Chapter One
Prologue
8 years earlier
Walking into the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel, Sledge couldn’t wait to see his girl. He missed her something fierce. After being gone for nearly two months, just seeing her for a few hours hadn’t been enough. Beth was the woman he knew he would spend the rest of his life with. Being a US Navy SEAL Commander, didn’t leave a lot of time for them since he was always leaving on missions, but once he retired, they would be set for life. They had already made plans to move to Florida, buy a house on the beach, and start a family. He was looking forward to waking up every morning with her in his arms and making love to her every night. The guys in his unit called him sappy, but he didn’t care. When you loved a woman as much as he loved Beth, you’d give anything in the world to make her happy.
Sledge entered the lounge, looking around for her, but didn’t see her yet. The place was pretty full. Beth’s parents were having their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary party. Many of the most powerful political figures were in attendance tonight. Beth’s father was a Texas senator, her mother the quiet Texas debutante. Sledge was dressed to perfection in his military uniform. After a year and a half of dating, this would be the first time he’d meet her parents. If he was honest, he was really hoping to make a good impression. Upstairs in his hotel room, was a box containing the three carat diamond ring he bought yesterday. He planned to ask Beth to marry him, so making a good impression on her parents was a must. It was his current mission, and Devin “Sledge” Parks never failed a mission.
Sledge made his way over to the bar. He would just order a drink and wait. After all, he was a bit early. Beth had sent him a text message this morning, reminding him that the event started at eight o’clock this evening. It was only seven-thirty. If her parents were anything like Beth, they wouldn’t arrive on time. Beth was always ‘fashionably late’.
“Jack and Coke please,” Sledge requested when the bartender asked for his order. As the drink arrived, Sledge took a seat at the end of the bar.
His mind slipped away to last night. Beth waiting for him at the airport. She was so beautiful. Standing by the baggage claim, just waiting for him. She was tall, but nothing like Sledge’s six foot four frame. Beth was about five foot seven, slender, but still had curves that a man could hold tightly to. She had shoulder length honey blonde hair, and the most crystal blue eyes Sledge had ever seen. She was his opposite in almost everything. But they were perfect together.
A commotion caught Sledge’s attention, and when he looked up, Beth was walking into the room behind her parents. His breath caught in his throat. She was stunning. The form fitting, strapless black dress she wore clung to every curve like a second skin. Her normally straight hair was curled around her heart-shaped face. Beth looked like a walking wet dream - his wet dream. Standing from his position at the bar, his eyes latched onto hers. She gave him a smile that nearly had him going into cardiac arrest. Would he ever not be affected by her? Probably not. Sledge knew Beth would always render him near stupid and he was okay with that because she was his.
Straightening his uniform, Sledge made his way over to Beth’s side. He needed to touch her. Spending last night together wasn’t nearly enough for him. He hated being away from her. As he approached, her father looked his way.
Was that annoyance in his face, Sledge wondered? Couldn’t be, he thought, he’d never even met the man. Why would he have a problem with him?
“Good evening, honey. You look beautiful,” Sledge said pulling Beth into his side and placing a simple kiss on her temple.
“Good evening, Devin,” she said, but it sounded off to his ears. Something was wrong, but this was not the place to ask.
“Devin, I would like to introduce you to my parents. This is my father Senator Jonathan Andrews and my mother Helen. Mother, Father, this is Devin Parks,” she said very formally.
Sledge reached out to shake her mother’s hand, and then her father’s. Mr. Andrews had a firm grip, holding on a little too long for Sledge’s liking. He had a feeling this man didn’t like him, but for the life of him, Sledge couldn’t figure out why.
Mrs. Andrews placed her hand on her husband’s arm. “Let’s go mingle, Jonathan. Everyone is looking this way and I am sure Elizabeth would like to spend a few minutes with Mr. Parks,” she said.
Mr. Andrews turned his gaze to Beth and gave a curt nod. Sledge had no idea what that was about, but he would find out. He watched as Mr. and Mrs. Andrews walked off to visit with their guests.
“Okay, what was that all about?” he asked Beth.
“Um... I don’t... Do you want to dance?” she stammered. Sledge wanted to demand an answer, but he wanted to hold Beth in his arms more, so he would let the subject drop, for now.
Sledge walked them out onto the dance floor and pulled Beth into his arms. The slow music flowing through the room’s surround sound was perfect. Pulling her closer into his body, Sledge became lost in the feel of her. This was heaven. This was what he fought so hard to come home to. To Beth, his Beth. As one song turned into two, and then three, Sledge noticed the looks they were getting from Beth’s father.
What was the man’s problem?
Sledge was a decorated military officer and had several valor medals under his belt. Did Mr. Andrews think he wasn’t good enough for Beth? Sledge could understand that. He honestly could. When he and Beth had children, if they had a daughter, he wouldn’t think anyone would be good enough for his baby girl either. But Sledge had a feeling it was more than that.
“Honey, what is going on? You’re acting different. Closed off. And your father keeps looking at us like he is waiting for something.”
Beth pulled away from his embrace. “We need to talk,” she whispered. Grabbing Sledge’s hand, she led him through a set of double doors and out onto the terrace.
Sledge’s stomach started to revolt against the Jack and Coke he drank earlier. His gut was telling him that this was bad. Whatever she was about to say, would destroy him.
“What is it Beth?” he asked. He would beg if he had to. Anything to make this feeling go away.
She walked away from him and started picking at her finger. That was a nervous habit of hers, but why she would be nervous around him, he had no clue.
“Baby, you’re worrying me. Whatever it is, just tell me. We’ll work through it,” he pleaded.
“We can’t see each other anymore,” she blurted out.
“I’m sorry... What?” he must have heard her wrong. Because he could have sworn she said...
“Devin, I am ending this relationship. We cannot be together any...”
“No. Why?” he demanded. “Beth, you and I already have our future planned. What happened between last night and tonight?” This could not be happening.
He watched as tears started to fall down her face. It crushed him to witness it. He tried to step towards her to wipe them away, but she moved backward with each step he took.
Stopping, Sledge just looked at her. He felt his world tremble, it was falling apart around him. Beth continued to stare at the ground beneath her feet, not meeting his eyes.
“Beth, why? I deserve an answer,” he pleaded. He needed to know what happened. It was the only way to fix the problem.
“Please Devin, just... just please,” she whispered, then turned and ran back through the doors. Sledge turned to follow; it couldn’t end like this.
As he reentered the room, he saw her father. The man just stood there watching his daughter flee like the hounds of hell were chasing her, not showing a bit of concern about her quick departure. Sledge’s gaze turned back to where Beth had disappeared. She was gone... gone... and he still had no idea why.
Sledge left the party and made his way upstairs to his room. Entering, he walked to the bedside table and grabbed his cell phone. After several calls and what seemed like a stalker level of text messages to Beth, she hadn’t answered or returned a thing. Now what? His life and reason were gone. Without Beth, he had nothing. She was everything to him. His life, his heartbeat, the air that moved through his lungs. And now, he had nothing. Sledge had no idea what had changed... all the plans they had made... all for nothing.
He sat on the side of the hotel bed staring at the floor. He had no idea how long he was in that position; all he knew was when he finally stood up, his back and neck were stiff. He removed his uniform, carefully placing it back on its hangers and walked into the bathroom.
Climbing into the shower stall, he turned on the water, not caring that it shot cold spray at him. Sledge stood there, head hanging towards the ground. And for the first time since he was a child, he cried.
Shit! If his unit could see him now... they would laugh their asses off, he thought. But really, he couldn’t bring himself to care.
Sledge stood there until all the hot water was gone and the cold returned. He felt dead inside. The one woman he loved more than life, just ripped his heart out and couldn’t even be bothered with an explanation.
Turning the water off, Sledge climbed out of the shower and made his way to the bed. He didn’t even bother to dry off, he just climbed under the sheets. Tomorrow he would request another mission, ASAP. The guys would be pissed that their leave was shortened, but Sledge couldn’t stay here. His Beth was here, no not his... she would never be his...
Sledge woke to the ringing of his phone, hope growing in his chest that Beth was on the other end. But a quick glance at the caller ID sent that hope crashing down around him.
“Sir,” he stated into the device.
“Commander, you and your team are being called back out. I’m sorry. I know you were originally given two-weeks leave, but this is a mission that your team was requested to handle. Report to base immediately to obtain your orders and intel,” came the order directly from the Admiral.
“Yes Sir,” he replied as the Admiral ended the call. Guess he wouldn’t have to make that call after all, it was already made for him.
Sledge sent a mass text message to his team: “Leave is over boys. Report back to base immediately. We have been requested for a mission.”
Replies came flying back. Sledge knew his team wouldn’t be happy. Some probably hadn’t even had a chance to get laid yet. But again, he couldn’t bring himself to care. This is what he needed. There was nothing left for him here... Whoever requested his team just did him a favor.