During the five-hour flight, Brad and Lori had sat down for a long conversation. The first thing he’d immediately realized was he was back to being “Dad” or “Daddy” for the first time in twelve years, give or take a year. While they’d always loved each other, the distance through several states had made their relationship strained at times. But those days appeared to be over. By the time they’d reached Fort Hood and put Cameron and Lori on a plane at the Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport, en route to North Carolina, the father and daughter had given each other their blessing. Brad had admitted he was in love with Avery and planned on marrying her the first chance he got. He’d also told Lori he’d be proud to have Cameron as a son-in-law, as long as he could still drop hints about burying the Marine’s body if he ever did Lori wrong.
As Brad had expected, Cameron had completed his training a few months ago and was now a member of MARSOC. His Marine Corps special-ops team was stationed out of Camp Pendleton in California, and Lori had moved out there about six weeks ago to join him. She’d gotten a job at a nearby tattoo parlor and was already getting noticed for her talent. Cameron had called Brad the other night to get permission to propose to Lori sometime today and had received it with full approval. Brad was anticipating a call from his daughter in a few hours, announcing she was engaged.
It’d taken Avery almost a month to recover from her ordeal. Brad had helped treat the wounds that’d covered her torso and legs, his anger simmering just below the surface as he’d gently applied antibacterial cream to each one. The bruises had gone from black and purple to yellow and green before slowly fading away. As soon as the last one had disappeared, Brad had taken a knee and proposed, wanting to start new, happy memories for them. Avery had enthusiastically said yes. They’d eloped two weeks later after Brad had managed to swing another week’s leave—he’d rarely taken them over the past ten years, so his superior had been all too happy to grant it as a wedding present. Although they’d taken some flack about eloping from their family, friends, co-workers, and teammates, Brad and Avery wouldn’t have changed a thing.
Brad had never looked forward to going home every night. He’d lived and breathed the Army and Deltas for years. But knowing Avery was waiting for him each day, had him wishing the clock would move faster so he could get back to where he wanted to be more than his next breath—in his wife’s arms.
The guests laughed as Frisco swooped Haven up into his arms and carried her down the aisle. The flower girl, Fletch’s young daughter, Annie, wearing a white and gold dress and Army boots, skipped behind them. She was followed by Carter and the maid-of-honor, Jordyn, then Avery, who was being escorted by Frisco’s cousin, who’d served as best man. Brad went down a side aisle and met Avery at the back of the church. As he tucked her into his side, she smiled up at him. “Hey, Shrek.”
“Hey, yourself. Did I tell you how beautiful you look today?” She was wearing a gold, knee-length dress that hugged her curves, and he couldn’t wait to peel it off her at home later, after the reception.
Her grin widened as they stepped out of the church. Two Delta wives were handing out little, mesh bags filled with birdseed, which was to be thrown instead of rice when the newlyweds made their grand exit from the church. Avery took one for both of them before answering him “Only three or four times. You’re slacking. Usually you’re up to seven or eight by this time of the day.”
Brad laughed. “I didn’t know you kept count. Let me see what I can do about rectifying that.” He bent his head and brushed his lips against hers. Everyone else faded away. When she regarded him with that look in her eyes that said she loved him, he felt ten feet tall and bulletproof. “You’re looking very beautiful today, my wife. More than yesterday, and less than tomorrow.”
“I love when you get all romantic,” she teased as she ran her palms up his chest to his shoulders. “And I know I’ve mentioned this before, but, damn, you’re incredibly handsome in your formal uniform. It does something to me.”
His eyes danced. He bent down until his lips met her ear and then lowered his voice, so only she could hear him. “Something like get you wet?”
“Mm-hmm. And very, very horny.”
He barely held back the groan that tried to emerge from his throat. “Have mercy, Mrs. Barton.”
“Never.”
Other Books By Samantha A. Cole
The Trident Security Series
Leather & Lace: Book 1
His Angel: Book 2
Waiting For Him: Book 3
Not Negotiable: A Novella Book 3.5
Topping The Alpha: Book 4
Watching From the Shadows: Book 5
Whiskey Tribute: A Novella Book 5.5
Tickle His Fancy: Book 6
No Way in Hell: A Steel Corp/Trident Security Crossover: Books 1 & 2
Absolving His Sins: Book 7
Option Number Three: A Novella Book 7.5
Salvaging His Soul: Book 8
The Deimos Series
Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Handling Haven: Deimos Book 1
Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Cheating the Devil: Deimos Book 2
The Trident Security Omega Team Series
Mountain of Evil: TS Omega Team Prequel
A Dead Man’s Pulse: TS Omega Team Book 1
Forty Days & One Knight: Book 2—Coming Soon
Summer’s Fall: Book 3—Coming Soon
The Doms of The Covenant Series
Double Down & Dirty Book 1
Entertaining Distraction: Book 2
Hammered & Nailed—Coming Soon
The Malone Brothers Series
Take the Money and Run: Book 1
The Devil's Spare Change: Book 2
The Ultimate Price: Book 3—Coming Soon
The Blackhawk Security Series
Tuff Enough: Book 1—Coming Soon
Stand Alone Novels
The Road to Solace
Special Projects
First Chapters: Foreplay Volume One
First Chapters: Foreplay Volume Two
First Chapters: Foreplay Volume Three
Word Search For Warriors: Authors For a Cause
Acknowledgements
To Susan Stoker—Once again, thanks so much for letting me borrow your characters and for being such an incredible inspiration!
To my editor, Eve—Thanks for being there to bridge the gap between the first and final drafts! Love you!
To Judi—What more can I say than “you rock!”
To my PAs, Maria and Connie and the rest of the staff at Lucky 13 Book Reviews and News—thank you for all your help!
To my beta readers—Allena, Ame, Angi, Cathy, Charla, Debbie, Elizabeth, Felisha, Jen, Joanne, Katie, Milynn, Olivia, Rhonda, Susan, and Tawnya—Love you all!
To the Sexy Six-Pack’s Sirens group—as always, your continued support means more to me than you’ll ever know!
To my readers—I hope you enjoyed Brad and Avery’s story. Thank you for continuing to ask for more!
To Jess, Jules, Brandie, and Kelle—Now that I’ve finally met all four of you in person, our friendships mean that much more to me. Love you!
Author’s Note
Any information regarding persons or places has been used with creative literary license so there may be discrepancies between fiction and reality. The Navy SEALs’ and Delta Force operatives’ missions and personal qualities within have been created to enhance the story and, again, may be exaggerated and not coincide with reality.
The author has full respect for the members of the United States military and the varied members of law enforcement and thanks them for their continuing service to making this country as safe and free as possible.
About the Author
A proud member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), Samantha A. Cole is a retired policewoman and former paramedic who is thrilled to add award-winning author to her list of exciting careers. She has lived her entire life in the suburbs of New York City and is looking forward to be
coming a snow-bird between New York and Florida someday. Her two fur-babies, Jinx and Bella, keep her company and remind their mom to take a break from writing every once in a while to go for a walk, which is the best way to deal with a stubborn case of writer’s block.
An avid reader since childhood, Samantha was often found with a book in hand and sometimes one in each. After being gifted with a stack of romance novels from her grandmother, her love affair with the genre began in her teens. Many years later, she discovered her love for writing stories was just as strong. Taking her life experiences and training, she strives to find the perfect mix of suspense and romance for her readers to enjoy.
Her standalone novel, The Friar, won the silver medal in the 2017 Readers' Favorite Awards in the Contemporary Romance genre out of more than 1000 entries.
While the original planned stories for the Trident Security series have been completed, they have brought many opportunities for Samantha to spread her wings and bring her readers more characters and stories to love. Look for her new Trident Security Omega Team series, Doms of The Covenant Novella series, Blackhawk Security series, and more from the Malone Brothers series, in addition to several standalone projects.
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