The Navy SEAL's Christmas Bride (12 page)

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Authors: Cora Seton

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“So did you.”

Dan took a deep breath. “I guess I did. I was afraid you thought my plan was a stupid idea. To be honest, I don’t know if it’s going to work.”

Sarah flopped back, all the fight drained out of her at his admission. “Are you kidding? It sounds like fun—except for the part where no one will take me seriously.”

“Of course they’ll take you seriously. You’re one of the best soldiers I’ve ever met.”

“Right—a soldier. Not a SEAL. Not a member of the Special Forces. You sure as hell haven’t taken me seriously.”

Dan slid off of her and helped her up. “Sarah Metlin, you have no idea how seriously I take you.” He moved closer. “You don’t have to prove anything to me. You’re as capable as anyone I know.”

“I’ll have to prove myself to everyone.” She brushed the snow off her jeans, using the movement as an excuse not to look at Dan. She was still looking for that stamp of approval, wasn’t she? When would that ever stop?

“I guess you will. But we all will, to some extent, right? In every group there’s going to be some idiot who thinks he’s better than us.” Dan smiled. “We’ll let you sort him out.”

“Thanks a lot.”

Dan took her hands. “I’d protect you from all the idiots if I could, but somehow I don’t think you’d like that either.”

She shook her head.

“Look, you convinced me. You have no idea how much respect I have for you.”

“Really?” She allowed him to encircle her with his arms. He dropped a kiss on her lips that made her ache for more.

“Absolutely. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have as my partner.” He kissed her again. A deceptively soft kiss that soon deepened into something that showed her just how much he wanted her. When he pulled away, Sarah was dizzy and put a hand out to brace herself against his chest. When she looked up he was gazing at her in wonder. “How can someone so soft and beautiful be so strong and capable, too? I don’t think the government could design a better weapon than you. They’re going to be sorry when you leave the Army.”

She smiled at his praise and leaned against him.

“Sarah.” Dan’s breath puffed against her neck and sent delicious shivers down her spine. “I’d like more than a business partnership with you. Can you handle that?”

She pulled back in confusion. “Handle what?”

Dan ducked down to kneel in the snow and a chill ran from the crown of her head down to her toes. Her lips parted but no sound came out. She couldn’t breathe.

“This isn’t a proposal—I don’t have a ring. We’ve barely had time to get to know each other, either. What I’m asking you is, will you allow me to propose to you when we do know each other better?”

Her silence stretched out as Sarah thought she would never forget this moment. The crisp snow underfoot. The wide blue sky overhead. Their friends all crowded onto the porch—

Sarah’s eyes widened. When had everyone come outside to watch? A glance down told her Dan was waiting, too, growing impatient.

“Okay,” she managed finally, knowing suddenly it was the right answer. Knowing too that her life was about to change so drastically she couldn’t imagine what would happen next. It was scary to let someone like Dan in, and to allow him to get to know her well enough that marriage was something that made sense for them to talk about, but she wasn’t going to be a coward in this. “Yes! Yes, you can ask me to marry you when the time is right.”

Dan surged upward, lifted her into his arms and swung her in a circle. “Did you hear that?” he called to the crowd on the porch. “She said yes to my pre-proposal!”

They cheered while Sarah buried her face in Dan’s neck, laughing. “Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked him as he carried her toward the house.

“Positive. Don’t even think of backing out now,” Dan warned her. He set her down and led her by the hand up the steps. “Regan? Mason? Do you think you could stand to have us stay a few more days? I need to spend a lot of time with Sarah.”

“Absolutely,” Mason said. Regan simply threw her arms around Sarah’s shoulders and hugged her tight.

“I’m so thrilled for you. I knew you two were meant to be together.”

“I don’t have
any gifts for you,” Sarah said early the following morning.

“I’ve got everything I want right here.” Dan meant it, too. He couldn’t be happier with the way this vacation had turned out. His heart swelled every time he remembered the look in Sarah’s eyes when he pulled out the engagement ring—like she’d received a present she’d hardly ever dared wish for. He’d have to remember that his tough-as-nails soldier wife had her tender places and make sure that he was there standing strong beside her to help protect them.

“I still can’t believe you even mentioned marriage.”

“I’m not going to let some other guy steal a beat on me. Do you need a reminder of how good we are together?” He shifted closer to her, lifting his head to look at the clock. “Think we have time?”

“I think we should make time.” Sarah laughed with delight when Dan pulled her on top him, and he made sure to heartily enjoy his Christmas present.

Several hours later, after gifts were opened under the tree and a fabulous Christmas brunch enjoyed by everyone, Dan went with Mason to check on the cattle. Along the way he opened up about his and Sarah’s hope to open their business somewhere close by.

“I know a place where you could open your business,” Mason said. “Right here. There’s plenty of extra space on the ranch, and we’re close to mountains and rivers—everything you could possibly want.”

“I wasn’t asking—”

“I know you weren’t,” Mason told Dan. “But it makes sense. Look around you—see what we’re up to here? All of us and our wives banding together to make a life? That’s no accident. That’s how you build something special—by working as a group.”

“You’d better ask your brothers—and the women—what they think before you start making offers like that,” Dan said.

“I will, and you’re right—I can’t make any promises yet, but I’m sure I know what the answer will be.” Mason shook his hand. “Congratulations. Sarah will make you a hell of a wife someday. Regan’s so happy for you two she could barely sleep last night.”

“She wasn’t the only one who stayed up all night.” Dan grinned at the memory. He and Sarah hadn’t been able to get enough of each other once they’d gone to bed. He remembered how she’d been flushed and breathless after a round of lovemaking, her hair spread over the pillow, her body rosy with exertion. She was magnificent. A force to be reckoned with. He’d do anything to keep her happy for the rest of her life.

Mason looked amused. “I’ll bet. Why don’t you go spend some time with your new girlfriend and I’ll put the question to the rest of the group?”

“Sounds good. And whatever the answer is—you’ve done more for me than I can ever pay you back for, buddy. Thanks. I mean that.”

Mason clapped him on the shoulder. “No problem.”

“Do you think
they’re going to vote us off the island?” Sarah asked as she and Dan walked into the dining room where the couples who lived on the ranch were already seated. She slid into a chair next to Regan, and was encouraged by her friend’s wide smile. Regan reached over, took her hand and squeezed it.

“You’re in,” Mason said without preamble. “We’ve talked it over and of course we’ll have to discuss some details, but the gist of it all is we’d be glad to welcome your business onto our property. We can lease a portion of the ranch to you for a number of years and help you build what you need.”

“We couldn’t ask for more than that. Thanks. Thanks to all of you.”

Sarah beamed as Dan shook hands all around. With his arm around her and the room filling with the happy chatter of the rest of the couples, she felt a glow of belonging she’d never thought she’d feel anywhere else but in the Army. She and Dan had talked the business over and had begun to brainstorm ways to work together. As he asked her opinion and listened to her suggestions, Sarah realized her dream was coming true; she would be an equal partner in the business as well as in their relationship.

“When are you going to propose to Sarah for real?” Regan asked.

“On New Year’s,” Dan stated confidently. “I bet I can convince Sarah in six days that I’m the man for her.”

“Double or nothing?” Ella challenged.

“No more bets!” Regan exclaimed.

Dan pulled Sarah close for a quick kiss.

“You’re going to join Dan’s business?” Mason asked her.

“That’s right.” Dan wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Once she’s out of the Army, I don’t ever plan to let her leave my side again.”

“I can’t think of anything I’d rather do when I leave the Army.” Sarah snuggled into his embrace. She’d be tough as nails when she helped run the camps, but she was glad she could be soft around Dan.

“You know what this means?” Regan said. “We’ll be neighbors!”

Sarah’s heart swelled until she didn’t know how her chest could contain it. She felt like she’d found her true home.

And her true love. Feeling Dan’s arms tighten around her, she knew she’d finally met her match. She couldn’t wait for their lives together to begin.

The End

The Heroes of Chance Creek
series continues with
The Airman’s E-Mail Order Bride
.

The Navy SEAL’s Christmas Bride
is part of the Heroes of Chance Creek series. To find out more about Mason, Regan, Austin, Ella, Zane and Colt, check out
The Navy SEAL’s E-Mail Order Bride
.

About the Author

Cora Seton loves cowboys, country life, gardening, bike-riding, and lazing around with a good book. Mother of four, wife to a computer programmer/eco-farmer, she ditched her California lifestyle nine years ago and moved to a remote logging town in northwestern British Columbia.

Like the characters in her novels, Cora enjoys old-fashioned pursuits and modern technology, spending mornings transforming an ordinary one-acre lot into a paradise of orchards, berry bushes and market gardens, and afternoons writing the latest Chance Creek romance novel on her iPad mini. Visit
www.coraseton.com
to read about new releases, locate your favorite characters on the Chance Creek map, and learn about contests and other cool events!

Blog:

http://www.coraseton.com

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/coraseton

Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/coraseton

Newsletter:

http://eepurl.com/xhLRf

Other Cora Seton Titles

Heroes of Chance Creek

The Navy SEAL’s E-mail Order Bride (Volume 1)

The Soldier’s E-Mail Order Bride (Volume 2)