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  “And Hunter left after hearing that? Unbelievable. What an asshole.”

  Judy jerked her hand back. “He’s coming back.”

  “Right,” she said in a huff. “Where is the note?”

  “I tossed it,” Gerry said with a questioning tone. “Honey, what’s going on?”

  “Nothing.”

  Only everything.

  A tear rolled down her cheek.

  “Something has your feathers in a tailspin.” Gerry pulled out a chair. “Sit down and tell us what happened.”

  She sucked in a deep breath and leaned against the counter, wiping her face. This was not something she could do sitting down.

  “I don’t think I should be here when he comes back.”

  “Why do you say that?” Gerry asked. “Did you get into a fight?”

  No. We made love and he doesn’t love me, so he bolted.

  “Not a fight so much, but I don’t belong here with him right now. I’m sure he sent me a text message or something asking me to leave before he gets back.”

  “I don’t think my son would do that,” Gerry said defensively.

  She wanted to lay into him about how no one knew Hunter anymore. “He needs time to be with you and his mom. He doesn’t need me.”

  “What about Louisa?” Judy asked with a furrowed brow. “She would be so said if you left.”

  “I’ll be back to visit, but I’m going to move back into my apartment.”

  The room filled with a deafening silence. When Hunter had left the last time, he’d given her an ultimatum. He told her if she didn’t come with him, he would never return for her, ever.

  He up and left the next day, never looking back.

  Maybe he’d be back for his mom, but if he wanted her here, he would have woken her up and told her, or left a note, or at worse, sent her a text.

  “I’m going to go visit with Louisa and then I’m going to pack my things.” She straightened her spine and sucked in her pride.

  Maybe getting over him would be easier the second time.

  ***

  Hunter tossed his suitcase in the back of Ace’s Jeep. “Thanks for picking me up.”

  “No problem. Nice jet.”

  “I prefer the metal seats in the back a C-130.”

  “I doubt that.” Ace pulled out of the airport, heading toward the Marina. “How’s your mom?”

  “Not well at all.”

  “So, why are you here instead of being with her?”

  “I need to get the ring,” he said, tripping on the last word. He’d woken up around three in the morning with Claire in his arms, her hair pooled over his chest. The golden locks glistening in the moonlight. His heart had been beating out of control and all he could think about was spending the rest his life trying to make up for the past and give her everything she wanted and needed.

  “What ring?”

  “My mother’s ring.” Hunter rubbed his shaky hand over his thigh.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t follow.”

  Hunter stared out the window at the intercoastal waterway. He’d give up his boat and the Air Force to be with Claire. He could be a firefighter anywhere and he wanted to be where she was. “My mother, in an attempt to get me to come home years ago, sent me her engagement ring and told me how crushed Claire had been when I left.”

  “So, your mom wants the ring?”

  “No. It’s not for my mom. It’s for Claire.” The bubble of fear he’d been feeling blossomed into a blooming flower.

  “Why does your mom want her to have it?”

  “For a married man, you’re clueless.”

  Ace turned into the marina parking lot, glancing in his direction.

  He smiled. “I’m going to ask Claire to marry me.”

  Ace let up on the clutch while still in gear, lurching the car forward. “Well, why are you sitting here? Get your ass in gear and I’ll drive you back to the airport.”

  Hunter didn’t waste any time, snagging his suitcase and racing down the dock like a lunatic. He didn’t know when he’d come back, so he needed to pack more clothes. He’d been given leave for as long as he needed. Tears welled in his eyes. His mother wouldn’t last long. Maybe a week, but hopefully she’d get to see her ring on Claire’s finger.

  Once on the boat, he went straight to the safe. The hole in his heart slowly mended, but a prickle of fear that she'd say no troubled him deeply. He also had to make it clear that this wasn’t for his mother, and even though he was rushing it, he knew without a doubt that he loved Claire and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

  He pulled out the pouch. He didn’t even want to look at it until he could ask Claire. He stuffed it in his front pocket. As quickly as he could, he packed his larger suitcase and made a beeline to Ace’s car.

  The entire ride to the airport, and subsequent flight, his heart fluttered and his palms grew sweaty. His mind fast-forwarded to what he thought a life with her would be like.

  When the limo pulled into the driveway of his mother’s house, the gravity of what he was about to do sucker punched his ability to move. He sat in the back of the car feeling slightly nauseous and a crushing pain slammed into his chest. For the last ten hours, he’d focused on the future and hadn’t given a single thought as to how he would propose.

  “I need to go to a florist right away.” he told the driver.

  Chapter 10

  Claire stepped from the front door just as the limo pulled in. Gerry had told her that Hunter was on his way back and she just wanted to set the record straight. But she wasn’t going to get the chance because the limo backed up and drove away.

  Hurt quickly turned to anger. She walked back into the house and slammed the door, rattling the painting on the wall.

  “Claire,” Judy said from the sitting room, tipping her head and glaring at her over her cheaters as she continued her knitting. “That was totally uncalled for.”

  Claire no longer cared what his family thought. “Hunter took one look at me and turned around and left.” She pulled her phone from her back pocket and pulled up his contact information.

  “I doubt that, dear.”

  “Well, that’s what he did.” She started to send a nasty text, but then decided he wasn’t worth it if he couldn’t even get out of the car and face her.

  “What happened between the two of you?” Judy set her yarn on her lap.

  “We found out the hard way that we aren’t a good fit.”

  “Oh,” Judy said, setting her glasses down. “I see.”

  “It doesn’t matter and honestly, I think this actually gives us closure.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “I’m going to get my things and head to my apartment.”

  “Wait until after dinner. Hunter’s sister and brother will be here. I’m sure they will want to see you.”

  Both Emily and Nick had been supportive of Claire over the years, but she didn’t need to be around them tonight. “It’s really best if I go. It should just be immediate family right now.”

  “You’re immediate family,” Gerry said as he waltzed into the room.

  “No. I’m not.”

  He rested his hand on her shoulder. “I really don’t know happened, but I just got off the phone with Hunter. I told him you thought he wanted—”

  “Mr. Thompson, why would you say that?” She screeched.

  “Because I don’t understand why you’re so upset.” He arched a brow. “He said he’s sending the car back for you.”

  “Why?” She looked at her phone and saw that Hunter had texted her twice and called three times. She pulled up the messages.

  We need to talk. Sending car back for you.

  Are you there? I’ve called and called. This is important.

  “I don’t know why, but the car is here,” Gerry said.

  She swallowed, looking out the window at the stretch limo. The driver stood outside, his hand on the side door.

  “Go,” Judy said waving her hand. “Whatever it is, don’t you think you
owe it to yourself to find out?”

  “All right,” she heard herself say.

  She took slow tentative steps toward the vehicle. The driver opened the door and she slipped inside, half wishing Hunter was inside so she could just get this over with and leave. “Where are we going?”

  “I’ve been asked to take you to the club.”

  “The Club? Why?”

  “That’s just what I was told.”

  She leaned back, folding her arms over her chest. Nothing made sense anymore. She wanted to go back to when she’d been given the choice to leave him on his boat. He said he would have come anyway, so that first night wouldn’t have happened, and neither would have last night.

  The ride to the club took all of ten minutes. She was greeted by a young bag boy in a golf cart.

  “Mr. Jackson is waiting on the ninth green.”

  “Why?” She stared at the young boy who had the stupidest grin plastered on his face.

  “I’m not at liberty to say.”

  As they rode across the golf course, the golfers stepped to the side, pointing and waving. They rolled down the eighth fairway and all she could think about was their first kiss, right there on the ninth green.

  Her heart hammered against her chest. Through the trees, she saw Hunter, standing at that very spot, roses in hand.

  “Turn this sucker around,” she whispered. The last time Hunter had given her roses was the first night they’d slept together. He hadn’t done it since, saying that roses were only for the most special of occasions and then teased her that she wouldn’t be getting them from him again unless he were to propose to her.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yes. No. I don’t know,” she muttered. No way could he be asking her that. Maybe he was just going to apologize for being an asshole. She could deal with that.

  The kid pulled the cart up next to Hunter. The flowers in his hands shook.

  “You made it,” he said, holding out his hand.

  She didn’t take it. “What do you want Hunter?” Mentally, she beat the crap out of herself. Being a bitch wasn’t going to help the situation.

  “Do you remember what happened here?” he asked. His voice had a funny tone to it.

  “Our first kiss.”

  “That was mind-blowing.”

  “I suppose,” she said, pinching herself, trying to change her attitude. He was making an effort. The least she could do was meet him halfway.

  “Are you mad at me?”

  “Ya, think?”

  He scowled. “Whatever I did to upset you, I’m very sorry.”

  “You left without saying good-bye and went back to Florida.”

  “For an hour to get some—”

  She held up her hand, painfully away that a crowd of golfers had gathered in the distance. “You didn’t wake me to tell me or leave me a note or even bothered to text me. Considering our past history, what was I to think?”

  “I left a note.” He pinched his nose. “I said I’d be back.”

  “It felt like you snuck out after last night. I don’t mind being used like that considering everything you’re going through. I mean I offered myself up to you, but you could have done the decent thing and—”

  He cupped her mouth.

  She batted it away. “Don’t hush me.” She wasn’t about to be quiet now. He hasn’t really apologized for anything and didn’t even understand why she was upset.

  “You’re yelling on a golf course and people are starting to stare.”

  “You brought me here.” She planted her hands on her hips.

  “This isn’t going as I planned.” He scratched the side of his face. “Here. These are for you.” He held out the roses, which trembled in his hands.

  “Why are we here?” She took the roses, lifting them to her nose and inhaling the fresh scent.

  “I had this whole thing planned to ask if you remembered our first kiss and the first time we...” He glanced around and his cheeks flushed red.

  She’d never seen him blush before. Ever.

  “I remember the first time vividly,” she said. Her throat dried up and she could barely swallow.

  “I gave you roses.”

  She nodded.

  “Do you remember what I said about roses?”

  “Oh, my, God. You can’t be serious?” She reached out and clutched the nearest tree. “This is all just for show, right? For your mom, right? Give a dying woman her wish?”

  “No.”

  “No?”

  “I love you Claire. I always have. I’m sorry that me racing off to get my mother’s ring hurt you—”

  “Ring?” She dropped the flowers. Her muscles felt like jelly. “Why do you have your mother’s ring? What kind of ring?”

  “An engagement ring and she sent it to me years ago. I don’t know why I kept it. I thought about sending it back to her, but never did.”

  “This isn’t happening,” she whispered, staring into his smoldering eyes.

  “Do you love me back, Claire.”

  Without thinking, she nodded.

  He lowered himself to one knee.

  She clutched her necklace, staring down at him, holding out a diamond—a huge diamond ring.

  “The second you stepped onto my boat, I couldn’t deny any more how much I missed you. I’m not going to give you any kind of ultimatum. I can be a firefighter anywhere. It doesn’t have to be in the Air Force.”

  “You can’t give that up for me.”

  “I can and I will, if you shoot me down today.” He took her hand and dropped his forehead to it. “Which I hope you don’t, but I will stick it out and fight for us this time.”

  “You’re really asking me to marry you?” A wide smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Her heart fluttered and she felt like she was floating on air.

  “Yes.”

  “That’s my line,” she said.

  He slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her hand. “Is that a yes.”

  “Can I think about it?”

  He stood, taking her into his strong, protective arms. “You’re killing me here.”

  “I love you Hunter Jackson and I’m never going to let you go.” She pressed her lips against his, listening to the cheers in the background.

  “I love you,” he whispered in ear. “I have one more thing to ask you.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Can we get married right away. I know you probably want the white dress, big wedding—”

  “We can get a marriage license tomorrow and since this is because you want your mother there, I’m sure she’d let us have a small ceremony at the house.”

  A golfer in the distance yelled four.

  They climbed up on the back of the golf cart. “I’m not letting you leave the Air Force.”

  “Well, I can’t leave right away. I’ve got two years left, but I don’t know if I’d re-enlist. It’s a hard life for a family.”

  She bit down on her lower lip. “We were careless last night.”

  He shrugged. “We’re not getting any younger.”

  Epilogue

  Two years later…

  Hunter pushed back the garage door to a modest home he and Claire had bought not far from the base. He’d made the decision to stay with the Air Force, but he would leave his current team and become an instructor, that way they could stay in one place and his deployments would be minimal, especially now that they had little Annabelle Louisa. His heart physically hurt just thinking about leaving her for any length of time.

  Being a work during the day was hard enough.

  “I hear Daddy,” Claire cooed.

  “Da Da,” Annabelle screamed as she wobbled down the hallway, her hands flapping in the air. At fifteen months, she was an inquisitive ball of energy.

  “How’s my baby girl?” He bent over and scooped her into his arms, brushing away her long blonde locks, just like her mother.

  “Good.” She cupped his face with her pudgy little hands and purse
d her lips. “Mommy had bad day.”

  “Oh no, what’s happened?” Claire had made the decision to create her own foundation to help create safe environments for woman and children who suffered abuse. This had had been a huge undertaking, but the millions of dollars they had between both families wasn’t doing anyone any good sitting in some stock or bond.

  “Mommy sick!”

  “Then we best get inside and help her out tonight.” He set Annabelle down, who went running off into the family room, bouncing twice off the walls, giggling all the way. She jumped on the sofa where Claire had stretched out her legs.

  “Hey babe, what’s going on?”

  “Not dinner,” she said with a weak smile.

  “I think I can handle that. Did you have something in mind?”

  “I took out chicken, but when I was preparing it, I barfed.”

  “Stay away from me. Last thing I need is the stomach bug.”

  “You can’t get this kind of ailment,” she said, shifting to a sitting position. “Annabelle, will you go get Mommy the crackers.”

  “All sicknesses are contagious.” He sat down next the woman that would forever rock his world, pressing the back of his on her cheek, but she didn’t feel warm.

  “Morning sickness is not contagious.”

  “Ha Ha. It’s evening and…no.” He dropped his hand to his thigh. “You’re pregnant?”

  She nodded. “I took the test this morning when the smell of coffee made me want to puke my guts out.”

  “We’re going to have another kid?” He pointed to Annabelle, who handed Claire a sleeve of saltines. “Two of those little things?”

  Annabelle jumped up on his lap. “What little things, Da Da?”

  “Mommy’s going to have a baby.” Tears stung the corner of his eyes.

  “Yay!.” She kissed his lips before jumping down and running off toward her toys in the middle of the room. The kid couldn’t sit still for a second.

  He looped his arm around Claire, pulling her close. “I’m sorry our babies make you sick.”

  “It’s only for a few months,” she said smiling. “I’m more concerned about how you’re going to be when she starts dating.”