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“Is this real life or am I dreaming again?”
A crooked grin turned up one side of his addictive mouth. “If you are dreaming, I hope you never wake up.”
“I hope I do. Reality with you has always been so much better than the stuff in my head.” She hurried around the island and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Yeah? Like?” He swiveled on the stool, pulled her between his legs, and kissed from one corner of her mouth to the other.
“Like right now. Feeling your heartbeat. Your skin. You.” Her fingers teased over the short hair at the back of his neck and he shivered. “I love just being near you. It’s comfortable. And now I get to do it all the time.”
“You don’t think you’ll get sick of me?”
“Waking up to your sexy ass will be a hardship, for sure. But I think we can manage.” She rubbed her nose against his and his hands slid down to her butt, squeezing playfully. “So what about your house and all your stuff?”
“I’m renting it out to Sam’s sister, Dani. I’ve given her the option to buy it on contract since she’s had a rough go of it lately. She’s interested and Sam’s helping her out with the legal fees. Shouldn’t take too long to settle.”
Holy crap, he was all in, wasn’t he? “You really do love me. I mean, your life is in Omaha and yet—”
“No, babe.” He shook his head and the affection in his eyes shot like an arrow through her heart. Lovestruck. “My heart’s with you, therefore my life is with you, too. If you’ll have me, that is.”
Would she have him? God. How could she not have him? A tear slid down her cheek and she closed her eyes. There was only one more question to ask.
“What about the Corps? I know how much it means to you. I would never be able to forgive myself if you gave that up for me, too.”
His sigh and the gentle swipe of his thumb across her jaw had her sucking in a shaky breath. Waiting...
“For the record, I’m not giving up anything. I’m gaining everything. And the Corps? Well, I have nine months to figure that out. If I’m honest, I’m not ready to quit.”
Thank God for that. Not that she wanted to think about him deploying again, but she understood one hundred percent why he might want to. “I’ll support whatever decision you make.”
He smiled and squeezed her tight. “I know you will, Je
She sighed against his lips. “How about you get yourself into me? I’m all for supporting that cause.”
He growled as he stood and swept her up into his arms. “Every day. We get to do this every damn day.”
“Is that a promise?” she laughed.
“That’s a promise, sugar.”
Epilogue
One month later...
“You got this, Superman.”
Brody flicked a glance at Je
“Of course. You didn’t think I’d forget, did you?” She licked her lips. Just to taunt him, he was sure of it. As if the hat wasn’t enough.
“Got your Chapstick?”
“Uh huh. Mints, too.” She waggled her eyebrows and nodded toward the door. “You can’t put this off forever, handsome. Shall we?”
He pulled in a deep breath and surveyed the crowded parking lot before them. In the distance, his hometown baseball field sat littered with a mess of players in different colored t-shirts. His was blue. Ernie’s favorite.
“As ready as I’m ever go
“You look really hot in cleats. The pants aren’t bad either.”
Such a damn tease. “If you’re trying to distract me, you’re doing a fine job.”
“That’s what I’m here for, babe.” She looped her arm through his and they made their way to the main field. There had to be a couple hundred people in the stands already and, between the half dozen teams ready to square off against each other, half that many on the fields, warming up. “Impressive turn-out.”
With any luck, there’d be more. Lots more.
“Oh, I see your mom. She’s waving us over. Oh, God, she has one of those foam fingers.”
Uh, yeah... “She get’s a little excited about baseball.”
“So do I. I’m a screamer.”
He flashed a grin. “You’re telling me?”
“Oh!” She gave him a lighthearted shove as Sam jogged over, decked out in the same blue t-shirt and gear.
“Hey, mama. Looking good.” He wrapped Je
Fucker. “Why the hell would I do that?”
Sam rolled his eyes. “Have you checked in with the Martins yet?”
“Nah, we just got here.”
“Might as well get it over with. The missus is a ball of emotions today, so be warned.”
Great. Like he needed more emotions. He’d been a nervous wreck since Ernie Sr. had called to invite him. Longest three weeks of his life. “Yeah, I’ll do that. Babe?”
Je
Fu
They just...fit. Two imperfect people who were absolutely perfect for each other.
“Love you,” she told him as they approached the registration table and the mass of Martin family members, who’d gathered to greet and express gratitude to all the players and teams.
“Love you, too. Thanks again for doing this with me.”
“Psshh. You think I’d miss seeing you in action? I told you baseball turns me on.”
He snorted. “Babe, everything turns you on.”
Making a goofy duck-face, she nodded. “True story.”
To that he laughed, because somehow he got to be the lucky guy on the receiving end of that never-ending sexual energy. Nothing to complain about there.
“Brody!” Mrs. Martin spotted him first and, when his footsteps faltered, Je
Ernie Sr. pushed to his feet, gri
Son. Goddamn. Brody offered his hand, swallowing hard. “Sir.”
The older man chuckled and came around the table. Instead of shaking hands, he slung his arm around Brody’s shoulders and turned him toward the swarm of multi-colored t-shirts standing in line. “You see this guy here?”
Oh, shit.
“Could’ve been in the big leagues and today...” The man’s voice boomed proud and Brody gri
Mrs. Martin swiped at her tears, Je
“Damn proud to be a part of this, sir.” He clapped the older man on the back and, for the first time in too damn long, looked him in the eye. “But you know Ernie would be pissed, right?”
The older Martin chuckled. “Yeah, I know. But it’s his tournament in name alone. The rest of it belongs to the vets who were lucky enough to come home at all. Broken, but alive.”
Brody bowed his head. “Thank you, sir.”
“No, Corporal, thank you.”
***
“Seven home runs. I can’t believe you pulled that off.” Je