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“Me too.” He brushed a kiss across the top of her head before leaning his cheek against it. “That means there’s just one more order of business to take care of. I know you’re tired, so I’ll keep it short, but I can’t hold in what I have to say anymore.” He pulled back and tilted her face up until she was staring into his eyes. “I love you, Hannah.”
She inhaled sharply. With everything going on, they hadn’t discussed their relationship. She’d known Ryker cared about her, but she hadn’t realized his feelings ran as deep as hers. “You do?”
“Yes. And I know you aren’t a Montgomery today, but I need you to know that I fully intended on making you one in the not-so-distant future.” Worry tangled with the love in his expression. “That is, if you’ll have me.”
Tears flooded her vision. They spilled over her lashes onto her cheeks. For years, she’d prayed for a man like Ryker to come into her life. Hannah wouldn’t let anything stop her from accepting God’s blessings. “Of course I’ll have you. I love you too, Ryker.”
His breath hitched as his own eyes grew cloudy with emotion. Ryker gently, ever so gently, captured her lips with his. An explosion of feelings rocked Hannah to her core. She relished them. Her future was with this man, and she was grateful for the love they shared.
When the kiss ended, they were both breathless. Hannah brushed her lips against his once more. Her heart monitor beeped at a rapid pace. She smiled. “Eli’s right. Some nurse is gonna come in here thinking I’m having a heart attack if you keep kissing me like that.”
“Let ’em come in.” Ryker ran a thumb over her cheek. “Cuz, sweetheart, I have no plan on stopping. I’m gonna be kissing you like that for the rest of our lives.”
The rest of their lives. Hannah’s heart swelled with the thought.
A whole life with Ryker by her side was perfect.
THIRTY
Eight months later
Ryker weaved his way through his parents’ house. The balcony doors leading to the yard were wide open, letting in the crisp night air and the fragrant scent of roses from the nearby flower beds. Music blared from the indoor/outdoor speakers. A dance floor was set up in the grass. Guests—family and friends—were gathered together for the annual Montgomery New Year's Eve party.
He spotted Ben and Danielle standing together with their daughter, Charlotte. Hannah’s brother and sister-in-law had made it home safely from their deployment and were happily reunited with their little girl. Since their return, Ryker had gotten to know the couple well. He found them kind, caring, and dedicated.
Charlotte was dressed in pajamas, but there was no hint of sleepiness in her face. She reached for Ryker the moment he approached. He happily scooped her into his arms. “What are you still doing up?”
“She slept for a while and then woke up on her own.” Danielle smiled lovingly at her daughter. “I didn’t have the heart to put her back to bed. It seems fitting that we ring in the new year all together.” She wrapped an arm around her husband’s waist. “As a family.”
Ryker could appreciate the sentiment. Ben and his wife had spent most of the year apart on separate deployments. Their commitment to the military was admirable, especially given the hardship it created for them personally. He deeply admired the couple.
“I agree.” He kissed Charlotte’s cheek before handing her back to her mom. “Speaking of ringing in the New Year, has anyone seen my lovely wife? She’s disappeared.”
Wife. Ryker loved the way that word rolled off his tongue. He and Hannah were married a week before Thanksgiving. Time had only deepened their devotion. Ryker wasn’t sure how it was possible, but he fell more and more in love with Hannah every day. She brought a happiness to his life he’d never experienced before.
Ben’s brown crinkled. “I saw her heading upstairs a little while ago.”
“I’ll go check on her. Thanks.”
He headed for the staircase but came up short when he spotted Eli on the landing. The man was holding a card and staring off into space. His mouth was drawn tight. Time and physical therapy had helped Eli to heal from his gunshot wounds, but he was still on medical leave from the rangers. The doctors wanted him to wait a few more weeks before returning to full duty.
Ryker joined his friend. “Hey, you okay?”
Eli blinked. “I’m fine.” He lifted the card in his hand. “It’s from Sienna. Your mom got it yesterday in the mail. I guess Sienna didn’t know where else to send it.”
He took the card from his buddy and scanned the contents. It was a get-well card. Nothing about the note to Eli from his ex-fiancée was terribly personal, but the message was kind. Sienna wished him happiness and hope for the new year.
Ryker handed it back with a sigh. He didn’t know exactly what happened between Eli and Sienna, only that they’d broken up. Five years had passed, but Eli still refused to talk about it. Whatever happened, it’d scarred him. Ryker didn’t like seeing his friend so heartbroken. “Maybe it’s time to reach out to her. See if you can mend some of the fences that were broken.”
Eli’s jaw tightened. “No. What’s done is done.” He shrugged. “The card just threw me for a loop, that’s all.”
Ryker debated digging deeper into the conversation, but he could tell from the stubborn tilt of Eli’s chin that his friend didn’t want to discuss it. Probably better to let it go for now. They were in the middle of a party. That made a heart-to-heart difficult.
He clapped a hand on Eli’s shoulder. “If you ever need someone to listen, I’m here.”
“I know. Thanks.”
Eli bounded down the stairs and rejoined the party. Ryker continued to the second floor. His old bedroom door was cocked open. He poked his head in. “Hannah?”
