“She does, but when First Sergeant called her, asking vague questions, she thought something had happened to Alex.”

“So he tricked her into talking about you?”

“I guess you could say that.”

“What an ass. What did Alex say about it? And worse yet, what did his grandma say about it?”

My skin turned cold. Guadalupe was the one person that I was worried about more than anything with this whole situation. Everyone else seemed level headed enough that we could explain the circumstances to and be okay, but Alex’s grandmother already had her suspicions about me, and seeing what Alex stood to lose was certainly not going to sit well with her.

“I don’t know. Alex hasn’t told them yet.”

Dalton’s eyes bulged. “Why not? And when do you two plan on telling them? Don’t you think they need to know?”

“Yes, but Alex is going to be the one to do it, and I’m, assuming he’s going to wait until after this weekend.”

“What happens this weekend?”

I took a deep breath, then smiled. “Alex and I are getting married.”

“What? Why so soon?”

His tone came out more accusatory than I would have liked, but I brushed it off and gave him the answer. “Because First Sergeant O’Hara is moving at warp speed. He got Major Godinez to get the pre-trial hearing moved up to Monday, and Alex thinks it will best if we went into court married. It shows the judge something.”

“And you’re just going to go along with it? What do you think?”

“I know you’re thinking we’re getting married for all the wrong reasons, but that’s not the case. We were going to get married regardless, and this just helps our cause. I love him, Dalton, and I can’t wait to have him in the one way that means more than anything else.”

A sparkle went off in his icy blue eyes. The boyish charm that he so easily exuded was coming back, front and center. “Well, I’m delighted for you then. I know how much you love him. Where are you getting married?”

“I have no idea—”

“It’s all a surprise for her,” Alex interrupted, standing in the doorway of the room holding a small, brown paper bag. “All she knows is that I’m giving her my last name. Everything else is left up to me.”

He strolled into the room, looking exquisite in a pair of jeans and a tight fitting t-shirt. I couldn’t believe that he was mine, and would be filling the void that was the other part of my heart.

“What you got there, Conquerer?”

His eyebrows shot up as he gently sucked on his bottom lip. A faint smile filled with seduction caressed my lips as I stared back at him. Dalton looked on in pure confusion.

“Your friend is here, Blondie. Don’t start shit.”

I looked over to Dalton and smiled, which he returned, albeit nervously.

“I brought you some Tylenol and Icy Hot patches. You said you were sore, and since I can’t be with you tonight, I thought this might help.”

He sat the bag down on the bed, then kissed me before turning for the door. Staring at his ass as he walked away temporarily put me into a trance. I could get lost in his body twenty-four seven, seven days a week.

“Thanks for making sure she eats, Dalton. Can you make sure she gets some meds in her system as well? I have a few things I need to do,” Alex called out, turning and looking over his shoulder.

“You’ve got it, man.”

Alex stopped walking and turned to me, narrowing his hazel eyes that were crusted in lust. “I love you, babe,” he said, the words warm and gentle, melting the ache that lay throbbing inside my body away.

“I love you too.”

He winked then strolled out the door, leaving me sitting with a fool’s grin on my face, and Dalton’s mouth hung low.

“I take my questions back. I can totally see this wedding happening.”

“So you’ll be there? Please say you will. I can’t imagine marrying without my best friend by my side.”

Dalton’s eyelids lowered, darkening his emphatic gaze and popping the balloon that held my excitement. I didn’t like what spread across his face, and I didn’t particularly care to hear whatever was coming next. “I really wish I could, Cassie, but we’ll be in the field starting tomorrow night through the middle of next week. I’m so sorry, but there’s no way I can be there.”

My stomach twisted with his words. Dalton had been everything to me in the midst of the scandal that I found myself embroiled in. He was my friend, my brother, my confidant, and I couldn’t believe that I would be embarking on the next big step in my life, and he wouldn’t be there to be a part of it.

“Hey, you know if I could, I’d be there in a heartbeat.”

“I know,” I finally answered. “It just never dawned on me that you’d be tied up in work, and you wouldn’t be able to be there, but this is what happens when you move on to the fleet. You actually do shit Marines are supposed to be doing.”

He leaned over and gave me a hug. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise. Who will be there?”

”As of now, just me, Alex, Riley, and Nat.”

“Natasha? Alex is okay with that?”

“Yes, it wasn’t her fault. Alex finally realizes that.”

“No Emmalyn Bennett?”

Hearing my mother’s name destroyed my mood. It was remarkable, and all together sad just how destructive the woman had been in my life. Even now, when I thought I had purged myself of her, the mere mention of her name disgusted me as if she were once again sharing my breathing space.

“No fucking way, Dalton. Don’t even play like that.”

He held up in his hands in defense, understanding the severity of my reaction. “I’m sorry. It was a joke. A poorly timed one, but a joke nonetheless.”

I was being ridiculous. Dalton knew how much I loathed my mother, and just how awful of a person that she was to me, but freaking out at the mention of her name was a bit overboard, and the roller coaster of emotions that I had sent him through since he’d gotten into my room was probably a bit much for him.

“You’re fine, sorry. I need to loosen up a little.”

“Yeah you do, Mrs. Cruz.”

His words put a smile on my face and warmed me from head to toe. I had no idea when I’d checked into Comm School just how drastic my life was due to change and even after everything that we’d gotten ourselves into, I was in no way prepared for what we were ready to embark on next. All I knew was that I was ready—ready to take the plunge.

That thought had me excited and nervous all at the same time.

++++

Alex was in my room bright and early, waking me up and escorting me to the chow hall. He complained the night before that he was missing me, and having to share me with Dalton was crippling him and turning him into a whiny little bitch who needed to be with me every night. I laughed at his words, fully aware that he was just pouting, but reassured him that, after this weekend, we wouldn’t have to worry about that.

Those words sparked an epiphany for me. I hadn’t given much thought to what a marriage with Alex would mean. Not only would I be his wife, but I’d be free to leave the barracks and make his home my own. I’d also collect BAH, and have priority over any and everyone else when it came to Alex and his well-being. For some reason, those thoughts scared me. A marriage didn’t just mean we’d sign our names to a piece of paper and live happily ever after. It meant we had to tackle and face real life obstacles, big and small. We would finally be granted the freedom to live and function as a couple, but with that came larger and more pressing issues.

What would become of us after the court-martial? If we were found guilty, we’d be once again pulled apart, thrown into the brig, possibly discharged, and left to pick up the shattered pieces or our fragile lives. The thought of that happening sickened me, giving me an adverse reaction to the food sitting on the plate before me.

“What’s the matter, babe? You aren’t eating, and you’re awfully quiet.”

“I’m just thinking…”

“About what? You have me fucking nervous over here.”

I laughed. Alex being nervous was new. He wasn’t nervous when O’Hara was threatening to destroy everything he had worked so hard for, yet he was nervous at my silence.

“I’m just thinking about what it’s going to be like being married.”

“It’s going to be a hell of a fucking lot better than this situation. I hate sleeping without you. I don’t like that cold side of the fucking bed. The house is missing its spirit when you’re gone, and it needs you in it.”

“You don’t live alone. You have Riley. Did you apologize to Nat?”

“Riley has been staying at Nat’s place, so no, I haven’t. And fuck those two. I love them, but they aren’t you. I can’t wait to take you home for good.”

“What about Riley?”

“What about him? If you want him gone, I’ll ask him to look for a new place.”

I shook my head. How Alex could be so cold was alarming. “No, I don’t want you to get rid of him. I’m wondering how he’ll feel about me moving in.”

“That doesn’t matter. You’re about to be my wife, Cassie, and I’m the owner of that house, so if you want it to be just me and you, say the word, and I’ll make it happen. If not, then it stays the way it is. But listen…” He softly rubbed my hand as it sat on the table. “All I care about it making you happy. Making all of your fucking dreams come true is what I’m going to do.”

I couldn’t help but fall under the spell of Alex’s words. With his smooth, husky voice passing over the plumpness of his moist lips, and the intense gaze of golden eyes, I was taken, held captive, and left to his disposal. He knew he could get me that way, and moved on to a provocative lip suck, making me wish we were in the confines of a bedroom instead of seated in the middle of a crowded chow hall. The thick material of cammies were only intensifying the heat that Alex had put between my legs, making me cross them to keep from coming undone.