Operation: Endurance (When the Mission Ends) (37 page)

June 19th, Las Vegas airport

Chris watched his big brother as he passed the drinks out to the group on the plane, bottled beers for the guys, champagne for Julie and Cassie, and sparkling apple juice for Penelope. They’d just taxied the plane across the Las Vegas tarmac, parked, and were about to embark into town to celebrate Penelope and Colton’s wedding planned for the next day.

Colton stood in the front of the plane, lifting his beer bottle in a toast. “The last year and a half has meant big changes for the Robertson family. As they were occurring, I don’t think any of us thought they were necessarily good changes. But perspective shifts as time goes by. Getting us to this point may have been painful, but I think I speak for all six of us in this plane when I say we are all so much happier now than we ever thought we could be.”

He looked at each person on the plane in turn, love and pride shining in his gaze. “All six of us have been close for a lot of years, but I don’t think anyone could have predicted how close we would all become.”

Chris and Cassie both laughed as the red crept up Colton’s cheeks.

“Ahem.” Chris couldn’t resist. “I don’t think anyone here wants to know the details, Colt.”

Colton shoved Chris good-naturedly. “That’s not what I meant, but thanks for taking my whole speech into the gutter.”

“I do whatever I can to help.” Chris smiled and then winked at Julie, whose eyes glinted with mirth. God, he loved her. It was pretty much already a foregone conclusion, but he planned to make it official this trip. He fingered the ring box in his pocket. They’d moved in together full-time a week ago, but he wanted it all. He wanted her with his name. He wanted his ring on her finger. He wanted to be able to say he was her husband.

Suddenly he became aware that Colton had stopped talking. In fact, no one was saying anything. As he looked around the humor-filled faces in the plane, Chris asked, “What?”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “You two are going to be absolutely useless this trip unless you do it.”

His eyes widened in shock. “Do what?”

“You know what and so do we. I know things remember?”

Damn, he never could hide things from his twin. But this was supposed to be Colton and Penelope’s weekend. He hadn’t planned on horning in on that. He turned to check Colton, who just crossed his arms and smiled indulgently. “Well, get on with it. We’re all ready.”

Chris glanced around the plane and everyone was smiling at him and Julie, except Julie who just looked confused. She was obviously the only one here who didn’t know what was happening. He turned back to Colton. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, do it.”

“Okay, thanks.” He smiled and took a deep breath before dropping to one knee in front of Julie. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes, but she was smiling as wide as he’d ever seen as he began, “Butterfly…”

Yeah, life had changed for all of them, but in the end those changes had been damn good.

THE END

Texas Tech is a real university and Lubbock, TX is a real town. In fact, that’s where I graduated from college and have amazing memories from there. As a result, when I sat down to write my first series of books, I wanted to pay homage to that school and town I love so much.

I probably wasn’t thinking that through when I decided to create all the murder and mayhem of this trilogy in that locale. Don’t let the events in these books influence your perception of either the school or the town. While the places are real, the events absolutely are NOT.

I also took great liberties in the layout of the campus, the kinds of activities the University would allow, Lubbock PD, Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, and some of the surrounding businesses. Please don’t hold it against them or me!

This is a work of fiction and should be looked at in that light.

DON’T FORGET!

Book #3.5

Brian and Toni’s novella will be coming this fall.

Also the Martin Ranch Trilogy will be coming out in 2014.

As an avid reader my entire life, I’ve always dreamed of writing books that brought to others the kind of joy I feel when I read.  But…I never did anything about it besides jot down a few ideas and sparse scenes.

When I turned 41, I decided it was time to go after my dream and started writing. Within four months, I’d written over 150,000 words and haven’t stopped since. I’ve found my passion by writing about sexy, alpha heroes and smart, tough heroines falling in love and finding their passion. I’m truly living the dream and loving every minute of it.

My tagline is…

Passion and adventure on the road to Happily Ever After.
  I have to admit, I am loving this adventure!

You can find me at:
www.Christi-Snow.com