Page 84 of Her Defiant Warrior

“You are so in luck. I do know where they go to school, and I’m one of the people who can pick them up. I’ll bring them over to my house and they get to have Tacos a la Drakos.”

“Great.”

“You’re also in luck, because today is one of Bonnie’s short days. She usually gets off work at one and does her errands. If you move your cute little tushie, you should be able to catch her before she leaves.”

“I know that. Why do you think I’m going ten over the speed limit? Thanks for picking up the kids. You’re a doll.”

“I know,” Farah laughed.

17

“I need to take it down.”

“Okay. I’ve got to tell you. You are now, officially, on my last nerve,” Shannon said.

Bonnie looked at her watch again.

Twelve-forty-five.

She closed up her station and took out her purse. Why in the hell was she waiting? It wasn’t as if she were really on the clock. If another walk-in came in, there were two other stylists who could take them. She needed to get over to Jase’s house in case he came home tonight or tomorrow.

She’d almost all but said she loved him, for God’s sake.

In a note!

Like she was in junior high school!

“Bonnie Fiona Larkin, don’t you dare go over to that man’s house!” Shannon shouted as she continued to spray hairspray on her client. She bent down and patted the woman on her shoulder. “I’ll be right back.”

Shannon ran as fast as she could in four-inch heels. She caught up to Bonnie in the front lobby of the salon. “You did the right thing. You had been going back and forth on the relationship thing with that nice, sweet and hot as fuck man, for weeks. You finally took a stand by writing him a letter, which he probably isn’t going to see for a while. You’ve made up your mind to send him a letter a week until he gets home. And now you’re thinking about wimping out. No way, no, sir. Not on my watch.”

“It’s not just that I said I liked him, Shannon. I sounded like a junior high school dork. He’s going to read the note and dump me. It’s going to be horrible.” She walked right up to Shannon and whispered in her face. “He’ll laugh at me.”

“What are you talking about, honey?”

Bonnie spun around.

“Jase?”

“In the flesh,” he smiled.

“You didn’t read the note,” she grinned. “Thank God.”

“Honey, what are you talking about?”

Then Bonnie pulled her head out of her ass. “Oh my God,” she screeched. “You’re home!” She ran the three feet that it took to get to him, then jumped up into his arms. “Jase! You’re home!”

“I am.” He grinned down at her.

She pulled on his neck and he bent down. She lifted her face up and he kissed her. It was a miracle kiss where everything that was off kilter in her world, spun around and then locked exactly into its correct place.

He was holding her close by clutching her ass, and she had her legs clamped around his hips. The kiss was deep, wet and wonderful.

“Is he a Navy SEAL?” a woman asked loudly.

“Yes, he is,” Shannon answered.

“How did she get him to go out with her?” the woman asked.