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She smiled. “An excellent idea.”

“We’ll have the ceremony wherever you choose. And a big party—”

Her Royal Highness, the Princess Anoushka, put her hand lightly over her lover’s mouth.

“I’d like to have the ceremony on our beach. The party too. Just our guys from Unit One.”

“Our guys,” Dec said, loving the sound of that.

“Well, and their dates. No date for Chay. I mean, Bianca—his wife will be his date. I’ve asked her to be my matron of honor. And we’ll want your Captain Black, of course. Does he have a wife? And we won’t leave out any of your friends who aren’t in Unit One. Certainly not. And, oh, your parents, Declan! I can’t wait to meet them. And—what’s the name of that friend of yours who left the service? Tanner. That’s it. Tanner. And his wife. Alessandra. She’s Bianca’s sister, isn’t she? And—”

“Wait. Back up a little.” Declan was laughing. “You already asked Bianca to be your matron of honor?”

“Uh huh. Well, I knew you’d get around to proposing sooner or later. And if you hadn’t…” Annie smiled. “I was going to give you one more week and then pop the question myself.”

Declan shook his head. “How did I ever get so lucky?” he said softly. “To find you. To have you fall in love with me…”

“Any woman would fall in love with you, Lieutenant Sanchez.”

Declan linked his hands in the small of Annie’s back.

“Really,” he said.

“Of course.” She leaned back in his embrace and fluttered her lashes. “You’re handsome. And brave. And strong. And smart.”

He laughed. “That’s all?”

“Well,” She said coyly, “there’s more…”

She leaned forward, stood on her toes and whispered in his ear.

Declan growled as he swept her into his arms. And Annie laughed and looped her arms around her lover’s neck as he carried her through their cottage, through their bedroom, to their bed.

And to the glorious future that stretched out before them.