“What did you do?” I ask. “All of this? You went through all of this trouble for me?”
Luke’s gaze flicks to the crowd, then back to me. “This wasn’t anything. People love you, Aara. Getting this together last minute was easy. Come inside. I want to talk to you quickly. There’s someone here I want you to meet.”
He grabs my hand and takes me inside Mayton’s which seems to be closed down just for us. Easy? That’s bullshit. The door closes us off from the patio. It’s quiet in here. There’s a lady standing in a corner holding a folder. Luke grabs me by my shoulders.
“She’ll marry us today if you want. Everyone is here. I wanted to show you how serious I was without scaring the absolute shit out of you at the same time. If this is something you want to get done today, let’s do it. I’m game. If you want to do it another day, then that’s fine too. I’m all in, Aarabelle Dempsey. Forever, and I might have made you take an ocean swim, but it’s only because I needed to occupy your time to put this together.”
“First, the scavenger hunt was the most amazing, romantic thing anyone has ever done for me. Thank you for this.” I grab the necklace. “Second, there is nothing else I’d rather do than marry you, Hart. Honestly, I’m still so stymied by how thoughtful this is, that it feels like a wedding day anyway. It’s incredibly special.”
Luke presses his lips against my forehead to conceal a megawatt smile. He gives the lady in the corner a thumbs up and she smiles and pumps a fist in the air. I laugh. Luke’s smile fades a bit. “I do have one more question.”
“Uh-oh,” I reply. “Why does that sound like a loaded question?”
“Gilcher is here with his family. In the back-bar area. Before I release them into the party, I wanted to make sure you were okay with it.”
“How did you get Aaron here?”
He looks away sheepishly. “They were already here on a beach vacay. He said he wanted to show his kids the base. The stars aligned, honestly. I mean, I had to borrow his phone number from your cell phone a while back to make sure I had it. It was just a phone call. He wanted to be here. When I told him what my plan was, he wanted to watch you get married, even if it was from a window in the back of Mayton’s.” He swallows hard. “Don’t be mad at me.”
The lump in my throat morphs into tears pricking my eyes. “I could never be mad at you for that, Hart. Your thoughtfulness is annoyingly perfect. Do my parents know about this?” I nod to the officiant. “That your ulterior motive was to marry me today?”
“I asked for Liam’s permission, and told him about my plan B. I’m not sure if he told your mom. I’d assume she knows though. Marissa knows. Dagger has known I’ve wanted to do this for a while.”
I look down at my dress, and Luke senses my self-confidence falter. “You look beautiful, Aara. Just as beautiful as I thought you’d look in that dress. A vision of perfection.”
Blushing, I say, “Well your opinion is the only one that matters. Why don’t you go tell everyone there’s going to be a wedding, I’ll talk to Aaron.”
His smile is genuine and wide. “Sounds good. I’ll admit my heart is hammering like a machine gun. Like I’m on a mission.”
“Mission impossible?” I raise one brow.
He shakes his head and grabs his chin with his finger and thumb. “More like mission forever.”
I giggle. “I like that.”
He tells the officiant to get ready, and then I hear a racket of cheers when Luke goes outside to make the announcement. Before my parents can find me, I head toward the room at the south end of Mayton’s. The pit in my stomach blooms when the door squeaks open, and I see Aaron.
He hurries from the window where his kids are sitting, watching the patio area and the beach, their noses pressed against the glass. I hold out a hand—palm out. If I don’t say it in a rush, I might not ever say it.
“Yes. Yes, I want you to be at my wedding.”
Rochelle smiles but turns away to give us a slice of privacy. She nestles her children and continues gazing out the window.
“If only for the reason that you were right. About fighting and loving and holding on and letting go. All of it. I might not understand why you did what you did, but it’s not my place to label your reasons.” I take in a deep breath to steel my nerves. “Will you walk me halfway down the aisle. To Liam. He’ll walk me the rest of the way to Luke.” My palms are sweaty as I rub my nails against them. “You gave me life twice. I think that’s a fitting tribute. Once when I was born, and once when I became the heroine in my own legacy.” I cough to cover a sob. “Will you do that?”
“I’ve been waiting my whole life for it, Aarabelle.” His grizzled face lights up, and the circle is finally closed. Everything in my world makes sense if only for this second.
And because I feel the need to explain further. “He loved me enough to let me catch myself.”
Aaron’s eyes get teary. “And that’s the whole point to it, isn’t it?”
I hug him around his neck, closing my eyes. “It is.”
Epilogue
Aarabelle
Luke pulls out of me and kisses me at the same time. Like a parting gift, or a consolation prize. Almost always, every single time we make love.
“I’ll never get sick of that,” Luke groans, rolling off me. He pulls me to his side, and I lay my head on his chest.
“Me either, but I think we need to be done for this morning. Everyone will be here in two hours and I need to cook something. Your mom probably thinks I’m just like your workout buddy who has sex with you. I don’t feel like a real wife.”
He furrows his brow. “You are the best wife in the world. Because you’re mine. Trust me, everyone knows you’re a real wife.”
My stomach warms. From my orgasm, but also from his words. He never makes me feel out of place. I moved into his house after we got married and now Sundays are family day, but the mornings are extended periods of orgasms.
“You’re the best husband. I’m so lucky,” I coo, kissing the tip of his nose before I make my way off our bed to turn on the shower. He joins me.
“I still want to make something. What does Marley like? I told Shane he can’t flirt like a massive sleaze this week.”
Luke chuckles, taking over my hair washing duties. He scrubs so much better than I can. “He’s the most proper flirter I’ve ever encountered in my life, Aara. Sleaze is not the word I used. He usually stays in the garage the whole time anyway. Marley is coming early, maybe you can make something together.”
“Is she spending the night?”
“She didn’t say so, so probably not. What time are your parents getting here?”
“Last minute, I’m sure. Now that Dad’s retired, he spends his time forgetting the time.”
Maverick and Liam retired together in a ceremony several months ago. I think it’s been weird for both of them. After serving their entire lives, the chapter came to an end. It feels sort of iconic, like the torch has been passed to us. Filling in where they left off. The death of joy comes with comparison, so I won’t focus too hard on that aspect. Luke spins me so the spray rinses my hair. When the soap is out, he kisses my shoulder.
“You’re my favorite thing in the entire world,” I say, looking up through my lashes.
Dimples flash. “More than anything else?”
I tip my chin down and up. “Everything.”
“Well, that means there’s nowhere to go. How am I supposed to improve upon perfection?” His eyes crinkle in the corner when he smiles.
“You keep on figuring it out, though.” He truly does. I think by his sheer will alone, we’ve been kept on the same Team and the same rotation schedule. We get to do all of our training trips together. We keep the same schedule so we get to spend almost all day every day together. Granted, when we’re working, we keep it as professional as we possibly can. At the end of the day, we go to the same hotel room bed. There are many ways to make relationships work in the military. None of them are as effortless as ours,
and I’m so grateful for our life.
I wash myself and step out, grabbing my towel from the warmer. I watch Luke finish his shower. Admiring his muscles is one of my favorite pastimes. In uniform, shirtless at home in the gym, naked. I throw on the casual dress I wore to Marissa and Dagger’s wedding. It’s ironed and colorful. Marissa will love it. Instead of a bun, I leave my hair down to dry in waves.
Luke is humming one of our awful apology songs under his breath as he walks to his vanity. I laugh and pad barefoot to the kitchen to hunt through our pantry for something to make. Selecting a few things, I heft them under my arms and set them on the counter. Luke answers the door when the buzz bounces through the speakers. The booming voice tells me it’s Maverick Hart and company. Windsor, my mother-in-law, smiles brightly when she sees me in the kitchen.
“Oh, honey, you look so beautiful. How are you doing? What can I help with?” She sets a big bowl of something and a casserole on the counter.
“You’ve obviously done enough already, Windsor.”
She explains what she’s made as she trails a finger along the counter of the island.
She sighs. “This kitchen was my all-time favorite. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the next generation using it.”
I swallow hard. I wish I used it more. I feel a bit fraudulent. The fact that they live in a mansion even bigger than this beast, tells me that she really loves this kitchen.
“I was going to make this dip,” I say, pointing at the recipe on my phone and the ingredients I got out haphazardly.
“I’ll help!” It’s not a question. I agree, because Windsor has that look in her eye. “Marley will too.” She cups her mouth and calls for her daughter. Marley bounds in. The first question she asks is if Shane is coming over. My brother did end up transferring to college on this coast, so I get to see him all the time. I confirm he’ll be here, and both Windsor and I watch as her smile turns into a dreamy puddle of mush.
Luke and Maverick saunter into the room. Maverick already has his bathing suit on, and shirt off. Like father, like son, I think. When his eyes catch on his wife working at the island, his eyes, the same exact eyes as Luke, do that feral, wild thing. It’s so personal, I have to look away.
I clear my throat. “We’re making that recipe I showed you last night,” I tell my husband.
He licks his lips and makes things even weirder. “Can’t wait to taste it.” Doesn’t he know his dad is eye fucking his mom right in front of him? Maybe he’s blind to it.
“Ew,” I hiss under my breath and pretend to read my phone again.
“I know, right?” Marley says, catching me off guard. “They’re so gross.”
I ask her about life, and in true Hart fashion, she gives me the shakedown. My parents amble into the kitchen next with Marissa and Dagger behind them. Dagger is shotgunning a beer, and Marissa is holding the remainder of the case, shaking her head.
“I drove. I want everyone to know that I am the driver. Not this one.” She elbows him and scowls.
He kisses her and after she initially jerks away because of his beer lips, she leans into it. Their love took off like a rocket after the deployment. Their marriage came fast and furious. They’re both happy even if they came together in an unconventional way. Dagger never admitted it, but I think he saw the change in Luke and wanted a piece of forever for himself.
I kiss my mom and take the pie out of her hands. Dad kisses the side of my head. “Hey baby, you look pretty.”
“Thanks, Dad. You look handsome today, too. I like your Hawaiian shirt.” I wink and give him a thumbs up.
He pinches the fabric on his chest. “You do? I’m trying something new. Your mother and I are going to Hawaii and I wanted to get in the mood. Test out the waters before we got there.”
“Oh, one-hundred percent, you work that shirt.”
He hugs me. “I’m so glad you said that in front of your mother. She says the opposite, that the shirt works me.”
“No piece of clothing is going to best Liam Dempsey. Even poly-cotton blend knows that.”
My mom rolls her eyes, but she looks at him with torrid love. The starry eyes. The whole deal. Her career at CJJ has taken off. Henry Durnin was good for one thing and one thing only. Catapulting the west coast branch into the stratosphere. Mom is shining. She’s happy. My parents are in their prime and they are living life without regrets. It’s an example I hope to follow.
“I don’t have a shirt to test out, but I do have legs that need some color. I’m going to head out to the pool.” Mom hikes her finger at the window to the pool. I nod. “Bring me a drink, Liam. Something fruity and Caribbean if you really want to play a part.” She winks as she kisses Luke’s cheek and says hello to his family and gets caught up in conversation with Windsor.
“I’m so happy for you, Aara,” Dad says. “Did Luke give you an early birthday present?”
I narrow my eyes. “No. Was he supposed to?”
“Oh, sorry. I just assumed he wouldn’t be able to keep it until next weekend.”
Tilting my head. “Luke,” I call out. “Do you have an early birthday present for me hidden somewhere? You know what happens when I find out about things that are supposed to be surprises.”
“Liam!” Luke exclaims, slapping his thighs with his hands. “Her birthday is next weekend!”
Dad looks embarrassed. “I’m sorry. You called, and I thought that meant you weren’t going to wait.”
“Oh, Liam Dempsey,” Mom adds. “You are the absolute worst secret gift keeper in the world.”
“Might as well give them to her now, then, huh? Maybe Mom can whip up a birthday cake and we can give that to her early too,” Luke says, but he says it with a smirk on his face. “Stay here,” he says, wagging a finger at me. He shakes his head at Liam on his way by. “Big mouth,” Luke teases.
Marley is bouncing next to me. “Luke is the best gift giver ever. I can’t wait to see what he got you!”
Shane walks in through the garage, because that’s where he always comes in from. He still has that glassy-eyed shocked look when he makes it to the party in the kitchen. Dagger throws a beer at him and by the grace of God he catches it.
“Those cars. I can’t breathe,” Shane drawls. Then Marley catches his eye. “Hey Marley.” The boyish man impressed by cars is gone and is replaced with a confident one I barely recognize. “You look really nice today.”
Marley tucks her hair behind her ear. “Thanks, Shane. I’m glad you came.” She glances at me, wooden spoon in hand. “Do you think you could take the dip from here?” I smile and agree. “Want to go out by the pool and have a drink?” she asks Shane.
He takes her up on the offer at hyper-speed and they disappear from sight.
Windsor sighs. “Being young. It’s so sweet.”
“Is that what that is?” Marissa says, sipping a beer. “Couldn’t be sure. Hey, I like your dress.” My best friend sidles in next to me.
“I thought you would. Thought you were DD today?”
“That’s why I’m drinking now. Duh.”
“You’re trying to get pregnant,” I hiss.
“Our baby will like beer. Obviously, Aara, look at my husband,” she jokes, shrugging. “I have my period. Maybe next month.” Her face falls, and I see the pain in her eyes. It’s been almost a year and they haven’t had any luck with fertility treatments. I grab a beer from the box on the counter, open it, and toast her.
“To next month.”
Her smile is sad as she clinks my bottle. Luke walks into the kitchen with a big box. Way larger than I was thinking it would be. Luke Hart likes to give me baubles that come in small boxes or cars. There’s no in between. He pushes it on the counter.
“I’ve been trying to make up for this for a really long time, Aara. And I have to admit, I did have to take a page from the Liam Dempsey playbook, because he is a legend, but it’s taken a long time and I hope you like it. Happy Birthday, baby. I love you.” He pauses, then says, “Open it now. I ca
n’t stand the anticipation for another second.”
My cheeks feel flush as I smile at my thoughtful husband and pull the heavy box toward me. I gently pull off the dark red bow tied with perfect precision. The gold wrapping exposes the box and I lift the lid and push away the tissue paper on the top.
Tears immediately spring to my eyes when I see my gift. I pull out the book on top and open to the first page.
To Aara, Phoenixes will always rise from ashes. Love, B. Madison.
The whole series is in the box. Luke coughs. “I had to ask your dad how to go about getting something like this for you. When the fire destroyed everything in your condo, I knew they’d be the thing you missed the most. I know how much they meant to you, and I also know that the books were something that belonged to you and Liam. I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted you to have them back.” He approaches me slowly. “I want to read them to our child one day.”
I kiss him while tears leak down my face. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I let the world around us fade. Not only does this man guard my heart, he knows it like his own. Broken hearts are a dime a dozen. Whole, complete, and treasured hearts are worth more than anything else in the world. They’re priceless.
Fight for them.
Against all odds.
Beyond logic.
Wage a fierce war and create a legacy of your own choosing.
THE END
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