“I was never angry with you.” He glanced back up from his computer monitors. “I was more upset with myself. I’m not guarded enough, and even though I pride myself in reading people, I got it all wrong with Jacey. Jim and Monroe are going to speak with her.”“You really think she’s moving to New York?”“I know she wanted this firm to advance her career, so who knows?Maybe she’s headed back to Manhattan to make some miracles happen.”“Could be.”“Perhaps we try out angry sex?”“Depends on who’s mad?” I teased him. “Am I climbing the walls or just getting it good from behind?”“If you keep talking like that, you’re getting that here and now.Otherwise, when do you think you’ll be done with dinner tonight?”“I have no idea,” I answered truthfully. “You’re more than welcome to wait for me at the condo you’ve helped me keep, though.”He smiled at me. “Text me if you’re up for it. Otherwise, tomorrow night, we’re doubling up on angry sex, make-up sex, and you-made-mewait, sex.”“You’re just
AFTER THE CHOPPER RIDE DOWN, I jumped into the car that awaited me, and I wasted no time getting to the marine aviation base in Miramar. My crazy morning that’d started by trying to kick my ass mentally had changed entirely when I was let through the gates and funneled into where family members awaited the arrival of their loved ones. I had to admit that, surprisingly, I was excited to see my sister. Part of me thought that maybe opening myself up to Bree meant opening myself up to feeling everything, all of my emotions. I had to be honest; I liked it. There was a sense of freedom that I felt in my soul. The only thing that concerned me about that was that my night terror was a reminder that the darkness was never far away.I saw all the families waiting for their loved ones, especially the baby girl who was about to meet her father for the first time since he was deployed before she was born. The energy was electric with nerves of excitement and anticipation, and that energy was radi
“He has a place here too, dick,” she laughed. “So, what brings my baby brother to Miramar?”“I had to see it if I wanted to believe it finally. Shit, Jane, you’re a real fucking pilot.”“Right?” She teased back. “It’s been ten years now, and I still almost lose my lunch when I pull the G’s.”“Quit bragging. In fact, why don’t you retire from the military already and go join some fighter jet club like the Blue Angels so I can hitch a ride in one of those planes.”“I have a friend who’s a Thunderbird, and he can take you for a joyride the next time they’re in town.”“Finally, my sister is worth a damn to me.”“No shit.”ONCE JANE HAD CHANGED into civilian clothing, we took off and followed each other to a restaurant in San Diego. After we finished eating at a holein-the-wall cafe, we sat at our table, sipping on coffee, and Jane finally asked what I knew her questioning eyes wanted to know.“Who is the girl in your life, little bro?” She smiled. “I’ve never seen you smile this much. The
“Then why are you trying to bring up everything I worked so hard to bury? Yes, at one point, I did fully believe myself to be capable of only basic emotions. The only people I cared about were my friends because I saw them as family. Even Jim only knows the bare minimum about my past, and I’ve been close with that man as if he were my brother for years. Nothing has threatened our friendship, though; in fact, my group of friends has become closer over the years. What I’m saying is that through it all, I’ve forged relationships and maintained them. Maybe I’m just getting oldand sentimental, but for better or worse, I feel what I feel.”“Maybe you have found the love you deserve.”“A peaceful life, and a woman who makes me enjoy living it?”“It can get a little exhausting,” she smirked, “just fucking and being vacant while you’re with someone. I get that.”“It is,” I answered her. “And you deserve happiness too, Jane. It seems we lost Jenny in all of this, and even though you weren’t su
“I know,” she patted my cheek. “Now, go do what you do best. You were down here for work, right?”“Right,” I said. “I guess we’ll see if we get another chance to meet up again on another time.”“We always do.” She grinned and then got in the car and drove out of the parking lot.I had to hold onto the happiness I had with Breanne, the feelings of love and being loved for the first time. I wouldn’t allow any of it to go to waste —no way in hell. I was moving forward whether or not Jane believed I could hang onto this like she could hang onto her plane.All I wanted now was to be in Bree’s arms, but I knew I had to detox from this conversation first, or I’d be spilling my guts to her.Just when I thought the thought, my phone buzzed.Bree: Surprise! I finally met your friends, and we had a pretty fantastic flight to San Diego.What the fuck? Bree texted the hotel where they were headed and where to meet them for Elena’s tuna sandwich picnic, and I knew they were all here. All here, and
“Oh, he’s predictable,” I teased, rubbing his back and offering him a sandwich. He declined and stole a few grapes out of my fruit bowl instead.“I’ll bet,” Jake snickered. “Let’s change the subject. I’m already gagging down this tuna fish sandwich, and I don’t need the details of why Alex has had this cheesy-as-fuck grin plastered on his face for two weeks solid now.”“Jacob!” Ash snapped at her husband.“Listen,” he held his hands up, “I love you to death, Laney, but God dang. What’s with the raw onions, olives, fucking celery, and whatever else bullshit is in this goddamn sandwich? You don’t fuck a fish over like this.” “It’s cilantro, jerk,” she said with a laugh.“Oh, God. All together? Sometimes less is more, you know. Regardless, it certainly isn’t a Cuban sandwich, something you promised me quite a while ago,” Jake said with a playful arch of his eyebrow, most likely to ensure I was hanging onto the way all of these friends bantered with each other.“You’ll never get one after
She giggled. “Collin was the same way. Sex, right?”I laughed in return. “They all must somehow be related.”“They’re cut from the same cloth; that’s for sure.”“Whenever a kissing scene pops up, he uses that as an excuse to prove how he can outplay those actors.” I rolled my eyes in humor behind my sunglasses.“I positively love hearing this,” she looked out at where the men were playing with the kids, “it proves that two souls have found each other. Now, I just want to know how long we’ll have to wait to watch you get to finally walk down the aisle like the beautiful bride you must’ve been the day you had to play a sex tape.”“The only thing special about that day was when I mortified all of the wealthy people my aunts invited and my ex’s ability to lie his way out of the affair. You know, all the stuff that goes along with playing sex tapes at weddings.”She relaxed further into her lounge chair with a grin. “You’ve got the same feisty spirit that I have; although, I would’ve cut t
We spent the rest of the day letting the kids enjoy the warm water and mild surf. It was a beautiful day to unwind at the beach, and Alex’s brighter smile by the afternoon and his teasing demeanor with the kids told me it was a better day for him.I did worry after Jim told me he was also in the dark about Alex’s past. It wasn’t just that, though. He’d met his sister on what seemed like it would be a killer reunion trip, and either the man didn’t give a damn about fighter jets and his sister flying them, or they didn’t have that tight of a relationship. I wouldn’t know unless I peeled the guy’s brain open and dug deep into his past—something I never intended to do. If Alex needed to talk about something that upset him, then he would.C H A P T E R T H I R T YALEXAlong day in the sun, watching Bree smiling more than I’d seen her smile since the day I’d met her, was exactly what I needed to push past seeing Jane and the reminder of our nonexistent relationship. We sure as hell tried
I walked out to the comfortable waiting area, and Jim was the first to stand when he saw my approach. “We heard mommy and babies are healthy?”“A new and very handsome dad didn’t pass out?” I heard Jane as she walked up to me, smiles worn all around the room while the children were occupied in the learning and games corner of the room.“Jane, I’m happy as hell that you’re here,” I said as she stepped back and smiled up at me.“Well,” she patted my cheek, “I’ve heard you’re doing well from my sister-in-law. I texted Bree and congratulated her on your nuptials since your response was some BS thumbs-up emoji.”“I am.” I grinned at how well my sister appeared. Her blonde, curly hair was loose around her shoulders, and she was dressed casually. She didn’thave her usual stiff military look. “I’m happy you’re here.”She jabbed me in my side. “You better be. Now, let’s go,” she said.“Give us a second,” I smiled at the group as Jane walked in to meet Breanne and our children for the first ti
WITH ALL OF Breanne’s hard work, she safely delivered our sons. Both boys were instantly rushed to their warmers after I cut their umbilical cords, and just as Dr. Allen suggested, Bree’s thirty-eight-week pregnancy could likely deliver two healthy baby boys. He was right.Both babies passing the APGAR score made me exhale in relief at our two beautiful sons, who were now crying loudly for their mother. The group had all texted that they’d wait outside when Bree’s contractions were more brutal, and it was only Cameron who had the balls to peek around the curtain to check on her before heading into surgery.The nurses quickly wrapped both sets of dark-haired boys in their burrito-style blanket and handed them to Breanne after I walked to my wife. I kissed her on her forehead, her tired eyes peering up at me and her beautiful, dimpled smile lighting up the entire room.“You did so well, baby,” I kissed her forehead. “Our sons are healthy and on their way to you.”I watched, mesmerized,
“Yes. Fuck me hard.” She walked over to a wall in the living room, sighed in annoyance, and spread her legs.“I have to admit, everything you just demanded of me can be a man’s dream come true. However, this isn’t exactly romantic.”“Fuck romance, Alex,” she snapped into that gear again. “The romance is dead right now, and you’re going to be dead if you don’t get over here and help me get this going.”“Well, the doc said it was the sperm that triggered the pregnancy, so why don’t we do this where it’s a tiny bit more comfortable for you?” “For me?” she turned back, and evil-Bree was in full swing. “Comfortable? I can’t sleep—I don’t even remember the last time I slept. I’m hotter than hell all of the fucking time, I fart when I least expect it to happen, my indigestion is killing me from all those tacos I can’t stop eating, and as if all of that isn’t bad enough, I pee myself when I laugh, cough, or sneeze. So, I ask you,” she flashed her most challenging expression, “why would I give
“There is an upside for Alex in all of this,” Nat said as the girls all grabbed their slender bouquets of lilies. “There shall be no periods throughout the entire honeymoon, and of course, I hear that as time goes on, you get hornier, so the first six months of your marriage should be fantastic. All thanks to you getting knocked up right before your wedding.”I exhaled, feeling the nerves now. “Let’s worry about getting through this day. My aunt has been faithfully attending that wedding book, and I’m going to dodge her. I can’t cry.”“Ha,” Elena chuckled. “Good luck with that. In addition to what Nat said, your hormones can kick in at random intervals, and you could be the blubbering bride up there with Alex today.”I eyed all of my bridesmaids as they chuckled. “Aren’t you guys supposed to be my support crew or whatever it is that bridesmaids do on the wedding day?”“We support you telling Alex when you’re standing in front of that priest,” Cass teased.“All right,” the door flung o
I was not the bridezilla Nat was sure I’d be. Instead, I was going with the flow, filled with gratitude that I was about to become Alex’s wife officially. After the wedding, he and I were set to travel on the yacht he and Jim jointly owned—Maiden Stone, the one he’d named after me. He was incredibly proud of himself for naming the ship now because he said it represented our relationship—Made in Stone. The only thing we needed to do now was get to the boat after the wedding, which was anchored in the Sea of Cortez.Alex still held an iron fist at work and with our employees, but this softer side of him led him down some silly romantic roads, so much so that I teased him that if our marriage was made in stone, he should probably take my last name and not the other way around.“You look so goddamn beautiful,” Nat said, walking into the room where I was dressed and fully prepared to walk down that aisle and become Alex’s wife. “You’re never going to believe what that gorgeous young doctor
“It counts for something, right?” he asked. “But I can watch our movie with you a hundred times, Dorothy, with my new heart you’ve insisted the wizard give me. I will gladly watch that movie with you.” He kissed my ring finger. “But only if you put my outward expression of love on your finger.”I sniffed as I started to cry, officially caught up in the moment with the man I loved more than anything, and I felt more solid about marrying him than I felt about anything else in this world.Alex returned to bended knee in front of me. “I humbly ask you to marry me or at least start over and date me until the day comes that you feel confident enough to become my wife.”“What if I told you that I felt confident enough that I would marry you now if I could?” I knelt in front of him.“Well, that would put us all back on the plane and off to Vegas as your birthday evening stop, doing that Titanic experience,” he looked back atAvery’s grin, as she leaned into Jim’s side, “and Elvis handling our
“What the hell are you two doing?” Alex said when he turned, and I laughed softly with the rest of the women who’d found the two men’s humor just as entertaining.“Well, I’m humming the tune for Coll to sing on key,” Jake said, acting extremely serious. “Trust me. It takes a lot to keep Collin at that angelic level. And of all the songs he has to sing, it’s got to be Celine Dion’s song —the one we had to hear when we were forced to sit through the movie so we could learn more about the ship.”“I never told you idiots to watch a movie about this ship,” Alex answered in confusion. “What movie?” He glanced between the two men.“Titanic. Kate Winslet?” Collin stopped singing and answered. “Elena told me that you insisted we watch that three-hour movie.” He looked around Alex and at me. “Speaking of which, I now will add my expert opinion. Leonardo DiCaprio’s character was an absolute idiot, and that’s why he didn’t make it.”“Really? We’re doing this?” Alex said. I could hear him trying t
“Whether she knew they were stealing from her or not,” Alex said.I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard his voice as he finished speaking for Cass. I turned back and stared at his brilliant smile and his lighter expression, looking more handsome than I remembered.“You’re here?” I said, confused and in utter shock that Alex was here and joined by his closest friends.“Well,” he held up a boarding pass and pulled his sunglasses off to read the pass, “according to this, I’m not.”Did he go through this attraction too? Wait, this was Alex’s idea. All of it, and my girlfriends did well in acting like it was theirs.I smiled. “Third class passenger and didn’t get a boat?” I tried to guess.His eyes locked with mine. “No boat and my passenger gave up his life jacket. He was reported to be preaching to the ones who were going down with the ship.” He read the information with a broad grin.“Preaching?” I cocked my head to the side. “What passenger were you who selflessly gave up your li
“We’ll be sure to do that,” Cass said. “Go lay down and sleep this off because when we land, we’re going directly to the attraction we set up for Bree. The rules were to drink, but don’t get drunk, and now look at you?”“God,” Nat rubbed her forehead and meandered through the leather seating where we were in, “you owe me for this, Bree.” She turned back to me. “Trust me, flying to an attraction in Missouri was not my idea of a thirty-something birthday party.”“No,” I smiled, “I know exactly what your plans would’ve been. I’m glad we’re going to Missouri instead.”“Wake me when the wheels are safely on the ground, please,” Nat said.WE’D CONSUMED plenty of food and water to soak up the cocktails we’d enjoyed on our luxurious flight, and after the plane landed in Springfield, Missouri, we loaded up into a party limo that was waiting for us. I should have been drawn to the party lights of this massive SUV, but instead, seeing the lime green grass and how beautiful the countryside was in