“You had this planned since Alabama? The proposal?” She stared at him, a bit stunned.
“When you know, you know, Mom,” Levi spoke up, and Beckett smirked.
“Kid has a point.” Beckett tipped his head her son’s way. “He gave me his blessing back in D.C., but you’re going to have to be a rebel one more time.”
“Just the one?” She narrowed her eyes. “And why is that?”
He winced. “Your dad told me no when I asked him for your hand two days ago.”
“He’s just seeing if you’re man enough to ignore him and do what you want,” Levi answered for Sydney that time, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
“The kid has a point,” she repeated what Beckett had said, and Beckett gathered her back into his arms and brought his mouth to her ear.
“And am I man enough for you?” he whispered, lighting her body up with the need for him. When’s bedtime?
“You know the answer to that,” she murmured, then turned her face, drawing her lips near his. “But I’ll let you show me just how much tonight,” she teased before he slanted his mouth over hers again.
“Okay, okay. Let’s leave these two alone,” Sydney heard Levi say, and she allowed Beckett to continue kissing her.
When their mouths finally parted, they were both panting like they’d sprinted a 5k. And just when she grabbed his hand to start dragging him inside, her phone rang. The one ringtone she didn’t want to hear.
“I’m not answering that,” she told him. “It’s work.”
“And what if it’s an emergency? Like that time you got pulled away from your girls’ weekend to save my ass?” Beckett placed a quick kiss on her cheek. “It’s okay. Answer.”
She blew out a frustrated breath, knowing Carter wouldn’t disturb her unless it was important. “Horrible timing. He better have a damn good reason to call.” Sydney went for her phone and placed Carter on speakerphone. “Did someone die? Or will they die? Otherwise, I’m hanging up.”
“No to the first question. Yes to the second. But we’re on your side of the pond,” Carter shared. “We’re in London, and we need you. Just for tonight. Someone needs saving connected to one of those damn secrets that fucker, Jorge, was guarding.” He cleared his throat. “Also, sorry to interrupt. I should have led with that.”
Elaina said we’d save more lives because of those secrets. But the timing. “Beckett just proposed to me. I can’t leave.”
“Ohh.” Carter went quiet, and she wasn’t sure what he’d say next, but Beckett set a hand over the phone and held her eyes.
Beckett gestured toward the kids playing catch in the distance. “I’ve got this. I’ll be with our family, and we’ll celebrate when you get back.”
Our family. How could she leave them now? “No.” She shook her head.
“Carter, she’ll call you right back.” Beckett took the phone and ended the call. He angled his head and studied her. “The timing does suck, but if someone might die without your help, you won’t forgive yourself. That’s who you are, and I need the love of my life happy.” He reached for her cheek with his free hand. “I need my woman to go be the hero she is and not feel bad about that,” he rasped. “I’ve got your back while you’re gone. I have them with me, and we won’t do anything too fun without you, I promise.” He grinned and pulled her in for a soft kiss.
God, she was already so overwhelmed by emotions, and now for him to say that? For him to support her. Love her. Stand by her in every possible way.
But he just proposed. “I can’t—”
“I won’t take no for an answer. I can be stubborn too.” Beckett eased his face away from hers and winked. “Trust me, okay?”
“I do trust you. But I love you and our family, and I don’t want to walk away.”
“You’re not walking away. You’re stepping out for a second. You’ll be back.” He gave her a stern look along with a nod. “I will spank your ass when we’re alone if you keep arguing with me. Go save the day.”
“Okay,” she agreed. After a few more passionate kisses, she phoned Carter for the details, and then they made their way to the kids to share the news. “I’m so sorry,” Sydney added at the end of her explanation of what was going on. “Do you hate me for leaving?”
When McKenna began to run away, Sydney slapped a hand to her heart at her reaction.
“She’ll be fine,” Levi said. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll tell her about some of your heroic stories when you’re gone. She’ll understand.” He patted her on the shoulder.
“Beckett, I can’t go now. Not when she’s so upset.” She faced him, and he was scratching his beard, his eyes on McKenna.
“She’s not upset,” he said matter-of-factly.
“She took off,” Sydney reminded him, but when she followed Beckett’s gaze, her heart skipped a good five beats. What was McKenna doing?
McKenna’s cheeks were red and flushed by the time she returned. “Here.” McKenna extended Sydney’s bow. “A badass needs her bow. Just didn’t want you to leave without it. We need you to come back safe, you know? We just found you.”
Sydney couldn’t stop the tears this time, and she handed the bow off to Beckett before pulling McKenna in for a hug. She squeezed her probably too tight, and they were both wiping away tears from their cheeks once they parted. She spied Beckett turning his head to hide the fact he was doing the same.
“See, told you.” Levi lifted Miles into his arms and hoisted him up onto his shoulders. Miles threw his hands into the air with little adorable fist pumps of excitement.
Beckett handed her the bow and swatted Sydney’s ass when the kids had turned their backs. “Go, sweetheart. Go be that hero our daughter admires.” He grinned from ear to ear before gently tugging her wrist, drawing her close, holding her captive with his dark, deep gaze. “Go be mine too.”
Continue to learn more about other characters from The Guarded One. Plus, there is a music playlist, reading guide, and more.
FALCON FALLS CROSSOVER INFO
Next up?
Falcon Falls, book 4, releases Fall 2022.
*Be sure to check out the “bonus scene” tab on my website in case I release any bonus content before then.
Previous Falcon books
The Hunted One (Falcon Falls, book 1) is Savanna and Griffin’s story.
The Broken One (Falcon Falls, book 2) is Jesse and Ella’s book.
Where else have you seen some of the secondary characters?
Elaina, Liam, and Emily - Their book is Finding Her Chance. These characters appear in a few more books from the Stealth Ops Series as well. This book can easily be read as a standalone.
Mya Vanzetti is a journalist in the contemporary romance, My Every Breath. And she is Julia Maddox’s friend in Chasing the Storm (where she helps save Oliver’s life).