Tristan Donnelly has been my far away support system since he became the soldier my family "adopted" years ago. I've written to him about everything from my hopes for my future to my grief during deep loss. He's secretly been my rock from afar, but now I'm calling in a favor.
I've given up everything to keep my family from falling apart, but my brother's debts have caught up with him and now I'm in danger, too. If I marry, I can access my trust and gain some protection, but the only man I can imagine asking to do this favor is the one I've always loved and have never actually met.
Tristan's a retired special ops soldier and he's the most honorable man I know. When he agrees to marry me, we plan to live separately, until he insists I come stay with him so he can protect me. Now I'm face to face with a man who is not only the most important person in my life, he's also so ridiculously handsome it hurts. He's capable and gentle and I'm hard pressed to remember this marriage isn't meant to last.
I'd planned to go home when the money comes through, and that's when we'd end things.
But now I've had a glimpse of what life could be, and I want something permanent with Tristan. Plus, I'm finding that backbone I lost track of years ago and I've realized I don't want to return to my old life. The problem is, I don't know how I can stay when this was only supposed to be a temporary favor.