room on this beautiful island, the cold, fear, danger and death were nothing but a memory.
His love for Amber transcended everything. All his isolation, all the pain and uncertainty, all torment were now healed scars that he would carry always but were now no longer causing him pain. Like her bruises, they would fade and disappear. So would his strong hold on his fear and doubts, released to stay in the past as he rushed forward to his future with this remarkable woman in his arms.
She had come into his life and shown him there was something as amazing as giving himself over to the corps, to the men and women who stood by him, ever faithful, ever ready to protect his back. He’d made the decision to leave, right then and there, but he would always and forever be a Marine.
She reached up and smoothed her hand over his jaw. “I love you, Tristan. Whatever it takes, whatever you decide to do, wherever you decide to go, I will go with you. I don’t want to be away from you. Distance is nonnegotiable.”
“I’m putting in my papers, Amber. I’m going to retire and accept that job with my friend Rock.”
“That job in San Diego?”
“Yes.”
She thought for a moment. “Well, there just happens to be an NCIS field office in San Diego. And I’ve just gotten the word from Special Agent in Charge Richard Barlow, who happens to be Lance Corporal James Connelly’s uncle, that if there is anything he can ever do for me, I shouldn’t hesitate to ask. I think I can manage a transfer from DC to San Diego.”
He closed his eyes, his chest full, his heart so full of this woman.
“Thank you for getting me. For understanding who I am. Especially when I didn’t even know myself.” He didn’t know how else to say what he felt, this utter thankfulness to be in this quiet, wild place with her, to be finding his way back.
“Semper Fi, Tristan.”
Tristan held her direct and open, beautiful, green-eyed gaze, and he had never felt the meaning of the words more strongly. Semper Fidelis. Always faithful.
Always.
Epilogue
Amber cheered as Vin kicked her boss’s ass at darts. Sky, exotic eyes aglow, kissed Vin and clinked glasses with him as Chris received a consolation kiss from his wife, Sia. Beau sat next to her with his arm draped over the shoulders of his beautiful fiancée, Kinley, her auburn hair glinting in the overhead light.
“I’m going to miss you, Amber,” Beau said as Vin and Chris started up another set.
Amber turned to him. “I’m going to miss you, too.”
“I think we got what we were looking for, mais yeah. You’re not going to miss our wedding, oui?”
“Oh, God, Beau! Not for anything.”
He smiled. “Can’t believe this is happening. I can’t wait to see her walk down that aisle.”
Kinley nudged him and laughed. “Beau, it’s coming up soon. Still time for you to change your mind.”
Amber reached out and squeezed Kinley’s hand. “Oh, honey. He ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
Kinley looked at Beau, and Amber was sure that was the exact same besotted look that was in her eyes when she looked at Tristan.
“Look at him,” Kinley said. “Who could keep their hands off him?”
“And, on that note, we’re out of here.” Beau rose with Kinley and Amber stood. Beau embraced her. “Keep in touch, chère, and make sure we’re all invited to the wedding.”
“He hasn’t asked me.”
Beau kissed her on the cheek. “He will. Take care and if you ever need us, call.”
The going-away party was winding down. Vin sat down beside Amber and clasped her hand. “When you first walked in the office, I thought, holy cow, it’s Barbie. I wonder how she’ll do.”
“And, how did I do?”
“Let’s put it this way. I’m going to miss the hell out of you, lady, and not just because you did all the grunt work.”
Amber laughed and squeezed his hand. “Thank you, Vin. I’m glad to see you happy.”
He rose and Sky sidled over. “Good luck, Amber,” she said. “I brought this for you. It’s one of my new CDs for stress relief.”
Amber accepted it and kissed both Sky and Vin on the cheek.
Vin leaned over and said, “But really, make sure we get an invitation to the wedding.”
“Again, he hasn’t asked me,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“He will.”
Sia had already said her goodbye and headed out to their car. Amber and Chris were left. “I broke you in and you’re going to take all that expertise and all