and two hundred and forty one dollars.
She gathered it all up and slid him an application. “Fill this out.” She picked up the IDs, and went to make copies as he scribbled in the information as fast as he could.
There were too many questions. He hated damn paper work. He answered them as best as he could, then signed a different signature for Lily than he did for himself.
She tapped her pencil impatiently. “Any licensed or ordained Christian ministers, and priests, Jewish rabbis, persons who are officers of religious organizations and who are duly authorized by the organization to conduct marriage ceremonies, justices of the supreme Court, judges of the court of criminal appeals, justices of the court of appeals, judges of the district, county, and probate courts, judges of the county court at law, courts of domestic relations and juvenile courts, retired justices and judges of such courts, justices of the peace, retired justices of the peace, and judges and magistrates of the federal courts of this state.” The memorized information was rambled off in a dull tone, at warp speed. “Any questions?”
Dazed, he looked up at her, finished scanning over and double-checking the application. “Retired justices?”
“Yup,” she snapped with impatience, as if he should have understood everything she said perfectly.
Hunter nodded, his mind filtering the information. Holy moly. This was perfect. One problem was solved. He’d wondered how he would find someone to marry them at such sort notice. Now he knew just who to ask. He pushed the paper over to her.
His neighbor two doors down was a retired Justice of the Peace. As it just so happened, the old man owed him a favor. He was collecting.
She continued to spit off information. “This marriage license must be used within one month of today. There is a seventy-two hour waiting… mmm…” She paused, her words lingering as she shuffled the papers.
Nervousness crept into him. For the first time, he started to doubt his plan. Seventy-two hours was three days. Three days for Lily to get scared, to change her mind, to decide to still move back to her own house. Three days was too long.
“I’m sorry,” his voice was tight. This woman was going to get pissed at him. “But is there any way…”
She held her hand up to him as if to say, “give me a minute.”
He waited, knocking his knuckles against the wooden counter.
“In your case, the waiting period is waived as you provided military identification,” she said matter-of-factly, hitting a button on her computer.
Relief released from his tightened chest. He drew a deep breath as papers started to print out. A moment later, he had his marriage license.
Chapter Thirteen
Lily snuggled in her bed, relieved to be home. The hospital had released her this morning, declaring she was doing perfectly well, and could go home for Christmas.
She smiled at her little blue bundle swaddled in her arms. Slap fate, just like always! She did not own one pink thing for her little precious girl. Her first Christmas pictures would be of her dressed like a little boy. Tomorrow Hunter was being sent shopping. Her daughter was never going to wear anything but pink and purple after today.
Where was Hunter, anyway?
He’d said he had a surprise, and then disappeared. He must love keeping her on her toes. Picking up the remote, she flipped through the channels, skipping over holiday program after holiday program. She’d watched enough of them lately to have them all memorized.
A knock banged on the door. Frowning, she laid down the remote. Why would Hunter knock? “Yes.”
“Are you decent?” Hunter asked.
She tugged at the belt on her white cotton robe. “Yes.”
He walked in, Mr. Jenkins behind him. The old man was dressed in a black suit, with a red tie. His skin was white, and wrinkled, his hair almost gone. Age spots dotted his face. Her neighbor for years, she knew him well, as an ornery old man always out to get someone’s goat.
Her eyes went to Hunter. She scanned him from top to bottom, from his dark blue pants trimmed in white, over the gold buttons of his shirt, all the way to his white hat with the anchor emblem. What in the…! He was in his Marine’s dress uniform. He only wore that for very special occasions.
She wrinkled her brows. “Hello, Mr. Jenkins. Hunter?”
He flashed her his best smile, his dark eyes boring into her. “Mr. Jenkins is here to marry us.”
Panic raced in her and she gulped “Marry?” Cheese and crackers! She’d really put her foot in her mouth. She should have told him yesterday. There was just no way she could marry him. She just couldn’t do it. “I’m sorry, Hunter. I just can’t.”
“Lily.”
Just then the baby started to cry. “I’m sorry, Hunter. Please go. I need to nurse her.” She cradled and cuddled Noel, praying they’d leave in a rush.
“Lily…”
“No!” She snapped, looking down.
“Can you give us a minute?” Hunter asked Mr. Jenkins.
“Perhaps I should just go?”
“No.” His voice was gruff. “Don’t you dare. You owe me old man, remember?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah…” he grumbled. He walked out and shut the door behind him.
Lily did her best to ignore Hunter’s presence. She lifted her baby to her breast, and nudged her nipple into her little mouth.
It hit her so hard, so suddenly. The tears started to pour from her blurring eyes. It was a hard realization. She had to marry Hunter. She had no other choice. She couldn’t deny her daughter that.
“Bring him back in here,” she croaked. “Now.”
* * * *
That night, Lily lay snuggled next to her husband in bed. The warmth of his body pressed against her, his arm slung over her chest. She snuggled her head in the crook of his neck. Long ago, he’d fallen asleep. But she couldn’t.
The truth was, she was too excited. She stared up at the stars through the skylights, afraid to close her eyes. She finally saw it. She’d finally found Orion.
The moment it had appeared to her eyes, she’d known she’d made the right decision. The rest of her life would be happy, because she had her husband and her daughter to lean on every time she got worried.
She’d married the man she loved. There was nothing else that mattered. Nothing more perfect than that.
The End
About the Author:
If there is one thing Alyssa Brooks believes, it is that the world is at her fingertips. She wants to touch, taste, and experience everything, from haunted castles to tropical islands, to skydiving or swimming with the dolphins. Knowledge is her power, and books are her escape. Everyday, writing takes her on a new adventure to wherever she wants to go. But wherever it may be, she likes it exciting and she likes it HOT.
Alyssa is the author of multiple erotic romances including Arrested, and Fighting Fire. When she isn’t writing new fantasies for her beloved fans, her time is spent freelance editing. In those rare moments when she isn’t working, she pleasures in her number one hobby, her husband. She also enjoys gardening, and hiking.
To find out more about Alyssa’s books, visit http://www.alyssabrooks.com/ or email her at [email protected]
Book 2
Mau Loa Ko`u Aloha
(Forever My Love)
Melissa Schroeder
Dedication
In memory of Brother Iz, whose music was the soundtrack to which I wrote. I hope you have met your Ohana, and enjoying life on the other side.
Chapter One
Mano stared at the full, round ass sticking out of his mother’s fridge and stopped dead in his tracks. Clad in a Hawaiian-print sarong, it swung from side to side keeping beat with Brother Iz on the radio as the owner apparently lo
oked for something to eat. His gaze roved down her legs to her bare feet. White skin. Not his sister, that was for sure. His attention traveled back up to her rump. A connoisseur of female rear ends, Mano thought this one particularly fine. Heart-shaped and just the right amount of flesh. It was just the kind of ass he liked to grab hold of.
Lust curled in his gut as he stepped into the kitchen. He padded up behind her as quietly as possible. His eyebrow rose as she sung along, using Hawaiian words like she were Kamaina, or local. Hmm, must be one of his sister’s friends, all of whom were over the age of consent. His lips curved and his body heated with anticipation.
“Good morning.” His voice was abrupt.
She screamed and raised her head, thunking it on the inside of the fridge. He chuckled as she turned around. He took stock of her features and found them to his liking. Long red hair clipped on the back of her head, medium height, and gorgeous hazel eyes. Mano’s gaze slipped down her body and he felt all his blood head south.
The T-shirt she wore was knotted beneath her breasts, emphasizing them and showing him a delectable belly button. Her hips matched her ass. Not too full, but rounded and feminine. He could just imagine taking them into his hands as she rode him.
“Mano?”
He looked up when she said his name but never got further than her full lips. Damn, the woman was a treat he would be glad to unwrap and eat.
“Mano, what the hell is wrong with you?”
“Huh?” Oh, that was brilliant. “Do I know you?”
She laughed. Not a tinkle of a laugh, but a full-throated belly laugh. The sound of it shivered along his nerve endings.
“Naw. I just know your name and you practically lived at my house before you went to the Air Force Academy.” When he still didn’t say anything, she quirked an eyebrow. “You know, I don’t think Pop ever forgave you for going Air Force.”
He blinked. Then blinked again. “Daisy Burton?” Oh, there was no way this luscious piece of woman was knobby-kneed, computer geek Daisy.
“Most people don’t call me that name without being hurt, but I’ll give you a second chance.” Her sarcastic tone stoked a memory of the girl, too smart for her own good, with a quick mind and a dry sense of humor. It had been years since he’d seen her or her sisters, but he never expected the geek to blossom into a knockout.
Operation Love Page 9