Saving Amber - Zoe Dawson Page 0,93
that rock of a man didn’t budge.
“You’re forewarned. Oh, and my mom’s a bridge hugger. She’ll go from one person, right to the next without missing a beat.”
“Damn, do you think she’d teach me how to do that?”
“You laugh now, but she’s a master at it.”
“Okay, I’ll watch out for her right cross.”
Amber broke into laughter. “My sister is beautiful by the way, so don’t go falling in love with her. She’s married anyway.”
He cupped her face and kissed her mouth, murmuring, “Amber, I can’t see anyone but you.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere.”
He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tight. “I’m just limbering up my hugging muscles,” he whispered against her ear.
“Sure you are. You are so transparent,” she replied, pulling him close.
The door flung open and her father was there. Without a word, he dragged her into the house and wrapped his arms around her.
“Oh, God, Amber. My baby. I’m so glad to see you.” His gruff voice made her press her face against his chest and breathe in his familiar Dad scent.
Over his shoulder, she could see her mother come out of the kitchen and make a beeline for her. Her sister jumped up from the couch and before she knew it, her whole family was holding her tight.
Tears stung her eyes.
Then her mother did it. She reached out and bridge hugged Tristan right into the group.
For a moment they all stood there, then her mother and sister released her, but her dad held on just a tad longer.
After he let her go, he said softly, “When Beau called to tell us you were missing, I swear I lost years off my life. I’m so proud of you.”
“You should be, sir. She was brave, strong, and she survived.”
“Daddy, this is the man who saved my life, the man I’m in love with.”
“The man who wants to spend the rest of his life with your daughter, sir. If I have your permission.”
Her dad stuck out his hand. “Thank you, for what you did for my little girl. And, if you make her happy, and it’s what she wants—you have our blessing.”
Amber’s breath caught in her throat when Tristan pulled out a ring box. She looked into his beautiful blue eyes and she clasped both hands around the nape of his neck, pressing her forehead to his.
“Are you asking me to marry you, Marine?”
“What if I am?” he said, opening the box, the diamond inside sparking off the light, dazzling her. “I hope you like it. Rock helped me to pick it out. He kept joking about how the Rock knows about rocks. He, uh, wanted to get you this huge ring, but I knew that’s not what you would want. It’s a decent size but shouldn’t get in your way. So, I’m babbling because I’m nervous as hell. I’m going to stop talking now.”
God, he was so cute. “I think you have a pretty good chance of getting the outcome you want.”
“Is that so?” He smiled and kissed her. Taking the ring out of the box, he slipped it on her finger and the words of her coworkers came back to her. He will. He had.
“I love the ring. It’s beautiful.”
“I love you, Amber. I know this is quick, but why wait when I know this is what I want? It seems like it took me forever to get here, but I haven’t met anyone like you in my life and I can’t imagine not spending the rest of my life with anyone else. Will you marry me?”
She met his hopeful, intense gaze. She kissed him oh-so-softly and whispered “Ooh-rah” against his lips.
He laughed and pulled her close and, without being able to stop it, there was another round of serious hugging. But, like the battle-hardened Marine he was, he took it all in stride.
Afterward, once dinner was served, remarked over and eaten, Tristan was dragged into the garage to look at her dad’s ships in a bottle.
Her sister Sammy looked radiant, rested and beautiful.
“My God, Amber. I’m so jealous of you,” she said, leaning into the counter.
“What?”
“I always have been. You were so athletic, all the guys loved hanging out with you and you were so cool about it. Then you became a lawyer, then this kick-ass agent. Then, to top it off you bring home that hunk of gorgeous man. Congratulations, sis, you’ve got it all.”
Her sister slipped out of the kitchen and Amber walked over to the connecting door to the garage. She watched Tristan listening to every word her dad said, nodding and smiling.
He was so different from the grump that had given her nothing but a hard time.
Her dad turned away and Tristan met her eyes.
She blew him a kiss and he caught it and brought it to his mouth.
Faith was a strange thing. It was believing when there wasn’t any proof. Steadfast and sure.
She mouthed, I love you, and he smiled, mouthing it right back at her. Yeah, her sister was right. She did have it all.
Semper Fi, my Tristan, my Marine, my soon-to-be husband.
My master defender.
***
Don’t miss the next NCIS novel where a wounded Navy SEAL and a senator run for their lives in the hot sands of Afghanistan with assassins on their heels, and sparks flying. Look for Rescuing Piper coming Fall 2020.
About the Author
Zoe Dawson lives in North Carolina, one of the friendliest states in the US. She discovered romance in her teens and has been spinning stories in her head ever since. Her heroes are sexy males with a disregard for danger and whether reluctant, gung-ho, or caught up in the action, show their hearts of gold.
Her imagination runs wild with romances from sensual to scorching including romantic comedy, new adult, romantic suspense, small town, and urban fantasy. Look below to explore the many avenues to her writing. She believes it’s all about the happily ever afters and always will.
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