Undercover with the SEAL (Norse Security 2)

18

Six months later

“Cut!” the stage director yelled from the wings, and Hunter looked up from his phone. “Okay. Let’s break for lunch, people. We’ll continue rehearsals at two.”

Finally. His stomach growled as he finished thumbing in his text to his second-in-command at the agency, then shut off his phone and stowed it in his pocket as Alex approached up the aisle from the stage.

“Hey, sweetie.” She bent down and kissed him on the lips. “Ready to eat?”

“When am I not ready to eat?” He grinned and stood, taking her hand as they walked through the lobby of the historic Broadway theater. Turned out Alex had been right. She did have new things to explore on her career path. Like working in plays in New York City. It was still a couple hours away from Virginia, but way closer than L.A. And it gave them the opportunity to spend time together, which these days was not as often as he’d like.

They walked outside into the bright spring sunshine and headed toward the deli on the corner. Hunter loved their corned beef while Alex was a diehard pastrami fan.

“How’s the case going at the office?” she asked, slipping her sunglasses on as they weaved down the busy sidewalk, dodging tourists and other pedestrians as they went. “The human trafficking trial is coming up next month, right? They still want me to testify, yes?”

“Yes.” He held the door for her then followed Alex inside the busy restaurant. The smells of fresh baked bread and smoked meats slapped him in the face and made his stomach growl louder. The guys behind the counter were shouting orders to each other and the customers were angling for any free tables in the joint. He cocked his head toward the dining area. “Why don’t you get us a table, baby? You want your regular?”

“Yep. Thanks.” Alex sped off toward a newly opened table for two near the windows, flashing her trademark winning smile at a man who had also made a beeline to claim it. Hunter chuckled as the guy blinked then graciously bowed before walking away. Hunter knew how that guy felt. He’d been thoroughly dazzled by Alex himself. So much so that things had gotten way more serious way faster than he’d ever expected. Serious to the point that—

“Next?” the guy behind the counter yelled, waving Hunter up to the register. “What can I get you, pal?”

Hunter rattled off their order then stepped down the line to pay and wait for pick up. He patted his jeans pocket while he waited, feeling the small lump there. This wasn’t exactly the fairy tale location he’d planned for popping the big question, but sometimes you had to think on your feet. A lesson he’d learned all too well out in L.A. He’d gone in there, a solid plan in place. Then Alex had come along and blown all his ordered, neat ideas clear out of the water. And he loved her more each day for that.

Loki had even complimented him on his ability to improvise under stress when he’d given him the promotion at the agency. Things had worked out fine in the end, even if they were different than he’d expected.

He grabbed the brown paper bag of food when his name was called then made his way over to the table where Alex sat, looking beautiful as al

ways. New York life agreed with her. Her hair was straight and pulled back into a simple ponytail. She had on minimal makeup and just a plain white T-shirt and jeans, yet Hunter didn’t think he’d ever seen anything so exquisite in his life.

He took the seat across from her while she dished out their food. “Rehearsals going okay?”

“Yep,” she said as she unwrapped her sandwich. “I thought Bea might have a hard time with the material, seeing as how it’s based on what we went through at that sex club, but I think it’s actually been good for her. Cathartic.”

“Must be all that Method acting, huh?” Hunter winked as he bit into his corned beef.

“Must be.” Alex wiped her mouth. “Word has it there’s already Tony buzz for her role in the play even though it hasn’t even opened yet. I pray that’s true. No one deserves that award more than Bea.”

Hunter swallowed his bite of sandwich then took a sip of his iced tea. “No one but maybe you. You went through a lot too, to get her back safely.”

“I already got my reward.” Alex reached over and laced her fingers with Hunter’s, her smile full of so much love it made his chest hurt. “I’m so happy.”

“Me too, baby. Me too.” He took a deep breath then reached into his pocket to pull out a small black velvet box. “And I want to continue being happy forever after.” Hunter opened the box and set the sparkling diamond solitaire engagement ring on the table in front of Alex. “Will you marry me, baby?”

Her gorgeous eyes widened and Alex blinked several times at the ring, her gaze darting back and forth between it and him. “W-what is this? W-what’s happening here?”

Their conversation had drawn the attention of several tables around them and soon quiet settled over their little corner of the diner. Hunter cleared his throat and brought Alex’s hand to his mouth to kiss her fingers. “I love you, Alex, and I’m asking you to be my wife.”

“Oh, God.” Tears slipped down her cheeks and she gave him a watery smile. “Yes! Yes, Hunter Odenson, I love you and I would love to be your wife!”

He was pretty sure the cheers inside the diner could be heard all the way in Virginia.

Hunter stood and pulled Alex from her seat, slipping his ring on her finger before tugging her closer for a passionate kiss—which drew more cheers and whistles from the crowd.

“Best lunch ever, baby,” he whispered near her ear once their kiss ended.

Alex held him close and giggled. “Best life ever, sweetheart.”

End of Undercover with the SEAL