“Why do you want to move on?”
Her brow furrowed, she tilted her head as she said, “I need to move on, Logan. What happened in Alaska happened. But I know it’s over. The mission…us…it’s over. Staying in love with a man who doesn’t reciprocate that love isn’t healthy.”
“But you only told me how you felt,” he accused gently. “You didn’t ask me how I felt.”
Pinching her lips together, she stared without saying anything.
“I went to Alaska to do a mission. One mission. Find the terrorist cell. Work with a biologist to determine what they were up to. And when I had the evidence, terminate them. That was it.” Spreading his hand out from his body, he said, “But I never counted on falling in love with you.”
She gasped as her eyes widened, but she remained silent.
“Living with you…laughing with you…hell, just being with you was more than I ever expected. And came to be all I wanted.” Letting out a shaky breath, he said, “But when it got right down to it, I was afraid. I hated to think of you knowing what I had to do. I hated to think of how you would look at me. And so, I took the chicken-shit way out. I pushed you away, instead of telling you the truth and then letting you figure out if you could still care for me.”
Vivian faced him fully now, her purse dropping to the floor as she wrapped her arms protectively around her middle. “I was scared. Never scared of you, but I admit, knowing what you had to do unnerved me. I didn’t stop loving you,” she admitted, “but I wish we had had time to talk about us. Everything went to hell so quickly, I didn’t know how to cope.”
Shaking his head sadly, he said, “Me neither. I pushed you away to protect you, but all I did was make you feel rejected. I’m sorry, Viv. So fuckin’ sorry.”
Her chin dropped and she stared at her boots for a moment, then lifted her head, her eyes full of determination. “So, what now?”
A slow smile spread across his face as he asked, “Do you still love me?”
Her mouth opened and closed several times.
“Simple question, Viv. Do you still love me?”
She nodded, slowly at first, afraid and uncertain. Seeing his smile widen, she said, “Yes. I never stopped loving you.”
“Then what are you doing on the other side of the room?”
“Wondering about you,” she said, her words barely above a whisper.
“I never stopped loving you either,” he said. Opening his arms wide, she darted forward, jumping into his embrace. The feel of her body pressed against his, with arms wrapped around her, was achingly familiar and unconditionally needed.
36
One Year Later
Logan stood on the porch, his smile wide as he watched Vivian drive up, her eyes bright when they landed on him. He had been waiting for her to return, his surprise burning a hole in his pocket. As she walked to the steps, he rushed down, picking her up, swinging her around, his lips on hers.
Finally, setting her down, he grabbed her laptop bag from her shoulder and carried it toward the front door, before taking her hand and leading her to the porch swing. He had gladly added it to the porch when she moved to Montana, so she could enjoy the sunrises from their bedroom and the sunsets from their porch. Sitting down, he settled her next to him, tucking her in closely.
“Have a good day?”
Smiling, she replied, “Got the finals graded and all semester grades are in. So, I’m a free bird until next fall.”
Taking a job with a university less than two hours away, she made the drive three days a week, teaching biology classes and working with the Public Administration degree program as a Homeland Security Advisor.
“What about you?”
“Two tour groups and a photographer doing aerial studies of the reservation.” He leaned over, kissing her lips, drinking her in. “So,” he mumbled against her soft skin, “you’ve got the summer off?”
“Mmmm,” she muttered in reply.
He leaned back, chuckling at her pout when the kiss ended. “Sorry, babe, but I have something to do and I can’t really do it justice when my lips are on yours.”
Vivian watched as he reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a ring...a beautiful solitaire, simple and elegant. Gasping, her eyes filled with tears as he slipped the ring on her finger.
“I want you to be my wife, Vivian. I promise to always be by your side and I never want to skate on thin ice by myself ever again.”
The tears sliding down her cheeks were gently wiped away and she smiled. Her arms encircled his neck as he pulled her close, his lips once more finding hers.
* * *
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For Logan’s introduction, you will find him in:
Surviving Love
And stay tuned…Logan will be the start of a new series in late 2018!
* * *
Don’t miss the other books in the Sleeper SEAL Series. All stand-alone, they can be read in any order.
Protecting Dakota - Susan Stoker
Slow Ride - Becky McGraw
Michael’s Mercy- Dale Mayer
Saving Zola - Becca Jameson
Bachelor SEAL- Sharon Hamilton
Montana Rescue - Elle James
Grinch Reaper - Donna Michaels
All In - Lori Ryan
Broken SEAL - Geri Foster
Freedom Code - Elaine Levine
Flat Line - J.m. Madden
* * *
If you liked Thin Ice, check out the other books by me!
Maryann Jordan
Baytown Boys (small town, military romantic suspense)
Coming Home
Just One More Chance
Clues of the Heart
Finding Peace
Picking Up the Pieces (pre-order)
* * *
Follow the exciting spin-off series:
Alvarez Security (military romantic suspense)
Gabe
Tony
Vinny
Jobe
* * *
Saints Protection & Investigations
(an elite group, assigned to the cases no one else wants…or can solve)
Serial Love
Healing Love
Seeing Love
Honor Love
Sacrifice Love
Remember Love
Discover Love
Celebrating Love
* * *
Letters From Home (military romance)
Class of Love
Freedom of Love
Bond of Love
* * *
The Love’s Series (detectives)
Love’s Taming
Love’s Tempting
Love’s Trusting
* * *
The Fairfield Series (small town detectives)
Emma’s Home
Laurie’s Time
Carol’s Image
Fireworks Over Fairfield
* * *
Please take the time to leave a review of this book. Feel free to contact me, especially if you enjoyed my book. I love to hear from readers!
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Also by Maryann Jordan
Alvarez Security Series
Gabe
Tony
Vinny
Jobe
Sacrifice Love
Heroes at Heart
Jayden (Coming Soon)
Zander
Rafe
Cael
Jaxon
Letters From Home
Class of Love
Bond of Love
Lighthouse Security Investigations
Mace
Rank
Saints Protection & Investigations
Serial Love
Seeing Love
Honor Love
&
nbsp; Healing Love
Remember Love
Discover Love
Serial Love & Healing Love Box Set
Saints Protection & Investigations Boxed Set 1
Surviving Love
Celebrating Love
Revealing Love
Protecting Love
Searching Love
Silver SEALs
SEAL Together
Sleeper Seals
Thin Ice
The Love's Series
Love's Tempting
Love's Taming
Love's Trusting
Watch for more at Maryann Jordan’s site.
Also by Suspense Sisters
Silver SEALs
SEAL Together
Sleeper Seals
Thin Ice