“Hey, Ainsley,” Wolf called. “Remember, Mozart and I have a bet going, so we want to know how long it takes him, got it?”
She smiled and nodded. Her heart beat so fast it nearly jumped right out of her chest.
“He’s in room eight.” The woman pointed down the hall. “If you need anything, just go to the nurses’ station.”
“Thank you.” Ainsley stood just shy of the curtain. She took in a deep breath and tugged at the fabric. “Hey, you,” she whispered.
Keanu turned his head and smiled like a big kid. “Come here.” He patted the side of the bed and winced as he shifted.
Tentatively, she sat on the edge of the gurney. He had wires hooked up to his chest that were attached to a machine that beeped. An IV hung over the bed, dripping fluids into his body. Bandages covered his bare chest. A trickle of blood stained through.
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
“Why are you crying?” he asked, taking her hand. He brought it to his lips and held it there for a long time.
With her free hand, she swiped at her cheek. “You almost died because of me. So many people died because of me.”
He reached out and ran his fingers through her hair. “Sweetheart, none of this is because of you. If you want to blame someone, put it on Andrew and all the other terrorists. They are the ones who set this in motion. You were just an innocent bystander.”
“But if I hadn’t—”
He covered her mouth with his hand and groaned.
“You have to stop trying to move.” She shifted closer, fluffing the pillow behind his head.
“Then stop talking nonsense. Besides, I’d be a horrible boyfriend if I didn’t go after the woman I loved when someone kidnapped her right in front of me.”
Her mouth fell open, and her heart fluttered to her stomach. “Love? They must have you on some really strong shit.”
“I’m still feeling the effects of whatever they gave me, but that has nothing to do with my heart. I fell in love with you in Mexico.”
“I lied to you about who I was.”
He arched a brow. “I told you I was a computer salesman. But I can promise you no more lies.”
“I don’t ever want to lie to you again.”
“Do you love me?” he asked.
More tears welled in her eyes. “As crazy as all this is, I love you with all my heart and soul.”
He touched his lips. “I can’t bend up there to kiss you, so you’re going to have to bring it home.”
Careful not to put any pressure on his wounds, she leaned over and kissed him tenderly. “How long have I been in here?”
“About ten minutes, why?”
“Mozart and Wolf made a bet on how long it would take for you to say you loved me. Mozart won.”
Keanu laughed and then grabbed his side and coughed. “I love you, Ainsley. And I will always do what I have to in order to protect you.”
Epilogue
Six months later…
“I can’t believe we came back here for our honeymoon.” Keanu stepped out onto the balcony and wrapped his arms around the most wonderful woman in the world. “While everything that happened in Mexico was mostly wonderful, it ended weird.”
“Not to mention you kept calling out the wrong name in the throes of passion.” Ainsley rested her head on his shoulder. “But I thought it was fitting and brought us full circle. Thank you for letting me have this over Paris.” She turned and rested her hands on his shoulders.
“I’ll take you to France for our one-year anniversary. How would that be?”
“Amazing, but we might have a tiny little problem this time next year.” She turned and held up a thumb and forefinger.
“Are you thinking about work? Because we can plan it around your dance schedule, and you know, I like my two weeks’ vacation, and I get them every year.”
“It’s not about work.” She leaned in and kissed the side of his neck.
It sent a warm shiver over his skin.
“Then what?” The intoxicating smell of her strawberry hair filled his nose and tickled his heart. He never thought he could love anyone as much as he loved Ainsley. The last year of his life had been better than he could have ever dreamed. He couldn’t imagine what his life would be like without her in it. “And don’t say money, because we both know we can afford it.”
She shook her head with the biggest, brightest smile he’d ever seen on her sweet, angelic face. “None of the above.”
“Then I’m at a loss.”
She cupped his cheeks and drew him in for a tender kiss. He tried to deepen it, but she pushed him away and took his hand, placing it on her midsection. “We can go, but we’ll be bringing with us some baggage.”
He laughed. “You don’t know how to pack light, that’s for sure.”
“Again, not what I’m referencing.” She pressed his hand harder against her middle.
Looking down at his hand splayed over her belly, his lungs deflated. He struggled to catch a breath. “I think I need to sit down.”
“Are you okay?”
He stumbled back into the hotel room and nearly missed the edge of the bed. Staring at her, he opened his mouth, but no words formed. He tried again.
Nothing.
“Are you upset? I know we barely talked about it, and the timing might not be—”
“A baby? We’re having a baby?” he asked with a voice that sounded like a boy going through puberty. He blinked a few times, focusing on Ainsley. They had discussed that they both wanted to have children. One, maybe two, and maybe after being married for a couple of years, but that was more her than him. He knew he wanted one right away, and now she was standing there telling him that he was about to be a father.
“We are,” she said, still smiling.
Jumping from the bed, he lifted her into his arms and twirled her around. “I didn’t think I could be any happier than I was two days ago when you did me the honor of letting me be your one and only.” He set her down on her feet and stared into her loving eyes. “I will spend the rest of my life protecting you and our family.”
“And the rest of the world, because that’s who you are.”
Thank you so much for taking the time to read PROTECTING AINSLEY, the first book in my new series search and rescue. Pick up the next book in the series, Protecting Clover NOW!
Please feel free to leave an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or Bookbub.
Also, in Susan Stoker’s Special Forces Operation Alpha is my Air Force Fireman Protection series. I hope you will give them a try!
About the Author
Welcome to my World! I'm a USA Today Bestseller of Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, and Paranormal Romance.
I first started writing while carting my kids to one hockey rink after the other, averaging 170 games per year between 3 kids in 2 countries and 5 states. My first book, IN TWO WEEKS was originally published in 2007. In 2010 I helped form a publishing company (Cool Gus Publishing) with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer where I ran the technical side of the business through 2016.
I'm currently enjoying the next phase of my life...the empty NESTER! My husband and I spend our winters in Jupiter, Florida and our summers in Rochester, NY. We have three amazing children who have all gone off to carve out their places in the world, while I continue to craft stories that I hope will make you readers feel good and put a smile on your face.
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Also by Jen Talty
Brand New Series!
Brand New Series!
It’s all in the Whiskey
JOHNNIE WALKER
GEORGIA MOON
NY State Trooper Series
IN TWO WEEKS
DARK WATER
DEADLY SECRETS
MURDER IN PARADISE BAY
TO PROTECT HIS OWN
DEADLY SEDUCTION
WHEN A STRANGER CALLS
NY State Trooper Novella
HIS DEADLY PAST
Brand New Novella for the First Responders series
A spin off from the NY State Troopers series
PLAYING WITH FIRE
PRIVATE CONVERSATION
The Men of Thief Lake
REKINDLED
DESTINY’S DREAM
Other novels
JANE DOE’S RETURN
THE BUTTERFLY MURDERS
The Aegis Network
THE LIGHTHOUSE
HER LAST HOPE
THE LAST FLIGHT
THE RETURN HOME
Coming soon!
THE MATRIARCH
The Collective Order
THE LOST SISTER
THE LOST SOLDIER
THE LOST SOUL
Coming soon!
THE LOST CONNECTION
Special Forces Operation Alpha
BURNING DESIRE
BURNING KISS
BURNING SKIES
BURNING LIES
BURNING HEART
BURNING BED
REMEMBER ME ALWAYS
Search and Rescue Series
PROTECTING AINSLEY
PROTECTING CLOVER
The Brotherhood Protectors
ROUGH JUSTICE
ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES
ROUGH RIDE
ROUGH EDGE
The Twilight Crossing Series
THE BLIND DATE
SPRING FLING
SUMMER’S GONE
WINTER WEDDING
Witches and Werewolves
LADY SASS
ALL THAT SASS
Coming soon!
NEON SASS
PAINTING SASS
Boxsets
LOVE CHRISTMAS, MOVIES
UNFORGETABLE PASSION
UNFORGETABLE CHARMERS
A NIGHT SHE’LL REMEMBER
SWEET AND SASSY IN THE SNOW
SWEET AND SASSY PRINCE CHARMING
FINDERS KEEPERS: THE PURSE
PROTECT AND DESIRE
SWEET AND SASSY BABY LOVE
CHRISTMAS AT MISTLETOE LODGE
THE PLAYERS: OVERCOMING THE ODDS
Novellas
NIGHTSHADE
A CHRISTMAS GETAWAY
TAKING A RISK
WHISPERS
There are many more books in this fan fiction world than listed here, for an up-to-date list go to www.AcesPress.com
You can also visit our Amazon page at:
http://www.amazon.com/author/operationalpha
Special Forces: Operation Alpha World
Christie Adams: Charity’s Heart
Denise Agnew: Dangerous to Hold
Shauna Allen: Awakening Aubrey
Brynne Asher: Blackburn
Linzi Baxter: Unlocking Dreams
Jennifer Becker: Hiding Catherine
Alice Bello: Shadowing Milly
Heather Blair: Rescue Me
Anna Blakely: Rescuing Gracelynn
Amy Briggs: Saving Sarah
Julia Bright: Saving Lorelei
Victoria Bright: Surviving Savage
Cara Carnes: Protecting Mari
Kendra Mei Chailyn: Beast
Melissa Kay Clarke: Rescuing Annabeth
Samantha A. Cole: Handling Haven
Sue Coletta: Hacked
Melissa Combs: Gallant
Anne Conley: Redemption for Misty
KaLyn Cooper: Rescuing Melina
Liz Crowe: Marking Mariah
Sarah Curtis: Securing the Odds
Jordan Dane: Redemption for Avery
Tarina Deaton: Found in the Lost
KL Donn: Unraveling Love
Riley Edwards: Protecting Olivia
PJ Fiala: Defending Sophie
Nicole Flockton: Protecting Maria
Michele Gwynn: Rescuing Emma
Casey Hagen: Shielding Nebraska
EM Hayes: Gambling for Ashleigh
Desiree Holt: Protecting Maddie
Kathy Ivan: Saving Sarah
Jesse Jacobson: Protecting Honor
Silver James: Rescue Moon
Becca Jameson: Saving Sofia
Kate Kinsley: Protecting Ava
Heather Long: Securing Arizona
Gennita Low: No Protection
Kirsten Lynn: Joining Forces for Jesse
Margaret Madigan: Bang for the Buck
Kimberly McGath: The Predecessor
Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Baby
KD Michaels: Saving Laura
Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound
Kat Mizera: Protecting Bobbi
Mary B Moore: Force Protection
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Butterfly
Angela Nicole: Protecting the Donna
MJ Nightingale: Protecting Beauty
Sarah O’Rourke: Saving Liberty
Victoria Paige: Reclaiming Izabel
Anne L. Parks: Mason
Debra Parmley: Protecting Pippa
Lainey Reese: Protecting New York
TL Reeve and Michele Ryan: Extracting Mateo
Elena M. Reyes: Keeping Ava
Angela Rush: Charlotte
Rose Smith: Saving Satin
Jenika Snow: Protecting Lily
Lynn St. James: SEAL’s Spitfire
Dee Stewart: Conner
Harley Stone: Rescuing Mercy
Jen Talty: Burning Desire
Megan Vernon: Protecting Us
Police and Fire: Operation Alpha World
Freya Barker: Burning for Autumn
KaLyn Cooper: Justice for Gwen
Aspen Drake: Sheltering Emma
Deanndra Hall: Shelter for Sharla
Barb Han: Kace
CM Steele: Guarding Hope
Reina Torres: Justice for Sloane
Stacey Wilk: Stage Fright
As you know, this book included at least one character from Susan Stoker’s books. To check out more, see below.
SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series
Securing Caite
Securing Brenae (novella)
Securing Sidney
Securing Piper
Securing Zoey (Jan 2020)
Securing Avery (May 2020)
Securing Kalee (Sept 2020)
Delta Team Two Series
Shielding Gillian (Apr 2020)
Shielding Kinley (Aug 2020)
Shielding Aspen (Oct 2020)
Shielding Riley (TBA)
Shielding Devyn (TBA)
Shielding Ember (TBA)
Shielding Sierra (TBA)
Delta Force Heroes Series
Rescuing Rayne (FREE!)
Rescuing Aimee (novella)
Rescuing Emily
Rescuing Harley
Marrying Emily (novella)
Rescuing Kassie
Rescuing Bryn
Rescuing Casey
Rescuing Sadie (novella)
Rescuing Wendy
Rescuing Mary
Rescuing Macie (Novella)
Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series
Justice for Mackenzie (FREE!)
Justice for Mickie
Justice for Corrie
Justice for Laine (novella)
Shelter for Elizabeth
Justice for Boone
Shelter for Adeline
Shelter for Sophie
Justice for Erin
Justice for Milena
Shelter for Blythe
Justice for Hope
Shelter for Quinn
Shelter for Koren
Shelter for Penelope
SEAL of Protection Series
Protecting Caroline (FREE!)
Protecting
Alabama
Protecting Fiona
Marrying Caroline (novella)
Protecting Summer
Protecting Cheyenne
Protecting Jessyka
Protecting Julie (novella)
Protecting Melody
Protecting the Future
Protecting Kiera (novella)
Protecting Alabama’s Kids (novella)
Protecting Dakota
New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Tennessee where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, Indiana, and Texas. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.
www.stokeraces.com
www.AcesPress.com
susan@stokeraces.com