Page 8 of SEAL Ever After

“I know, I know,” she said. “Driving back to Norfolk once a week isn’t something I plan to do forever. But this way I can check on my place and keep seeing a couple of patients there.” She shrugged. “It works for me.”

“What if you moved all your stuff in here?” he asked, his voice deep as he looked down at her.

“Then I’d live here with you for real.”

“That you would. You’re here almost all the time anyway—I want it to be every night.”

Sarah smiled, feeling somewhat giddy at making things official. “But you own your house. What if we broke up eventually or something? Or if I decided I needed a few burly SEALs to make me happy? Then I’d move out and wouldn’t have anything.”

“You wouldn’t be moving out,” he growled. “Besides, I wouldn’t let another man have what’s mine.”

He reached out and took her steaming cup of coffee, setting it beside her on the counter. Then he stepped closer, crowding her, so that her breathing hitched as she looked up into his gray eyes. “I want you here all the time, Sarah,” he said, reaching out and caressing her cheek. The rough pads of his fingers sent shivers racing down her spine. Those hands had explored every square inch of her body last night, and her skin heated just remembering it. “I want you here in the morning and here at night and all the other times in between.”

“Well, I do have to work some of the time,” she teased.

“Damn it, woman,” he muttered. “I’m trying to ask you something here.”

She reached up and lightly ran her hand over his chest, loving the feel of his muscles beneath her fingers. “Well, I do like your swimming pool, and the way you buy vegetarian food for me even though you grumble and complain about it….”

“I don’t want you to just move in, baby girl. I was waiting for the right moment, but hell. This has been sitting in my nightstand for a month, and there’s no time like the present. When I got up this morning, I knew it was today.”

She gasped as Ryan suddenly knelt down, folding his large body before her, and pulled a small box from his pocket.

“Oh my God,” she whispered. “Is that…?”

Her voice trailed off, and Ryan’s lips quirked. “It is. Holy hell, Sarah, I never thought I’d see you speechless.”

“There’s a first time for everything,” she said, feeling slightly faint.

“Sarah Foster,” he said, taking her hand in his, “I know this isn’t a fancy romantic dinner or weekend away, but hell. I don’t want to wait any longer. I want you to make me the happiest man in the world because I can’t imagine living life without you. Will you marry me?”

“Ryan,” she whispered, tears smarting her eyes. “It’s gorgeous.”

Ryan’s eyes filled with warmth, and he slid the ring on her finger, holding her trembling hand in his. “Don’t worry, it’s ethically sourced.”

She let out a shaky laugh, tears rolling down her cheeks. “You know me too well,” she whispered as Ryan stood up and thoroughly kissed her.

“So that’s a yes?” he asked, cocking a brow.

“It’s a yes,” she said, grinning up at him.

“Well thank God,” he muttered. “Nothing like making a man sweat it out. I’ve led men into battle, but that was the damn scariest thing I’ve ever done.”

Sarah giggled, playfully swatting at him. Ryan glanced at the clock on his stove, and then slowly began to untie her robe, moving even closer. “How hungry are you anyway? I don’t have to leave for base for an hour,” he said, planting kisses across her bare skin. The scent of his woodsy soap and aftershave filled her senses, and she trembled slightly as he kissed her again. “I can think of better ways to spend my time than eating breakfast.”

Her robe fell to the floor, and he growled in approval, caressing her bare skin.

“I can eat later,” she murmured, watching as his large hands slid over her breasts.

“I love seeing you naked, with nothing but my ring on your finger,” Ryan said huskily.

Ryan’s hot lips were on hers in the next instant, and he carried her down the hallway to his bedroom and made love to her until she was nearly late to her first appointment.

Chapter 4

Ryan strode into the bullpen on base, adrenaline pumping through him. He wanted to shout out to the world that Sarah and he were engaged. But although he was thrilled that she’d agreed to be his wife, he wanted to tell Patrick first when they were alone. Although Sarah’s brother was his subordinate, he respected the man. No sense in shocking the hell out of him by announcing it to the entire team.

And this sure as hell wasn’t the right time anyway.

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