Falling for Her Soldier (21 page)

…

“Hey. Psst!
Branjelina
!” Jane was poking her head outside the front door of the WS. “You know everyone can see you, right? This isn’t one-way glass.” Her head disappeared.

Charlie laughed, gave Ellie one more kiss, then set her on her feet.

“I guess we should go in,” she said, her makeup and hair beautifully mussed.

After admiring her for a moment, Charlie straightened his tie. “Face our adoring fans,” he said, draping an arm around her shoulders and kissing her temple. “Ya know, this dress of yours is about to make me go blind.”

“This old thing?” Ellie said, putting an arm around his waist as they strolled toward the door. “I only wear it when I’m hoping some hot soldier will tango with me, then run his hand up my thigh. Nice move, by the way,” she added, sliding her hand down to just south of his rated-PG zone.

“Eleanor,” he said, feeling his temperature rise.

She looked at him. “Yes?”

He exhaled a slow, controlled groan. “How many days left until you’re a free woman?”

“Nineteen.”

Charlie squinted in thought, then nodded. “Okay. That should give me a fighting chance to make up for lost time.”

“What do you mean?”

He ran his hand along the back of her neck, under her silky hair. “My orders came in. Well, they came in saying they need me here a little while longer.”

Her soft green eyes were huge. “How long is ‘a while’?”

He smiled. “Two months.”

She clutched his arm and squeezed. “Are you serious? You’re on post another two months?”

Charlie nodded, his own smile growing as quickly as Ellie’s. “But you do understand that means we only have something like forty days after
your
nineteen days are—” Ellie cut off his words with a kiss so hard it nearly knocked him off his feet.

When he could breathe again, he touched his forehead to hers, their breath mingling in the cool night air. “Before we go back in there,” he said, glancing toward the glass doors, “I need to say one more thing.” He dropped his chin and couldn’t speak for a moment. “Your e-mails meant the world to me, every single one. But what I did, not telling you who I was the first chance I got, not trusting you, I’m sorry—”

“Hey.” Ellie took his face in her hands, her soft fingers stroking him. “You apologized and I forgave you. Okay?”

He swallowed and nodded, unsure if he would ever be truly worthy of this woman. “I was already a little in love with you, I think,” he said, pressing his hand over hers. “All those months ago.”

Ellie smiled. “Me, too.”

“And then we met.” He shook his head. “And you were more incredible than I ever imagined.” He motioned at the WS. “You saved this place. You.”

“You helped, Mr. Dirty Dancer.”

“I’ll show you dirty.” He grabbed her around the waist and pinned her against the glass door, not caring who witnessed the act. “I love you, Eleanor Bell,” he said, touching his forehead to hers.

He heard her gaspy inhale, then she sighed contently. “And I love you”—she held his face—“Charlie Johansson.”

Hearing those words along with his real name was like an electric jolt to his heart. He pulled her off her feet again, laughing as she giggled and wrapped both legs around his back. They both froze at the sound of tearing fabric.

“Oops,” she snickered into his neck.

As surreptitiously as possible, Charlie ran his hand up her thigh, inspecting the damage. “Darling,” he said, “it appears your dress is now torn up to your…” He trailed off, skimming his hand higher up her skin. He felt her tremble. Or maybe it was him. “Now what am I supposed to do with you?”

“Well, I obviously can’t go inside,” she said, her mile-long legs tightening around him to make her point. She was a strong one, that Ellie Bell.

“Obviously,” he agreed. “The question is, where can I take you for one more kiss? Then it’s hands-off for nineteen days.”

“Hmm, where do I want one more kiss?” She grinned and bit her lip, glanced toward the parking lot then back at him. “In the Impala.”

Epilogue

Twenty-three days later

“What did they say? Is it the same date as before?” Ellie let out the breath she’d been holding. After knowing Charlie for twenty-eight days, she’d yet to master reading his facial expressions. The phone was still at his ear, even though he’d said good-bye to his commanding officer.

“Charlie.” She knocked his shoulder. “They didn’t change your orders, did they? You’re still not PCS-ing for another month, right?”

He glanced at her, dropped the phone on the bed and pulled back a slow smile. “Slight change,” he said. “It’s now three months.”

Ellie grinned back. “You’re kidding.”

Charlie burst into laughter and scooped her up, laying her back on the bed. While wearing the most gorgeous smile, he leaned down and kissed her, making her head go all swimmy. “Three months, baby,” he growled sexily.

It really did seem like forever, especially since the last four days had felt like a heavenly lifetime. Since the stroke of midnight on her one-man-less-year mark, Charlie had indeed been making up for lost time…as promised.

“God bless this beautiful Army,” she whispered, running a hand up his arm. She stopped at the tattoo, skimming it with one finger, then she reached up to kiss it. Charlie’s skin tasted salty and heady, making her mouth water for more.

“Where are you going after the four months?” she asked.

He narrowed his eyes, but his expression was soldier-boy blank.

“Far?”

He nodded, his eyes locked on hers.

The point was moot, really. She was committed to him, to them. Traveling was an adventure, and wherever Charlie was going, she would join him as soon as possible. The dance studio was stronger than ever now, and hadn’t Jane suggested that Ellie take a pretty extended leave of absence when winter classes started up again in a few months?

And because of the hugely unexpected number of donations thanks to that little news broadcast…on five channels…the Warrior Station was out of danger for the next decade.

Therefore, Ellie was good to roam.

“Overseas?” she asked.

Charlie glanced up and to the right like he had to consult a mental map, but then shook his head.

“Damn. Texas?” she said with a pout. “Charlie, you know my hair can’t handle the humidity.”

He laughed softly, stroking a hand through her hair. “Guess again, Red. And while you’re at it, you might want to think about shopping for an extra bikini or two.” He kissed her forehead. “And a surfboard.”

After a moment of thought, Ellie squealed. “No way. Hawaii?”

Charlie pulled back an inch. “What do you think?” he asked, staring at her with a serious expression, as if he was genuinely worried about her answer.

“I think it’s amazing!” She threw her arms around him, kissing him almost as hard as she had on day one after her man-less year. She felt Charlie’s strength and his love flow to her from his lips. The way he answered her kiss was as mind-blowing as the first time. Ellie held him tight, then ran a hand down his back to the bottom of his T-shirt, pushing it up and out of her way, stroking his tight skin, the hard muscles beneath.

“Everyone’s outside waiting to hear the news, you know,” Charlie said, even as his mouth went trailing down her neck.

“I don’t care,” Ellie replied, pulling her hand off his back and hugging his head to her chest, feeling his hot breath through her thin cotton shirt. “Let’s tell them you only have one more day. Maybe they’ll leave us alone.” She felt Charlie’s silent chuckle.

“Diabolical ruse.” He propped up on his elbows and gazed down at her. “I’ve never loved you more.” He dipped his chin and kissed her, causing her heart to gallop like a racehorse.

“I think they’re all leaving at three,” she whispered, gasping a little as his hand found her bare stomach. “That’s less than an hour—”

“Yo, Chellie.” It was Jane knocking on the bedroom door. “What’s the word?”

Charlie growled into Ellie’s hair. “I hate that name.”

“At least they’re not calling us Branjelina anymore,” Ellie pointed out, stroking the back of his neck where the hair was extra short.

He exhaled and collapsed on top of her. “We’re busy,” he called, his voice muffled by her hair.

More knocking. “We’re not leaving till you come out. Burgers on the grill. Come on.”

“I loathe every single one of our friends right now,” Charlie stated, rolling off.

“We’re coming, Jane,” Ellie called, not bothering to hide the defeated tone in her voice.

Jane knocked on the door once more, then it was quiet.

“They care,” Ellie said, rolling to her side so she could properly examine the man she loved. “Friends and family are silly that way.”

“I know. But can’t they save their caring until tomorrow?”

She smiled and ran a finger over his face, circling his mouth. “We made it nineteen days, my sweet love. Our journey is just beginning.”

…

Charlie would never get tired of hearing her voice, or touching her delicate skin, secure in the bond they shared. The joy and meaning this woman brought into his life was extraordinary.

He propped up on an elbow to get a better view. Her hair was splayed across the bedspread, while one of her arms was lazily stretched over her head, her pupils like floating lily pads. His throat went desert-dry, like it had the first time he’d seen her.

“Okay, let’s go,” he said, more than a bit begrudgingly. But before leaving his bedroom to join the others out back, he gathered Ellie into his arms and told her one more time in private how much he loved her, appreciated her, cherished her.

After their friends left, he intended to
show
her. As many times as she wanted.

Holding her hand, they stepped out to his patio to share the good news. Tess shrieked and hugged him, nearly toppling them both over with her huge pregnant belly. Sam slapped him a high five. Jack gave him the thumbs up with one hand, his other hand holding grilling tongs. Rick was sitting on a patio chair, Mac on his lap. When she slid off, they too offered excited congratulations. But Charlie only had eyes for Ellie.

With his arm around the woman he loved, and surrounded by his closest friends, Charlie’s heart was so incredibly full of gratitude, it felt like he could shoot to the moon. He honestly didn’t know what he’d done to deserve such good fortune, but with his regular group sessions at the WS, he was learning to deal with the past and focus on becoming a better man, for the soldiers he led and for Ellie.

He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the temple, inhaling her light perfume. A second later, her hand slid way south of the PG-13 line.

“Eleanor…” he snickered out of the corner of his mouth. “Not for another forty-five minutes.”

“
Bublé
,” she whispered back.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to my tireless and fantabulous editor, Stacy, for helping me with this very complicated story, for asking the right questions and offering cool ideas I would’ve never thought of with only my little brain. This project was a toughie but I’m so incredibly proud of it. Let’s listen to some MB to celebrate!

Alycia, for your awesome edits and for making me think deep early on when I still could. I’m so proud to be a Bliss author.

Debbie and the rest of the publicity squad at Bliss. You work so hard for us and you’re one of the reasons writing for this line is such a big, fat joy.

Sue, my critique partner, for lots of crap, as always. I couldn’t have written this without your help, both with hairy plotting issues and military factoids—some of which I chose to blow off until it was almost too late. When are we going to Italy, already? Ohhh, you might be too busy now…

KL, for the thoughtful QA edit and for making sure I got important facts right, and for loving Dean Winchester, too.

Ginger, for your eagle eye and great ideas at the verrrrry last minute. I’m just glad I was able to use them this time!

Nancy, for reading this first when it was a whole bunch of disaster but still being supportive and telling me there was a cool story in there somewhere. Why haven’t we had custard lately? Sheesh.

Mom, for instilling in me a respect for the military and a love for happily ever afters. How fun that I got to write about both this time.

To my super-cool cyber friends, the supportive and enthusiastic readers, bloggers, tweeters, and fellow authors. You make this journey so worth it.

And lastly, thank you to my dear buddy, Chick Taylor, the inspiration for his name sake. This one’s for you!

About the Author

Ophelia London was born and raised among the redwood trees in beautiful northern California. Once she was fully educated, she decided to settle in Florida, but her car broke down in Texas and she’s lived in Dallas ever since. A cupcake and treadmill aficionado (obviously those things are connected), she spends her time watching art-house movies and impossibly trashy TV, while living vicariously through the characters in the books she writes. Ophelia is the author of ABBY ROAD; the Perfect Kisses series including: PLAYING AT LOVE, SPEAKING OF LOVE, and FALLING FOR HER SOLDIER, and the new adult DEFINITELY, MAYBE IN LOVE. Visit her at
http://ophelialondon.com
. But don’t call when
The Vampire Diaries
is on.

Find your perfect kiss with Ophelia London’s Perfect Kisses series

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