Epilogue
CHARLESTON, SC (SIX WEEKS LATER)
“Everyone’s really in there?” Eva pointed to Owen’s pub and turned toward Luke.
He held her wrists, brought the backs of her hands to his mouth, and pressed his lips against her skin. “They’re my family. Well, my military family. I want you to get to know them more, so you know you don’t have to go at this alone.”
She rolled her lips inward and slipped her hands free to palm his cheeks. “I’m not alone.”
“When I’m on ops, I mean. It’ll make it easier on you to have people in your corner back home when I’m not around.” He’d rather take an acid bath than leave Eva . . . but knowing he had her to come home to made his missions so much more worth it somehow.
“I have people.”
“I’m talking about people who know what I do. We’re a tight-knit group, and now you’re part of it. There may not be many wives, but—”
“Who’s married?” She smiled as her hands traveled to the back of his head and her fingers threaded through his short hair. “Is Marcus’s wife here?”
He lowered his hands to her hips and braced her as she secured her arms loosely around his neck. “No, she couldn’t make it, but she’s still part of the family. We all still look after her.”
His stomach roiled as he thought about Marcus who had been killed two years ago; it was a painful reminder of what could happen to Eva if he died on an op, too.
Eva was all in, though. She’d been stubborn, and now—well, now, he’d never let her go.
“So, who’s inside who’s married? Did one of your pals go to Vegas and have a Hangover moment?” She snapped her fingers and closed one eye. “Liam, right?”
He laughed. “No. Noah and his wife are here. I’ve been wanting you to meet them.”
Noah was one of his long-time best friends since day one of the SEALs, and he’d retired from the Navy not too long ago to be with his daughter. He ended up falling in love with Jessica’s best friend, Grace.
“I thought just the team was inside—you know, people who know your deep, dark secrets.”
Luke released a sigh and tipped his chin toward the moonlit sky. “Yeah, well, I told Noah the truth in New York last week.”
“What? Really? How’d he take it? Doesn’t he work jobs every once in a while at the security company? I also thought you didn’t want him to know the truth since he’s a dad.” She stepped back and pressed a hand to her abdomen.
“Which question do you want me to answer first?” He grinned.
“Go in order,” she said with a smile in her eyes.
“Noah said he already knew, or”—he lifted his shoulders—“suspected something. He wasn’t pissed. And, since I’ve been breaking rules ever since you and I met—and, since I’m going to be a dad, too, thanks to my super SEAL swimmers—”
“Did you really just say that?” She smiled for only a second before her lips flattened. “I feel like you’re not telling me something. What are you leaving out?”
“Always with the questions.” He angled his head and narrowed his eyes.
“Noah and Grace live near your loft in New York, and I’d feel more comfortable knowing you had not only Jessica but them to help whenever I’m away.
And I couldn’t ask Noah to be a godparent tonight with the lie of what I really do between us. ”
“We’re asking him to be a godparent?”
“Well, I thought you could choose someone on your side, and I’d ask someone close to me. They could flip a coin to decide who gets our baby if something happens to us.”
She slapped his chest. “Luke!”
He shrugged. “What? I can’t ask anyone else I know because they’re doing the same crazy shit as me. Plus, Noah’s a great father, and so—”
“Nothing is going to happen to either of us.” She grabbed his forearm and held his eyes. “Got it?”
“Contingency plans. I always have them,” he said, and she huffed out a rough breath.
“Fine.” She shook her head.
His lips quirked into a grin as he dropped his gaze to her stomach. “I still can’t believe we’re having a baby.”
“Like you said, your super SEAL swimmers managed to disarm my birth control defenses.”
“Damn straight.” He pulled her against him and dropped his mouth over hers for a kiss.
“It’s unexpected,” she said when they started for the pub, “but nothing has really gone as planned since I met you.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said before they entered Owen’s place.
He caught sight of most of the guys huddled around the bar as Owen and Jessica made drinks. But it was Noah and Grace whom he wanted to chat with first, and they were at a booth off to the side of the bar.
Owen mock-saluted him as he held Eva’s hand and strode through the army of empty tables.
“About damn time,” Noah said. He stood to greet him, giving him a quick one-armed hug before doing the same with Eva. “I was beginning to worry this guy made you up.”
“I’m very much real.” She shook Grace’s hand and smiled. “Nice to meet you guys. I’ve heard—well . . . you know Luke . . . he doesn’t talk much about anyone or anything.”
Grace laughed. “Sounds about right. But, we’re so glad he found you.”
“Where are the kids?” Luke asked.
“Lily’s with her mom, and the twins are with my sister,” Noah answered.
“Well,” Luke began while placing his palms together, “there’s something we wanted to ask you.”
“We should probably make the announcement first, right?” Eva asked.
Luke reached for her hand and peered at his buddies toasting with shot glasses behind him. “Good point.”
“Shit, man, you’re making me nervous.” Noah stood on the other side of him when Eva and Luke faced the room.
“Yeah, well, you’re about to hear why,” he muttered under his breath. Being a father was going to be a lifetime op—one he could never screw up. He’d already bought every book in the store about how to raise kids. It was . . . overwhelming to say the least.
Noah cupped his hands to his mouth and yelled, “Hey!”
The guys from Echo and Bravo Teams turned and eyed them, most still with drinks in hand.
“They have something to say.” Noah wrapped a hand over Luke’s shoulder.
“Well, why the hell did you bring us down here? Are you getting hitched?” Asher lifted a brow, and Jessica smacked the back of his head.
“Christ, woman,” Asher rasped.
“How about you do it?” Eva asked.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, please,” she mouthed back to him.
“I’m going to be a dad,” he sputtered fast without a second thought. “So don’t get me fucking killed on any ops.”
“That’s a direct order,” Eva added in all seriousness before breaking into a smile.
“I’m glad Noah said yes to being a godparent. I really like him and Grace.” She sighed. “Did you see the look on Jessica’s face tonight, though? We definitely shocked her.”
Luke looked up to find Eva’s eyes. “Honey, we just made love, and I’m still busy touching you—maybe we could talk about my sister later?”
She smirked. “What? You know I can never turn off my brain.”
“Even during sex?” He buried his face against her soft skin again and trailed his lips up her stomach.
“Well, no. I’m only thinking about you then,” she said while stroking his hair.
He cupped her breasts and gently squeezed. “Your tits are already getting bigger.”
“Ow. They’re sensitive, too.” She laughed and he scooted up to kiss her lips.
“Sorry, sweetheart, but you’re irresistible, and I’m in heaven right now.” He rolled over to his side and pulled the sheet loosely over his body. “I never realized I could have it all. You. A baby. My work.”
“If you don’t ask, you won’t receive.”
He shifted on the bed slightly and slowly said, “Marry me, then?”
Her lips parted, and she sucked in a sharp breath. “But you said we can’t. Your real name can’t be connected to me, and—”
He found her hand and clasped it between their bodies. “It doesn’t have to be legal right now, but it could be . . . you know, something just for us. I know we’re doing everything backward, but—”
“Yes,” she rushed out.
His heart slowed to a steady beat, and he pulled her into his arms and held her, knowing no matter what happened in the future, he’d made the right choice.
He had everything he could ever want, and he’d spend his days continuing to try and make the world a better place for Eva and his child.
“I love you,” she said, her words like smooth silk.
“I love you, too, Hollywood.”
“Mm. Skywalker and Hollywood. I think we’re a perfect fit.”
He touched her stomach. “But what will we name the little guy?”
“‘Guy’?” She turned so her body partially draped his, her fingernail running lazily up and down his chest.
“We’re having a boy.” He coughed into a closed fist. “I’m not gonna go to jail because I lose my shit over some guy making out with my daughter in the back seat of a car.”
She chuckled. “Or in a bedroom. Or at a school dance. Or a locker room.”
He pinched her nipple. “Gotta have all boys. There are too many possible scenarios I may not be able to account for otherwise.”
“I’m sure you can come up with plenty of contingency plans.”
He grabbed hold of her and flipped her beneath him so his palms were on each side of her. He stared down into her eyes, nearly losing himself in that moment.
“Read my lips, sweetheart.” His eyes tightened, but his lips crooked into a smile. “Boys.”
“So they can turn out like you?” She paused for a moment, her brows drawing together and a beautiful sincerity touched her eyes. “Of course . . . having a few more heroes in the world might not be such a bad thing,” she whispered then kissed him.