Impulsive (The Soldier's Firm Hand) by Amity Wilde

Just remember who’s in charge of the speech when it’s your turn.”
    Janie’s father handed her off to Grant, and Jared moved to the side. It was hard to imagine that only a few months earlier he’d considered himself a dedicated bachelor, and now he couldn’t imagine not wanting to keep his little stray for good. Something had shifted when they met, and nothing less than the full package was acceptable anymore.
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    *** Lauren ***
    “O h, honey, I’m so glad you’re here.” Betty wrapped her arms around me and squeezed tight. “I knew it was meant to be. Didn’t I tell you? I don’t know why everyone doesn’t just listen to me in the first place. It would save us all a lot of time.”
    I grinned and happily hugged her back. “Someone had to come take the pictures, right?”
    She rolled her eyes. “If you think for an instant that you’re here just to take pictures, you’re out of your mind. I’ve seen the way that boy’s been looking at you, and it has nothing to do with your camera.”
    I’d seen it too, and I was surprised nobody had noticed that I’d been walking on air all day long. I was happy for Grant and Janie too of course, their wedding had been beautiful, but now that the reception was in full swing I could relax a little, and all I wanted to do was drag a certain soldier out back to show him exactly how much I’d missed him the last few months.
    “Do you mind if I borrow this lovely lady from you, Betty?” Jared had sneaked up behind us and put his arm around my waist.
    “About time, young man,” she snorted. “You don’t leave pretty single women alone at weddings unless you want them snatched up by other men. Places like this give people ideas, you know.”
    Jared laughed and pulled me out onto the dance floor. “Is that true?”
    My arms slid around his waist and I leaned into him. “I wouldn’t know, but I’ve learned to take her at her word, so better safe than sorry.”
    “I missed this.” He leaned down and rubbed his face against my hair. “You smell so much better than the guys I’ve been stuck with lately.”
    “Glad to hear it. I would hate to not have anything to coax you back with.” I looked up with a glare into eyes that were sparkling with amusement. “I missed you too,” I added softly.
    And I had, more than I would ever have thought I could miss someone. He’d come to visit a few times after I went home, but then he’d had to go out of town. It wasn’t all bad. Those three months had given us the opportunity to get to know each other better, and in my case, what they say is true, absence really did make the heart grow fonder.
    “Three months isn’t very long, you know. Sometimes I’ll be gone longer than that, and to places a lot more dangerous.” The humor had drained from his voice. “It’s not all sexy uniforms and military discounts. It’ll mean time apart and moving around to who knows where. I’d understand if you...”
    I put a finger on his lips to quiet him, because he wasn’t telling me anything I hadn’t thought of a hundred times already. “Do you want me waiting for you? Because a home is the people that make it, not a number of days per year, or the view out the window. My job is my camera, and I can work from anywhere so long as I know you want me there.” My voice cracked a little at the end. So many feelings were trying to come out at the same time that I was surprised I’d managed to say as much as I had without crying.
    I wanted him, his heart, his body, his soul. I wanted it all. I even wanted the sting of his hand when I’d messed up, because with him I’d always know where I stood. If he wasn’t happy he’d tell me, if I screwed up, he’d punish me and nothing would ever fester away in silence to eat away at our happiness.
    Fingers crossed, I stopped dancing and looked up, once again amazed that this handsome man was mine, and praying I could keep it that way. “Jared Pate, bossy rescuer of