Page 90 of The Commander

The compound is being closed down for a few weeks, and training is delayed, so we drag our bags outside and head to the restaurant for lunch. Noah is standing talking to some of the guys, but his eyes track me with each step I take.

He smiles.

I smile back.

Then he crooks his finger, calling me over.

“Be still, my beating heart,” Marianne whispers behind me. “Go to your man.”

I grab a carton of juice and walk over, stopping in front of him. Hayden, Cole and Liam are only a couple of feet away, and I saw Tyrell loading food onto his plate at the buffet.

I lift my face.

“There’s no going back after this.” Noah gives me an out, testing me.

“Good.” I tiptoe up and kiss him in front of everyone.

He wraps an arm around me and lifts me off my feet while a dozen people wolf-whistle and clap.

“I love you,” I say against his lips.

“I told you that you belonged to me.” Noah smirks and kisses me again.

“I fucking knew it!” We hear Tyrell yell from across the room, and we both start chuckling.

The freedom in not caring is intoxicating. Noah was right; I am a lot more confident in what I’ve achieved than I realized.

I’ve got this.

He is my life.

I won’t be in the military forever, but I will be Noah’s wife until my very last breath.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

NOAH

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We are heading to Killeen, Texas, where Quinn and I were stationed together at Fort Hood—previously known as Fort Cavazos—in a few days to visit her parents and my father, to break the news.

First, we’ve flown into Dallas where we rented a bike and booked a hotel room. Quinn hasn’t asked for a ring, and that’s typical of her. Little does she know I’ve been imagining the day I would propose to her for a while and even looked in a few jewelry stores.

So when I snuck to the store to buy her one just before we left California, I knew exactly what I wanted.

“I can’t believe Noah Jenkins is taking me on a picnic,” Quinn says, climbing onto the back of the Ducati. “What would all those Special Forces buddies of yours say?”

I grin inside my helmet and squeeze her bare thighs.

I’m not thinking about the boys. My blood pressure is elevated, and I’m ready to officially propose. She’s already said yes, but I wanted to make this romantic. We only get to do this once...

Well, okay, twice.

We ride to Rockledge Park, a secluded spot with sweeping views of Grapevine Lake. It feels like the West Coast, just less humid.

“This is gorgeous. How did I not know about this place?” Quinn asks, climbing off the back and ripping off her helmet.

We set up the picnic blanket and arrange the food. Some cheese, grapes and strawberries. We bought a couple of bottles of sparkling wine, neither of us wanting to drink much.