MILITARY ROMANCE: The War Within Himself (Alpha Bad Boy Marine Army Seal) (Contemporary Military Suspense & Thriller Romance) Read Online Free PDF

Serena enveloped him in a tight hug and held on for dear life. “There wasn’t a day that I went without thinking about you.”
                  Serena whispered into his neck, “I never stopped loving you. Every day I prayed to God that he would bring you home to me. I prayed that he would bring you home safe.” Pulling away slightly, she looked deep in his eyes. “I know it was selfish of me, but I never wanted you to leave that summer. I was so angry at God for letting you go. The country didn’t need you; I did.”
                  Luke’s heart felt so heavy in his chest that he was unsure if it would ever beat the same again. “Well, you got me, and I ain’t ever leaving again. I’m right where I need to be.” Serena planted an eager kiss on his lips and pulled him in tight against her.
                  “Promise you won’t ever leave me again?”
                  “I promise.”
    *
    Ten Years Later
                  “Order’s up!” Wanda hollered from the kitchen. Serena rushed over to the counter between the kitchen and the dining area and grabbed the tray of plates. She made her way quickly over to the Richardsons at the back booth, careful not to bump anyone as she went by.
                  After passing out the plates, she looked up at everyone with a bright smile. “Everything look all right?”
                  “Yes, ma’am. It all looks great,” Mr. Richardson replied.
                  “Perfect! Well, let Wanda or me know if you need anything else.”
                  “Thank you, Serena!” As she made her way back up to the register to ring out another family, the front door to the restaurant opened and in came a little shaggy-haired boy.
                  “Mommy!” he yelled as he opened his arms up wide for a hug.
                  “Hi, sweetie!” Serena exclaimed as she bent down to wrap him up in a tight hug. When she stood back up, she saw Luke walking in with their beautiful baby girl on his hip.
                  “How are things going?”
                  She untied her apron and tossed it at him, and she took baby Quin from him. “It’s your turn.” Letting out a heartfelt laugh, he planted a kiss on her lips and pulled her against him, wrapping her and Quin in a hug.
    “You got a minute?”
    “Are you kidding me?” She laughed. “I’m off the clock. It’s one of the perks of sleeping with the owner.”
    Letting out a laugh, he grabbed her hand and began pulling her behind him toward the door. “I got a surprise for you. Close your eyes now. I’ll guide you. No peaking!” He led her out the front door and pulled her until she was right in front of the building. With his hands on either side of her shoulders he said, “All right, open ’em.”
                  She opened her eyes to see a new sign being hung over the front door of the restaurant where the “Stumpies” sign used to hang. In bright red letters it read “Crawford’s Café.” She squealed with excitement. “You did not?!”
                  “What do you think, Mrs. Crawford ?” She loved the way those words sounded in his voice. She got butterflies every time he said it.
                  “I think it’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.” Luke looked at her longingly and couldn’t believe how lucky he was. In ten years he had married his high school sweetheart, had two beautiful children, and bought their own business.
                  If you would have told him back then where he would be now, he would have never believed you. He couldn’t imagine where he would have been had it not been for Serena showing up at his mom’s house that night. Had she not come over, he probably would have spent the rest of his life assuming that she hated him. That night seemed so long ago that he faintly even