Ace in the Hole (9 page)

“Why?” She felt like she was asking the same thing over and over.

“Your parents’ marriage was strong but at the beginning it was rough. Your mother didn’t understand what she was getting into when she married a military man.”

“But I grew up with it, I knew what I was getting into.”

“He just wanted to make sure you understood. SEAL life is harder. I could be called up at any time and have to leave on a deployment. He thought the break while I was training would allow you to realize it completely, therefore giving us a solid foot in our marriage. The first year of marriage is always the hardest, especially for military families. He was trying to do right by his only daughter.”

“Then he was the first of the crumbling blocks that ended things with us.”

“No.” He squeezed her hand. “That was completely my fault.”

She leaned back against the pillows and drew the back of her hand down his jawline. “Things worked out in the end.”

“That they did.” He took his hand from hers and laid it on her stomach. “I’d like to marry before…”

“Why is that important?”

“I want this to be prefect. I want
our
daughter to have the Diamond name.”

Our daughter.

Her heart skipped a beat. When he’d arrived a few weeks ago, all she could think to do was run, run before he had a chance to break her heart again. Now there she was in bed with him, accepting his proposal, and talking about their daughter. It was almost more than she could believe. Things were nearly perfect. If only Wynn and Lucky could see what was between them without remembering the past.

A
roaring fire spread heat through the living room, keeping Gwen cozy as she dozed on the sofa while waiting for Ace to return from the base. Three weeks had passed since she had accepted his proposal, yet they were still keeping it from the rest of the Diamond gang. Wynn’s reaction when she found out was going to be the worst of any of them. It was destined to be a disaster.

“Your Auntie Wynn will come around, don’t you worry.” She rubbed her stomach, trying to calm her daughter. The somersaults were beginning to make her queasy.

Wynn was stubborn and getting her to come around could take time. Lucky would be supportive, but cautious; he was already like a brother to her. The Diamond parents were another story, the unknown factor in the equation. “It’s going to be okay.” She whispered to herself, trying to calm her nerves.

The front door opened, sending a rush of cold air through the house. “Sweets, I’m home.”

“In here.” She scooted up on the sofa and tucked her legs under her. “How was work?”

“Same old, same old. Mom called, they’re an hour away and very excited to see you again.” He’d barely sat in the chair cattycorner from the sofa when he shot up and came to her. “Sweets, are you okay?”

She swallowed the lump in her throat but couldn’t quite calm herself.

“You’ve turned green. You’re not worried about Mom?”

“Me, worried?” She tried to make light of it, but her stomach churned.

“Everything is going to be fine. Mom always said we would work things out, and now we have.” He cupped her hands. “She’s going to be excited this happened, and she’s going to be a Grandmother. Anyway, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks, only that we’re happy. Are you happy with the decision?”

“Yes…but what about Wynn?”

“Wynn is going to be fine. She’ll come around, don’t worry.”

“Having the family gathered together to tell them all at once seemed a good idea when you set it up, but now it’s so much pressure. What if things go awful? It could be a disaster.”

“Then we ask them to leave. This isn’t about them, it’s our happiness that matters.” He ran his thumb over her knuckles. “Stop worrying.”

“Maybe you could take my mind off it.” She licked her lips and wiggled her eyebrows. Having him naked again would keep her mind off the stress.

“Unless you want to make the announcement at a restaurant I should get dinner on.”

“I’ll help.” She started to slide her legs off the sofa before he stopped her.

“Rest. I know you’re tired, I’ll get things started then I need to shower and change.”

“I wouldn’t be tired if you didn’t keep me up all night.” She paused, unable to stifle a yawn. “How you don’t have circles under your eyes I don’t know.”

“The need for sleep was kicked out of me long ago.” He leaned in and kissed her. “Everything is going to be fine, I promise.”

When he headed to the kitchen, she let her head rest against the cushion of the sofa for a moment, and tried to gather her nerves. Being with Ace was what she wanted, what did she care if Wynn or the others weren’t happy? What mattered was he made her happy. He was the man she had given her heart to years ago, and in a few months he would be her husband and a father to the child she carried. Things couldn’t have worked out better if she had planned it.

S
tanding on the back deck, Ace cracked opened a beer bottle, watching the fall leaves scatter through the air.

Instead of giving him a second of peace, Lucky followed him. He rolled his shoulders and was ready to have it out with his brother. “Just get it out, so we can put this tension behind us. Though keep in mind nothing you say is going to change it. So you might want to keep your mouth shut and then I won’t have to whoop your ass.” He spun on his heels but instead of finding Lucky as he suspected, their father, Buck, stood there.

“Boy, I know you haven’t lost your mind enough to speak to me that way.” Even as a grown man, Buck’s voice still managed to make him backtrack.

“Dad! I meant it for Lucky. I’ve already heard his input on my interest with Gwen, I thought he had returned for a second round.”

“Lucky can wait. It’s time you hear from me. I wasn’t pleased with how you ended things with Gwen before.”

“I know, but this time is different. I screwed up.”

“Damn right you did and you broke your mother’s heart in the process. Not to mention the state you left Gwen and the whole damn family.”

“Dad…”

“I don’t want to hear any excuses. I just want you to know if you screw this up again, you’re going to have all of us wanting a piece of your ass. Gwen is a good girl, she deserves better than what you’ve done to her in the past. I’m damn surprised she didn’t move on and find herself a good husband, someone who could treat her right.” He glared at Ace, everything about the look reminding him just how angry his father was before. “You’re not just getting a wife, but a child. You screw this up and you can find yourself a new family. Your mother and I raised you right, I won’t have you disgracing the Diamond name.” With that, Buck turned and walked back into the house.

“Well, that could have gone better.” Ace leaned against the railing.

“What did you think would happen?” Lucky took a swig from his beer. “We were all left to put the pieces together while you were across the country living it up. Gwen could barely walk into the house with tears springing to her eyes.”

“I know I fucked up before.” With a clunk, he set his beer on the railing. “I failed her and the whole family, but not this time.”

“For her sake I hope not.” Lucky leaned against the railing, as cool as the air that whipped around them. “That’s not why I came out here. I came to congratulate you.”

“What?” He wasn’t sure if he heard his brother correctly.

“Congratulations on getting your act together. Marrying Gwen might be the first thing you’ve done without your head up your ass and in your career. She’s always loved you and now she’s going to make an honest man out of you. I wish you both all the best.” Lucky stepped away from the railing and headed for the door. “Don’t screw this up.”

Ace stood there alone with anger pulsing through him. He was tired of people thinking he was going to break Gwen’s heart again. Did his family think so little of him? Sure, he had made his fair share of mistakes in the past, but he wasn’t that bad of a person.

He had just polished off the last of his beer when Gwen opened the door. “I thought you were going to stick by my side tonight. Instead, I get trapped in the kitchen with Wynn. Your mom came to my rescue.”

“Come here.” He placed the empty beer bottle on the railing and held out his hand to her. She crossed the patio quickly. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. “I’m sorry for leaving you alone with Wynn, I just needed a breather. My family can be a bit intense.”

“You’re telling me.”

“Do I need to have a talk with my baby sister?” He ran his hands down her back, enjoying the feel of her pressed against him.

“It’s fine, she’s just concerned. Your mom already had a few choice words for her. How did things go with Lucky and your dad?”

“Could have gone worse. Lucky congratulated me on getting my head out of my ass.”

“Who’d have thought your mom would be the most supportive.” She chuckled, sending the vibrations through him.

“I know you’re upset Wynn isn’t supportive too, but she’ll come around. She’s just worried her asshole brother is going to break your heart again.”

“You won’t,” she whispered.

He kissed the top of her head. “I love you.”

The love he had for her was stronger than anything he ever felt before. He wasn’t about to mess it up.

“Look…” She pointed to the edge of the lawn. The moonlight was coming through the trees, casting a white, heart-shaped glow. “It’s an omen.”

“An omen of our love…It’ll last through the darkest times and go on forever.”

He lowered his head and claimed her lips.

Marissa Dobson

Born and raised in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, Marissa Dobson now resides about an hour from Washington, D.C. She’s a lady who likes to keep busy, and is always busy doing something. With two different college degrees, she believes you’re never done learning.

Being the first daughter to an avid reader, this gave her the advantage of learning to read at a young age. Since learning to read she has always had her nose in a book. It wasn't until she was a teenager that she started writing down the stories she came up with.

Marissa is blessed with a wonderful supportive husband, Thomas. He’s her other half and allows her to stay home and pursue her writing. He puts up with all her quirks and listens to her brainstorm in the middle of the night.

Her writing buddies Max (a cocker spaniel) and Dawne (a beagle mix) are always around to listen to her bounce ideas off them. They might not be able to answer, but they are helpful in their own ways.

She love to hear from readers so send her an email at [email protected] or visit her online at
http://www.marissadobson.com
.

Other Books by Marissa Dobson

Alaskan Tigers Series:

Tiger Time

The Tiger’s Heart

Tigress for Two

Night with a Tiger

Trusting a Tiger

Jinx’s Mate

Two for Protection

Stormkin Series:

Storm Queen

Reaper Series:

A Touch of Death

SEALed for You Series:

Ace in the Hole

Fate Series:

Snowy Fate

Sarah’s Fate

Mason’s Fate

As Fate Would Have It

Half Moon Harbor Series:

Learning to Live

Learning What Love Is

Her Cowboy’s Heart

Half Moon Harbor Resort Volume One

Clearwater Series:

Winterbloom

Unexpected Forever

Losing to Win

Christmas Countdown

The Surrogate

Clearwater Romance Volume One

Stand Alone:

Secret Valentine

Restoring Love

The Twelve Seductive Days of Christmas