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“Oh, Tom,” she whispered. “You don’t have to ask.”
“Is that a yes?” He couldn’t help grinning.
“Yes!” She laughed. “I would love a cranky U.S. Marine in my life.”
He turned serious. “You know I would still be going on ops, often very dangerous ones. Sometimes for weeks on end. Could you cope with that?”
Her eyes gleamed up at him. “I’ll take you any way I can get you.”
His heart surged. Right now, he felt like the luckiest man alive.
She reached for him and pulled him down towards her. “Kiss me,” she whispered.
“Your IV,” he said, moving it out the way.
“Don’t worry about that.”
Her lips found his and he pressed hard against her. He couldn’t believe she was all his. Their kiss deepened until a frantic beeping pulled them back to reality.
The medic came running.
“You’ve pulled out your drip,” he scolded.
Tom grinned. “Sorry, that was my fault.”
Hannah let go of his hand so the nurse could put it back in.
“To be continued,” she said with a laugh.
He couldn’t wait to take her in his arms and make her his. “You can count on it.”
EPILOGUE
Six Months Later
Hannah watchedas Victoria Burton-Leigh held up her champagne glass and tapped it with a silver spoon. The guests quietened down.
“Can I have your attention, please?”
She waited until there was silence and then said, “This is a bittersweet day for me. As you know, it’s my last day at Elite Publicity.”
There was a sympathetic murmur. She held up a hand.
“However, it’s also an exciting day because I’m handing over the reins to my protégé, Hannah Evans, who most of you know by now. She’s been handling the running of the business for several weeks already.”
There were nods of approval.
“Hannah needs no introduction. She’s a wonderful person, she’s brilliant at her job, and I leave you all in her capable hands.”
There was a round of applause.
Hannah glanced at Tom, standing at the back and the gleam of pride in his gaze was all the affirmation she needed.
“So now if you’ll raise your glasses, I’d like to toast the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one. To Hannah and new beginnings.”
“To Hannah,” echoed the guests.
“Please, enjoy yourselves and thank you so much for coming.”