“I know.”
“I’m serious. You...wait. You know?”
He chuckled. “Seeing you and Jake fighting for each other the way you have. Going through everything you went through, and still coming out on top...” he trailed off.
“Yes?” she prompted.
He shrugged, looking adorably embarrassed. “I guess it’s made me think, maybe I can have that, too. You know?”
Olivia grinned. “I do.”
“Hey, you’re supposed to be saying those words to Jake, not this guy.”
Olivia gasped and spun around, her long, lace dress making a swishing sound as she moved. “Mikey!”
Even in her three-inch heels, Olivia ran toward her brother and jumped into his arms. He held her tightly, slipping his hands beneath her fingertip-length veil so he didn’t pull it from her hair.
Mikey then spun her around a couple of times before carefully placing her feet back on the ground.
“I can’t believe you’re here! What about your assignment?”
Her brother shrugged. “It’s over. I completed my last contract with Uncle Sam. I’m officially a civilian, now.”
She really looked at her brother, surprised she hadn’t immediately noticed all the changes.
His brown hair was shorter, more like when he was in high school. The beard was gone, making him look much younger than when she’d last seen him. And he was wearing a tux that matched Trevor’s exactly.
Noticing her assessing gaze, Mikey teased, “Word is some jackass out there is waiting to marry my only sister. I couldn’t let that happen without me, so what do ya say?” He lifted his elbow much like Trevor had. “You ready?”
She was still trying to process the other thing he’d said. Not sure she’d heard him right, Olivia asked, “You’re...done? As in, no longer undercover?”
He smiled. “Yep. I’m free to go and do whatever I want.”
“How? I mean, not that I’m not thrilled, but you ‘died’. How are you going to explain that if you see someone you—”
“The official story is, I suffered a serious head wound in the supposed training accident I had ten years ago, and then went into a coma. My ID got inadvertently switched with another soldier who died...although, not really. They made that guy up to fit the story.”
She raised a brow. “Really? A ten-year coma? That’s the best they could come up with?”
He chuckled. “I know, right? It’s like something out of a damn soap opera script. But, hey...what can I say? It’s the government.”
“That’ll work? You won’t be in any danger by exposing yourself like that?”
“Well, I don’t plan on exposing myself to anyone. There are laws against that, you know.” He winked, and Olivia smacked his arm.
“Owe! What was that for?”
She rolled her eyes. “For being a perverted, twelve-year-old boy, that’s what.”
Mikey laughed loudly, as did she. It really didn’t matter what the story was. Olivia was just thankful she had her brother back. For good, from the way it sounded.
Smiling so wide it almost hurt, she started to take his arm again but hesitated at the last second. She turned to look over her shoulder, but Trevor was already starting to talk.
“It’s okay, Liv. This was the plan all along.”
Her brows rose at that. “Really?”
Trevor smiled. “Really. It was all Jake’s idea. He wanted to surprise you.” He looked over her to Mikey. “Although, I was beginning to think you were going to be a no-show.”
Mikey chuckled. “I was, too. The paperwork on my last case took a lot longer to wrap up than I expected. Barely made my flight.”
To Olivia, Mikey said, “I’ve already missed too damn much. Seeing my baby sister marry my best friend? I wouldn’t have missed that for the world.”
Despite her heroic efforts, a tear slipped from Olivia’s eye. Mikey swiped it away gently and asked again. “You ready?”
She smiled and whispered back, “Ready.”
The ceremony was perfectly simple. Only Jake’s team, Jason Ryker, his secretary, Brenda, and the preacher Ryker provided were in attendance. Mac served as her Maid of Honor and Trevor was Jake’s Best Man.
Olivia cried as she recited her vows. Jake kept it together. Barely.
When it was his turn to speak, there was no mistaking the love he felt. Not only from the beautifully written words he had composed but also in the way those blue eyes shone with unshed tears. Tears of love. For her.
Feeling giddy, Olivia started a little when she felt something gently touch her cheek.
“I don’t know what put that smile on your face, but I sure hope it has something to do with me.”
Olivia lifted her head from Jake’s chest as they continued to dance. She found those same blue eyes staring back down at her, the corners crinkled with amusement. She smiled even bigger.
“It has everything to do with you.”
His own smile grew, and she suddenly found it hard to breathe. Warrior Jake was fiercely handsome, but smiling, happy Jake was absolutely stunning.
“I was just thinking that I never want to forget how magical this all is.”
He leaned down and kissed her as their bodies continued to sway back and forth to the slow love song.
“You won’t,” he spoke against her lips. “And neither will I.”
He pulled back a little and used his fingertip to gently swipe a curl from her forehead. “There’s nothing that could make me forget how lucky I am to have you as my wife, Liv. To know that this is the face I will always come home to.” He hugged her closely, whispering in her ear. “These are the arms I’ll fall asleep in. Wake up in.” He pulled back slightly. “I love you so damned much, baby. I promise I will do my best to show you every day for the rest of my life.”
For years he’d been her best friend. Then, he became her real-life hero. After that, her lover. And now...now he was her husband. Olivia’s heart felt
