Read Online ''I Do''...Take Two! by Merline Lovelace - Free Book Online

could think about was the fact that Travis was actually considering turning his whole world around. Their whole world.
    â€œWe’re a Fortune 500 company specializing in the research, design and manufacture of advanced aircraft avionics. About half our contracts are with the Department of Defense, the rest with other agencies in the States and abroad. Our headquarters are in Bethesda, Maryland, which is convenient, considering our primary interface is with Lockheed and Northrop Grumman, both located nearby.”
    Kate’s heart gave a little bump. Bethesda was only thirty minutes from where she worked in downtown DC.
    â€œOur main manufacturing and test facility is in Texas. As VP for test and evaluation, Travis would have to spend a fair amount of time there and at the plants of our various subcontractors.”
    Last Kate had heard, there were no land mines and IEDs blowing off limbs in Texas. No rocket-propelled grenades slamming into communications centers and crew quarters. No surface-to-air missiles arcing through the sky to take out low-flying aircraft. Every third Texan might tote a gun, but most of them weren’t out to kill men and women wearing a uniform with a US flag.
    â€œYour husband and I are still negotiating a total salary and benefits package,” Ellis told her, “but I realize it’ll have to be sweet to entice him to leave the military at this midpoint in his career. Big decision, I know.”
    â€œVery big,” she echoed, still trying to take this all in.
    â€œGiven your financial background, I’m not surprised he wants your input before we finalize any deal.” His smile suggested that he anticipated some spirited salary negotiations. “That’s about as basic as I can get. Do you have any questions for me?”
    â€œDozens,” she admitted, “but none that need asking until I talk to Travis.”
    â€œUnderstood. Well, I’d better head to my meeting.” When they got to their feet, Ellis enfolded her hand in his. “It’s good to meet you, Kate. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
    She certainly couldn’t say the same.
    â€œTravis mentioned he was going to try and entice you up for a visit to the base at Aviano,” the executive said. “Maybe I’ll see you there or at the hotel in Venice. Although,” he added, his smile turning rueful, “I’d better warn you that I come prepackaged with a hyperactive six-year-old. He’s already tumbled into the Grand Canal once. I’d like to believe that’ll be his only swim, but I’m not putting any money on it. Or that he won’t take some unsuspecting bystander with him.”
    She had to laugh at his sardonic expression and couldn’t help thinking that he and Travis would be a good fit. They were both so down-to-earth, yet supremely confident in themselves and their abilities. When Ellis departed, however, the look she turned on her husband wasn’t exactly complimentary.
    Folding her arms, she skewered him with an ice-pick stare. “Why in hell did you let me walk into this cold?”
    â€œTwo reasons. First, I wanted your no-frills, no-holds-barred gut reaction.”
    â€œOh, you’ll get that.”
    â€œSecond...”
    She waited, foot tapping, until he finished more slowly.
    â€œI guess I needed to hear the offer again before I let myself believe it might happen.”
    She dropped her arms, her throat suddenly tight. “Do you want it to happen, Trav?”
    â€œOnly if you do.”
    The answer cut straight to the tangled knot of their marriage. Kate had always known he’d quit the service in a heartbeat if she asked him to. For that reason, she couldn’t ask him to.
    â€œWe were at the bar in the hotel,” he related. “Brian and Carlo and me. The project we’re working on passed a major milestone earlier that day and we were having a few beers to celebrate. Brian let drop that the