Once a SEAL (2 page)

Pulling the lace handkerchief out that she’d tucked into her cleavage, she dabbed her eyes and nose.
Please, God, don’t let me bawl. I’ll never stop…

Aria swallowed the knot of emotion and gave him a hearty nod. “Thanks, Uncle David. I appreciate the sentiment.” She could follow her heart. She could buck up and get married. This was what she needed and wanted…to be with Dan for now and always.

Awkwardly, she leaned over and hugged her Uncle David. He smelled like almond soap and peanuts.

Drawing back, she resettled herself. She didn’t want to drop the train of her dress, and hers had never been a very physical interaction with her uncle. David was more the stoic type, one whose hugs were fierce and hurt a little and who never held either her brother or her. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me, too.”

She turned away and lifted a round handheld mirror to check her makeup. Everything pretty much looked okay. Her eyes were a little red, but her mascara and eyeliner were still in place. She freshened her satiny pink lipstick and then stowed her small bag. “I’m ready.”

“Okay.” Her Uncle David stood and offered his arm. “Let’s go get ’em. Remember, I’m right here with you.”

“Thanks.” She took a deep breath and then stood. She held her bouquet to her nose, drawing in the fresh scent.

Taking her place beside her uncle, she accepted his waiting arm. It was time to walk the path…to be with her future husband. This was the first step on the way to the rest of her life. Nothing after the next few moments would ever be the same for either of them.

Dan had never taken a shower so fast in his life. And his groomsmen weren’t far behind. They knew how to muster quickly when the occasion called for it. His wedding to Aria definitely counted as Priority One.

They had completed a mission, been dropped in the ocean, and swum ashore. Even to him, it felt dramatic, but it was impossible to change the fact that this was who he was: a SEAL. For now, the Navy had the final say on his duty list, though he was pretty sure his wife-to-be would have something to say about that in the future. He grinned at the thought as he stood now looking out over the people gathered here for his wedding.

“How are you doing?” asked JC as he rubbed his shoe on the back of his pant leg. The speck of dirt that had been there disappeared. Those shoes were shiny enough to be used for scoping out single girls, if JC had been at that point in his life. Instead, he was Joe—the family man with a penchant for dependability and bad jokes. He was just as much of a wiseass as the rest of them, though they rarely shared their unusual brand of humor outside their small circle.

“Peachy. Ducky. Yeah, I’m okay.” Dan nodded, letting air out slowly and breathing in the same way. He was prepped for this…that nerves might sock him in the gut at the last minute. None of it was going to change his plans. Building a life with Aria was right. He couldn’t wait another day to get this mission under way. “How’s my uniform?”

“Ya look like a train wreck, Mr. Peachy Ducky Okay,” commented Hammer with a cheesy grin. He turned away and slapped Dirks on the back with his meaty hands, nearly bowling his swim buddy over. “Christ, I wish I had a chance to meet Aria first. She’s a looker. Don’t you think, Dirks? You’re a lucky dawg, McCullum.”

“Bet your wife would disagree, Hammerhead,” said Dirks, glancing at a willowy blond who sent a questioning glance Hammer’s way. Her eyebrows were almost to her hairline, and she didn’t look pleased.

“Shit! What kind of radar does Hannah have that she can always catch me in the middle of my crap?” Hammer waved at his wife, who responded with a smile, lowering her eyebrows and going back to her conversation with the woman next to her.

“Man, I can’t believe I put on tighty-whities for you,” said Joe.

“Appreciated,” said Dan, relieved his guys had gone the whole nine yards in their uniforms. Nothing was worse than wearing whites commando style and having everyone see the size of their worlds through the cloth.

The guys continued to peck at each other as if it were just another day at work. Nerves nibbled at Dan’s ability to be calm. Some guys hadn’t been so lucky at marriage, but he knew in his soul that Aria was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

He paced his breathing again, using slow inhalations and exhalations. There was so much she didn’t know, though. So much she could never know, because of his job. Parts of him that it didn’t seem possible she’d ever be able to understand. There were so many more advantages to keeping the darker parts of his world separate, and yet…

Dirks noticed. “Listen, McCullum, Aria’s a keeper. I know you’ll have better luck than I did. So chill out.”

Dan bounced on the balls of his feet. He hadn’t been this wound up since the first day of BUD/S and the last day of Hell Week. Only when it really mattered did his gut tie up in a bowline. His stomach had been doing flips, trying to unknot, ever since they exited the helo.

To distract himself, his eyes searched the beach. That spot, down there, right where the riptide split the current, was where he’d gone through Hell Week. It was fitting he had brought Aria to this place, and now they were joining their lives on this spot. He was relieved she wasn’t a luxury lady who had to have everything prim and proper and mostly five-star rated. He needed a partner who could rough it and could make the best of what life would give them.

“Aria did a decent job decorating,” commented JC. “Anyone help her?”

“No, she did it all herself. Aria’s sort of a solo act. I’m hoping the other wives will help her out a bit. Get closer, once we’re married.” Dan shook his arms out as if they were covered in red ants. In truth, adrenaline was still coursing through his body. The way things were looking, he might be running on that energy all day.

“On it,” added Hammer. “I’ll have Hannah give her a call next week. Help ease the culture shock.”

“Thanks.” Dan was eager to get this wedding under way. He could imagine all the reasons Aria wouldn’t want to marry a SEAL, and he wanted her to commit before she changed her mind. His life was not an easy one.

Looking in the direction of the small white tent, he momentarily stopped breathing. There she was.

Bagpipes sounded. The notes screeched louder than the seagulls and then became a melodic song as the wedding march began.

Aria.
She was a vision in white.

The sun peeked through the clouds at just that moment, making gold light dance in her red hair like some kind of heavenly being. She practically glowed. The wedding dress highlighted her gorgeous body, with ample lace decorating her bust and going all the way down to her delicate wrists.

“Breathe,” whispered Joe.

Dan let out a whoosh of air he hadn’t realized he was holding. When her emerald-green eyes met his brown ones, he almost dropped to his knees and begged for mercy.
God, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Please don’t let me screw this up!

She was holding a bouquet of white daisies with yellow roses, and her movements were poetic and peaceful as she walked in time to the crashing waves.

Mine.
It was the one word that chased through his mind.

She smiled and he grinned back. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

The wind kicked up, plastering the dress even tighter to her body. Her every curve was discernible. He swallowed.

***

Uncle David escorted Aria to her spot next to Dan. Taking her hand in his, Dan nodded at David and then kissed Aria’s fingertips. She squeezed his hand tight, as if afraid that the wind could take her away at any moment.

Aria handed her large bouquet to Dan’s sister, who immediately tucked it next to her smaller one. Then Aria nodded at Mark, a strange dude who was standing next to Caty as man of honor. Seemed weird to him—a male bridal participant—but it was impossible to argue with Aria, and it was such a small concession. She asked for so little, and this made her happy, so he got on board with it.

Aria squeezed Dan’s fingers again, and his eyes went immediately back to her.

Together, they stepped forward and faced the chaplain.

Small grains of sand pelted them, and he wrapped his arm around her, trying to shelter her from the wind.

The chaplain cleared his throat and shouted, “Please be seated.” In a softer tone, he began the ceremony. “We are gathered here today to witness the union between Daniel Gregg McCullum and Aria Ruth Kavanagh. The sacrament of marriage is a solemn and joyful occasion, not to be entered into lightly. Rather, marriage is the happy pronouncement of what God has brought together. Let no man or woman put asunder this union, lest he or she be guilty of sinning against the consecrated bond blessed by our Lord. Instead, let us celebrate this day as the first step of two souls joined on a journey. May it bring them their greatest desires, and exultation through the Lord’s name, Amen.

“Do you, Daniel, take Aria to be your wife, to have and to hold in triumph and in trial, to love and to cherish for now and forever?” The words held in the air like a mythical pronouncement. Would he? Could he?

“I do,” said Dan, gently squeezing Aria’s delicate hands as they rested in his own. He took the ring from Joe and slid the simple gold band onto her finger. Emotion welled up inside of him. This was his wife, the one person on the face of this earth he was intentionally taking on as his partner in life, his swim buddy, his best friend, and his one and only lover. Commitment for a SEAL was a do-or-die proposition, and he did not do anything lightly.

“Do you, Aria, take Daniel to be your husband, to have and to hold in triumph and in trial, to love and to cherish for now and forever?” The Chaplain stared at Aria as he waited for her answer.

Aria’s hand shook. She dropped the ring in the sand before she could get it on Dan’s finger. Bending down at the same time, they bumped heads.

God, I hope I didn’t dent her skull.

“Let me,” he said, righting her and then digging around in the sand. His fingers finally connected with it. He handed it to her and stood.

She smiled at him and then slid the matching band onto Dan’s finger. “I do,” said Aria, smiling up into his eyes.

The wind snatched the copious tears off her cheeks and splattered them on his face. He didn’t care about the wetness, just her.

“I love you.” Those words, said with such strength and conviction, stirred something primal in him. He’d give his life for her.

“I love you, too,” he said back, cupping his hands protectively around both of hers. Unfortunately, those thick strands of red hair whipped against his face and he had to lean in—touching his forehead to hers—to avoid the attack.

The chaplain lifted his hand. “Let us pray. Lord, please bless this marriage and protect Daniel and Aria as they live their lives together. Let them have patience, understanding, and the ability to communicate through all their experiences. Amen.” He nodded at Dan. “You may kiss the bride.”

Dan brought his lips to hers. His heart beat a cadence so fast, his brain could barely stand the pace. As his lips tenderly met hers, a pulse of electric heat zipped through him. What had started out as a chaste kiss suddenly felt much more intimate.

“Cool it, man. You’ve got onlookers,” Joe whispered to him, and when he didn’t immediately disengage, he felt a hand signal against his back.

Yeah. Yeah. I get it.
Reluctantly, he pulled back from his bride. Aria’s eyes were glazed with passion.

The chaplain shouted as the wind picked up. “I’d like to introduce Petty Officer Second Class Daniel Gregg McCullum and his wife, Aria McCullum. Congratulations!”

“Hooyah!” yelled his brethren from next to him. A chorus of congratulations rang out from the audience, as well as a smattering of applause.

Dan scooped Aria into his arms and carried her down the aisle. He wanted to escape to their hotel room right then and block out the whole world for weeks on end. His body was primed. Unfortunately, there were duties to attend to. This first one…was something he’d anticipated since she accepted his proposal.

“Dan?” she asked him tentatively as he paused at the very last chair.

The audience quieted. He continued to wait, holding her in his arms.

Aria’s words were a breathless whisper. “Dan, everyone is staring. Please put me down.”

“No way. I’m not letting you go until we finish the tradition.” The sword ceremony was usually reserved for officers, but SEALs tended to break the rules.

She was adorable when she was angry. She began squirming, but he held tight.

Officers from their platoon had quickly assembled into a double line with raised swords for them to cross under. A few of them had looks of mischief on their faces, and Dan knew why. One of them would swat his new bride on the ass with the flat of his sword. He hoped Mrs. McCullum wasn’t going to flip out. Maybe he should have prepared her…

He whispered in Aria’s ear. “You have to answer their questions.” Lowering her feet to the ground, he helped her right her dress and then he tucked her hand into his arm.

The clouds took that moment to open their faucet. As the sprinkle descended, he nodded at a couple of other guys, who opened umbrellas over them. “Come on, it’s just a little water…and in the South, that’s a blessing.”

“I should have asked about what I was getting into.” She looked at him and then nodded.

“It’s not going to be that bad.”

“You’re worth it. Husband.” The emphasis on the last word held enough sarcasm to grease an exit strategy.

He caught her drift and stepped up alongside her, placing his right hand on her elbow.

“Onward,” she sighed, willingly stepping up to the swordsmen.

The first question was posed by Bender James. “Do you promise to be faithful, even when your mind is filled with doubt?”

“Yes,” she answered breathlessly. “Of course.” They walked beneath the first set of swords.

They made it through the next sets and then stopped at the two swords crossed before them. She looked up at him questioningly, and he touched her chin and then kissed her tenderly. The swords moved out of the way and they passed through. Unfortunately, no one had warned her when the last swordsman swatted her soundly on the tush.

“What the…!” She tried to reel on the man, but Dan held tightly to her.

“Welcome to the Navy,” said the last swordsman, LT Duke Hanson, nicknamed Handsome, with a grin.

***

He hustled Aria past the waiting crowds with the cheers, laughter, and all of the applause, and got her over the sand at hyperspeed. He didn’t stop until they were inside a waiting stretch limo.

“Dan!” Aria squealed as he laid her down on the seat in the back of the luxury ride, between the bouquet of American Beauty roses and the cooler of Moët & Chandon champagne, and quickly secured the privacy divider between the driver and them. “What are you doing? Whose vehicle is this?”

“Ours! Actually, it’s my buddy Pete’s. Wedding prez from Hammer and JC. Don’t worry, no one will ever know.”

“Know what?” she protested.

“That I’m going to make you squeal with delight before we go to the reception!” He flipped the silk wedding dress over his wife’s head and trailed his fingers along the inside of her leg.

“Stop! People will see,” she protested, pushing the fabric off of her face.

“Not possible. Those are Grade A privacy windows. All your secrets are safe with me.” He looked into her big green eyes and grinned. “Trust me, my love. I would never hurt you and never embarrass you.”

His fingers connected with the undergarments. “Dan,” she sighed, sinking into the plushness and pulling her dress back up over her face with a throaty laugh.