“What is it? You don’t want to do this, do you? You’ve changed your mind?”
I grabbed her shoulders. “You are going to be my wife.” I stared in her eyes to steady her. “Don’t doubt that for a second.”
She exhaled. “Then what is it?”
I pulled one of the formal silk chairs out for her. “Sit.” I pointed.
I didn’t know I could rely on another person the way I relied on Kaitlyn. I’d never put enough time into a relationship before to get something in return. But she had changed my life—for the better. And I knew what I was getting ready to do to her would break both our hearts.
“Listen, baby. I got a call from the Pentagon.”
“What? When?”
I pulled out a second chair and sat, my knees brushing against hers.
“The day you left Padre a colonel called me about a mission.”
“What kind of mission?” she asked.
“Not something I can go into detail about.” I rested a palm on her thigh. “But I’m the only guy who can help them out.”
She shook her head. “You aren’t a Marine anymore. They can’t call you. That’s not possible.”
“I didn’t think so either. However, this is an extreme case. They are out of options. If I don’t go, I’m risking American lives. That’s not something I think I could live with.”
Her bright green eyes misted. Shit. I didn’t want her to cry.
“How long? Where are you going? When?” she sputtered.
“So this is the thing. I leave in the morning.”
A choke strangled her words. “Tomorrow morning?”
I didn’t want to acknowledge it was that soon. “Yes. First thing.”
Her eyes darted back and forth. “But New Year’s Eve is less than a week away.”
“I’m only supposed to be gone five days. I have one day in DC to be briefed on the mission and retain my security clearance before I had overseas. Three days there. One day back and a day to debrief. I’ll be here by the thirtieth. I should be.”
“Should be?”
“I will be.” Saying it didn’t mean it would happen, but I couldn’t tell her that.
“This can’t be happening,” she whispered.
“I know it’s not a great scenario, but it’s five days. We can handle five days. I’ll be back for the wedding. Back to finally make you my wife.”
I brushed a tear from her cheek with my thumb.
“Say that part again.”
“You’re going to be my wife,” I growled. “Only mine.” My lips crashed into hers, crushing her mouth with a fiery possessive kiss. My tongue twisted against hers. I kissed her until she mewed. She crawled into my lap.
“You’ll be here for the wedding? You promise me?”
I swallowed hard, reaching for her lips again. They were fucking addictive. I’d never tasted anything like them. Soft and sweet.
“I promise.”