I stare at him, processing all he’s telling me, and I can’t stop touching him, his hair, his face.
I almost lost him before I even had him
“Was that the last mission?” I ask.
“Yeah,” he confirms. “I was up for re-enlistment, and I decided against it. I put enough years in.”
“Caleb, there are people you can talk to about the nightmares.”
“I already have been,” he replies, his gaze sober. “I started seeing a shrink in San Diego, and I’ll keep seeing one up here. I’m working my shit out, Brynna. I even called my guys’ families, at the direction of my shrink.” He blinks, as though he’s surprised.
“How did that go?” I ask softly.
“Not like I expected.”
“What did you expect?”
“I thought they’d say it was my fault. Yell at me. Hell, I would have.” He shakes his head and clears his throat. “But they all said that they knew it wasn’t my fault, and that they wished me nothing but happiness and peace.”
“They sound like good people,” I whisper.
He nods and glides his knuckles down my, watching my lips as I lick them.
“I’m so sorry I ran, Legs.” He exhales and leans in to rest his forehead against mine. “I was so afraid.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Because I was afraid that I would eventually disappoint you. I figured that you and the girls deserved someone who hasn’t been to hell and back and has the baggage to prove it.”
“Oh, Caleb,” I murmur and drag my fingertips down his cheek. “It’s us who doesn’t deserve you.”
He shakes his head but I cover his lips with my fingers before he can interrupt.
“I’m so proud of you. From the minute I met you, I’ve been proud of you. Not many can do what you’ve done, Caleb. I’m sorry that you have demons, that you lost your men in that mission, but that doesn’t make you less of a man, any more than my baggage from my first marriage makes me less of a woman.”
I sigh as he sweeps his hand up and down my back, soothing us both.
“You need to know, we’re a package deal, Caleb. My girls and I are a team, and if you want to be a part of my life, you have to join the team, not just me.”
He frowns and stares at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“Brynna, you don’t have to remind me of that. I’ve never given you any reason to think that I don’t want your girls.” He kisses my forehead before smiling softly down at me. “They asked me if I was gonna come home where I belong. I told them that was up to you.”
“They love you, you know,” I murmur. “They were devastated after you left. Maddie cried for days. Even Bix couldn’t console her. We adopted him permanently, by the way.”
He nuzzles my nose with his own and then backs away before kissing me, watching me closely.
“I love the three of you with all my heart, Brynna. Your girls may not have come from me, but no one will ever love them more. Let me give all of you my name. Marry me.”
I swallow and my jaw drops in shock. My damn eyes are leaking again, but I can’t move to brush the tears away.
“I want to adopt them,” he continues. “Seeing you there in that hospital made everything crystal clear for me. The thought of ever losing you is like a knife twisting in my soul. I want more babies with you. I want to give you everything you’ve ever wanted.”
I continue to silently cry and watch his handsome face, his deep blue eyes are moist and full of emotion, and I know without a doubt, he is meant for my girls and me.
He’s ours, and we are his.
“You are my happy, Legs. Marry me.”
I smile slowly and cup his face with my hand. “We would be honored to marry you, Caleb Montgomery.”
He smiles widely and leans in to kiss me. Gently. Tenderly. Lovingly.
“Love you so much,” he whispers against my lips, sending tingles through me.
“Love you too, stubborn man,” I whisper back and kiss him, sweeping my lips over his, enjoying the way his stubble feels against my face.
“Keep kissing me like this,” he murmurs and kisses a trail down my jawline to my neck. “And I’ll forget that you were in an accident the other night and have a concussion.”
“I missed kissing you,” I mutter.
He pulls back and cups my face tenderly in his hand, staring down at me longingly. “God, I missed it too. I missed you.”
“Thank you for coming home.”
“You’re gonna marry me.” He smiles proudly.
“We are,” I nod and smile back. “When?”
“As soon as possible. There’s no need to wait.” He shrugs and frowns. “How big of a wedding do you want?”
“I’d love it if it was just our family,” I confess with a shy smile. “Something small and intimate with the people closest to us sounds perfect to me.”
“Hell, we can do that tomorrow.”
“Well, I would like to buy a dress, and the girls will want pretty dresses too,” I remind him.
“Two weeks?”
“I guess I’d better call Alecia the Montgomery party planner extraordinaire and start making plans.”
“Tomorrow,” he agrees. “For right now, I just want to hold you.”
“Good plan.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“Mommy! Look how pretty I am!”