He reached for her hand and held it in his as he remained on his knees. “That’s where you’re wrong. You mattered too much. I didn’t want to tear you away from your home.”
“You’re a Marine. You could get orders five minutes from now. Then what?”
He stood, leveling his gaze with hers. “Then I’ll selfishly beg you to go with me. I don’t want to lose you ever again. I meant it when I first told you I’m in love with you. I mean it even more now.”
Her breath hitched in her chest. He lifted a finger and wiped away her tears.
“I love you, too,” she whispered, unable to hold on to her anger. “And you’re wrong. This town is where I was born, but with you is where I’m home.”
“Can you forgive me?” he asked.
She sniffled and nodded. “Don’t even think about leaving without me ever again, though,” she said, forcing a stern voice.
“Yes, ma’am.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her mouth softly for a long moment. Then, pulling back, he met her tear-filled gaze again. “This is the pose I like best. My arms around you, holding you, loving you.”
“Do you have a name for this one, too, Captain?” she asked, pressing her body into his, melting against his warmth.
“Yeah. This is called the Forever pose.”
She smiled up at him, so in love with this man. “It’s my favorite.”
“Mine, too.”
Then, as the sun melted on the horizon, painting a backdrop of pink and orange and blue, Lawson laid out a blanket and guided Julie to the ground, laying her back in the middle of the field of dandelions.
“Don’t ever try to leave me again,” she whispered, as he sprinkled kisses along her neck.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He lifted his head, looking down at her, serious. “You tame every wild part of me. You calm my storm and make me feel like I’m flying. You are everything to me, Julie, and I will spend every second, of every day, for the rest of my life hoping I can be the same for you.”
She cupped her hands around his face. “You have yourself a deal, cowboy.” Although he was already all those things to her and more. “Now make love to me,” she said, laughing.
Lawson dipped and pressed his mouth to hers. “Forever,” he whispered.
She savored the sound of that word on his lips. “Forever,” she answered back.
Epilogue
Julie smiled at the reflection of her and Lawson in their full-length bedroom mirror. He was standing behind her with his arms around her waist, his chin propped on her shoulder. They looked picture-perfect with her in her favorite little black dress and highest high heels. And him in a nice button-down shirt and dark pants. His hair was still wet from his shower—which she’d momentarily joined in on—and his face was cleanly shaven.
He kissed the curve of her neck. “Ready to go?”
She nodded, suddenly consumed with gratitude. Happiness. Disbelief that in a matter of a few months everything had changed for her. “Let’s go.”
The “sex party,” as Val had titled it, was taking place in a private room at one of the nicer restaurants in Seaside. There was excited chatter as Julie and Lawson walked in.
“Julie!” Kat called, heading in their direction. She was holding a longneck wineglass, which had Julie’s eyes widening.
“What is that?” Julie asked, pointing at the clear liquid inside.
“Ginger ale, of course. Hey, Lawson,” Kat said, smiling over at him.
“I half-expected Val to decorate the room with male and female parts on everything,” Julie joked.
“I vetoed that idea.” Kat shook her head and then rested a hand on her barely visible stomach.
Julie’s heart squeezed. “I can’t wait to find out the news.”
“Well, you don’t have to wait long,” Val announced, walking up from behind. “Because at this party, we have dessert first.” She held up a silver tray of cupcakes. They were all neutral-colored with a buttercream frosting on top, sprinkled with chocolate shavings. On each one was a small plastic baby’s rattle
