Command Performance

“I’m scared, Hunter,” she said. “Scared it won’t work. Afraid you’ll break my heart.”

“Maggie, we’ll make it work.”

“Let me finish.” She closed the distance between them and rested her hands on his chest. “I’m willing to take that risk. But in return, I want it all. I want the fantasy. My career and you in my life.”

Hunter reached out and drew her to him, wrapping her in a tight embrace. He closed his eyes tightly. He hadn’t realized until he’d pulled her against him how close he’d been to falling apart, how close he’d come to spilling tears.

“You can have it all,” he whispered in her ear. “Miss Maggie, I’m going to do my best to make your dreams come true. And my best is pretty damn good. I might be leaving the army, but I’m still a Ranger. I’ve been trained to never give up. Ever. I’m going to make you happy. You have my word.”

“That’s good.” She pulled back, but he refused to let her go. She looked up at him, smiling. And he grinned like a fool back down at her.

“Because I’m falling in love with you,” she said. “Head over heels.”

Epilogue

Five Months Later

MAGGIE OPENED THE cover of the book in front of her and looked up at the young woman standing across the table. “Who should I sign this to?”

“Matt, my husband. He’s a marine,” the woman said proudly. She wore a white sweatshirt with a sequined American flag across the front. Perfect for the poorly heated indoor event space at the fairgrounds. “He’s deployed right now, but should be home for the holidays.”

“That’s wonderful,” Maggie said with a smile. She turned to the title page and signed her name.

“I’ve already read your book,” the woman gushed. “I loved how you made the Rangers seem heroic and human at the same time. A lot of writers would make a big deal out of that one poor man’s mistake, but when I read about his wife dying from cancer before he deployed, I just wanted to reach out and hug him.”

“Thank you,” Maggie said sincerely as she handed the book back to her.

“I plan to give this copy to my husband for Christmas.” The woman took her signed book and held it to her chest. “Thanks for being here. Most military authors stick to the large bases and major cities for their tours.”

“You’re welcome,” she said. “And happy holidays.”

The woman walked away and Jane, her publicist, appeared with a stack of books. “Would you mind signing these? There aren’t many left. We had an awesome turnout.”

“Sure.”

Jane plopped her load down on the table and Maggie reached for the first copy. Her publicist took out her BlackBerry and started tapping away. Maggie dropped her pen when Jane let out a high-pitched squeal that sounded more like a junior high cheerleader than a forty-something publishing veteran.

“You hit the list!” Jane announced. “The New York Times printed list!”

“Wow. That’s great.” Shock followed by excitement washed over her. This was her week. First the faculty’s review committee had awarded her tenure and now this. Her book had hit the New York Times list.

“I need to make a few calls,” Jane said. “This is awesome. I hope you have some bubbly on ice at home.”

“I do,” Maggie said as Jane pressed her cell to her ear and walked off. But would she have anyone to share it with? She glanced down at her watch, not that it mattered what time it was. Hunter should have been here yesterday. But delays happened, especially in war zones.

“Have somewhere to be?”

Her body tingled at the sound of the familiar voice. It had been over a month since she’d heard it and even longer since she’d seen the soldier standing across the folding table.

“I’ve heard they have great nachos here,” she said, forcing her voice to remain calm despite the excitement brewing inside her. “I want to make sure I get there before the stand closes.”

Hunter laughed as he walked around the table. She stood to meet him and he drew her into his arms. Her hands went to his chest, pressed against his uniform. From the look and smell of him, he’d come straight from his mission, hopped on a plane to New York and driven to meet her. But she didn’t care if he smelled like he’d been traveling for the past twenty-four hours from God-knew-where. He was safe and home with her.

Every time he went out on one of his missions, she held her breath until he returned, and her heart ached for him. Being with him was scary, but not in the way she’d imagined. His private security job hadn’t landed him behind a desk. He was out in war zones doing what he did best—and risking his life. But at the end of the mission, he came home to her. She never doubted that. Over the past few months, the wild, out-of-control love she’d once feared had filled her with joy.

He looked into her eyes and she felt a flutter low in her belly. “You’re too late, honey,” he said. “They stopped serving nachos months ago.”

Maggie rose on her tiptoes and brushed her lips over his. He tightened his hold on her, deepening the kiss until every inch of her was pressed against him, and fully aware of how turned on he was. She broke the kiss and looked up at him, content to remain in his arms. “Then we’ll have to settle for plan B.”