by Soraya Lane
EPILOGUE
Saskia gripped the handle of her bag so tight her knuckles went white. She’d never been this nervous in her life. Not when she’d first enlisted in the army, not on her first deployment, not when she’d been pregnant and about to pop.
This was like nothing else she’d ever experienced, and her stomach was flipping like she’d eaten a bad curry the night before.
And there he was. Luke Gray – tall, strong and hot as hell, was walking in her direction, and the smile on his face made all her anxiety she’d been storing up for this moment slip away.
“Hey beautiful.”
Saskia dropped her bag to the ground and held up her arms as Luke ran the last few yards to her, scooping her up low and holding her tight, feet off the ground, mouth pressed to hers like he was never, ever going to stop kissing her. She kissed him back, one hand fisting in his hair, the other holding him tight around the shoulders, legs wrapped around him.
Luke pulled back first, broke their kiss and stared straight into her eyes. “Do you have any idea how good it is to finally see you again?”
She laughed, slowly relinquishing the grip she had on him with her thighs and sinking back to the ground, arms slung around his waist now.
“I had this really bad feeling you weren’t going to show,” she murmured against the hollow of his shoulder.
“You’re crazy,” he said, dropping a kiss to the top of her head then pulling her in tight. “I’ve been counting down the days.”
Saskia leaned back in his arms. “So we’re really doing this?” When they’d promised to meet at the airport, she’d been full of hope and excitement. But the reality of a man waiting for her, wanting her still after all this time, when they’d barely spent two days together, had started to feel more like a fantasy the longer she was away.
But seeing him here now? Being cradled in his arms like he’d waited a lifetime for her to return? This had been worth the wait and the worry.
“How long are you back for?” she asked, watching as he reached down for her bag, slung it over his shoulder, then pulled her back in against his hip, arm around her shoulders. Saskia put her arm around his waist, fingers tucked into his jeans pocket as they walked.
“I’m back for… awhile,” he said.
Saskia squeezed her eyes shut, just for a moment, needing not to think about what could happen to him. Because she knew firsthand the reality of deployment, only Luke would be in situations far dangerous than she’d ever experienced.
“So we just enjoy the now and see what happens?” she suggested.
“No,” Luke said, stopping and forcing her to turn towards him. He dropped her bag again and took her face into his hands, palms cradling her cheeks.
She didn’t understand.
“I’m staying put for now, Saskia. I’ve done my time, I’ve given years to the SEALs, and now it’s time for me to work behind the scenes. At home.”
Saskia gulped. “Are you doing this for me?” Because she didn’t want him giving up something he loved for her, didn’t want to be the one responsible for that, not when they’d barely spent 48 hours together.
“No.” He shook his head and kissed her so gently, so carefully, that it was as soft as a feather being trailed across her skin. “I’m doing it for me, and I’m doing it for us.”
Saskia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Whether this could even be real… but she knew all his letters had been real, that the phone calls had been for real. So why not this?
“Come on, let’s go,” Luke announced, tugging her along by the hand. “I’ve got a little boy to get you home to.”
This time she did laugh. “Strangely enough that sounds very familiar.”
“Yeah, only this time I’m driving you in a Chevy.”
Saskia grabbed Luke around the waist and held on tight. Trouble was, she didn’t ever want to let go.
THE END
Loved this book? Then why not read another great story by Soraya Lane!
The Navy SEAL’s Bride (Harlequin Romance)
Available now! Click here
Ex-navy SEAL Tom Cartwright is struggling to return to civilian life. His little niece is his only ray of sunshine and he agrees to be the "show" in her school show-and-tell.
Teacher Caitlin Rose knows all about past disappointments—once, she danced in the spotlight but now she shows others how to. She's learned the hard way to rely only on herself. Yet as soon as Tom looks at her with those big brown eyes, she's done for….
Can Caitlin crack the walls around this soldier's battle-worn heart?
The Soldier’s Sweetheart (Harlequin Romance)
Available January 2013 Read more
About the Author
As a child, Soraya dreamed of becoming an author. Fast forward more than a few years, and Soraya is living her dream! Working as a freelance writer and now a professional author too, she writes every day and loves her job. Soraya describes being an author as "the best career in the world", and she hopes to be writing romance for many years to come. Soraya loves spending her days thinking up characters for books, and her home is a constant source of inspiration. She lives with her own real life hero and son on a small farm in New Zealand, surrounded by animals and with an office overlooking a field where their horses graze. For more information about Soraya, her books and her writing life, visit www.sorayalane.com or follow her on twitter @Soraya_Lane.