Page 76 of Call Sign: Thunder
Allison listened and while Zach did seem truly excited about the job opportunity, something worried her.
“But… honey, you love flying. The last thing I want you to do is take an office job that you’ll end up hating. I’d rather you do what you love — what you’re so good at. It’s true, retail isn’t my dream job, but once I get my degree, I’ll be able to get a better job and make more money to help out.”
“Baby, I love you.” Zach grinned. “But that’s the best part. I don’t have to give up flying. In fact, I’ll be able to fly all different kinds of planes and helos in the new position — doing more of what I’m doing now for the Marines, only this time in the private sector.”
The private sector? Allison turned what he said around, thinking about what kind of job like that her father would have connections to.
Allison glanced at her dad, looking for confirmation from him and finally asking. “You mean you didn’t send him for some boring office job in the government with you?”
Her dad chuckled. “Nice to know you think me being a United States Senator is boring, but honestly… why would I do that to Zach when I know how invaluable his skills are in a cockpit?”
Allison looked between the two most important men in her life, both looking at her with unconditional love for her shining in their eyes. It was in that moment she knew without a doubt that she was the luckiest woman alive.
“Allie, honey, you’re killing me here,” Zach said, sounding like he were in pain. “Don’t keep me waiting. Will you marry me or not?”
“What do you think?” she said, swatting at his chest before adding. “Of course, I will. In fact, let’s elope to Vegas.”
Both her father and Zach answered, “No!” in unison.
“Fine… But I don’t want to wait too long to make it official.”
Zach took the ring out of the box and held it up to her hand. Allison’s heart exploded with love the second he slipped that gorgeous ring on her left hand.
She was engaged. She was engaged to her hero. To the man who had rescued her from the evil Blanco brothers. To a man who made it clear he wouldn’t hesitate at turning her over his knee for a spanking when she deserved it — and she somehow knew she would deserve it pretty often, especially if the spankings always lead to the smoking hot makeup sex afterwards.
Allison felt her cheeks getting warm as she blushed, hoping her father didn’t know where her thoughts had gone there for a second.
Still on his knees, Zach held her hand and filled her in on more of the details of his new job.
“I was telling your dad that I’m going to do a bit of traveling, but we’ll be able to split our time between DC and Texas so you won’t even have to go too long without visiting your dad.”
“Texas? Oh that’s great. I love Austin!”
“Em… it’s not in Austin.”
“Dallas?”
Zach grinned. “Actually, we’ll be out in the country on a ranch. The closest town I think is Three Rivers, population just over forty thousand.”
“Me? On a ranch?”
Her dad was laughing. “That’s what I said, too. But then I remembered…”
When his voice cut off, Allison looked over at her dad. “It doesn’t matter where you live. The important thing is you are together. As much as I’ll hate having you living far from me, at least I know you’re with the only other man on this planet that has proven he’d give his life for you, and that’s all a father can ask for his baby girl.”
Allison rushed to give her dad a hug, grateful that despite the rocky start the men had gotten off to down in Honduras, it was clear her father loved Zach too.
Only once she was back in Zach’s arms, lovingly looking down at the beautiful ring he’d bought her, did Allie give it one more try.
“You sure we can’t just go to Vegas? I don’t want to wait even one more day to get married.”
Zach teased her. “Just think of all the things you’d miss if we eloped. I can’t wait to see what dress you pick out, and what you look like in a veil, walking down the aisle. You’re going to make the most beautiful bride.”
It was her father who answered Zach. “I forgot how expensive an Allison wedding would be. Maybe Vegas isn’t such a bad idea after all,” he teased.
“You can afford it, Daddy.”
Zach laughed. “Spoken like my adorable little rich girl. God, I hope I can keep up with you.”
“Don’t worry, you have lots of other qualities that I love about you. In fact, I think we should go upstairs and talk about some of those qualities,” Allison teased, squeezing Zach’s butt through his suit pants.
His groan told her he understood exactly whatqualitiesshe was referring to.
“I’m still sitting right here, you know. Can you two at least wait until you’re behind close doors to remind me just how old fashioned I’ve become?” Senator Benson groused, a small smile on his face.
Zach didn’t need to be told twice. “That’s a great idea, sir. I’m going to take Allison up to her room… behind close doors… We have some celebrating to do.”
The (sort of) end.
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