Major

TGI fucking Friday. I have never been so glad to see a week come to an end. Edith has my house in perfect order, just the way I like it, and I’m packed and on my way to San Diego with Garcia. We figured we might as well drive up together. It seemed stupid to have two cars when we’re all going the same places. We decided to book two rooms at the Fairmount Grand Del Mar for the weekend to do some golfing and swimming. I could spend the entire weekend in bed with Violet, but I want to get to know her more outside the bedroom too.

“So you and Kimber have been spending a lot of time together huh?”

“Yeah, all this driving back and forth is killing me. I’m down here at least three times a week,” Garcia says.

“Wow, maybe one of you ought to move,” I say to mess with him.

“Somebody’s going to have to. I’m asking her to marry me this weekend.”

“Whoa, I was just joking, man. You’re really gonna marry her?”

“Yes, you got a problem with that?” He says, sounding genuinely pissed. Garcia’s never been disrespectful or rude to me. He must really have it bad for this woman to be that protective.

“No, just surprised, that’s all. She’s a great girl. Congratulations. I’m happy for you.” I slap him on his shoulder, and the deep grooves on his forehead disappear.

“Thanks. Sorry. I caught a bunch of shit from my brothers this week when I told them. They think I’m crazy, asking a pregnant woman to marry me.”

“Takes a very honorable man to do that. I admire that about you.”

“Thanks, it’s good to have somebody on my side.”

“So when are you popping the question?” I ask.

“Saturday night.”

“Doing something trendy or just sticking with the traditional down on one knee method?”

“Traditional. I’m not into all that treasure map, ring in the champagne glass shit. I’m serious about her. I want her to know it.”

“I agree, straight forward and simple.”

“You don’t think that’s too boring?”

“You just told me you wanted her to know you’re serious. Serious isn’t boring, it’s . . . serious.”

“Yeah, I’m just nervous, ya know? She’s been burned by marriage once. I’m sorta spooked she might not want to go down that road again.”

“Maybe she learned from it and she knows a good thing when she sees it now.”

“I fucking hope so.”

We check in, and I call Violet from our room.

“Hi, beautiful.”

“Hi, are you in town yet?” she asks.

“Yeah.”

“Then why aren’t you here?”

“Because I have a surprise for you.”

“I love surprises. Tell me.”

“Wouldn’t be a surprise then, silly. Grab a sexy bikini and pack a bag for the weekend. I’ll be over to get you in twenty.”

“Are we going somewhere?” She sounds giddy and excited, like a little kid going to Disney World.

“Sort of, just bring a swimsuit, a dress, and something casual to wear golfing.”

“Golfing? I haven’t been golfing since the week I met you.”

“Well, we’re going to change that this weekend. Get packed. I’ll see you soon.”

“Okay, bye.”

Violet

A bikini. Shit, I can’t wear a bikini with this baby bump. But that’s all I’ve got to wear swimming, and I don’t have time to shop. I guess this means I’m telling him before we go to the pool, whenever that is.

We had plans to go to dinner tonight with Garcia and Kimber, so I already have a dress picked out. I toss my toiletries in an overnight bag with a tiny red bikini, my new lingerie, and a couple of casual tops and shorts. I’m ready in only five minutes. Now I get to fidget until he shows up. I love surprises, but I’m not very patient. I grab my dress that is covered in dry cleaner plastic and my bag and go down to the lobby to wait.

He pulls up in front of my building precisely twenty minutes after we hung up. I watch him get out of the Lexus and walk to the glass doors. His confident, masculine stride gives me butterflies in my belly. I should stand up and go meet him, but I can’t resist staying put and watching him come to me.

When he catches sight of me he saunters over with a smirk on his face.

“What’s with the smirk? I ask when he offers me his hand.

“You’re sitting here watching me like a puma stalking her prey. You’ve got fuck me written all over your face.”

Without thinking, I lift my hand to my cheek and he laughs.

“You’re adorable,” he says and presses a soft kiss to my lips before taking my hand and picking up my bag.

“Do you have your own clubs?” he asks.

I’m still thinking about having fuck me written on my face, and he has to repeat his question.

“Violet?”

“Huh?” I say, looking into his bright greens.

“Clubs?”

“Oh, no, they’re at my mom’s. I don’t have room for them here.”

“I can run and get them tomorrow. That’s fine.”

“So what’s the itinerary for the weekend, since we are staying in a hotel instead of my bed?”

He stops to open the car door and eyes me carefully. “Are you disappointed?”

“About a weekend with you at a hotel? No, of course not. It sounds fun.”

“I’ll take good care of you, don’t worry.”

The way he says that sounds like a vow instead of a promise.

“I’m not worried at all.” I slide in, and he closes the door and walks around to the back to stow my bag away. I’m not worried about the sex this weekend, or my golf clubs, or even wearing my bikini. I’m worried about how Major is going to react when he finds out I’m pregnant. His past is heavily peppered with pain and loss, and his issues with OCD run deep. He could be totally opposed to having another child. He doesn’t even feel worthy of raising Malory in his own home.

I want to meet Malory. She’s a big part of his life, and if he plans on keeping me around for a while, it’s going to be important that I know her.

When he’s settled in his seat, I ask him, “Do you think I could meet Malory?”

He stills with his hand on the ignition button for a moment.

“Yes, maybe you could come up this week one night and have dinner at my sister’s with me,” he says and starts the engine.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I’ve never introduced her to anyone before. I’m not sure how she will react.”

“I don’t want to upset her. If you don’t think it’s a good—”

“No.” He links his fingers loosely with mine. “You’re part of my life, and so is she. You need to meet.”

I nod in agreement. “Are you ready to go now?”

“Yep, let’s get this show on the road.”

Major drives like an old woman, slow and careful. I never noticed it when he drove me to his house in Oceanside. I was drunk the first night, and the second night, after the earthquake, nobody was driving faster than 15 mph with all the debris on the roads.

“You drive slow.”

Major

“Precious cargo.”

She is precious cargo, but I always drive carefully. I know how bad it sucks to grow up without good parents, and I don’t want to risk leaving Malory officially an orphan. Everything I do, I do with her in mind. I eat healthy, exercise, get checkups, all that shit, just to make sure I’ll be around for a long time for her. I owe her that much.

When she doesn’t respond, I reach out and take her hand and kiss her knuckles.

“What are you thinking?” I ask.

“This all feels like a dream.”

“Like you’re going to wake up and I’ll be gone and you will never have known me?”

“Yes, how did you know?”

“I feel the same way sometimes. You’re my second chance for a never ending story, remember?”

She’s not just my second chance. She’s my last chance. I never dreamed there would be someone who could tie my heart up in knots the way Katie did. Sin deserves punishment, and my punishment was losing her, but for some reason, I’ve been blessed with love again, and I’m not going to blow it.

“You okay over there?”

Violet is an emotional person. She wears her feelings on her sleeve, but today, she seems to be hiding something.

“Yes, you’re just too sweet sometimes.”

“You don’t know me very well yet,” I say and wink at her.

“Oh, I know you think you’re a big tough, Marine but I’m figuring you out.”

She pokes me in the chest with her perfectly manicured finger.

“Oh really? How’s that?”

“Well, for starters, you’re thoughtful and attentive. You remembered how much I love cupcakes, and you noticed me squinting in the sun and bought me sunglasses. Second, you’re a good, responsible daddy. You spend a lot of time with your daughter.”

I open my mouth to protest. If that were really true, I’d be able to change my rigid ways and give up the Marines so Malory could live with me. But she holds up her pretty finger again, indicating that she’s not done yet.

“And third, you have a really big . . .” She pauses for dramatic effect. “heart.”

“Very funny, Target girl.”

“You think you don’t, but I’m a very good judge of character.”

“Oh, I know I have a big—”

“Stop!” She laughs, swatting at me with her free hand.

I love her laugh. I love her free spirit. I love her dirty mouth. I just plain fucking love her.

Ten minutes later, we’re pulling into the circle drive of the Fairmount Grand Del Mar Hotel.

“This is us.”

“Wow, you said hotel and I thought some little place by the beach or something. This place is swanky.”

“Only the best for you, Target girl.”

She rolls her eyes.

“Is Kimber here yet? I haven’t seen her for a couple of weeks.”

“Should be. Garcia was taking an Uber to get her when I left to get you.”

“Why didn’t he drive his car?”

“We came together.”

“And see, you’re efficient, too.” She crosses her arms over her chest and nods her head like she’s agreeing with herself.

My eyes fall to her breasts that are perched on top of her folded arms. I could just be horny as hell, but they look better than usual, rounder, plumper. My cock twitches. I need to get her into bed. I’m having my dessert before dinner tonight.