“But totally worth it,” they said at the same time and smiled.
He pressed his lips to hers, lifted her off the ground, and spun her around.
“Now, how about we get this show on the road, what do you say?” she asked when he set her back down. “DJ for us. Show these boys you’ve been holding out on them with your spin skills. You think you remember?”
“Pssh. Do I remember?” He cracked his knuckles and tsked. “Of course.”
She quickly took him by the hand, and they hurried across the yard, slowing for a second when they spotted Jesse and Ella talking, beers in hand, standing awkwardly like they hadn’t known each other their entire lives and were actually on a blind date.
Ella caught Chris’s eyes, and she patted Jesse on the shoulder twice before striding toward him and Rory. “Hey there, you two.” Ella hugged Chris, then spied the diamond on Rory’s finger. “Well, damn. Nice job.”
He smiled. “Glad you could make it.” Chris glimpsed Jesse now chatting with A.J. and Ana.
“Of course. I love a good Halloween party.” Ella tipped her head to the house. “You, missy . . . I know what you and A.J. did,” she added a few seconds later.
Ah. The “blind date” setup.
“Hate me?” Rory asked.
“Never, but Jesse will probably give you hell.” Ella squeezed her forearm. “We’ll catch up later. Congrats again, though,” she said as Ana motioned for her to come over.
“Yeah, looks like we have two couples we need to get together,” Chris said, eyes moving back to Harper and Roman talking.
“I agree.” Rory pointed to a table covered with a red cloth. “But first, I need my DJ.”
“What’s that?” Chris scrunched his forehead, curious. He recognized the familiar shape beneath the cloth, but . . . really?
“Okay, everyone!” Rory called out, hands cupping her mouth. “My fiancé is going to drop some beats. Introducing DJ Hunter!”
And, oh shit. Chris blinked in surprise when she pulled a sheet from a table to reveal his favorite turntables, Technics. Plus, a Pioneer mixer and accompanying headphones.
He went behind the table and thumbed through the crate of vinyl. The woman got me vinyl.
Yeah, he loved this woman.
Holy shit. A kid at Christmas right now.
Chris grabbed hold of her cheeks and kissed her as everyone began clapping and whistling, asking for more of a show. So, he tipped her back and set his mouth to her lips like that famous V-J Day kiss in Times Square.
“Mmm. More of that later?” Rory asked against his lips when he set her upright, and he grinned, insanely happy.
“That’s a promise,” he responded, then she patted his ass, encouraging him to get a move on and start spinning.
He viewed the sleek tables. It’d been decades, but hopefully, it would be like riding a bike.
Chris removed his hat, put on the Pioneer headphones, and searched the vinyl his amazing fiancée had purchased.
He slid the David Guetta track out of the sleeve and set it on the first table, then positioned the needle onto the vinyl. Once the second record was in place, he worked the knobs of the mixer as it all came back to him.
“You were holding out on us, huh?” Roman asked thirty minutes later when Chris was mixing a song with The Chainsmokers’ Call You Mine.
He lowered his headphones to his neck. “More than a pretty face,” he teased, repeating what he’d said to him back on Mona Island.
“Never doubted you, brother,” Roman returned the same words. He started to walk away, but Chris caught his arm.
“Hey, you’re okay, right?” He wanted Roman to find happiness like him, and he was concerned happiness was staring Roman right in the face, but he wasn’t making a move.
Roman peered Harper’s way as if reading Chris’s thoughts. “I’m trying to be,” he mouthed over the music, then left, clearly not in the mood to discuss his love life or lack thereof.
“Marrying my sister, and you didn’t ask for permission?” Jesse asked, catching Chris off guard. He turned to see Rory’s brother at his six. “You realize that’s grounds for termination in the South.”
Termination, huh? Chris let the beats play on their own to face Jesse. “Shit, I’m sorry.” He stepped around the improvised DJ booth. “It was spontaneous, and I—”
“I’m just giving you a hard time.” Jesse adjusted his brown cowboy hat. “My sister loves spontaneity, so it was probably perfect. But you’ll need to come back to Bama for a little grilling.”
“Like cooking?” he asked with a smile, knowing damn well what he meant.
“Not giving him a hard time, are you?” Rory came up and looped her arm with Chris’s.
“Would I do that?” Jesse winked, leaned in and kissed his sister’s cheek, then left and started chatting with Owen and Knox.
“We’re ready!” Emily called out, pulling everyone’s focus her way as she stood by Ana.
“You know what they want.” Rory hugged him and squeezed his ass with both hands, and he laughed. “You got the record, didn’t you?”
Rory nodded with excited eyes. “Of course. These ladies want a show, what can I say?” She playfully shrugged, and Chris pinched her ass right back for that.
“The Git Up by Blanco Brown it is, then.” Chris set up the record, and A.J. went to the center of the grass.
“You boys know what to do,” A.J. yelled over the music, twirling a finger in the air, motioning to break it down.
Chris started for the line of guys but then turned to see Rory gently tugging him the other direction. “Come with me.”
“No dancing?” he asked in surprise as they stealthily maneuvered toward the gate.
“No, that was a distraction,” she said once along the side of the home, and she set her hands to Chris’s chest. Her lips curved into a delicious tease of a smile before she wet her lips and whispered, “I’ll be needing that trick now.”
More Stealth Ops + Crossover Information
Want more of the Stealth Ops team? Harper and Roman’s story, Chasing Shadows, releases 3/25/21. Harper and Roman will also guest star in The Final Hour, which releases 1/7/21! Stay up-to-date on releases by heading over to Brittneysahin.com.
Keep up-to-date with the latest bonus scenes by visiting my website - brittneysahin.com/bonus-content.
Crossover Information
I brought a lot of my characters from other worlds together in this book! Learn more:
The Dublin Nights Series:
Sebastian Renaud (The Real Deal), Adam McGregor (On the Edge), Emilia Calibrisi & Sean McGregor (The Final Hour - 1/7/21)
Bama Series: (launches in 2021)
The new BAMA series launches in 2021 starting with Jesse and Ella! Title and release information will first be revealed in my newsletter and in my Facebook groups: Stealth Ops Spoiler Room / Brittney’s Book Babes.
New Military Security Series: (title pending) - launching in 2021
Carter Dominick will either join the cast of this new series, which stars Gray Chandler (Wyatt’s wife’s brother), and Gwen (Wyatt’s daughter), or he’ll get his own series.
The Hidden Truths Series:
Dr. Riley Logan - The Final Goodbye
Becoming Us Series: (brief mention in epilogue)
Cade and Gia King - My Every Breath
Continue for a special note from me, as well as a reading guide, music playlist, and Stealth Ops Family Tree!
Special Note
This book holds a special place in my heart, as there are many veterans, as well as first responders, that struggle with PTSD. Our heroes defend our freedoms and keep us safe, and I want them to know we are there for them as well.
Many of my service friends shared their personal stories with me so that I was able to accurately represent many real problems our veterans and first responders face today. Our hope is that these invisible wounds do not go untreated. We want our heroes to know we love and support them.
To learn
more visit: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
Interested in learning how to help? There are a number of organizations, such as the Boot Campaign, which is one of the ones I support, that are actively engaged in helping support our veterans.
Thank you again for reading this story. It was an emotional one for me to write, but I also believe it’s an important one to share.
Stay safe and healthy,
-Brittney
Reading Guide
Get the latest news from my newsletter/website and/or Brittney’s Book Babes / the Stealth Ops Spoiler Room /Dublin Nights Spoiler Room.
A Stealth Ops World Guide is available on my website, which features more information about the team, character muses, and SEAL lingo.
Stealth Ops Timeline
Reading Guide
Pinterest Muse/Inspiration Board
Stealth Ops Series: Bravo Team
Finding His Mark - Book 1 - Luke & Eva
Finding Justice - Book 2 - Owen & Samantha
Finding the Fight - Book 3 - Asher & Jessica
Finding Her Chance - Book 4 - Liam & Emily
Finding the Way Back - Book 5 -Knox & Adriana
Stealth Ops Series: Echo Team
Chasing the Knight - Book 6 -Wyatt & Natasha
Chasing Daylight - Book 7 - A.J. & Ana
Chasing Fortune - Book 8 - Chris & Rory
Chasing Shadows - Book 9 -Harper & Roman (3/25/21)
Book 10 - Finn (2021)
Becoming Us: connection to the Stealth Ops Series (books take place between the prologue and chapter 1 of Finding His Mark)
Someone Like You - A former Navy SEAL. A father. And off-limits. (Noah Dalton)
My Every Breath - A sizzling and suspenseful romance. Businessman Cade King has fallen for the wrong woman. She’s the daughter of a hitman - and he’s the target.
Dublin Nights
On the Edge - Travel to Dublin and get swept up in this romantic suspense starring an Irish businessman by day…and fighter by night.
On the Line - novella
The Real Deal - This mysterious billionaire businessman has finally met his match.
The Inside Man - Cole McGregor & Alessia Romano
The Final Hour - Sean and Emilia (1/7/21)
Stand-alone (with a connection to On the Edge):
The Story of Us– Sports columnist Maggie Lane has 1 rule: never fall for a player. One mistaken kiss with Italian soccer star Marco Valenti changes everything…
Hidden Truths
The Safe Bet – Begin the series with the Man-of-Steel lookalike Michael Maddox.
Beyond the Chase - Fall for the sexy Irishman, Aiden O’Connor, in this romantic suspense.
The Hard Truth – Read Connor Matthews’ story in this second-chance romantic suspense novel.
Surviving the Fall – Jake Summers loses the last 12 years of his life in this action-packed romantic thriller.
The Final Goodbye - Friends-to-lovers romantic mystery
Playlist
Troubadour - George Strait
The Git Up - Blanco Brown
Born Here Live Here Die Here - Luke Bryan
Underdog - Alicia Keys
Savage Love - Jason Derulo, Jawsh 685
Chapters - Brett Young & Gavin degree
Happy Anywhere feat Gwen Stefani - Blake Shelton
Drinking Alone - Carrie Underwood
Higher Love - Kygo, Whitney Houston
Break Things - Kylie Morgan
Starting Over - Chris Stapleton
Speechless - Dan + Shay
I Won’t Give Up - Jason Mraz
Call You Mine - The Chainsmokers
Spotify Playlist - Chasing Fortune
Stealth Ops Family Tree
Luke and Eva Scott (daughter: Lara, son: Easton)
Sister: Jessica (Scott) Hayes
Owen and Samantha York (son: Matthew), (Dog: Ollie)
Jessica and Asher Hayes (Twins: Juliana and Arabella)
Knox and Adriana Bennett (no children yet)
President Isaiah Bennett (Knox’s dad)
Wyatt and Natasha Pierson (Wyatt’s daughter: Gwen)
Admiral Chandler (Natasha’s father)
Gray Chandler (Natasha’s brother)
A.J. and Ana Hawkins (no children yet)
Beckett, Shep, Caleb, Ella (A.J.’s siblings)
Niece: McKenna
Chris Hunter and Rory McAdams (engaged)
Dog: Bear
Not yet married (as of A.J.’s book):
Harper, Roman, Finn
In loving memory of Bravo Three:
Marcus Vasquez (His widow: Savanna Vasquez)
Stealth Ops Team Members
Team leaders: Luke & Jessica Scott / Intelligence team member (joined in 2019): Harper Brooks
Bravo Team:
Bravo One - Luke
Bravo Two - Owen
Bravo Three - Asher
Bravo Four - Liam
Bravo Five - Knox (Charlie “Knox” Bennett)
Echo Team:
Echo One - Wyatt
Echo Two - A.J. (Alexander James)
Echo Three - Chris
Echo Four - Roman
Echo Five - Finn (Dalton “Finn” Finnegan)
Where Else To Find Me
Thank you for reading Chris and Rory’s story. If you don’t mind taking a minute to leave a short review, I would greatly appreciate it. Reviews are incredibly helpful to keeping the series going. Thank you!
www.brittneysahin.com
brittneysahin@emkomedia.net
FB Reader Group - Brittney’s Book Babes
/ Stealth Ops Spoiler Room
Pinterest Muse/Inspiration Board