Page 41

One year later...

D oug stood up from his office chair, then sat back down again. It was the fourth or fifth time he’d done that while trying to summon up the courage to knock on Ian’s door. He honestly didn’t think the man would turn him down, but he was still scared shitless.

He covered his face with his hands in frustration, but a loud knock had him dropping them again.

Jake stood in the open doorway with his arms crossed, glaring at him.

“What the fuck is up with you? I’m in my office trying to get some work done, and you’re over here, standing, sitting, standing, sitting, standing, sitting, and looking like you want to puke.

If you’re going to hurl, take it outside or something. Don’t mess up the bathroom.”

Their offices were across the hall from each other, so it was no surprise that the other man noticed Doug’s inane antics. “I’m not sick. I’m just...I need to go talk to Ian and...Shit, I don’t know why I’m so nervous.”

Jake stared at him for a few moments before a slow grin spread across his face. “Ah. I get it. Don’t worry about it. You’re doing the right thing. I think he’s been expecting you to ask if you can marry Jenn.”

“Yeah? Really?”

“The women have been gossiping lately, wondering when you’re going to propose.

Ian caught wind of it and blew his top before Angie calmed him down.

Now that he’s had some time to come to terms with it, I think you’re good to go.

I mean, you’re already living with her, so he had to know a ring was coming at some point. ”

He moved into Jenn’s apartment a few months ago, after they’d discussed it for a bit and decided that living at the compound instead of his place made sense.

He no longer had to drive to work, and it was closer to her job than the condo, which he eventually rented out to one of the married bodyguards who worked for him.

Jenn was also able to hang out with her aunts in the she-shed or see her nieces and nephews whenever she wanted.

Of course, her uncles had to chime in and proclaim it was safer for Jenn to live at the compound.

That had been the final tipping point for Doug when he thought about all the danger that had and could still come her way because of her association with everyone at Trident.

Surprisingly, her uncles hadn’t given him a ton of shit about him moving in with her—there’d been some, but as usual, Jenn shut that shit down quickly.

Doug flopped his head back against the chair. “What if he’s just waiting for me to ask so he can say no?”

Leaning against the door jamb, Jake shook his head.

“If he wasn’t okay with you two being a couple and living together, you’d be shark food by now.

I know we all gave you a hard time in the beginning, but that’s what happens when you’ve known a woman you consider family since she was born and watched her grow up.

Even before everything that happened with her folks, we were all overly protective of her.

I’ll be the first to admit that, but given our military backgrounds and the lifestyle we’re in, it’s to be expected.

But to Ian, she’s more like a daughter than a niece.

He’ll be the same way when Peyton is old enough.

I feel bad for any little high school shit who wants to date her.

Poor guys will show up to take her out, and he’ll be sitting there, cleaning his guns, and making them piss their pants. ”

Doug snorted. “And Nick’ll be sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, cackling his ass off, I’m sure.”

A boisterous laugh erupted from Jake. “You got that right. I might sit right next to him to enjoy the show.” He paused for a moment.

“Seriously. You and Jenn are good for each other. You make her happier than I’ve seen her since before her folks died, maybe ever.

If this is the only thing holding you back from proposing, just go talk to him. I think he’ll surprise you.”

Although not entirely convinced, he forced himself to stand. “You’re right. He’s had plenty of time to kill me before now, and I haven’t given him any reason to say no, right?”

“Right.”

Jake moved out of Doug’s way so he could exit the office, but then the man followed him down the hall toward the reception area. Doug glanced over his shoulder. “Where are you going?”

“To find Junior. He’s helping Stefan with the new class. For once, I’ve got some hot gossip before my husband, and I can’t wait to throw it in his face.”

Doug chuckled and shook his head. “Just tell him to keep his trap shut until I actually do this.”

“No problem.”

They separated by Colleen’s desk, with Jake slapping Doug on the back before striding toward the door to the parking lot. “Good luck.”

“Thanks.” He stopped beside Colleen. “Is Ian busy?”

She smiled up at him. “Just signing everyone’s paycheck. He’s not on the landline, but he could be on his cell, so knock first.”

“Thanks.”

He moved to stand in front of the closed office door. His heart pounded, and his mouth went dry, forcing him to swallow a few times, then clear his throat. “Just fucking do it,” he silently told himself.

Lifting his fist, he paused for another few seconds before knocking three times.

“Enter!”

He turned the knob and pushed the door open to find Ian behind his desk, scribbling his signature on the top page of a stack of papers. For some unknown reason, the man refused to have a stamp made of his signature, which would have been faster. “Got a minute, Boss-man?”

“Yeah, come on in.” Ian dropped his pen on the desk and leaned back in his chair as Doug closed the door behind him and took a seat. “What’s up?”

Despite the building’s air conditioning, Doug was sweating bullets, and nausea flooded his gut again.

He took a deep breath and let it out before meeting Ian’s intense gaze.

“I...um. Look. I know I got off on the wrong foot with you by not telling you Jenn and I were dating right away, but I want to rectify that in a way.”

Cocking his head to the side, Ian remained quiet.

“Um...” Fuck. He knew this wouldn’t be easy, but he just needed to spit the words out. Taking a deep breath, he released it and then blurted, “I want to ask for your permission to propose to Jenn.”

Silence hung in the room like a weighted blanket. Seconds ticked by while the two men stared at each other. If Doug’s nausea got any worse, he’d puke all over the desk. Not fun.

Finally, Ian leaned forward. “Tell me you didn’t buy a ring yet.”

What? That was the last thing he expected his boss to say, and his heart sank. The man was going to say no. Shit. “I...uh...”

Ian slammed his hand on the desk. “Answer me, tinsel-twat! Did you buy the fucking ring yet?”

“N-no. Not yet. I-I looked at some rings the other day but didn’t find anything I thought she’d like. Besides, I wanted to wait until after I spoke to you about it. Listen, i-if you want me to wait a little while longer, I will. But I love?—”

“Get up,” Ian interrupted as he stood and snatched his cell phone from where it sat on the desk.

Confused, he obeyed the man. “What?—”

His boss circled the desk and headed for the door. “Come with me.” When Doug just stood there, staring at the man’s retreating back, Ian stopped and glared at him over his shoulder. “Hey, doofus! Move it.”

Scrambling around the chair, Doug hurried after the man.

He had no idea what was going on, and Ian didn’t seem inclined to clue him in.

Doug didn’t catch up to him until he was halfway across the parking lot, purposefully stalking toward the apartment building.

He followed Ian into the man’s downstairs unit.

“Boss-man, what are we doing here?”

Ian didn’t respond or stop as he strode down the hallway to the primary bedroom and disappeared into a walk-in closet, flipping on the interior light.

Since he didn’t say to follow him in there, Doug stayed in the bedroom, more confused than ever.

Against the back wall, Ian moved something on a shelf, exposing a scanner like the ones that opened most of the doors around the compound.

When he placed his hand on it, a concealed panel in the wall popped open, revealing a large safe.

He hit a bunch of buttons on a keypad, opened the door, and then reached inside to grab something.

Doug couldn’t see what it was, but it was small enough to fit in the man’s fist as he shut the safe and put the panel back in place.

Exiting the closet, he stopped in front of Doug. “I know you love her. And I know you’ll take care of her and treat her like she’s the most cherished woman on this planet. I’ve watched you do that for the past year.”

Ian lifted his hand. In it was a red velvet ring box.

When he opened it, Doug’s breath caught in his chest. Nestled inside on a white satin pillow was a stunning emerald-cut diamond and platinum ring.

“This was Jenn’s mother’s engagement ring.

Before the caskets were closed, I had the funeral home take it off her because it was what Lisa asked me to do.

She and Jeff each gave me updated ‘just in case’ letters every year since Jenn was born. ”

Doug knew what those were. Everyone in the military did.

It would contain final words and instructions for whoever it was addressed to in the event of someone’s untimely death.

Some members of the military wrote them, while others opted not to or had a will drawn up instead, depending on their personal preference.

Doug had known a few Marines who thought the letters would jinx a mission or tour, but he had written one to his family and given it to a trusted teammate to deliver—just in case.