Harrier's Healer (30 page)

gloated.

“So is the husband’s jealousy,” Scott growled.

Tag walked up to Alexis and planted a big kiss on her, tipping

her backwards and everything. Just before Scott ripped him away from

her, he stood her up and stepped back. “Wow,” he said licking his lips.

“That was some kiss.”

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Aliyah Burke

Alexis just stood there blinking. Scott noticed and sighed. He

couldn’t even really be angry at them.

A touch on his arm and he looked down at his lovely bride.

“What is it, sweetheart?”

“Look who just arrived.” She pointed to the door where Scott

saw his father and mother walk in, dressed to the nines. He was

relieved to see them. Alexis’s family had been wonderful, accepting

him upon sight, but he’d felt a bit sad not to see his own parents at the

ceremony.

“Go talk to them,” Alexis urged. “I’m going to go dance.”

With a kiss to Alexis’s forehead, he went to do just that.

That night, as the moon shone down on the ocean, two lovers

walked hand-in-hand along the deserted beach. Waves lapped at their

feet as the man finally stopped and gathered the woman into his arms.

“I love you, healer of my heart,” the man murmured softly.

Dropping her head back so she could meet his eyes in the muted

light, the woman responded, “And I love you, my husband.”

Scott brushed his lips against hers. “I will never get tired of

hearing you call me that.”

“Thank you. For not giving up on me.” Alexis smiled. “For not

giving up on us.”

“Oh, Lex, how could I give up on us when we were meant to be?

Our destiny was written in the stars.”

Turning in his embrace so she could stare out over her beloved

ocean, Alexis inhaled deeply. A gentle smile crossed her face as she

imagined what their life together would bring.

Without a word, the Navy SEAL swept his wife up in his arms.

Even pregnant, she hardly weighed anything to him. He carried her

back up the beach, leaving behind the outside world for the chance to

be with the woman who made him a better man. The woman who had

healed him.

The twinkling stars and the waning moon filtered down light on

the couple as they began their new life together. There were no inter-

ruptions from beepers or phones, just two people whose lives had

become irrevocably intertwined. They made love until the moon set

beyond the horizon and the sun began to climb in the sky.

Clear of clouds, it was an omen of good things to come. On the

chaise on the porch, the warm sun fell upon a couple covered by a

blanket. The man had his body curled protectively around the woman

Harrier's Healer

183

and his hand cupped her belly as if guarding the life that grew in there

as well.

The woman was asleep but the man was awake, gazing at her

and their unborn baby. “I love you, Alexis Milele Leighton.”

As the sun watched over him, he watched over his family. As his

wife slept, Scott, too, began to give in to the lure of the sandman.

Almost reluctant to close his eyes for fear it might all be a dream, his

hold on her body tightened as he finally drifted off to sleep.

A Navy SEAL nicknamed Harrier and Alexis, his healer, had fi-

nally found and accepted their destinies. To be together. As one. For all

time.

About the Author

Aliyah Burke loves to read and write. Her debut novel,
A Knight's

Vow
, was released in 2004. She loves to hear from her readers and can

be reached at [email protected], [email protected],

and feel free to join her yahoo group at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aliyah_burke or friend her at

http://www.myspace.com/aliyahburke. Please stop by her website,

www.aliyah-burke.com for more available titles—just don't forget to

sign the guestbook!

Aliyah is married to a career military man. They have a German

Shepherd, a Borzoi, and a DSH cat. Her days are spent splitting her

time between work, writing, and dog training.