Page 24 of Secrets on Base
I squeeze his hand and try not to laugh.
Jackson clears his throat dramatically. "For those of you who don't know me, I'm Jackson, Blaze’s more handsome best friend. I've known Blaze since basic training, which means I've seen him do some truly stupid shit. I'm talking spectacularly dumb. The kind of dumb that makes you wonder how he survived long enough to find a woman willing to marry him."
Laughter ripples through the crowd. Blaze shakes his head, but he's smiling.
"But here's the thing about Blaze Reynolds." Jackson's voice shifts, growing serious. "He's the most loyal, stubborn, ride-or-die son of a bitch I've ever met. When he decides something matters, he goes all in. No hesitation. No half-measures. Just pure, relentless commitment."
My chest tightens.
"I knew something was different the day he met Serena. This guy who I've watched charm his way through half the bars on the West Coast without breaking a sweat was a complete disaster. He couldn't focus. Couldn't shoot straight. I'm pretty sure he almost fell off a cliff because he was too busy thinking about her."
“Alright, alright, move it along.” Blaze calls out and I don’t miss the way his ears redden adorably.
"But that's the thing about love, right? It makes idiots out of the best of us." Jackson raises his glass. "Serena, I don't know how you did it, but you turned my best friend into a better man. He's softer now. Calmer. He smiles like he means it. And every time he talks about you, which is constantly by the way… For real, it's actually annoying, but I can see it in his eyes. You're his whole world."
Tears prick at my eyes. Blaze's grip on my hand tightens.
"Thank you for making him so happy. I hope you know, he comes as a packaged deal. It isn’t just him… you’ve got all of us in your corner from here on out. Here's to you, Serena, and to my man Blaze." Jackson's grin returns. "May your love be as strong as Blaze's ego and as patient as Serena's tolerance for his bullshit. To Blaze and Serena!"
The crowd echoes the toast and glasses clink. Blaze pulls me into his arms and presses a kiss to my temple.
"I love you," he murmurs against my hair. "More than anything."
"I love you too." I tilt my face up to meet his eyes.
The rest of the night passes in a haze of dancing, laughter, and stolen kisses. By the time the last guest leaves and Vivi heads to her hotel with a promise to call me before she flies back to South Carolina, I'm exhausted in the best possible way.
Blaze and I stand on the deck, looking out at the mountains under a sky full of stars. His arm is around my waist, holding me close.
"Mrs. Reynolds." He says my new name like he's tasting it. "I like the sound of that."
"Mmm." I lean into him. "It does have a nice ring to it."
"You know what else has a nice ring to it?"
"What?"
He turns me in his arms, his hands sliding to my hips. The look in his eyes makes heat pool low in my belly. "The sound you make when I?—"
"Blaze." I slap his chest, laughing. "We're still outside."
"So?" He backs me toward the door, his grin turning wicked. "It's our house. Our land. I can make you scream anywhere I want."
My breath catches. "Is that a promise?"
"Sweetheart." He leans down, his lips brushing my ear. "That's a guarantee."
He scoops me up before I can respond, carrying me over the threshold and kicking the door shut behind us. I'm laughing and breathless as he carries me down the hall toward our bedroom.
"I had plans for tonight," I protest weakly. "Champagne. Candles. A very expensive piece of lingerie that I?—"
"Later." He lays me down on the bed and covers my body with his. "Right now, I just need you."
"You have me," I whisper. "You've always had me."
