Page 60 of Wicked Obsession

“I made two mistakes,” he corrected and grinned ruefully. “I won’t make a third. I promisethat I love you with all that I am. Take a chance on me. Take a chance onus.”

Langley paused. She could play it safe, turn him down, and spend the rest of her days regretting it or she could take the risk. Her parents had raised her to embrace life, to go for broke when she felt strongly, and she loved Ryder. There was nothing she wanted more than the future he’d described. She took a leap of faith.

“Oh, you’ll make a third mistake and a fourth and more, but I’ll make mistakes, too. We’re both human. We’ll argue, we’ll work things out, and we’ll go forward. I love you, Ryder.”

“Thank God.” He looked and sounded relieved. “Does this mean you’re going to marry me?”

“I haven’t been asked.”

He grinned again, joy radiating from his face. “If that’s what it takes to get you forever, I can do that.” Ryder dropped to one knee next to her hospital bed. “I love you, hellcat. Will you marry me?”

Returning his smile, Langley laced her fingers with his and simply said, “Yes.”

Epilogue

Six Months Later

Ryder touchedthe back of his wedding ring with his thumb and lightly stroked it. The weight felt foreign, but it had been a matter of hours since Langley had slipped it on his finger. They’d gotten married outdoors at sunset, and although it was dark now, the ambassador’s Palm Beach estate, especially the exterior, was lit up like Times Square. And filled with about the same amount of people.

In a minute or two, he’d have to go back to mingling, but Ryder needed a break. He thought he was well-hidden in the shadows of an outdoor pavilion, but Griff found him anyway.

“There are too many people,” his buddy groused.

“I know.” Ryder estimated there were eight hundred guests. Coming home from a mission and immediately being surrounded by this enormous crowd made him edgy, and he’d needed to keep his focus on Langley to make it through the ceremony.

“How long do you think we can hide?”

Ryder shrugged. “You can get away with it longer than I can.”

“True, but—"

Stony arrived and gave Griff a hard stare. “Teammates are supposed to have each other’s backs, asshole.”

“I am looking out for you, dude. You have a hot blonde who wants you for a no-strings-attached fuck. I didn’t want to get in the way.”

Rowland clearly didn’t buy the innocent act. “You know I’m not interested in her.”

“No, you’re interested in throwing your career away on some chick you met in Puerto Jardin.” Griff had a whole lot of Boston in his voice when he said that.

Ryder shifted, trying to determine if he needed to play peacemaker, but Stony went chill. “I made the decision to leave the Army before I ever saw her.”

“It was a damn stupid decision and now you’re making another one.”

“Griff has a point,” Ryder interjected. “You’re going to turn up on the doorstep of a woman who didn’t tell you where she lives and believes you’re a gunrunner. That’s not the smartest idea you’ve ever had.”

“She’ll call the cops,” Griff added.

“No, she’ll shoot me herself.” Rowland’s lips curved.

“For fuck’s—”

“Ryder,” his mother called as she approached and they went silent. When she reached his side, she said, “You need to cut in.”

He turned his attention to the dance floor. If he’d been asked, Ryder would have wagered that the orchestra hired for the reception wouldn’t know a polka, but they were playingRoll Out the Barreland it wasn’t only his family out there hopping around. “Cut in on who, Ma?” he asked.

“Your father’s dancing with Langley. She’s going to overdo it.”

Ryder searched until he spotted his bride. She’d gotten rid of the veil between the ceremony and the reception, but he found her as soon as the dancers parted. “Dad’s going half speed. She’ll be fine.”

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