The Grunt (19 page)

Courtney rounded the corner with red, puffy eyes and went straight to him with open arms. She had never been so happy as to see his face. He stood up to receive her, giving her a big hug. Electricity exploded between the two as they touched. He could feel the need and vulnerability oozing from her as he held her in his tight embrace. It made him want to hold her forever.

“Oh, my God. Are you alright?” he asked, moving her chin up to see her face better. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

“I’m fine now,” she said, holding him tighter. “What are you doing here?” She tried to muster a smile, even in her sadness. “Did you come to get Cameron?”

“I’m here for you,” he said softly. “I need to talk to you about something, and it couldn’t wait.”

“Okay,” Courtney said clueless to his intentions. She only hoped that he did not come here to break up with her. She would never live it down.

Brett took her hand and led her back to the couch. As they sat down, he wiped her face again and smiled. “This isn’t about awesome seats to a concert. This isn’t about cooking and cleaning or watching my son.” He bit his lip and concentrated. There was no way that he was going to mess this up with his fumbling. Taking a deep breath, he shook his head. “You know, the first time that I asked you, I messed it up. That’s why I took it back. I knew that you deserved more than that. I don’t even know why I came to you like that before. It was stupid. But I’ll be damned if I let you slip out of my hands. I’ve never been happier in my entire life, Cort. And if you give me a chance, you’ll never be happier.” Pulling the box from his pocket, he got down on one knee in front of her and opened it.

“Will you please marry me?”

The breath leaped from Courtney as she looked at the princess cut diamond in the black box propped up in his hand as an offering. Her eyes gleamed with happiness and relief. The ring was beautiful and she could tell by the cut and clarity that it was expensive, but she would have taken a gold band right now. All she wanted in the world was to be his wife.

“Don’t answer that…yet,” a voice interrupted from behind them.

They turned to see Colonel Lawless at the door. He had been eavesdropping and seemed not to shy about it. With his hands shoved into his pockets, he stepped into the room. “Hey, it’s my house. My rules.”

Brett stood up immediately. “Sir,” he said, almost locking his feet to attention.

“Daddy…” Courtney pleaded.

The colonel put up his hand to quiet her. “Brett, it seems you’ve got my only daughter all wrapped up in you, son. And not just you…your son too.”

“Yes, sir,” Brett answered.

“But as her father, you have to understand my concern. That’s why I need you to know - before you finish proposing and she finishes giving you an answer - that regardless of how I have behaved in the past, Courtney means everything to me and this family. She’s a special woman, and I don’t think that there is anyone in the world like her.”

“She means everything to me and my family as well sir,” Brett answered seriously. “Permission to speak very frankly sir?”

The colonel smirked. “We’re not on the base. Speak as freely and frankly as you need to. Now is the time.”

Brett relaxed his shoulders and walked up to the colonel. “I’m not a hopeless romantic. I’m not fool-hearty or desperate. And I’m no user. I’ve been to war with you, sir, several times. I’ve put my life on the line for this country and served you well. I know what you’re thinking. I’m not good enough for her. And maybe you’re right about that. But it doesn’t overshadow the fact that I love, and I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it. I’ll take care of her, make her happy and I’ll never leave her.”

“You know that’s a promise that you can’t make in your line of work,” the colonel corrected.

“Something will have to take me away,
just like it would have to take you away
, but you’d never willingly go and neither will I.” Brett clenched his jaw. “Give me a chance, sir. I love Courtney. I want her to be my wife.”

“So I have heard all day,” he said, hearing Mrs. Lawless’ footsteps behind him. He looked over at his daughter, who sat quietly on the edge of the couch. “She’s absolutely amazing, you know. She sees the world not as it is but as it should be. Her heart is made of pure gold, and I don’t want it damaged any more than it already has been.”

“I understand, sir. And I listened to what Captain Lawless said to me about making her an honest woman, and I’m trying to do that right now…the right way,” Brett explained.

Courtney stood up. “Yes, Brett, I’ll marry you,” she said, unable to wait on her father’s blessing.

Brett turned and looked at her, then turned back to Colonel Lawless. “With your permission, sir.” He waited.

The colonel couldn’t help but crack a smile. “Permission granted,” he said, nodding. “You treat her right. As a matter of fact, you treat her better than right, you treat her perfect.”

“Yes, sir, I will,” Brett said, turning back to Courtney.

She ran quickly up to him and hugged him again before he slipped the ring on her finger. Looking down at it, she wiped the tears from her face and shook her head. “I love you so much.” Her eyes found his again before he bent to kiss her lips.

“I love you, too,” Brett whispered into her ear. “I always will.”

The colonel was moved by the sight and even reminded of when he first fell in love with Mrs. Lawless. He turned to see Diane in the corner with tears in her own eyes as she held on to Cameron. She nodded to him proudly. He smirked to himself, knowing he had done the right thing finally by his daughter. “Well, now that that is done, why don’t you two join us for dinner,” he said, turning around to give them a moment alone. “Once you’re finished kissing and everything that is.”

Courtney released her lips from Brett and laughed a little. “Yes, sir.”