Page 110 of Iron Willed Warrior

I took a cigarette, followed by his lighter when he offered it. I lit up, took a drag, and handed the lighter back. “Thank you.”

“Not a problem.”

Then he launched into a story.

“Marie was the girl next door when I was growing up. A few years younger than me, so our paths didn’t cross all that much. But one summer, when I was home on leave, she came knocking on the door in the middle of the night. The military had turned me into a light sleeper, so I made it to the door before my family woke up. Turned out her ex-boyfriend was stalking her. He had just come by her house when her parents were out of town, tried to get inside. She didn’t call the police because she had tried that before, and they hadn’t done anything. Instead, she had remembered the Marine next door.”

I wondered where this story was going. But somehow, I was already hooked. I wanted to know the end of it. Probably because I could imagine how I would’ve reacted if I had been him.

“My Marie was no damsel in distress. She wasn’t looking for a rescuer. She wanted a partner in crime. By the time my leave was over about a week later, I had fallen for her hard and fast. I asked her to marry me six months later. That was forty-five years ago.”

“But what about the stalker ex-boyfriend?”

A grin slowly appeared on his face. “We made sure he never bothered her again. My point is, I do understand how a stressful situation can fuse two people together. But it wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t been right for each other.”

I filled my lungs with smoke, frowning at the desert landscape. “Why are you telling me this, exactly?”

“Because Brynn deserves to find her partner. You know I’m not talking about a partner for one mission. I mean someone who’s in it for the long-haul. If you’re not him, then let her go. She can’t take another heartbreak.”

“If I am?”

“Then you have my enthusiastic blessing.”

We said nothing else as I finished the cigarette. Just as I was stubbing it out, the back door opened, and Brynn stepped outside. She was wearing a new pair of jeans and a sweater.

Stanford and I both started to get up, since there were no free chairs, but she sidled over to me and put a hand on my shoulder. “That’s okay. I’ll sit here with you.” Brynn settled on my lap and gave me a kiss on the forehead.

It was clear she was making a statement to her former boss and mentor. A statement I appreciated. I put my arm around her waist and smiled at her fondly.

A partner in crime. A partner in life. I did like the sound of that.

Stanford cleared his throat. “Brynn, from the moment you resigned to go undercover, I planned to ask you to return to the Bureau when it was finished. I’m beginning to suspect your answer will be no.”

Brynn’s eyes hadn’t left mine. She returned my grin. “Sorry, sir. A very handsome bounty hunter made me a better offer. And I’ve decided to take him up on it.”

Epilogue

Brynn

Cole tuggedat the knot of his tie. “I hate dressing up.”

“And yet you look so darn good doing it.”

I fixed his collar and adjusted the knot, making sure it was just right. My guy was smoking hot in a suit, even if he did seem a bit uncomfortable. “These clothes will be even sexier when they’re in a pile on the floor of this room tonight.”

Cole smirked. “How am I supposed to partner with someone who sees me as a sex object?”

I patted the lapels of his jacket. “I don’t know, but you seem to manage.” I pulled him in for a kiss. It was a bad habit of mine. Whenever Cole was within reach, I had that undeniable urge to kiss him.

He cupped the nape of my neck, pulling back briefly to look down at me. Then he slanted his mouth over mine in earnest. Turning the kiss filthy in a matter of seconds. The silky fabric of my dress was soft on my skin as I pressed up against him.

Reluctantly, I put my palms to his chest and broke away. “Keep going like that, and I’ll have to redo my makeup. Or we’ll end up undressed and back in bed. It’ll be big trouble if the best man misses the ceremony.”

The wicked glint in his eyes said that he was still tempted. But I also knew that Cole wouldn’t miss this wedding for the world. “All right, fine,” he grumbled. “Let’s head downstairs. But I’m taking the tie off for the reception.”

“Okay, grumpy,” I teased. “I’ll take it off for you.”

Grabbing his hand, I dragged him out to the hallway and toward the elevator.

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