“Mail call, lovebirds. I slipped it under the door,” was Hawk’s wakeup call from Mickie over the intercom in the suite the next morning.

He stretched and Maddie protested by hugging him tighter, as if she would never let him go. His heart swelled along with another part of his anatomy, which should be worn out this morning. Her hand found his cock under the covers and she squeezed. Hawk groaned and covered her hand with his.

“Again,” she murmured sleepily.

“Damn, baby—I’m not sure I can keep up with you.” Hawk laughed as he hugged her to his side. Three times, including the quickie on the sofa, and she wanted to go again? He was a lucky man, but definitely in need of some recovery time.

“Then you need to practice. Isn’t that what you told me?” she replied, and he felt her smile on his pec.

“We didn’t go dancing, so you didn’t practice,” Hawk replied, moving her hand away, but sighing when she put it right back.

“Who’s talking about dancing? I don’t need legs for this activity and I’ve evidently mastered it,” Her giggle tickled his skin. “I’ll stick with what I’m good at.”

No, all she needed was that mouth, and she was right—she was damned good at it.

A shiver racked him as he pushed her hand away to sit up and throw back the covers. She leaned up on her elbow and her lower lip stuck out. His eyes followed her hand as she traced her curves up to her breast. She flicked a thumb over her nipple, sucked in a sharp breath and Hawk’s cock hardened with her nipple.

“Since you won’t even give me a good morning kiss, I guess I’ll have to handle things myself. These self-service lessons aren’t nearly as fun.”

With great effort, Hawk shook his head and forced his eyes up to hers. “Hold that thought, baby. I want to see what’s in the mail.” He leaned in for a quick kiss and her lips followed him as he sat back up. “It might be something important.”

They were waiting for so many answers, he hoped one of those letters might allow them to check something off that list. This waiting and wondering was killing him, he thought, as he swung his legs off the bed and stood.

He walked out of the bedroom and his eyes locked on the envelope beneath the door. His heart beat faster with every step, until it pounded when his eyes landed on the logo of the DNA lab where they’d had the blood drawn.

Bending, Hawk snatched it up and ripped his shaking finger through the seal. He pulled out the sheaf of paper inside and quickly unfolded it. Skimming over the introduction, he went straight to the test results and his heart stopped, he fell to his knees, and clutched the letter to his chest.

“YES! Thank, God!” Hawk roared, his body so full of love, excitement and relief, he felt like he might pass out.

Maddie came hobbling out of the bedroom, still getting settled in her prosthesis. “What happened?” she asked, her voice shaking as she finally stopped to look down at him.

“She’s mine! All fucking mine!” he shouted, his smile shaking it was so wide.

“Um, not quite. She’s mine too,” Maddie corrected, her smile lighting up her face.

“Of course she is,” Hawk replied. “But she’s mine too—ours—and I am so fucking relieved.”

He was going to frame this freaking letter and hang it somewhere, so everyone in the world knew it too. Maybe hang it beside her birth certificate, which would have his name on it. Someone pounded a fist on the door of the suite, and Hawk jumped up to his feet to answer it.

He grabbed the doorknob, but Maddie covered his hand.

“Ah, you might want to get some clothes on first, honey,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t want anyone seeing that incredible body but me.”

Hawk turned and grabbed Maddie to him, then kissed her until she was breathless. “I love you, Maddie Carter. Thank you so much for the gift of my daughter.”

Her eyes glistened and her lips wobbled. “Thank you for the gift of my daughter,” she replied, then swallowed hard. “I’m so glad you are her father, Rhett. You have no idea how relieved I am too.”

Hawk stared deep into her eyes then sighed as he released her. It would come, he thought, as he turned to walk toward the bedroom feeling her eyes on his back.

Maddie sighed, her heart full, as she turned and opened the door to find Mickie standing there. “I just wanted to know if someone needed help in here,” she said with a laugh. “And I found another letter in the mail for you that I missed.” She handed Maddie a thick envelope with the Army seal in the upper left hand corner.

“We’re all good. Hawk just found out for sure he’s Sarah’s father. He was a little excited, and I am too.”

“Congratulations!” Mickie squealed, her beautiful green eyes widening. She launched herself at Maddie and knocked her back a few steps as she hugged her.

“Thanks,” Maddie said, smiling as she released her.

“Oh, Dio!” she said clapping her hands with glee. “I have a reason to cook now! Gray put me on a hiatus, because he says he’s getting paunchy. His words. Those gorgeous abs look perfectly fine a little rounded to me. I’m getting rounder by the day, so it’s only fair he does too.” She rubbed her slightly rounded belly and smiled down at it.

“I wouldn’t complain if you cooked, but why?” Maddie asked with a laugh.

“We’re going to have a celebration, of course! I’ll get everything set up and invite the troops. We never imagined Prince Charming would finally settle down, or I didn’t, anyway.”

Maddie looked back at the bedroom, and a little surge of jealousy tightened her stomach. Hawk was Prince Charming, and he probably had women dropping at his feet. Or left them in his wake as he flew off into the sunset without them. She didn’t want to be one of them.

When I turn on the charm it’s real, and I’ve been told, lethal.

That was true, because Maddie had been slain by that charm. Combined with his looks and that smile, what woman stood a chance? Before she told him how she felt, though, head over fucking heels crazy about him, she was going to make sure his words of love had substance. It was scary to make that leap, until she knew what was charm and what was real.

But when will you know? The man’s hurt expression every time you don’t return those words says he means them. What more do you need? If you don’t tell him soon, he might get tired of saying them.

“Your face looks amazing, by the way,” Mickie said, and woke her up.

Maddie smiled, and touched her cheek. “The doctor pulled a rabbit out of his hat for sure. He was pretty proud of himself at our appointment yesterday.”

“He should be. You look great.” With another quick hug, Mickie left her standing there thinking. She shut the door and turned to find Hawk behind her.

“What’s that?” he asked, motioning to the letter she forgot she was holding.

She looked down at the envelope and studied the Army insignia again, before she slid a nail under the loosely attached flap.

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s from the VA about my benefits,” she said as she pulled out the folded letter. She smoothed it open and her chest got tighter with every word she read. By the time she finished, Maddie could barely breathe.

She looked up to find Hawk reading along with her, and his face was a thundercloud.

“They’ve put my discharge and benefits on indefinite hold, pending further investigation into the crash. They want to interview me at the base at the end of the week,” she recapped, her voice quaking.

The threat at the bottom, to send MPs to escort her if she didn’t show up for the meeting, scared the shit out of her and told her this wasn’t a request. It was an order, and something was going on that had nothing to do with her benefits.

“Don’t worry, baby. Whatever this is we’ll deal with it too,” Hawk said, pulling her into his arms. “I’ve got your six.”

His strength surrounded her, his unwavering support amazed her. This man had become her champion in all things, and it was time she let down her guard. Maddie needed his strength and support now, because she was weak as a kitten and hanging on to her sanity by a thread.

Sliding her arms around his waist, Maddie hugged him tightly. “I love you so much, Rhett Hawkins. I don’t know why you love me, but I’m so thankful you do.”