Page 38 of The Marine

What I want now that I’ve had Briar back in my arms is to shake some sense into her and marry her.

I’ve never stopped wanting and loving her. It’s just now, I can’t ignore it any longer.

Briar is the one for me.

She always has been, and god help me, she always will be.

The big question—aside from will she have me—is if she’s ready to accept a man who can love and protect her. The bruise on her neck tells me she hasn’t healed from her childhood wounds—the invisible ones inside. Until she does, she might not know how to accept true love into her life.

I read that in a book when I was trying to make sense of everything. Hurt people find it difficult to let love in.

Most of it is unconscious behavior—they’re unaware they do it unless they go through a time of self-exploration.

Facing the truth of that can be confrontational and uncomfortable.

So, fuck. Where does that leave me?

I tap my pen on the desk and resist the urge to go hover over Thomas’s shoulder while he gathers the information I need.

Only just.

Instead, I pull up the security details for Ryder and Savannah’s wedding and start finalizing the team.

It’s less than ten days away.

After the wedding, I’m making my move.

CHAPTER NINE

BRIAR

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“Mom, I have to go.”I rub my forehead and hope like hell no one can hear me because I’m at Savannah’s house, standing in the hallway outside her office.

The house—mansion—is enormous enough that I could find a space with complete privacy, but I don’t feel right walking around her home.

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