It wasn’t the way she’d ever envisioned her marriage ending, but at least she and Evan were safe. Thanks to Jacob.

She scoured Jacob for signs of injury. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

His hand fell to rest on her shoulder, warm and heavy. “Just a couple of bruised ribs.” He waved aside her concern. “I thought there was no way we could all walk out alive. But together, we pulled it off.”

“We?”

“You and me.” He lowered the bedrail and sat beside her.

Her pride be damned, she had to know how he felt, where she fit into all of his plans with moving and Emily. “I love you, Jacob. I know it’s only been a couple of weeks, but I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.”

He pressed a finger to her lips. “You don’t have to explain it to me. I understand. Sure, we’ve only known each other a short while. But for me, it’s more than long enough to be sure I love you, too. I want to be with you and take the time to show you just how much.” His eyes narrowed with intensity. “I don’t want to stuff away my feelings until they freeze up like my old man’s.”

She curved her hand to his cheek. “You’re nothing like your father. You’re the most giving man I’ve ever met. If anything, I wish you would let me do more for you, let me know what you need.”

Jacob’s face tightened as if the next words pained him. “I need you. I need your stubborn, sometimes bossy, grab-life attitude. Military relationships are tough, with long separations, the stress of dangerous deployments—”

This time she pressed a finger to his lips. “I’ve been through the toughest situation possible. I believe I can handle anything as long as we’re in it together, partners.”

His mouth curved under her touch. “That’s a promise I can easily keep.”

She tipped her face to his. Their lips met, and she felt the love, a total giving and acceptance of self flow between them.

Passion was easy, an emotion that carried them away. The tender give-and-take of their kiss, however, was a hard-won gift, one she would never take for granted.

He cupped her face in one hand. “So you and Evan will come to Charleston with me until I get a transfer back here?”

“Charleston or Tacoma, it doesn’t matter as long as we’re all together.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out her tarnished gold necklace. The D glinted in the fluorescent lighting of the hospital room. “The nurse gave me this when they checked you in.”

Jacob leaned forward, slid it around her neck. “Lean forward and I’ll hook it for you, Deirdre.”

She glanced down at the necklace and read the letter. “‘Dee.’ I’m Dee. This time I know who I am.”

His smile grazed across her lips with the promise of a future full of love, children and sunsets. A future full of memories just waiting to be minted.