Seven Days to Forever (28 page)

Jack moved quickly to press his finger over the disconnect. “Don’t do it, son.”

“Keep out of this, Jack.”

“Your duty here is done. Abbie’s going to be fine. She doesn’t need you anymore.”

Flynn knocked Jack’s hand away from the phone. “Maybe not. But I need her.”

Jack stared at him. “You’re serious.”

“Damn right. I need that woman. I—”

And suddenly it all became perfectly clear. He had the answer to the question that had been circling his mind for days. He smiled.

“I don’t like the look of that smile,” Jack muttered.

“Yeah, I’d say he thought about it, all right,” Rafe said.

Flynn dialed the major’s number again. When he heard Redinger’s voice, he squared his shoulders, prepared for a fight.

But someone had beat him to it. He listened, stunned, as the major confirmed a short leave had already been approved. He was told to report to Fort Bragg in three days time.

Rafe was grinning as Flynn hung up the phone. “The captain’s been busy.”

Flynn felt off balance, as if he’d just thrown all his weight against a door to break it down only to find it was already open.

“The three-day leave was Sarah’s idea,” Rafe continued. “Lately she’s been getting into that touchy-feely stuff, said you and Abbie deserve some more time alone. Jack, can you give him anything for those hives?”

“Last chance, O’Toole,” Jack said. “You can still come with us.”

Flynn took a pace back.

Jack muttered another oath and reached into his pocket for his wallet. He counted out five twenty-dollar bills and handed them to Rafe. “Looks like you win, Marek.”

Rafe chuckled as he folded the money. “I had an advantage. Ever since I found Glenna, I can recognize the signs.” He stood up, reached behind the sofa and tossed a duffel bag toward Flynn. “Well, since you’re staying, you’re going to need this.”

Flynn caught it and looked at the name on the top. It was his own.

“Your helmet’s in the closet by the door,” Rafe said. “I left your bike in the visitors’ lot. Your keys are in the duffel bag.”

Jack was still muttering as he walked to the door. “I thought it was a sure bet.”

“It was,” Rafe said. “You just chose the wrong side.” He punched Flynn’s shoulder as he went past. “Good luck, buddy. We’ll see you at Bragg.”

Flynn locked the door behind them and stared at the bag in his hand. Rafe had known all along that Flynn would want to stay. More than that, he’d suckered Jack into betting against him. Flynn wondered if Abbie’s family was anything like his family, the members of Eagle Squadron. Probably. And oddly enough he was looking forward to meeting them. Shaking his head, he turned toward the bedroom.

Abbie stood in the bedroom doorway, her eyes puffy. Pink sleep wrinkles pressed into her cheek from the pillow. Her hair was a tangled mass of curls. She clutched her robe closed at her throat and looked around. “Flynn? I thought I heard voices.”

How could he have thought she wasn’t his type? He’d never seen a woman look more beautiful.

He put his bag beside her suitcase and walked toward her. “You did. Rafe and Jack were here to drop off our things. They’re on their way back to the base.”

“The warehouse?”

“No. It’s been cleaned out. They’re going home.”

“Oh. But why are you still here?”

He stopped when his toes nudged hers. There were so many things he could say. Too many unformed explanations whirled in his head. It wasn’t easy to change the habits of a lifetime, but right now—this moment—was where it would start.

So he gave her the simple answer. “I’m here because I love you, Abbie.”

She blinked. The hand that held her robe closed trembled.

“I love you,” he repeated. “Damn, I’ve never said that to anyone before, but do you know something? It gets easier the more I say it.”

Abbie let go of her robe and touched her fingertips lightly to his face. She must be dreaming. Walking in her sleep and fantasizing.

But he was real. His jaw prickled with the start of his morning beard stubble. His dimples deepened beneath her thumb. He was no fantasy. Somehow the man she loved was standing in front of her and saying…

“Say it again,” she whispered.

He laughed. “I love you, Miss Abigail Locke.”

She smiled.

“That’s the one.” He lifted her up so her face was level with his. He looked at her mouth. “I sure hope your smile means what it did yesterday.”

“Yesterday, today and tomorrow. It won’t change, Flynn.” She wrapped her legs around his waist. “I’ll always love you.”

He kissed her nose. “How about the day after tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

He kissed her chin. “And the day after that?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Good, because I only have three days before I have to be back at Bragg. Do you think we can get married by then?”

She looped her arms behind his neck as her head started to spin. “Married?”

“I thought that’s what you wanted.”

“It’s so sudden. We’ve only known each other for a week.”

He swung her to the side and nipped her earlobe. “What’s the use of waiting around once you’ve made your choice?”

“Flynn, are you sure?”

“Yes. I want to stay.”

There was something about the way he said those words that made her pause. She grabbed his head in her hands so that she could look at him.

He was no longer smiling. There were no barriers between what he kept in his heart and what showed on his face. And what she saw made her catch her breath. It was pain mixed with courage. Caution tangled with hope. Longing. Certainty.

“I want to stay,” he repeated. “Whether it’s here or at Bragg. Where we live doesn’t matter, as long as we’re together. I’m through standing on the outside looking in. You’ve shown me what true courage is, Abbie. This time I’m not going to leave.”

She knew what this must be costing him. She understood the scars of his past were only beginning to heal. But he was willing to take this risk, and she loved him all the more for it.

“And I know I’m not the man you had in mind,” he said. “But I’ll trade in my bike for a station wagon if that’s what it takes to make your dreams come true.”

“Oh, Flynn.” She smoothed his too-long hair and pressed a kiss to one of his dimples. Someday she would take the time to think about fate and karmic birthday gifts, but not now. She pulled his head to hers. “You’re all that I could wish for. I don’t want you to change a thing.”

ISBN: 978-1-4268-8267-8

SEVEN DAYS TO FOREVER

Copyright © 2003 by Ingrid Caris

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* Eagle Squadron

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* Eagle Squadron

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