Fighting for Hope (Redemption Harbor Security #7)

1. Prologue

Prologue

Marry someone who gives you the same feeling you get when you see your food coming at a restaurant.

Before

“Wooo! We just got married!”

Bradford had to pull Hope down from where she was standing up through the moonroof of the limo he’d sprung for after their quickie Vegas wedding. He’d never seen her this carefree before, but he loved it. She needed more joy in her life, something he’d realized about her right from the start.

She slid onto his lap, straddling him, her dark hair down and around her face in soft waves. “Why’d you ruin my fun?” she whispered before brushing her lips over his, her kiss sweet and gentle.

“Pretty sure I’ve got the fun part covered.” He rolled his hips slightly, making her laugh as she came in contact with his very clear reaction to her.

It’d always been like that with her. When she was around, no one else existed. Just his Hope.

Their kiss deepened, but she pulled back far too soon for his liking. Hers too if her groan of frustration was any indication.

“This is not the fun I signed up for.” She nipped his bottom lip, then yelped as the limo driver took a sharp turn.

“I’m not sharing you with anyone,” he growled. “And I don’t trust those privacy windows.” He knew they weren’t soundproof and that was enough for him. Her moans of pleasure would be solely for him. Not some pervy driver.

She snickered as she slid her hands through his short hair, cupped the back of his head. “Fine. But as soon as we get back to the hotel—”

The vehicle pulled to a stop and that was when they both realized they were already at the hotel. He’d completely lost track of everything from the moment he’d told her the only way he would get naked with her was if she married him—and she’d agreed.

It took a lot to shock or distract him, but she had. Before she’d changed her mind, he’d hustled them to one of those little all-night chapels with Elvis impersonators he couldn’t believe even existed.

He didn’t look at anyone else as they hurried through the lobby of their hotel and finally made it to the elevators. He might have growled at other patrons to ensure they were the only two on the elevator up to their room.

And he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Overseas while working, she’d never worn her hair down, had always worn a protective helmet over her braid as she shadowed him and the others for the piece she’d been writing.

Now her hair was down, she was in a dark blue dress that brought out her Mediterranean blue eyes, and somehow he’d convinced her to marry him.

He still wasn’t even sure if this was real or he was imagining it all. If he was dreaming, he never wanted to wake up.

“I don’t know what to think when you look at me like that,” she murmured, stepping out of the elevator as it dinged.

Right beside her, he pressed her up against a wall, caging her in with his arms as he stared down at her. There was a lot he wanted to say, but he couldn’t find the words. So he scooped her up, was glad when she wrapped her legs around him, and carried her to their room.

It didn’t take long to get inside, and even less time for him to get Hope naked and underneath him.

After that they stayed naked for two days, ordering room service and only coming out of their little bubble to eat or shower.

He’d never had so much sex in his life—and never with someone he loved.

Not the way he loved her. An all-consuming sensation that made him feel like he was drowning and soaring at the same time.

She hadn’t said the words and neither had he—he knew enough about her that he didn’t want to scare her off.

And yes, they were married now, but he wasn’t stupid.

This wouldn’t last; it was a fun, drunken weekend in Vegas—for her .

He would never divorce her, but he had a feeling that was coming soon enough.

At least he’d had her for a moment in a way he’d never expected.

He was just pretending that this thing could last, that their bond and friendship could carry them beyond an alcohol, sex-fueled weekend in Vegas.

So when he woke up two days later to find her and her bag gone and a note telling him she’d had a good time and would be in touch, he tried so desperately not to take it personally. He knew who she was, knew she wouldn’t settle down with a roughneck like him.

But it still hurt in ways he wasn’t sure he would ever recover from. Because hope had dug its talons into his chest that this might be real, that once he won her trust they would have a future.

As he set the little note down on the bedside table, and buried his face in the pillow to capture her rose oil scent, the ringing of his phone pulled him back to the present, grounded him .

“Hey,” he managed to rasp out as he answered.

“Where the hell are you?” Rowan demanded. His team leader was always in a mood, but it was even worse since they’d returned stateside for reasons Bradford understood.

“Vegas.”

There was a long beat of silence. “Seriously?”

“Yep.”

“Get on a plane as soon as you can… Actually, I know a guy who’ll fly you back private. Owes me a favor. We’re wheels up in two hours. I’ll stall if you don’t make it.”

“Okay.” He didn’t ask where they were going because it didn’t matter. The flight from Vegas to San Diego would take an hour and a half tops. And if he was flying private, he’d make it in time.

It was back to reality for him. He’d done more than enough time in the desert, and lately the powers that be had been sending them down to South America on covert missions.

He figured that was where he’d be going now. There was no dread at the thought of heading back into harm’s way. No emotion at all. Just an empty sort of numbness to go along with the lead weight in his chest.

At least facing possible death would distract him from the fact that Hope had left.