Page 70 of Baby Take Me Home

But my life had changed, and even though it had only been a few months, I’d never been happier. After thirteen years in the intelligence community, first in the army, then at HEAT, I was glad I no longer went to sleep at night with national secrets on my mind, and thrilled to wake up in the morning without the dread of possibly sending my team into harm’s way.

And there was more than that. I took Ashlee’s hand and she nodded.

I sighed and held up my glass to toast the team. “Congratulations!”

They cheered and sipped their champagne.

“I believe in this team. I always have,” I continued. “And I know you’re only going to get better, more cohesive, more successful, especially with Martin Penn at the helm.”

“What?” some of them whispered.

The group went quiet.

I turned toward X. “I’m sorry, Xi. Thank you for giving me the chance to join you five years ago, and for trusting me to run the best team HEAT or any organization has ever assembled. It was the highlight of my career, and I’m so lucky to have gone out on top.” I turned toward my friends, the people who were like my family, but who were no longer my team. “I love you, I look forward to our future reunions, and I will send every bit of positive energy your way for safe and successful missions. But I won’t be joining you.”

I glanced at Ashlee again.

“Go ahead,” she said. “I know you’re dying to tell them.”

I reached for her hand and held it warm and tight in mine. “Ash and I are getting married. Here, on the beach. Tomorrow. Our families will be arriving in a couple of hours, and you’re all invited. My brother Tony and his wife Cassandra insisted on planning the reception, so pace yourselves tonight, because we’re having one hell of a party tomorrow night.”

Another cheer went up, as well as shouts of congratulations.

“Wait a minute,” Martin said. He held up his hand, which was clasped with Phillip’s. “You’re not telling us you think you can’t be in HEAT if you’re married, are you?”

I shook my head. “No. I’m telling you I’m in a different phase of life. The happiest one yet, and I want to stay on this new path.” I lifted my glass again. “To the new Alpha Team, and to the future.”

“To the future!” everyone repeated.

I leaned close to Ashlee and tapped my glass against hers. “You’re my future, and I can’t wait to see where the journey takes us next.”

“You’re just happy I’m going to be the boss of you.”

“No, pretty sure it’s the other way around,” I said.

She grinned. “I guess we’ll find out later tonight, won’t we?”

We would, and every night after that as well.

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