Jace, page 3
At least Grumpy Granny doesn’t live there.
“Stay. Please.” He holds up the banana smoothie in offering.
JACE
My hand might freeze around the smoothie as I keep holding it out so long, waiting for Zoey to change her mind. I know the deployment is a lot to take in. The fact that I’m leaving in two weeks is even worse. If she only knew how dangerous this mission really is… well, then asking her to stay isn’t fair at all.
“I see my future with you, Zoey.”
A ghost of a smile crosses her lips, and I think that she might leap into my arms. She’s unexpected like that, and it’s one of the things I love about her most. I decide in a blink to go all in. “I know it’s crazy, but I want to marry you.”
“Ma—marry me?”
“Yes.” Now that the words are out, I’m not taking them back. No matter how insane they sound. We’ve known each other for less than a full day. But the connection between us is stronger than I’ve ever felt with anyone. Ten times stronger than it was with the woman I thought I was going to marry. The risk of losing Zoey has made that clearer to me than ever.
“I need some time, Jace.”
Time is something I don’t have. This deployment isn’t like a normal one where the Army has known for months that it’s coming, giving soldiers ample time to prepare. This one sprang up out of a desperate need in a dangerous place. Everything is rushed.
“Please,” she pleads.
I want to wrap her in my arms, keep her tight in my embrace, until I’m forced to get on a plane and leave. But instead, I settle for the one thing that doesn’t feel like too much to ask. “Can I have one last kiss?”
I know when she walks out that door that I might never see her again, so I’m going to give her a kiss that makes her toes curl and spins her world on its side. One that neither of us will forget.
“Okay.”
I draw her into my arms, loving the sight of her in nothing but my T-shirt. It’s almost impossible not slide my hand between her legs, but I fight the urge. Zoey means more to me than sex. I want her in my life—all of it. But she has to decide that she’s okay with this. I still have five more years in service, and I know it’s asking a lot of her to come along for that ride.
She moans against my lips as I do my best to make this one the most memorable of all. Then, I do the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I drop my hands to my side and step away. “Let me get you a pair of sweatpants. I think we’ve scandalized enough people for one weekend.”
“I care about you, Jace,” she says. “A lot.”
I have to rip away my gaze to keep me from doing something rash. Zoey needs time, and I’m going to give it to her. No matter how much that sucks for me. “Let’s get you home.”
6
ZOEY
It’s been a week since Jace dropped me off at my apartment, and I watched him drive away. It’s been a whole damn week, and I’m still mopey as hell. Even my coworkers have asked me what’s wrong. I don’t even like them that much—cubicle life in a job I don’t particularly love—but they’re used to a bubbly, annoying Zoey. Not this zombie who’s plagued the office.
I wish I could call Sara for advice, but she’s on her honeymoon. I wouldn’t disturb her for anything. And I feel too guilty to bother the lovestruck Makayla. I don’t want to dampen either one of their happiness.
I kick off my shoes the moment I’m home from work, eager to pass the time with Netflix and a bag of white cheddar Cheeto puffs. But my mind circles around the sexy soldier who made me feel erotic and naughty—and loved.
“Maybe I just got too caught up in this future husband business,” I say to my houseplant, Hector, wishing Hector were a dog I could snuggle. I need a good snuggle. “Or maybe he’s the one and I’m just an idiot.”
A knock at the door shakes me from my gloomy thoughts. I wish every day Jace would knock on my door and demand I give us the chance to make this work. I’m so fragile right now that I know he could convince me with little effort. It’s what I want, but I’m afraid. Too afraid to pick up the phone and call him.
I’d marry him tomorrow. So why can’t I pick up the damn phone?
“Zoey, put down the Cheeto puffs.” Makayla takes the bag from my hands the second the door swings open.
“Hey! Give those back.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re getting dressed.”
“I just got undressed.” I wiggle a pajama clad leg at her, showcasing my purple polka dotted pants.
Makayla drags me by the arm into the bedroom. I drop onto the bed as she starts shuffling through my closet. I don’t quite understand what’s going on. It’s a Monday—a weird day for a girls’ night out. “Here,” she tosses a pink dress my way. “Put this on. I’ll touch up your hair and makeup.”
“What’s happening?”
She claps at me. “Less talking, more doing.”
“Fine.” The dress is a little bright, even for a night out on the town. But the Zoey from a week ago would’ve worn it with pride. That Zoey would’ve strutted right past Grumpy Granny with a sweet smile on her face and a cute little wave.
“Where’s your makeup?” Makayla demands.
“I threw it away.”
Makayla pokes her head around the bathroom doorjamb. “Tell me you’re joking.”
I flash her a cheesy, bratty smile. “It’s in the bottom drawer, because I don’t need it anymore. Makeup is dumb.”
Marching back into the room with my makeup bag cradled in one arm, Makayla levels me with a look. “Whatever you’ve done with Zoey, bring her back or I swear I’ll make you look like a 1980’s train wreck.”
“You wouldn’t!”
“Try me.”
I let out a sigh of defeat. It’s no use. Whatever Makayla is up to, I just have to go along with it. “Will you at least tell me where we’re going?”
As she pulls the hairbrush through my tangled curls, she says, “There’s a pre-deployment ceremony in two hours. We’re going.”
My heart constricts in my chest. I’m not ready to see Jace yet. I’m not ready to talk to him. “I can’t go.”
“He leaves in three days, Zoey. You’re almost out of time.”
I want to ask how she knows any of this, but I can guess that Griffin—the Army soldier Makayla snuck out with at the wedding—and Jace have talked since that wedding. “How are things between you and Griffin?” I ask, hoping to change the subject.
“I want you and Jace to have the same happiness,” she says. “I mean it.”
“I’m scared.”
“Me too,” Makayla admits. “I know Griffin will have to go overseas at some point too, and it terrifies me. But you can’t stop living your life based on fear, Zoey. Your brother wouldn’t want you to turn down happiness because of it.”
I sigh heavily, because I know she’s right.
“You love him?”
“I do. He’s my future husband, you know.”
“There’s the Zoey we all know and love.” Makayla gives me a squeeze. “Just make sure you tell him, or I will.”
“Okay, let’s do this thing.”
JACE
I can’t believe my eyes when I see the bright pink dress in the front row. I’m supposed to be standing at attention with my eyes straight ahead until given the at ease command. But I couldn’t miss that dress with my eyes closed.
Zoey’s here.
Waiting to hear from her has been hell. I had myself convinced more than once that she would simply disappear from my life, never to be seen or heard from again. I was ready to swear off love for good. But she’s here. That has to be a good sign.
“At ease,” my commander calls. I’m able to rest my rigid posture just a little with my hands behind my back. I let my gaze fall on the beauty in the front row. That dress would scandalize her number one fan from the wedding. I almost bust out laughing in formation. That wouldn’t go over well for the ceremony.
She flashes me a wicked smile and wriggles her eyebrows, and suddenly I know everything is going to be okay.
The ceremony ends half an hour later, and we’re finally allowed to mingle with the crowd. I have little trouble finding Zoey.
“Wow, you look good enough to eat in that uniform, soldier,” Zoey says to me. The saucy edge to her voice makes me want to pull her away from the crowd and find somewhere private—but not too private. The risk of getting caught seems to turn us both on.
“You came.”
“I wasn’t going to,” she admits, and my heart drops a notch. “But it was only because I was scared, Jace. My brother was killed in combat a few years ago, and I’m afraid you might get hurt over there. I’m afraid you might not come back. It’s terrifying to think I could lose someone so wonderful after I just found you.”
“I’m not going to lie to you, Zoey. It’s a dangerous assignment. I can’t promise I’ll make it back, but I can promise I’ll do everything in my power to return to you. I meant what I said. I want to marry you.”
“I want to marry you, too.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. How does tomorrow sound?”
I pinch myself, convinced this has to be a dream. I’m sure I had a very similar one just like it this week. But I feel the pain immediately.
“It’s no dream, soldier.” She throws herself into my arms, dragging my head down for a kiss that just might get me in trouble. If we only have three days before I leave, I want to make every single one of them count. I’ll kiss her every chance I get.
“Get a room you two,” Dawson, one of my Army buddies coming with me on the deployment, teases.
“Not really our thing,” Zoey tells him, and I kiss her again. My future wife is absolutely perfect.
“I love you, Zoey.”
“I love you, too.”
EPILOGUE
ZOEY
Six months has been a really long time to be without Jace. Some days I’ve cried all day, consumed by worry because he wasn’t able to call. His mission was dangerous, and he could never tell me much. I did my best to stay strong, but it wasn’t always easy.
“He still doesn’t know?” Sara asks me. She’s latched onto one arm, Makayla the other. In unison, we all look down at my growing baby bump.
“It’s the hardest damn surprise I’ve ever had to keep.” I’m still a little scared Jace’ll be upset I didn’t tell him he’s going to be a daddy. But I thought surprising him would be more exciting. I’m about to find out.
“He’s going to be so happy,” Makayla reassures me.
“I sure hope so.” I haven’t found out what we’re having yet. I thought I’d save that experience for the two of us to share. But no matter if it’s a boy or girl, I’m thrilled to start a family with the man I love. Marrying Jace was the best decision I ever made.
“Here they come!”
I hold up a welcome home sign, hiding my belly. Because in this bright yellow dress, it’s no secret at all. But I almost drop the damn thing when Jace steps off the bus. He’s the sexiest in his uniform. It reminds me of the time we snuck off after his deployment ceremony. I gave him a blowjob in his truck, knowing that at any moment someone might walk by and see us.
Tears are streaming down my cheeks when he approaches. The sign falls away—like it was barely holding on anyway—and his gaze immediately drops to my bulging belly.
“Am I—I’m going to be—”
“You’re going to be a daddy!”
He wraps me in his arms, kissing me with all the longing we’ve saved up for each other over the past six months. We dance in a circle, unable to stop. I could kiss this man forever.
His hungry lips find my neck.
“You’re not mad?” I ask, still a little worried he might be. It was a whopping secret to keep, but I didn’t want to give him anything extra to worry about during his critical mission.
“No, I’m not mad. I’m going to be a dad!” He hugs me again, then steps back. “Wait, boy or girl?”
“We have an appointment in an hour to find out.”
He nibbles my ear, saying quietly so only I can hear, “I’m going to fuck you in the doctor’s office.”
I bite my bottom lip. I’m hornier for my husband than I’ve ever been in my life. “Maybe the elevator too?”
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The complete
ALPHA COMPANY RENEGADES
Series
Book 1 - BECKETT - Beckett & Sara
Book 2 - GRIFFIN - Griffin & Makayla
Book 3 - JACE - Jace & Zoey
Book 4 - DAWSON - Dawson & Tori
Book 5 - NASH - Nash & Maddie
Book 6 - CARTER - Carter & April
Book 7 - PIERCE - Pierce & Breea
Book 8 - LANDON - Landon & Darci
Book 9 - MILES - Miles & Kimberly
Book 10- ARCHER - Archer & Libby
Book 11 - SAWYER - Sawyer & Blaire
Book 12 - BENSON - Benson & Ivy
Book 13 - KANE - Kane & Audra
Book 14 - FORD - Ford & Tara
SNEAK PEEK DAWSON
SNEAK PEEK OF DAWSON
Alpha Company Renegades #4
Chapter 1
TORI
“Jasper, stop licking the wall!” I let out an exasperated sigh, because as much as I love this adorable husky-lab-shepherd mix ball of fur, it’s the third time I’ve uttered those words in the last two hours.
With the most adorable guilty expression, ears tucked low, Jasper backs away from the wall and trots over to me.
To say I love working at the animal shelter is an understatement. I love dogs even more. They’re loyal, loving, and cute even when they’re being ornery. I’ve never met a man who met all those qualifications.
“You got it under control?” Maddie pokes her head in around the cracked door, careful to keep her body braced so Marley and Shadow don’t escape. They’re notorious for trying to bust out. “I’m running to lunch.”
I wave the cordless phone above my head, catching not just Jasper’s attention, but two other dogs as well. We’re in the doggy recess room, and the three who aren’t trying to play escape artists think I have a ball. Or maybe a treat. I’ve caught Boomer—a black lab mix—licking the phone on two separate occasions. “I can handle it.”
“I’ll be back in an hour.” She lingers in the doorway, like she wants to tell me something. At least her twinkling eyes, and the way she’s biting down on the entire bottom half of her lip, would suggest so. “I think I might’ve met someone.”
Maddie and I met in college. She’s the only best friend I have, and we tell each other everything. Everything but this apparently. “You met someone? Maddie, you’ve been holding out on me!”
She lets out a squeal that gets the room barking. “I’ll tell you everything—when I’m back from lunch.”
“You better.”
“Oh,” she says, reappearing through the crack in the door, “There’s a guy coming by to meet Jasper. He didn’t say what time, but—”
“I got it.” I flash her my most reassuring smile, but inside I feel a slight twisting in my stomach. I wish I could adopt a dog—I wish I could adopt all the dogs. But I’m renting a room above a garage. It’s super affordable, and conveniently located to both work and school, but it has a strict no pets policy. Otherwise, Jasper would be my first choice.
I watch Maddie disappear down the hall through the windows, wishing I had more intel on the man coming to meet Jasper. He’s a special dog, and I’m not about to let just anyone adopt him. I want every dog in here to find a good home. Good being the operative word. But Jasper requires an exceptional owner.
“What do you think, Jasper?” I give him a good rub behind the ears, wishing for the tenth time today that I could take him home with me. Wall licker or not, he’s my favorite. Someone dropped him off at the shelter in the middle of the night a couple of weeks ago. The special bond we’ve formed since then raises a lump in my throat.
“I was the one to find you, huh?” I say to Jasper, remembering that morning all too well. The scared pup shaking on the too-short leash attached to the door handle. I wrapped him in my arms and just held the poor guy. Whoever was cruel enough to just abandon him like that should be ashamed of themselves. “I wish I could keep you, bud. I really do.”
Before I get too lost in my thoughts, I hear the doorbell tone sound in the room. Because this shelter is a smaller operation, and the volunteers are few and far between, there’s usually not more than two or three of us around at any time. The doorbell was my boss’s idea so we always knew when someone arrived. But it also sends all the dogs into a chorus of excitement.
Reluctantly, I leave the recess room filled with barks to greet the man who might steal Jasper away from me forever. He better be perfect.
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