By
Heather Long
You
know, it’s funny, when I was growing up—the accidental baby book was this huge
thing in nearly ever romance I read and then along came ‘safe sex’ and
‘awareness’ and the accidental baby trope got a stern lesson in prophylactic
action. Condoms are pretty much expected in most contemporaries these days—even
if a woman is on birth control.
In
a paranormal, you have wiggle room. Cause let’s face it, the chances of a
vampire getting a woman pregnant are low depending on the vampire series. But I digress….
The
accidental baby does still happen, whether you use a condom, whether you use any form of birth control, because none are 100% full proof. None. One of the first romance novels I ever read
was called Escape to Desire by Penny Jordan. I remember so much about this
book, the hero’s name, the mad escape through the jungle, the guerillas (we
would call them insurgents today) chasing the couple, and the night of
stress-induced passion—and the really ugly spider bite that nearly killed the
heroine.
I
also remember she got pregnant and when she meets the hero again later, he
doesn’t realize it's his kid right off (yeah, because math wasn’t his strong
suit—but again I digress). I loved this book, loved it. I love the accidental
baby trope probably because I’ve known so many women who found themselves in
that position, they’re pregnant, not in a long-term relationship (or even some
who are) and they have to make choices for them. Choices for their baby. And
these are resilient women who take ownership of their lives and their choices,
who do the best they can and they don’t always get a happily ever after with
the guy.
But
what if…?
Playing with
Fire
As
most of my readers know, I launched the Always a Marine series within
Decadent’s 1Night Stand series. Although Marine Ever After isn't part of the 1Night Stand series itself, since it's not a planned hook up, it does have a one-night stand theme, the one-night stand being that evening where you
abandon reason, embrace passion, and live for that moment. It’s okay to do this
because for the most part, the next day you’ll go back to your life and
everything will be normal—but what if it wasn’t? That’s why, when I sat down to write this, I
knew what would begin as an unplanned one-night stand would take me on a very
romantic journey and boy did it ever.
A
lot of readers will ask me what is my favorite Marine book and I always say
that they are all my favorites. This is true, but Marine Ever After is special
to me. Special in a way that’s hard to define—I think because it’s so romantic
in places and yet so utterly real in others. It’s easy to get captivated by the
fantasy, and reality has a way of intruding, but in Marine Ever After—fantasy
and reality waltzed for me.
The Right
Stuff
Paul
Torres is a Master Sergeant. He’s smart, he’s charming, and he’s extremely
witty. He’s got a limited leave, but the
man comes all the way to Texas to go to a buddy’s wedding. It’s the right thing
to do, it’s about fraternity of spirit and friendship. And he’s also a man who
when he sets his sights on something, oh my—he knows how to get it.
Hardly a
Delicate Touch
Lillianna
Hansen is a nurse, Army brat and resourceful in her own right. She’s very
dedicated to her job, but she’s also a good friend. As it turns out, she’s also
one of my first heroine’s in the series: Rebecca Ranier’s former college
roommate. They spent four years at the same school and they developed a
friendship that lasted. It was important for me to show this connection,
because she sees all of our guys through a different filter. Fierce and
protective, she’s also smart and sassy.
Her chemistry with Paul from the first moment was wildly organic, but
she’s not delicate or shy—and when push comes to shove, she really turns into
this remarkably grounded woman who knows what she wants.
Not Conducive
to Romance
One
of the hardest parts of the service for those who serve and those who love them
is separation, and a lack of control over day-to-day life choices. If the
average civilian is in love with a girl on the other side of the country, he
has options. He can move to her, change his life around, easy peasy (yes I know
that’s a generalization). But if you’re in the armed forces and you’re deployed
or on assignment, you go where you’re sent and it doesn’t matter what else is
happening, your time isn’t your own.
That’s
not conducive to romance, but trust me when I say Paul—he’s the guy you want in
your corner. This is a romance with challenges, separation, choices, and a hero
and heroine determined to do right by themselves and each other.
I
fell in love with Paul and Lillianna.
I
invite you to do the same and learn whether Paul really can be Lillianna’s
Marine Ever After…
Blurb:
Marine Paul Torres is used to women who enjoy the pleasure of the moment and
whom he can bed with a wink and a smile. But with so many of his friends
settling down, he’s turned on by the allure of finding the right partner as
well. Even more so when he meets Lillianna Hansen while attending a wedding.
After
a passionate night, Paul wakes to find her gone and though he wants more than a
one-night stand with the alluring Lily, his limited leave is up and he’s forced
to return to active duty.
All
Lillianna thought she wanted was a good time. But Paul’s attention—even from thousands
miles away—is hard to resist, and while she tells herself repeatedly she
doesn’t want a relationship with a Marine, she can’t deny the consequences of
their passionate night.
When
she finds out she’s pregnant, she’s forced to reach out to Paul. But is she
ready to let the father of her child be her Marine Ever After….
Excerpt:
Sadly, the
evening wedding meant the sun was already sinking as they exited, and the
shadows lessened the chance he could tell what color her eyes were.
Photographs
would be next and then a drive to the reception at Mike’s Place. If he played
his cards right, they’d be in the same limo. But we have to dance…. A smile curved his mouth. He would have
plenty of opportunity to stare at her eyes and determine their color then.
“Paul Torres,”
he murmured.
“I’m sorry,
what?” She glanced at him, a distracted smile softening her expression. It hit
him like a fist to the gut. He needed to revise his earlier opinion—gorgeous
didn’t do her justice.
“I’m Paul
Torres, you must be Lillianna.” The only bridesmaid who’d missed the big
rehearsal dinner. Not that I can
complain…. He almost missed it, too. His flight landed an hour beforehand
and only some skillful driving with Damon managed to get them both there in
time to be in place before the bridesmaids did their obligatory walk.
“Yes, sorry. I
can’t get over how happy she looks.” She let go of his arm and offered her
gloved hand to shake. “And I’m Lillianna Hansen.” The urge to kiss it was a
little too romance-novel for him, so he shook it then held onto it.
“The captain
looks pretty happy, too. I think he got the better end of the bargain.” Paul
chuckled. Every man from his unit seemed to be settling down in civilian life,
marrying or pairing off. He’d served with most of the men in the groom’s party
and earned his invitation when the wedding coincided with his leave.
Unfortunately, one of Luke’s best friends—Brody—hadn’t been able to make it.
The lieutenant remained on active duty in Afghanistan, but promised to visit
the happy couple on his next trip through Dallas—probably to see his girl, the
artist, as much as to see Luke.
“I hope so.
There’s a tiny part of me that doesn’t like him.” Her announcement surprised
him, but the photographer summoned them to join the bride and groom so he
swallowed the question.
Five hundred
photographs later, the dismissed wedding party made their way to the small
fleet of waiting limousines. Jazz and her husbands loaded into one, the freshly
marrieds got their own, James and Lauren claimed the third. Paul drifted back a
little, and fortunately Lillianna waited for him as Damon and A.J. helped their
bridesmaids into a limo and joined James and Lauren.
Score. We get the last one to ourselves.
“Everything
all right?” She eyed him expectantly.
“Fine, I just
wanted to check a button.” Lame, Paul.
Lame. But it was the first excuse to pop into his head. He motioned for the
limo and she shook her head and led the way. Beating her to the door, he opened
it, handing her inside before slipping off his cover and joining her.
She sat
opposite him in the wide area of the stretch, and on the far side. He
considered swapping seats, but he liked looking at her better—even if only in
the illumination of passing headlights. “I hope you’re ready for a big party.”
“Me, too.”
Lillianna didn’t sound ready. He raised his eyebrows and she moistened her
lips.
Damn. Mind out of the gutter. He gave his
body the order, but too late to prevent the shock of reaction running riot
through his system. If he hadn’t already been curious about her before, he
definitely was then. Out. Of. The. Gutter.
