“There’s the Chase who makes my knees weak.”
Her smile touched him. “I’m always in there, just
don’t tell. If knowledge like that were ever to get out, it would
ruin my bad boy image.” He leaned close and kissed her. Slipped his
tongue along the same path hers had just taken before delving it
into her mouth. She whimpered and pushed closer. “It will work out;
we’ll figure it out.”
“Are you positive?”
“Absolutely. When are you done with work?”
“Not soon enough,” she said.
He agreed.
Epilogue
Vicki heard the chime of the doorbell. “Can you get
that, Chase?”
“On it,” he called back.
She bent her head to kiss the sole of the tiny foot
on the changing table before her. “He’s on it,” she said to their
daughter. Nitsa Ellery was three months old and an absolute doll.
I suppose most parents think their children are perfect at this
age.
“Like he’s still in the Army. I’m still wondering why you
have his last name instead of mine,” she groused as she fastened
the outfit.
“Because, you will be marrying me,” he said voice
full of confidence. “No point in having to change her name
then.”
“Says the one who had seconds’ worth of work in
creating you,” she said, kissing the other foot.
Nitsa giggled and smiled. She reached out to her
father and Vicki rolled her eyes. “See, I get you all clean and
pretty and you just want him.”
“I’m handsome; she has good taste in men.”
Vicki snorted as he took their daughter into his
strong arms. Once Nitsa had been born, there’d been a change to
Chase she’d not been expecting. He was a pile of mush. There were
times she’d come home from work to find them sound asleep, Nitsa
secure in his arms, or on his chest. No matter how much work he put
in at his job, he never missed spending time with his daughter.
“And don’t think,” he said smacking her on the ass
as she tidied up, “I didn’t hear that comment about seconds. I’m
sure I kept you busy for well over an hour.”
“I was in labor for thirty-two because
your
daughter was being stubborn about coming into the world.”
“She wanted a grand entrance.”
“I wanted her out.” She tossed her hair back and
faced the man she loved more than anything. Nitsa held so safe in
his arms did something to her. “Who was at the door?”
“A box.”
She drew her eyebrows together. “A box was at the
door?”
“Someone dropped it off.”
The cop in her was immediately suspicious. “Any
identifying marks?”
He nuzzled Nitsa’s dark hair. “Like a return
address, Deputy?”
“Smart ass.” She punched him in the shoulder as she
walked by him.
“I like yours, does that count?”
“Bleeding kid…” She braided her hair as she made her
way to the door to find the box that had been delivered.
“I heard that,” he shouted behind her. “And I’ll
have you know, I’m like a full grown teenager now.”
“Doesn’t even deserve a reply,” she muttered to
herself.
The box sat on the coffee table in the living room
and she stood over it, ice coating her heart. The handwriting
familiar enough to recreate the sour taste in her mouth all without
opening it.
“You just going to stare at it?”
Vicki glanced to her left where Chase stood. Nitsa
had a stuffed animal in her arms and the bear’s ear in her mouth as
her father held her.
“Was actually planning on throwing it out.”
“You could just open it and see what it is.” He
neared her and brushed his lips along her temple.
“Burning it is another option.”
“I hear grandkids make people reevaluate a lot of
things. Not saying you need to give them a chance, but it may not
hurt to at least see what they are trying to give you.” He moved
away, cooing to the girl he held.
She reached for her utility belt hanging over the
back of the sofa. “I’ll do it later, I have to get to work or I’ll
be late. You have everything you need?”
There wasn’t any answer so she spun on her heel to
find him dancing with Nitsa, the two of them in their own
world.
“I’m sure we’ll be fine,” he said, stopping to stare
at her.
“If you need anything—”
“Babe, I got this. We’ll be fine and I know Mrs.
Candace will be by at some point, she has been by every day.”
“Nitsa is what she has for a granddaughter right
now. At least until Sarah gives birth.” Vicki reached for her
slicker. The rain outside coming down in heavy sheets.
Chase laughed. “That’s going to be a while. She’s
pretty married to her career.”
“How’s she doing?” Vicki asked while doing one final
mental check to ensure she had everything she’d need.
“Good. Says she’ll be back soon to meet the baby and
bring gifts.”
“I did get a note from her stating she would be
bringing some Marine items so Nitsa didn’t grow up surrounded by
Army.”
Chase shook his finger at her. “Mind your
tongue.”
She held up her hands. “Her words, not mine.”
Patting her once again, flat belly, she approached the two loves in
her life. “I’m out of here. You two be good. There’s dinner for you
in the slow cooker, ribs.”
She pushed up on the toes of her boots and kissed
him before brushing another over her daughter’s cheek. “Love you,
Ni,” she murmured.
At the door Chase’s touch stopped her. She glanced
over her shoulder at him. His eyes held hers as he turned her back
to him. Instinctively seeking her child, Vicki flicked her gaze to
the playpen in the living room. Nitsa lay in there, safe.
“Yes?”
“I have something to ask you before you go.”
Vicki sighed. “I thought we’d gone over this
already, Chase. Living here in your old house is fine. I don’t care
if it’s a singlewide trailer. I have you and I have Nitsa. That’s
what matters. We have a roof over our head and Lord knows a
babysitter right next door. Not to mention any of Mrs. Candace’s
friends. Can we drop it please?” She’d grown weary of this
discussion. “I just didn’t see the point in spending money on rent
when you own this one outright.”
He held her stare until she arched an eyebrow.
“Finished?”
“Yes.”
“Good. That wasn’t what I was going to mention.”
Well, damn.
“Sorry. What?”
“We keep talking about it and even joking about it.”
He reached into his pocket and withdrew a ring. “I’m serious about
making you my wife, Victoria Boshay. You’re the mother of my child,
hopefully the first of many, and I love you. Will you marry
me?”
She alternated between gawking at the ring and his
face. Complete seriousness. The ring was white, gold, silver, or
platinum she didn’t know, nor did she care. It could have been tin
and she wouldn’t have minded.
“Yes,” she uttered, cupping his face and kissing
him. “Damn you for springing this on me right now, Chase Ellery. I
have to leave for work.”
The quirk of his lips informed her he’d known
exactly what he was doing. “Something to keep your mind off your
parents and for you to look forward to celebrating when you get
home.”
“You sure you’ll be awake?”
He cupped the nape of her neck and planted a kiss on
her that nearly had her calling in to work. Her limbs were shaky
when it ended. “Positive,” he promised. “I’ll be in bed, hard, and
naked waiting for you. Go on.”
One final kiss and he slipped the ring on her finger
before flicking away the tears at the corners of her eyes. At the
door, she gazed back at him. He stood there, watching her, love in
his eyes. He may be gruff to others but he loved her without
reservation and their child.
“Love you, Chase,” she called out before slipping
out into a rainy day that didn’t stand a chance of dampening her
mood. She was officially engaged. From where she stood, the future
was looking particularly bright.
Additional Books by Aliyah Burke:
Megalodon Team
Kincade’s Rose
Harrier’s Healer
Connelly’s Flame
Greeley’s Spyce
Vittano’s Willow
Dimitri’s Moon
O’Shea’s Love
Chayton’s Tempest
Haikon
A Love for Lera
Denim &
Spurs
With This Ring
Cottonwood
Falls
Relentless
Fracture
Ravish
Spark
Savor (releasing March 2015)
Intensity (releasing June 2015)
Serial
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 1
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 2
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 3
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 4
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 5
Astral
Guardians
Chasing the Storm
Highlands at Dawn
Interludes
Temporary Home
Alone with You
Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore
In Aeternum
Casanova in Training
Harbour of Refuge
Protected by Shadows
Polar Opposites
Rakes &
Rogues
What the Earl Desires
Her Reluctant Viscount
Her Pirate Rogue
Code of Honour
A Marriage of Convenience
The Lieutenant’s Ex-Wife
A Man Like No Other
When Stars Collide
Born to Fly
Landing in Love
You Save Me
Wild as the Wind
Zulu Spectre
Hearth, Holly, & Honor (3 in 1)
Standalone
Preconception
If You Dare
May You Always
Dutch & Lobo (in In the Trenches
collection)
His Purrfect Mate
Under the Mask
That Fateful Ride
On the High Seas (in What White Boyz Desire
collection)
The Detective’s Lover
Just a Dream
Love Under the Endless African Sky
Add A Little Mistletoe
Something Tangible
Seducing Damian
Through the Fire
Sin is Not a Four Letter Word
Holiday Surprise: Unwrapped
Raw Exposure
Holiday Liaison
The Right to Love
Co-written with Taige
Crenshaw
Talios
Devi
Linc
Saffron
Taber
Ashia
Co-written with McKenna
Jeffries
All the Wright Moves
The Best Thing Yet
Risky Pleasures
Pure Harmony
Irresistible Forces
Seductions Dance
Aliyah Burke is an avid
reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She
loves to hear from her readers and can be reached
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She is married to a career military man.
They are owned by three Borzoi, and a DSH cat. She spends her days
sharing time between work, writing, and dog training.
I hope you enjoyed
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Fracture
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