Page 128 of Defenders of Jawhara

“What I ‘get’ is that you’re about the biggest pain in the ass who ever put on a skirt—not that I’ve seen you in a skirt, but I wouldn’t mind. You’ve got great legs. I also get that you and Jason are a package, and I’ve been thinking.”

“Will wonders never cease!” She leaned back in her chair. “It’s about time you put your brain into gear. What are your conclusions?”

“I’m okay with you going toe-to-toe with me. I don’t like it, but I’m okay with it.”

She pushed at the drink he’d bought her. “Okayisn’t good enough. You don’t have enough people going toe-to-toe with you. That’s just the problem, Slade. You’re a smart guy, you like to run things—no wonder you went into business for yourself. Well, I’m the same, so anything we do is going to have to be a joint decision—we either agree or compromise before we act. Think you can handle that?”

Slade locked eyes with her, and suddenly she knew everything was going to be okay. “I’m thinking you and Jason are going to be the cure to whatever you think ails me. Now will you let me finish trying to tell you that I’m nuts over you? As in crazy in love—emphasis probably on the crazy given how little time we’ve spent together. Don’t start with the ‘it’s too fast,’ or ‘we barely know each other.’ I think we had each other’s measure in about five minutes, and the knowing stuff—I’m pretty sure if this hits you like a jet on takeoff, it’s not going away and it’s not something you ignore. Now, if you leave, I will track you down. I’m not losing Jason now that I’ve found him. I won’t drag you back, not ever. But I will do everything I can to make you want to come back, and I promise I’ll do that every time.”

Bethany’s lips twitched. “Way to sweet talk a girl, Slade. But I think I might be able to work with that.”

Slade straightened. “So you’ll move down to San Diego? Move in with me? Marry me?”

Bethany blinked. “You SEALs sure don’t waste time.”

“Oh, come on; we both know where this is heading. We also know that Jason needs parents—”

“You’re asking me to marry you to give him—”

Leaning over, he kissed her before she finished that sentence. When he leaned back, she caught a breath. He smiled. “I never thought I’d find someone I wanted to marry, let alone a complete family package.”

“Me?” she asked, still breathless from the kiss.

“You. The girl who’ll drive me crazy, the woman I can’t walk away from, the one who’ll end up making me want to wake up with you in my arms every damn day. Marry me, Bethany. Or don’t. It’s your choice. I won’t take that from you. But I swear I will ask you every day until you say yes.”

She shook her head, but she reached out and slipped her hand into his. “This is not going to be easy.”

Slade grinned. “Yeah, but you know it’s going to be fun.” He tightened his hold on her hand. “Now, come on, you need to meet some of the family. Carlos and Maria are setting up a beach party for us in a little cove near my place. You’ll like them. Carlos is one of my domestic operatives, and Maria works part time in the office. And Jason needs to learn that not all beaches are like they are in Oregon—rocky and colder than a Norse hell.”

15

Slade watched Bethany hold Carlos’s baby. She’d fallen head over heels in love with the little charmer at first sight, and now he was thinking of all kinds of possibilities: Bethany holding Jason as an infant. Bethany holding her own baby. Bethany holdingtheirbaby.

“That kid is amazing.” Travis held out a bottle of water.

Slade blinked and glanced at where Trent was teaching Jason to stand up on a surfboard. “Yeah, he’s good.”

“So, you’re not angry with Tayra for not telling you?”

Slade glanced at Trent. “Not telling me what?”

Trent rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on. One look at the two of you—just about anyone can see he’s your kid.”

Slade downed half the bottle of water. “She thought she was doing the right thing. But she’s gone.” He glanced at Trent again. “You working on getting Bethany to spill about the new program she’s designing?”

Trent grinned. “Yeah. It’s cool. We could use tech like that. Did you know she thinks she can hack the computer server we’ve been trying to get into? When’s she coming on board with the team?”

“I’m working on it.”

“Lot of negotiation? Sounds like she’s perfect for you.”

Slade stared at him, not ready to talk about his personal life. He shifted into work mode. “Any more intel on Guardians of the Earth?”

“Their servers are tight. We’ll need access from the inside if we hope to get any evidence on who hired them.”

"Well then, what are you doing here?”

“Dude, I’m just an idiot surfer.” Trent spread his hands and put on his best dumb face. He was good at getting people to see what he wanted them to see.

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