Read The Hero for Free Online

the beautiful ring to work. She had written the two letters—one, rejecting the assignment and two, resigning her commission and leaving the Coast Guard.
    Her boss, Commander Buzz Bachman, accepted the letters for his files, though Sarah would send both to the command HR department herself.
    “Gonna do it, huh?” he said. “I can’t say I’m all that surprised. But what’s next for you?”
    And that’s when she thrust out her left hand, diamond glittering on the fourth finger.
    “Whoa!” he said. “Throwing us over for a man? You?”
    “Don’t say it like that,” she warned him. “It’s not like it was a rash or quick decision. And I think he’s a pretty good bet.”
    “Well, hell, I like Cooper all right, but what are you gonna do? ”
    She grinned at him and shook her head. “As soon as the Coast Guard approves my separation, I’m going to take a vacation. At least through footfall season. And until we get Landon settled on a college.”
    “When’s the wedding?” Buzz asked.
    “We haven’t decided....”
    “Big bash?” he asked.
    “I don’t think so,” she said with a laugh. “I had a big bash when I married Derek, and that didn’t take. I think it’ll be small, quiet and private. But we’re still talking about it.”
    “Are you saying I shouldn’t stand by the mailbox, waiting for my invitation?”
    “Nothing personal...”
    “Well, the boys are going to want to give you a bachelor party.”
    She glanced down at herself. “I know it’s not immediately apparent in this flight suit, but I’m actually a girl.”
    Buzz grinned at her. “That hasn’t stopped us in the past. Now get out of here. Go tell lover-boy you put your papers in.”
    “That’s my exact plan,” she said.
    Sarah drove past the turnoff to the town of Thunder Point and her house and drove the long way to Cooper’s bar on the other side of the beach, parking in the rear. When she walked in, he was moving the mop around the floor, something that needed to be done frequently, given all the sand that came in on the feet of friends and customers. He stopped abruptly and just smiled at her.
    “I don’t see this every day,” he said. He leaned the mop against the wall and grabbed her against him. He gave her a hearty kiss, holding her tightly. He shook his head and smiled. “I flew helicopters for a living for fifteen years and you’re the only pilot I ever wanted to peel a flight suit off of.”
    “I did it, Cooper,” she said. “You better not change your mind. I put in my papers.”
    His grin deepened. “Well, now. You do realize there’s no exit date on the next deal you sign up for. Right?”
    “You better not get sick of me, Cooper.”
    “Let me at least try,” he said, going after her lips again.
    A noise behind them didn’t do anything to disrupt their very passionate kiss. Then seventeen-year-old Landon said, “Let’s remember the rules, folks. Safety first. I hope we don’t have to have another one of those talks.”
    Sarah couldn’t help but laugh against Cooper’s lips—Landon was echoing her constant reminder. Landon, big, strong, beautiful and in a serious relationship with a wonderful seventeen-year-old girl who happened to be the town deputy’s daughter, could easily be considered high-risk by his older sister. And of course Landon constantly chided her for her mothering. “Is he too big to spank?” she asked against Cooper’s lips.
    “Well...by you, ” Cooper said softly.
    Again she laughed, leaning her forehead against Cooper’s shoulder. “At this moment, I am obscenely happy. Please don’t screw this up or dump me or cheat on me or divorce me.”
    “All right,” he said, letting go of her. He turned her toward her brother.
    “Rule number two,” Landon lectured, mimicking her again. “Discretion. We don’t want to embarrass people with our PDA.”
    “We were alone, actually,” she said. “So, how about giving me a beer? I won’t turn you in for serving me. I’m