by Jen Talty
“Is that your other brother?”
“That’s baby Dyl.”
“He’s tall, handsome, and dreamy.”
“He’s an asshole. I’m the better catch.”
Logan laughed. “I can’t wait to call mom.”
Ramey growled. “I don’t know that there is anything to tell mom, yet.”
“Better figure that out right quick.” Logan slapped Ramey on the back before jogging off to meet Dylan.
Ramey let out a long breath as he set his hands on her soft hips. “Do you have to head back to Tampa right away?”
“Probably pretty quickly.”
“Do you want to head back quickly?”
She smiled. “Not particularly.”
“Why is that?” The idea that a woman could reduce him to a pile of nerves like a school-boy bothered him.
But having her walk out of his life scared him more.
“I don’t understand why or how I ended up caring for you so much, but you’ve changed the way I view everything in my life.”
Her hands glided across his shoulders, fingers massaging gently as she leaned into him. Her heart beating against his in a perfect pattern.
“I don’t understand it either, but I want to test you out.”
He laughed. “So, we’re taking each other out for a test run.”
“Something like that.”
“What if I told you I’ve got six months before I re-enlist and I might not?”
Her smiled widened. “I know a great organization that would love to have you.”
“We’re doing this relationship thing, aren’t we?” He didn’t need to wait for an answer because it wasn’t really a question.
She fit in his arms.
And in his life.
His last flight.
Epilogue
Six months later…
RAMEY ROLLED HIS JEEP to a stop in front of his brother, Nick’s house, who lived a few doors down from his brother Logan, in a quaint little suburb of Tampa. He shut the engine down and turned off the lights. “Let’s do this.”
“You make it sound like we’re facing the firing squad,” Tequila said, her hand resting on his thigh. She’d been more than he’d ever bargained for, and in a good way. The love for each other gave him the same feeling as when he’d been a test pilot.
Ramey laughed. “We sort of are.” The front door swung open and his mother waved. “And there’s my mom.”
“Your mom scares me a little.”
“She scares me a lot.” Ramey stepped from his car, jogging around the hood, and opening the passenger side door, helping his bride from the vehicle. “She’s not going to be happy we eloped.”
“That’s what scares me, but no way could I have done a big wedding.”
“Me neither.” Ramey placed his hand on the center of her back as they headed up the walkway.
“All my boys in one place,” his mother said with her arms stretched. “I hope you can stay longer than Dylan.”
“When does he have to leave?” Ramey wrapped his arms around his mother, holding her tight. Growing up, she’d always been there for him, even when she should have tossed his sorry ass to the wolves.
“Tomorrow afternoon.” His mother stepped back, cupping his cheeks.
God, he hated that almost as much as when she tugged at his ear.
“I got Dylan to hold Tyler.”
“That, I’d like to see,” Tequila said as she hugged Ramey’s mother.
“Then hurry before Nick takes his son back. He’s terrified Dylan is going to drop him.”
Ramey laughed. “That’s funny coming from Nick considering he dropped Dylan twice when he was a baby.”
“I know,” his mother said. “I thought Logan would be the overprotective father, not Nick.”
Ramey stepped into the family room where Logan sat on the floor, bouncing Abigail on his legs, while Mia sat behind him on the sofa. Across the room, Dylan awkwardly held Tyler while Nick hovered.
Leandra, Nick’s wife, leaned against the wall near the opening to the dining room. “Just in time,” Leandra said. “Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes.”
“Sorry we’re late. We had some paperwork to take care of at the bank.” Ramey stood behind Tequila, circling his arms around her middle, resting his chin on her shoulder. She pressed her hand against his and he wondered who would be the first to notice the matching rings, or if he’d actually have to come out and announce it.
“What kind of business would you have at a Tampa bank?” his mother asked as she settled on the sofa next to Mia.
“Tequila lives here, ma, remember?” Ramey knew he should just come out and tell everyone their news, but part of him was scared to death and the other part was going to enjoy their shocked faces.
“Of course, I remember.” His mother tilted her head. “And you live in New Mexico.”
He could tell she tried not to scowl and forced a slight smile.
“I can’t imagine doing a long-distance relationship,” Logan said.
“I can’t imagine doing a relationship, period.” Dylan lifted the baby. “Please, I love your boy, but will you take him now?”
Nick quickly bent over and scooped his son into his arms. “The right woman is going to come along and sucker-punch you right between the eyes.”
“I don’t have the time or the inclination,” Dylan said, leaning back, clasping his hands behind his head. “I’m deployed more for more than two-hundred days in a year and when I’m not deployed, I’m in undisclosed areas doing stuff I can’t talk about. So, even if there was a perfect woman for me, she’d be miserable.”
Ramey took a deep calming breath. “Being married tends to change your perspective on your career.”
“Right,” Dylan said with a sarcastic tone. “That coming from the man who isn’t married and is about to re-enlist.”
“Wrong on both accounts, little brother.” Ramey held up his hand, showing off his silver wedding band. “And, we bought the house over on Ellington, which was the banking we needed to deal with.”
“Not to mention Ramey took a job with the Omega Team,” Tequila added.
His mother flew off the sofa like a lion on the attack.
“Ramey Jordan Sarich,” she said, pulling both him and Tequila into her arms. “If I cared about weddings, I’d be so angry right now.”
“Well I’ll be damned,” Logan said. “When did you tie the knot?”
“A couple of weeks ago.” Ramey gave his mother a kiss on the cheek, grateful his ear was left unharmed. Nothing worse than having it tugged on in front of your wife.
Wife.
He still wasn’t used to it, but he loved the way it made him feel like he was going Mach five over the mountains.
“Now all I need is for Dylan to see the light,” Ramey’s mother said.
“Ma, stop, okay? Besides, shouldn’t you be pressuring them to have more grandbabies now that they’ve gotten… excuse me while I gag a little…married?”
Ramey’s mother marched across the room and tugged at Dylan’s ear.
“Ma. Seriously?” Dylan winced.
“Marriage isn’t so bad, baby Dyl. But let’s hold off on the discussion about babies. Not ready for that.” He took Tequila’s hand and was about to give her a kiss, when he noticed she was chewing on her fingernail.
“We don’t have to discuss it, but it’s happening.”
“I know. Someday in the future,” Ramey said, tugging at her hand. “I told you my family got all weird about babies.”
“You’ve got to be the dumbest man on the planet,” Nick said, laughing. “Back that conversation up and listen to what your wife just said.”
Ramey cocked his head, staring into Tequila’s warm, caramel eyes, her finger still in her mouth. “What am I missing?”
“The baby thing. It’s happening now. As in, I’m pregnant. Now.”
“I think I need to sit down,” Ramey whispered.
The End.
&nbs
p; Books by Jen Talty
NY State Trooper Series
IN TWO WEEKS
DARK WATER
DEADLY SECRETS
MURDER IN PARADISE BAY
TO PROTECT HIS OWN
DEADLY SEDUCTION
WHEN A STRANGER CALLS
Other novels
REKINDLED
JANE DOE’S RETURN
Dare to Love Kindle World by Carli Philips
DON’T DARE ME
The Omega Team Kindle World
THE LIGHTHOUSE
HER LAST HOME
THE LAST FLIGHT
THE RETURN HOM
The Phoenix Agency Kindle World
THE LOST SISTER
THE LOST SOLDIER
THE LOST SOUL
THE LOST CONNECTION
Dallas Fire and Rescue Kindle World
STEALING HIS FIRE
IGNITING HIS FLAME
Special Forces Operation Alpha
BURNING DESIRE
BURNING KISS
BURNING SKIES
BURNING LIES
BURNING HEART
About the Author
Jen Talty is an award-winning author of Romantic Suspense. Dark Water hit #10 in Barnes and Noble and her books have been in the top 50 on Amazon. Jen grew up in Rochester, New York. She recently retired from being a full-time hockey mom as her children hung up their skates. She and her husband still live in Rochester while her children travel globe. Jen is the co-founder of Cool Gus Publishing with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer. To learn more about Jen Talty please visit her website: jentalty.com
Sign up for Jen’s Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/crLz6r) where she often gives away free books before publication.
Join Jen’s private Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/191706547909047/) where she posts exclusive excerpts and discuss all things murder and love!