Seized (Hostage Rescue Team Series, #7) (32 page)

“My fiancée. I just popped the question a couple hours ago.” He still couldn’t believe how lucky he was.

“Congratulations, man. I’d like to meet her, if you’re cool with that.”

Sawyer nodded. He’d meet up with Danny on his own first, then, if things were smooth enough, they could maybe all go out for dinner together before he and Carm left. “I’ll call you.”

He stood in front of the barn and waited while Danny got in his truck and drove down the driveway, filled with a sense of peace. Extending that olive branch had been the right thing to do. Whether anything came of it, only time would tell.

When the truck’s taillights disappeared around the first bend, Sawyer headed inside.

Carmela was at the kitchen table with his father. They both looked up when he came in through the mudroom. “Everything okay?” Carm asked with a little smile.

“Yeah, it’s fine.” He walked over and wrapped his arms around her from behind, his stomach against the back of her chair, and looked at his dad. “Well?”

His old man’s harsh features melted into a wry smile. “I can’t believe she said yes.”

“Believe it,” Sawyer told him, smiling as he set his chin against the top of her hair. “She’s all mine.”

Those dark eyes so like his were warm as they regarded him. “She’s definitely a keeper, son.” He got up and came around the table to bend and kiss Carmela’s cheek. Then he straightened and shook Sawyer’s hand, holding his gaze. “I’m happy for you both. Congratulations.” He turned and headed up the stairs, leaving them alone in the quiet kitchen.

Carmela swiveled in her seat to look up at him with a worried expression. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah. He came by to apologize, and I accepted. But we’re not going to be friends again, and I think he was hoping we might be.” He took her left hand, raised it to his lips to kiss the diamond on her finger. “I’ve got my family already.”

She pushed up from her chair with a huge smile on her face, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly on the lips. “That’s right. You were already one of us but this’ll just make it official.” Her eyes gleamed with excitement. “Now, do you want to call my mom to tell her the news, or should I?”

“You go ahead.” He folded his arms across his chest and waited. He wanted to see this and enjoy it to the fullest.

Carm dialed, barely got out, “Hi,
Mami
. Guess what? I said yes”, when an ear-piercing shriek made her jerk the phone away from her ear. Then a female scream came through the phone, loud enough that his father probably heard it upstairs.

Sawyer grinned. Carmela held the phone away from her and laughed up at him. “I guess that means she’s excited.”

He set his hands on her shoulders and leaned over the phone, that high-pitch squeal still coming through loud and clear. “Hi, Mama Cruz,” he called out.

He wasn’t sure how she heard him, but she must have because she cried out his name and started babbling away in Spanish, the words so fast it was like they were being fired out of a minigun. The only one he caught her screaming over and over was
“¡Wepa!”
, which even he knew was an expression of joy.

Carmela rolled her eyes and shook her head, a fond expression on her face. “Mom,
English
, if you want him to understand you,” she told her, eyes sparkling up at him.

Sawyer wrapped his arms around her and listened to his adoptive mother’s delirious tears, filled with so much happiness his chest felt tight. He finally had his forever family. He would cherish that for the rest of his life.

––––––––

—The End—

T
hank you for reading SEIZED. I really hope you enjoyed it and that you’ll consider leaving a review at one of your favorite online retailers. It’s a great way to help other readers discover new books.

If you liked SEIZED and would like to read more, turn the page for a list of my other books. And if you don’t want to miss any future releases, please feel free to join my
newsletter
. Direct link:
http://kayleacross.com/v2/newsletter/

Romantic Suspense

Hostage Rescue Team Series

Marked

Targeted

Hunted

Disavowed

Avenged

Exposed

Seized

Titanium Security Series

Ignited

Singed

Burned

Extinguished

Rekindled

Bagram Special Ops Series

Deadly Descent

Tactical Strike

Lethal Pursuit

Danger Close

Collateral Damage

Suspense Series

Out of Her League

Cover of Darkness

No Turning Back

Relentless

Absolution

Paranormal Romance

Empowered Series

Darkest Caress

Historical Romance

The Vacant Chair

Erotic Romance (writing as
Callie Croix
)

Deacon’s Touch

Dillon’s Claim

No Holds Barred

Touch Me

Let Me In

Covert Seduction

––––––––

M
any thanks to my team for helping me with this story! My editors Deb and Joan, Katie Reus my fabulous critique partner and bestie. And DH, for lending me your eagle eyes.

Couldn’t have done it without you guys!

––––––––

N
Y Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylea Cross writes edge-of-your-seat military romantic suspense. Her work has won many awards and has been nominated for both the Daphne du Maurier and the National Readers’ Choice Awards. A Registered Massage Therapist by trade, Kaylea is also an avid gardener, artist, Civil War buff, Special Ops aficionado, belly dance enthusiast and former nationally-carded softball pitcher. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and family.

You can visit Kaylea at
www.kayleacross.com
. If you would like to be notified of future releases, please join her
newsletter
. Direct link: http://kayleacross.com/v2/newsletter/