Ignite (Explosive) (39 page)

4 years
later

I rub my hands against my MultiCam uniform, anxious to get off the plane. I’ve only been gone for four months this time, but every time I leave, it gets increasingly harder. Now that I’m higher ranking, I don’t go out in the field as much, but it still sucks being away. Once the flight attendant gives the all clear, I power on my phone, and Alexa’s grinning face greets me. It’s a photo from our wedding and it’s always been the background on my phone.

She was wrong about how long it would take to plan a wedding. I hadn’t wanted a long engagement, but I was prepared to do whatever she wished. The following weekend, when she came to visit, she surprised the hell out of me. We’d just finished christening my sheets as an engaged couple when she rolled over to place her head on my chest. I was mindlessly running my fingers in her hair when she started sliding hers over the tattoo on my right bicep. Stopping on one of the numbers, she started to speak.

“What do you think about November second?” she asked, calling out the first number on my arm.

Looking at it, she smiled as she traced the 11.02.03 across my arm. I wrapped my arms around her and she snuggled in closer.

“November second for what, babe?” I asked.

“For the wedding, Jace. What else?” she said teasingly.

I sat up and brought her with me, resting my back against the headboard.

“You want to get married on November second? As in less-than-a-month-away November second?”

She laughed at my question. “Well, yeah. We don’t want anything big, and it’s exactly ten years from the date you first came back safely. I think it’s special. Plus, Sierra and I’ve been looking into it, and I want to get married on the beach in Navarre. It just seems fitting, you know?”

Her thoughtfulness touched me, and my heart swelled at the depth of her love. In that moment, I knew I would do anything for her, and I couldn’t imagine loving her more.

“I think that’s a great idea. I like the symbolism of it. It’s perfect. Can we be ready in time?”

She jumped up from the bed and ran out of my room, only to come back a moment later with a thick book. She then settled in on the bed, showing me every detail that would make this happen. I absentmindedly listened, because I didn’t care about flowers or dresses or any of that stuff. The only thing I cared about was the fact that in less than one month, she was going to be my wife.

I smile at the memory as I walk through the terminal. Before I know it, the sweetest sound a man can hear is filling my ears. Tiny arms wrap around my legs as I hear the sound of Maya, our rambunctious almost three-year-old, squeal, “Daddy!” I drop my bag and scoop her up into my arms. She throws her arms around my neck and her little lips plant firmly on my cheek.

I tickle her tummy and she giggles with delight. “I’ve missed you, sweetie. Were you good for your momma?”

She nods as she answers me. “Missed you, Daddy. I was good when Mommy was tired. ”

I press my nose to hers, rubbing gently. She gives me a toothy grin and my heart melts at the sight. I can hang with the bravest of them, but one smile from his child can bring any soldier to his knees.

“Why was Mommy tired, baby? You wear her out watching too many silly movies?” I tease.

She frowns and a serious look crosses her face. She leans in close, as if to share a secret.

“Mommy’s belly’s getting big, and I think that’s making her sleepy,” she whispers, and I immediately turn around in search of Alexa.

She’s standing off in the corner, leaning against a wall as she watches Maya and me. She’s grinning and she throws me a small wave. My eyes sweep down to her stomach, and I notice immediately that the usual flat, taut tummy has been replaced by a small bump that’s highlighted through her form fitting dress. Grabbing my bag, I quickly make my way towards her, sweeping her up in my arms as I hold both of my girls in my arms.

“You’re squishing me, Daddy!” Maya proclaims, and I loosen my hold on her mother.

Looking up at me with shining eyes, she whispers five amazingly beautiful words. I smile and give her a smacking kiss as they replay over and over in my mind.
Congratulations, Soldier. It’s a boy.

The End

Stayed tuned for Incinerate, Knox’s story. Coming early 2014.

Testing the Strong Ones- Copeland

How- Regina Spektor

Heaven- DJ Sammy feat. Do

Hesitate- Stone Sour

Underneath the Stars- Mariah Carey

You Never Know- Jon McLaughlin

If You’re Not the One- Daniel Bedingfield

Can’t Forget You- My Darkest Days

Stars- Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

If I Knew Then- Lady Antebellum

Dancin’ Away With My Heart- Lady Antebellum

I Don’t Want This Night to End- Luke Bryan

I Will- Usher

Shake the Sand- Luke Bryan

Don’t- Billy Currington

All I Ever Wanted- Chuck Wicks

Faster- Matt Nathanson

Without You Now- Jon McLaughlin

Timekeeper- Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

Talking to the Moon- Bruno Mars

Hold That Thought- Chuck Wicks

Lay You Down- Usher

Wanted- Hunter Hayes

Everything- Michael Buble

Live and Die- The Avett Brothers

Run- Matt Nathanson feat. Sugarland

Hot Summer Night- Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

Breaking Your Own Heart- Kelly Clarkson

What If You- Josh Radin

Try- Pink

Distance- Christina Perri feat. Jason Mraz

The Last Time- Taylor Swift feat. Gary Lightbody

Ready to Love Again- Lady Antebellum

Between the Raindrops- Lifehouse feat. Natasha Bedingfield

Wow, I think this part might be even harder than writing a full length novel. When I first started writing Ignite, I never expected to receive the crazy, insane, amazing amount of love and support, and I will forever be thankful to those who walked this journey with me.

Derek,
Ignite
would not exist without you pushing me to do it. I don’t know how many times you kept encouraging me to write before it finally clicked that it was something I could do. And then the weeks of a messy house, you making all the meals (okay, that’s par for the course), and me being so absent-minded when you tried to talk to me… I couldn’t be more thankful for your love, support, and patience. Now if you call one more of my lines cheesy, I might hit you with a pillow. I love you!!

My Alpha Team, a term I learned from the amazing Sarah Ashley Jones, I could never had done this without you ladies. I feel like we’re the Sisterhood of the Emailed Work in Progress and I can’t believe this journey is over. All of your emails, tweets, texts, words of encouragement gave me the push to keep going even when I wanted to give up. I think Stacy said it best with “I feel like I just watched my kid grow up right before my eyes, and then move away to college.” It’s crazy bittersweet that ‘our baby’ is going out into the world now. I love every single one of you and cannot wait for the next chapter!

Teri Beth, you’re like top dog alpha. Your intense notes blew me away and I can’t imagine what kind of a hot mess
Ignite
would be if your hawk-like eyes hadn’t read it for me. The Pronoun Plague would’ve never been beaten! I’ll never be able to thank you enough for the amount of time and attention to detail you spent with this book. If there was a job for professional beta readers, you’d be at the top of the list.

Erica, not only did you send me kick-ass notes and highlights for good teasers, you also rocked at picking up my slack from Gutter Girls Book Reviews. I never would’ve finished
Ignite
on time if I was still having to do blog tours and reviews, so I’m extremely thankful to have you as an amazing partner and alpha reader.

Lydia, what the heck would I have done without your bubbly enthusiasm? There were so many days that I just wasn’t feeling it, but I’d get an excited email or tweet from you that sparked a fire under my ass so I could send you more, just to see what you thought. Your promoting skills are beyond compare, and I’m so lucky we connected!

Stacy, I can’t begin to think how Jace and Lexi’s story would’ve turned out if it hadn’t been your input in the beginning. You fundamentally changed the whole thing, and I’m so thankful that I listened to you! Not only that, but I’m so thankful that you’ve let become a sounding board for me when I’m ready to lose it. You never fail to make me laugh at the perfect times! And that amazing book trailer? I love the hell out of it and you! You definitely went above and beyond, and I can’t thank you enough.

Abby, I’ve been following your reviews at Fiction & Fashion for as long as I can remember, so when you started reading
Ignite
I was excited and nervous. Your feedback was always spot on and I love our wine night Gmail chats! You helped shape Jace and Lexi in some very important ways, and I’m glad you taught me certain words not to use, but I’m also proud I was able to get you to like one! I look forward to many, many more wine chats in the future!

Jenna, you were a little late the party, but I am so glad Erica brought you in! All of your input was definitely needed and such a big help to finally getting this book out there! I can’t wait to get to our Tennessee boy’s book. I’m going to be bugging you so much about all things Tennessee. Hopefully there’s not too much fighting over him, but I think you might just win!

Summer, I was terrified to give it to you, but you ended up being my champion! All those nights spent around the fire talking all things Jace and Lexi were so important to the process, and I can never thank you enough for listening to me go on and on about them! I should probably thank Travis for that, too! I’m so excited for the future; it’s going to be amazing!!

Jennifer at Love Between the Sheets blog, you were a freaking rockstar! I have no idea how you generated so much interest in me, but you did! I can’t believe we broke the cover reveal record, and the numbers you generated for the release blitz and blog tour still astound me to this day. Thank you for being such an amazing part of the promotion process.
Ignite
would be left off of so many Kindles if it weren’t for you.

Seth and Trox, you two… what do I even begin to say? Seth, you listened to me talk the whole book through before I even started, and you helped give me the push to get to writing. I’ll never forget that day in Denver, because that’s the day I opened up my laptop and started typing. And then both of you talked me through a crazy writer’s block and then helped shape the rest of the story as you listened to me drone on and one. Now I’m sorry I didn’t kill everyone in the end, but I think you’ll still like the way it ends. I love you guys!

The entire 127
th
FME flight, I owe all of you! Who would’ve thought that a group of crazy military men would be so supportive of this girl writing a romance novel? I should’ve known, because that’s who you guys are. Every time I see y’all you are asking about my book and are genuinely interested to hear where I am in the process. From that and then telling your wives and friends they have to read, I cannot thank you enough. I love each and every one of you, and I hope I make you proud!

Robin at Wicked by Design, you are incredible! I was so nervous for the cover process, but you made it so easy. It was killing me to sit on your amazing work for two months before the reveal. I’ve gotten so many compliments on it and it’s all thanks to you!

Mickey at I’m a Book Shark, thank you so much for making the editing process so easy! I can’t wait to work with you in the future! You freaking rock!

Lastly, to all the bloggers, facebook fans, and Goodreads readers, thank you from bottom of my heart for giving a chance on an unknown debut author. The daily tweets, messages, and emails make every single second of this worth it, and I can’t wait for what’s in store.