“It’s from the girls.” She pointed to the written words on the page. “Each of them wrote a little note to us both, but they used the same piece of paper. Armineh and Sadia took up most of the front, and Malalai’s and Benesh’s messages are on the back.”
She waited, giving him a quiet moment to read over the sweet words.
Armineh had shared that she and her family had moved to a safer area. Benesh’s family had moved in with her grandparents, and Sadia and Malalai were still at their original homes.
All four girls reported the area they all lived in was becoming safer and less volatile than it had been in recent months. The girls were back in the same school as before and reportedly doing very well in each of their subjects.
Warmth spread throughout Evie’s chest as she waited, knowing the girls were able to thrive once again. She just prayed those in charge of that part of Afghanistan heeded the recent warning that had been handed down by the U.S.
If there is another American captured on Afghan soil, it will be considered an act of war, and you and your people will feel the weight of my entire military.
It was a direct quote from the leader of the most powerful country in the world. One Evie, herself, had heard fall from the president’s lips as she and the members of Tac-Ops—along with the SEAL team from Hawaii—stood in the Oval Office exactly one week after the incident on the yacht.
“Sounds like the girls are doing well.” Beckett handed her back the treasured note with a grin.
“Yeah.” Evie nodded as she carefully refolded the paper and set it on the decorative table to her right. “I just hope they can finally live their lives in peace.”
“Come here.” Her fiancé wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close once more.
Looking up, Evie teased him with a slow, sly grin. “What’s the matter? You didn’t get enough of me this morning?”
Tantalizing flares of their early morning lovemaking still tingled through her lower belly. He’d been so sweet, so careful, moving torturously slow. Evie knew he still worried about hurting her healing wound but planned to prove to him later she could handle a whole lot more.
“Not even close.” He leaned in for another deep, consuming kiss. When he was finished, he moved back just enough to allow his darkened gaze to become fixed with hers. “And just so you know…” Beckett rumbled low. “When it comes to you, it will never be enough.”
“That’s good, because I’m pretty sure the ring I’m still waiting to get back from the jeweler includes a lifetime membership to your bed.”
“You mean this ring?” He held up the shiny diamond wedding set he’d surprised her with the day she’d left thehospital. “The jeweler called on my way home from the office and said it was ready.”
Evie squealed as she held out her left hand—palm-down, fingers splayed. The gorgeous set had been a tad too big when he’d surprised her with the impromptu hospital proposal, so Beckett had taken it back in to get it resized.
He slid it onto its designated finger on her left hand, his thumb caressing her gently as he kept his gentle hold.
“It’s perfect.” She admired the diamond’s sparkling shimmer.
Beckett pulled her back into his arms with a rumbled, “Just like you.”
No, baby. You’re the one who’s perfect.
“I love you so much.” Evie lifted onto her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.
“Yeah?” He smirked, though the man knew full well that she did.
“Need me to prove it?” The tip of her nose brushed his in a purposefully teasing move. “Because I was thinking maybe we tell the guys about my new bling when we see them all this weekend.”
Beckett’s fingertips dug into her hips as a flash of excitement darkened his heated gaze. “You mean it?”
Evie nodded, her belly fluttering like mad from the sight of his giddy grin. “It’s time.” She looked at her ring from over his shoulder. “The perfect time, really. Everyone will be at Falcon and Avery’s cookout on Saturday, including Mustang and Aleck and their team. And since I have my ring back, I can show them all just how much I love you.”
“You know you don’t have to prove anything, right?” His tone—and expression—grew serious. “Not to them or me.”
“I know.” She placed a palm over his beating heart.
Strong.
Steady.
Resilient.