Off Limits Marine. Kate Hoffmann

their first conversation, Gabe knew that there would be no reversal of her affections. Her heart belonged to Erik.

      Gabe had never been jealous. Hell, he’d been happy that Erik had found a woman to love. At least that was how he’d felt until he realized that his best friend wasn’t the best husband in the world.

      Erik had always been a flirt. He seemed to thrive on the attentions of beautiful women. But when a guy got married, all the extracurricular activities was supposed to stop. At least that was what Gabe had always believed. But Erik had kept right on, with a girlfriend in every port. They’d argued over it twice and for a while Gabe had thought it might be the end of their friendship.

      Five years later, Gabe wasn’t sure if he’d ever given up the girls. Erik stopped confiding in him. And when they went out, he was friendly to the ladies but left alone at the end of the night. They simply never spoke of it.

      “I should get back to the house,” she murmured. “Erik’s parents are coming for dinner and—You wouldn’t want to stay, would you? They love having you around.” She glanced over at him. “I like having you around. Right now, I’m having a hard time dealing with them.”

      “Why is that?”

      “They asked me the other night if there was any chance that I might be pregnant. I can hear the disappointment in their voices. It was my duty to provide a grandchild, and I didn’t get it done.” Annie shook her head. “I...I’m sure they’ll want to say goodbye before you leave.”

      Annie stared into his eyes, and he could see the tears begin to fall down her pale cheeks. Gabe didn’t know what to do. They’d been talking about dinner, and suddenly tears. What could he say?

      At a loss, he reached out and gently pulled her into his arms, holding her close as she wept against his chest. This round of tears seemed to be much worse than the previous few. Her tears soaked the front of his T-shirt, her fingers clutching at the faded cotton.

      “It’s going to be all right,” he said softly.

      “You’d think I’d be out of tears by now,” she whispered. “I think I’m finally done crying, and then I realize I’m all alone. He’s not coming back.”

      “You’re not alone,” he said. “If you need anything, you can always call me.” He smoothed his fingers over her cheeks, wiping away the tears. “You’ll be all right. You’re strong and you’re smart. You’re the most amazing woman I know.”

      Annie frowned, and Gabe cursed inwardly. He’d gone too far. He’d revealed too much. He wanted to turn and walk away before he made any further mistakes. But instead, he let his heart overrule his brain. Cupping her cheek in his hand, he bent close and kissed her.

      It seemed like the only thing left to do, something he’d been thinking about since the moment they first met. How many nights had he imagined what it might be like to hold her in his arms, to be the one that she waited for day after day, to know that she loved him? And how many times had he flown a mission wondering if his last chance might be taken away by an enemy RPG or a laser-guided missile?

      Her lips were soft and warm, and Gabe gently probed the crease of her mouth with his tongue, deepening the kiss. She moaned, then suddenly pressed her hands to his chest, pushing him away.

      Sometimes, a guy didn’t get a second chance. Gabe knew that better than anyone. Hell, Annie knew it, too. You had to seize the moment. No regrets. And yet, by the look on her face, all that Gabe could feel was regret.

      She stared up at him and a heartbeat later her palm met his cheek, stunning him back to reality. Gabe opened his mouth to speak, but she held out her hand to stop him.

      “You need to leave. Right now. Just go, please.”

      “Annie, I—”

      “I don’t want to hear it,” she said, placing her hands over her ears and shaking her head. Her eyes flooded with tears. “Get out.”

      As he walked out of the shed, Gabe cursed himself. What the hell had he been thinking? He’d spent his whole professional career as a pilot making decisions based on a cold, rational assessment of a situation. It had kept him alive in a dangerous world. And now, the first time he’d ever listened to his heart, he’d managed to screw the pooch.

      He’d never see her again. She’d remember this moment forever and always hate him for it. He’d betrayed his best friend, and now he’d be left to suffer for it.

       1

      ANNIE JENNINGS ADJUSTED the delicate lace wedding veil, watching the reflection in the mirror. “Perfect,” she murmured.

      “Where did you find it?” Lisa asked.

      “Packed away in my closet at home. It was my great-grandmother’s. My grandmother wore it and so did my mother.” Annie sighed. “I was stubborn and thought it looked too old-fashioned, so I chose my own veil. But I knew you’d love it. You’ve always appreciated vintage things more than I have.”

      A warm breeze fluttered at the lace curtains of the old farmhouse. Outside, in the pretty orchard, the guests were assembling, ready to witness the wedding of Captain Jacob “Nellie” Maranello and Annie’s best friend, Lisa Romanoski. The rural setting in coastal North Carolina was perfect for a sunny Saturday in early June.

      “Are you sure you want me to wear it?” Lisa asked. “Maybe you’ll want to wear it someday.”

      Annie shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe I’ve had my one great love. Who says I’ll find another?”

      She carefully spread the veil behind her friend. Lisa was the only military “wife” she’d kept in touch with after Erik’s death. Erik had served in Jacob’s squadron, and they’d been stationed together since flight school at Pensacola. Jacob had also been in Erik’s class at the academy, though he’d spent two years in Afghanistan before being accepted to the academy.

      Annie grabbed a small bag from the bed and withdrew a faded velvet box and held it out to her. “Here. This is something borrowed.”

      “The veil is borrowed,” Lisa said.

      Annie shook her head. “That’s something old. Your dress is new. This is borrowed and...” She pulled a garter out of the bag. “This garter is blue.”

      “I am not going to wear a garter. I may appreciate vintage things, but I’m definitely not a traditional bride. And we are certainly not going to do that horrible garter thing.”

      “You certainly aren’t traditional. You and Nellie have three kids. You make your own yogurt. Your children are named Sky, River and Breeze. You’re serving tofu at your reception, and I don’t think you own a pair of shoes that aren’t Birkenstocks. But you can bow to this one tradition. For your matron of honor?”

      Rolling her eyes, Lisa yanked up her skirt and pulled the garter over her bare foot. Then she took the velvet box from Annie’s outstretched hand. She opened it to find a pair of diamond chandelier earrings in a platinum Art Deco setting.

      “I remember these,” Lisa said. “I helped you put them on at your wedding.”

      “My grandmother gave these to me along with the veil. They’ll go perfectly with your dress and your hair.”

      Lisa gave her a hug. “I love them. Thank you.” She bent closer to the mirror and put them on, then turned to show Annie. “What do you think?”

      “The most beautiful bride in the world,” Annie said, her eyes filling with tears. She couldn’t help but remember her own wedding day. All her dreams and hopes tied up in a white dress and veil. “Sorry,” she murmured, turning away from Lisa to busy herself with her own jewelry.

      Lisa sat on the edge of the bed, a frown of concern etched across her brow, then patted the spot beside her. Annie reluctantly joined her.