To Take Up the Sword (9 page)

“Okay class, for homework, do exercise A on pages twenty-six and twenty-seven in your textbook.” Lea’s announcement elicited the accompanying groans of Saturday plans flying away. Still, she knew her students had missed her, thanks to the small basket of treasures she’d collected off her desk before the bell rang that morning.

“Ms. O’Neil!” Jane called to her.

“Yes?”

“You have a visitor.” The preteen cupped her hand around her mouth in a conspiratorial whisper. Heaven save her from hormones. The new math teacher must need a word with her. He was twenty-two, scholar hot and all the schoolgirls secretly lusted their adolescent hearts out for him

“He’s cute, too. Looks like a Christmas angel.”

Her heart gave one quick jerk in her chest. “Thank you.” Lea looked up and was lost all over again. Damn him.

“Hello, Leannan.” God, the things his voice could do to her. The flavor of her name on his lips always seemed to conjure visions of heated kisses in the dark.

“Gabe.” A thousand questions ran through her mind. “What are you doing here?” Lea heard a couple of the girls sigh, reminding her where she was.

“I need to talk to you in private. Ms. Potter said you might have a minute between classes?”

The bell rang, and her students began fighting to get out of the classroom.

“Have a nice weekend, everyone! Jaden, stop pushing Susan.” When the last student was gone, she turned back to him.

“I had to see you.”

“Why? I thought you were going back to DC. It’s been two weeks since I heard from you. You left me.”

“I needed to get some things in order. I didn’t expect this to happen any more than you did, but you changed me.”

“What things?”

“Mac’s death. I had to put my apartment up for sale, turn in my resignation.”

“I don’t understand. You quit the FBI? Can you do that? Why would you do that?” Tears slid down her cheeks as he slid his arms around her and pulled her close. Lea welcomed the heat of him, but was still mindful of their surroundings.

“I love you, Leannan O’Neil. I’m crazy in love with you.”

“I love you too, so very much. I missed you.”

“I missed us. Marry me, Leannan. Make a life with me. I don’t care where. Just say yes. You’re my heart.”

She leaned in, kissed him and let go of her doubts. “Yes. To everything.” A chorus of hoots, shouts and laughter from her students rang up from the hall outside.

Lea laughed, happy and at peace.

Brynna Curry

When I started writing
Earth Enchanted
I knew I would never be satisfied with telling just one of the Corrigan’s stories. Originally there were three. One for each sibling. Then my crit partners compelled me to give Gabe his own tale. In the first draft of
Earth Enchanted
Gabriel Spiller died in the fight with Gueraldi and saved Liv, but it just didn’t sit well with me. I wanted him to find happiness and closure just as Jack did.
To Take Up the Sword
was born. Devin McLoch has also become a fan favorite and I just can’t resist the challenge of changing his wicked ways. Look for his story in
Fire’s Ice.
The Elemental Magic Series begins with Liv’s story and continues with Ryan, Skye, and yes even Devin’s fall into love. I hope you enjoy your journey with the Corrigan family.

Be blessed.

Brynna

Also by Brynna Curry

Elemental Magic Series

Earth Enchanted

To Take Up the Sword

Wait For the Wind

Sea’s Sorceress

Fire’s Ice

Triple Star Ranch Series

Claiming Ana

Lyrical Press books are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp. 119 West 40th Street New York, NY 10018

Copyright © 2010 Brynna Curry

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

Lyrical Press and the L logo are trademarks of Kensington Publishing Corp.

First Electronic Edition: September 2010

ISBN-13:
978-1-61650-190-7