Love Came Back (a Pyro-Princess Design and Style novel Book 1) Read online

  Love Came Back

  A Pyro-Princess Design & Style novel

  Konner & Siddaleigh

  By Stephanie Nicole Garza

  Copyright © September 2014 by Stephanie N. Garza

  Cover design by Alexia Purdy

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, duplicated, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior written consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the work of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, business establishments or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Giving my seventeen year old self her happily ever after. For once upon a time there was a girl who fell in love with a Navy SEAL and dreamed of designing clothes. Then lost in a war no one saw coming-that epic love was destroyed. This is their forever after.

  Prologue

  In the Beginning

  ..::Siddaleigh::..

  “So do you know when you’re coming back?” I knew this would be a tough question to ask. The answer was going to be too much for me to bear, I thought.

  Walking hand-in-hand with Konner down Clear Lake Shores was a memory I would savor. I knew our time together was limited with his team being deployed soon. I never wanted him to leave me, but he had a life as a Navy SEAL.

  “I’m not sure when I'll be back. My C.O., my Commanding Officer, figures it'll be a quick in and out. Tops three to four weeks or up to 2 months. I hope to be back by October. Right after my birthday but before yours. I’m gonna miss you, Siddaleigh. So very much, muirnín.” As a look of confusion showed on my face, Konner explained.

  “That’s sweetheart in Gaelic. I know we have only known each other for six months, but I know without a doubt I am falling in love with you. I’m twenty-five Siddaleigh, that’s an eight year age gap. You’re so young, so naïve about the world. To me though, in my heart, this feels so right. I can wait and let everything be perfect for us.”

  I loved hearing the Irish accent he had. His ‘you’ sounded like ‘ye’ and some words mingled together. It sounded poetic and romantic. It always sent tingles down my spine when he spoke it to me. His voice was deep, strong and firm. The brogue was sexy and untamed. I didn't know anything when he talked to me in it, but I loved it anyway. Sometimes when we went out or just relaxed at our spot right here on this lake, he would just talk to me in full sentences. And it sounded musical. It was a beautiful language. I researched the country after one of our evenings and it seemed as beautiful as he made it out to be. I promised myself that I would go there the first chance I got.

  “Konner, this summer has flown by so quickly. I know this might sound petty and selfish, but I don’t want you to leave me. Yeah, so I’m seventeen, and you might think I’m naïve and young, but I know what I feel. I know what I want. I hate this tightening feeling in my chest at the thought of your absence. An ache deep inside is starting to take hold and make itself a home at the thought of you leaving me.”

  I looked away and when I looked up at the starry skies, I thanked God the chemical plants haven’t reached this stretch of land. My mind flashed to that first day we met. I had never been so embarrassed in my life.

  Stuck in a never ending line at my favorite coffee shop, I looked around and that’s when my eyesight caught on the most intriguing man I’ve ever seen. He couldn’t see me because he was reading a newspaper, so I stared at him openly. His dark blonde hair had a short military cut to it and when he caught me staring at him, my face went from peach to cherry red super quick. Being caught red-handed ogling him, the hot hunk of perfect masculinity winked at me! He flashed a ‘yeah, I saw you’ type smile.

  He made a bee-line right for me when I finally made it to the front of the line. I hated coffee, but their Double Chocolate Chip Frap was to die for. Digging through my purse to find a five dollar bill, the oh-so hot rugged piece of man-flesh tossed the counter girl a ten spot. I had to look up to see his face he was so tall, at least a foot to my 5’4”. He gave me another heated, sexy smile and asked me if I wanted to sit down with him.

  After only a few short months, I knew he was the one. Excitement pulsed throughout my skin when he held me close, or when I heard his voice. So deep, accented with a deep brogue. Now that sound, somehow a little song-like lilt made my nerve censors fire rapidly all over my body.

  My eyes started to water when Konner wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me in close.

  “Siddaleigh. I just received a notice of deployment in the early AM from my C.O.-

  I gasped and if he hadn’t been holding me, I definitely would have fallen to my knees.

  “No! No, Konner! How? When did this happen? It’s still too soon! Were you even going to tell me?”

  He steadied me in his embrace and put a hand to wipe away the tears spilling down my cheeks.

  “You know my injury has been checked, and I’ve been given a clean bill of health to return. My team needs me, love. Banphrionsa, please baby-girl, don’t you shed one tear. Every single one is a knife slicing into my heart. I didn’t expect us to be so inseparable, but that’s what happened. You have to trust me now. I should be back before your birthday. Oh, love. What a special treat I’ll have for you. My little witch. So fiery and passionate. My pyro-princess. M’anam.”

  I tried to calm down. I knew it wasn’t the end of the world for him to go out on a mission. I knew this was his life. He told me well enough about it over the time we had been together, however short.

  “Don’t cry, banphrionsa. This mission will come and go so quickly. That ache you feel now is incomparable to mine. We can keep in touch; you can tell me all about college. I’ll keep you posted with any information I am allowed to give. There will be times when I can’t write back as quickly, but I’ll keep up just the same, my love. I’ll always write back and you can keep that promise in your heart.”

  He managed to calm me with his promises and I knew in my heart that it would turn out for the best.

  ♥

  ..::Konner::..

  I did not have to second guess to really know that I was already in love with her, despite our age difference. Especially with all the things I’ve seen and done since joining the Navy. I was just promoted to Lieutenant Commander and it’s only been a year since I became a Navy SEAL. It’s been seven years of hard ass work and if I’ve been lucky, hard play. That all changed the moment I met Siddaleigh.

  Meeting Sidda in that café was so unexpected. Getting to know her, her fire and passion for her dreams, I wanted to give her all that, and so much more. I felt so complete when I looked in Siddaleigh’s eyes. I saw the innocence and yet, a determination that stirred up a spirit so fierce. I knew she wasn’t ready to hear it, but I just couldn’t stop talking. Whenever I’m with her, it was like I could talk her straight to the moon. We talked about meeting the others parents when I came back. Never thought I’d be nervous meeting a girls’ parents but somehow this, this was important. I had to get my shit together and show them I could love her and love her well for the rest of our lives.

  “Siddaleigh, I know this might sound crazy, but I know you’re the one. Each and every day it only gets clearer and stronger for me.”

  I had no problem waiting for her. The previous months while I was recuperating an injured shoulder, I was bored out of my
mind until I saw her. She made a massive impact on my thoughts about life and what I really wanted out of it. She was the best thing that ever happened to me. Looking back on the day I met her was still fresh in my mind.

  I was already two months into my injured leave with at least six more to go. Taking a damn round in the back shoulder was a bitch and I hated staying stagnant. Luckily for me, my Uncle Braeden had some work for me in between helping with my dad’s construction company. Uncle Bray sent me on some recon for his security business, and since I was early, I needed some much needed caffeine.

  I was supposed to meet with an informant in twenty minutes, and it was only 0810. Thank God I was meeting her close enough to where I could get a cup of coffee ‘cause Christ, being up all night looking over a client’s security system made me irritatingly cranky.

  I was reading the sports section, and damn, Dynamos killed another one. I was drinking a black with an extra shot of espresso when I felt eyes on me. Not seeing anything in my peripherals’, I slowly shifted my newspaper down. That’s when I saw her. Fresh, looking right out of high school, fresh. God, practically a baby. That didn’t stop my dick from getting standing at attention. I’m a disgusting pervert looking at a girl like that. She was all curves, though. A little on the thicker side but she had an hour-glass figure. Reminded me a bit of Marilyn Monroe, just with different hair. Her hair hung down to the base of her spine, kind of wavy and crazy curly in spots. She looked to be a hot mess. Shorts that topped her knees, and a red off the shoulder blouse. She looked so bright and beautiful. Of all things, she was wearing some red Chuck Taylor’s to match.

  Her tits? Stacked. Ass to die for? Check. Her face, same color as her top when she figured out I caught her ogling me. Most people probably thought her homely and plain, but where I’m from, my home country of Ireland, women had curves and this young thing had it in troves. Beautifully classic. Her make-up was subtle; maybe some mascara, and eyeliner that brought out the green-blue of her eyes and her lip gloss that seemed to plump her kissable lips. I flashed her a smile to let her know I seen her staring and she quickly turned just in time to make her order.

  I took that as my cue. I hurried to open my wallet and as I heard the counter girl give the girl her total, I pulled out a ten and threw it on the counter. That’s when I noticed how small she actually was. At least a foot from my six foot four.

  I knew I couldn’t let her go without talking to her. My meeting was long forgotten and my uncle would understand or have to get over it.

  Looking at her now, I hated seeing her so upset. With the information I’m about to tell her, she’ll be even in more distress. God, why is this so hard? Saying goodbye, even if it’s only for a short time, was filling my chest with lead.

  I wrapped her in my arms and steadied my eyes on hers. This girl who took my heart. My soul. She’s my everything and for all the love I have serving my country, I didn’t want to leave her. Such precious cargo I held in my embrace.

  “Siddaleigh, I just received a notice of deployment in the early AM from my C.O.-

  Sidda sobbed a refusal. She almost accused me of withholding the information, which made my blood want to simmer. If I didn’t know it was because of how much she wanted me to stay, I’d argue with her and set her straight. But I did know, and seeing the tears fall was killing me.

  “You know my injury has been checked and I’ve been given a clean bill of health to return. My team needs me, love. Banphrionsa, please baby-girl, don’t you shed one tear. Every tear is a knife slicing into my heart. I didn’t expect us to be so inseparable but that’s what happened. You have to trust me, now. I should be back before your birthday. Oh, love. What a special treat I’ll have for you. My little witch. So fiery, my pyro-princess. M’anam.”

  My promises seemed to calm her somewhat and I did the only thing I could think to do.

  I kissed her.

  I kissed her hard. I kissed her deep. Pouring my heart into this last kiss we’d share until I came back.

  1

  Meeting the Stranger

  ..::Siddaleigh::..

  3 weeks later

  To: [email protected]

  From: [email protected]

  Date: September 21

  Subject: my heart awaits

  My pretty princess! How are you, love? How’s college? It sure is hot and dry here in Syria. Thinking of you always makes it hotter, though. Look, Sidda. I’m going to be down the Syria border with the boys. Just regular recon, no big. But I won’t be able to respond until I return. Should be about 2 weeks. It’s been quiet. A little too quiet for our CO. All I know is, the picture I have of us from that silly photo at the Kemah Boardwalk is always with me near my heart. And October can’t come quick enough. Just wait, banphrionsa. A surprise is in store for you! Here is a little of my home language for you. Is tú mo ghrá.

  Your soldier, Kon

  After reading Konner’s latest e-mail, I felt saddened by the news. I knew from the way he spoke, that he loved the Navy and being a SEAL was not just what he did, but who he was. A true hero through and through. He didn’t want to retire anytime soon. He spoke of his team often and how they were more like brothers, especially his longtime friend from childhood, Nathan. I knew I would never ask him to stop doing what he loved. I just prayed constantly for him instead.

  Sometimes he was able to call me from a satellite phone for short periods of time; the longest being twenty minutes. Yeah, I counted. Sue me.

  In those short periods of time he told me more about his team, and what he wanted to do with the SEALs. It was a career for him.

  Just hearing his voice made my skin tingle. For now, it was enough.

  After two weeks went by, I responded. I wrote to him about school, how I was majoring in Fashion Design. I told him my dream of owning my own boutique; with my own line of clothing. And about the girl I met at orientation, Magdalene, who insisted on being called Mags. How we became fast friends and after a few short weeks at Texas Woman’s University, we decided to be roommates at an apartment complex near the campus instead of living at the dorms. I always ended my e-mails with ‘Always Yours, S’. I knew I would wait for him, because deep down in my young heart I knew he was worth waiting and fighting for.

  Over the next few days when there was no response, I felt a sense of emptiness inside. Every week since, I e-mailed him and still not one response. I never thought to ask him for a home number or any family information, so it wasn’t as if I could get a hold of anyone in his family. I felt so stupid that I didn’t get that info. I was so blinded by his presence that it just didn’t seem important. He promised he’d take me to meet his parents when he came back home.

  I tried an online search for O’Brian’s’ and over 150 results in the Houston and surrounding areas. I found I had no luck in finding the right O’Brian family. Most were not who I was looking for and the rest were no answer.

  When October came and went, I knew I was at a standstill. I turned eighteen, a day I was hoping to share with Konner, but now I knew it wouldn’t happen. I felt my love for him could endure, so I didn’t want to give up.

  By Christmas, I vowed that I would not stop searching for him. Since meeting Konner, I believed he was the one man I wanted to share all my firsts with. No matter the duration, I would remain strong and wait. Anytime, anywhere, somehow I’d make his memory stay with me.

  ♥

  11 months later

  On my nineteenth birthday, I knew my faith in Konner returning was fading. I fell into a dormant numbness. I gained about thirty pounds in the past year from all the stress. I was 200 pounds and moved up to a size sixteen. Most of it in fell on my hips and tummy. I still had a big round bottom. I went from star athlete to star flab. My breasts have grown marginally, which wasn’t too bad. I was now a full size D-cup when I was a C before. My belly was slightly rounded, but I still had an hour glass shape, or so Mags told me. My face was a little chubbier and I had some back fat. I honestly really didn’t care a
nymore. I didn’t think I was ugly, just, meh.

  I was still a virgin. Most guys didn’t even look at me. I wasn’t what they wanted when they could have thinner and usually dumber. I was holding onto that part of me that wanted to wait for the right guy. My guy. I solely concentrated on my classes and getting through them as best as I could throughout my depression phase.

  Working at a local 24-hour grocery store helped with the sleepless nights. How could six months of being with someone, and that someone just disappear-poof, like a cloud of smoke, rendering me helpless? I honestly don’t know how I’ve survived the past year alone with my average grades and working full-time. If it hadn’t been for Mags to see me through, I might have just given up.

  She didn’t understand why I was so determined to wait for someone who obviously didn’t want me anymore. It didn’t take her long to speak her mind.

  One day as I was pining, yet again, over my past with a half-gallon of Cookies n’ Cream ice cream, she let me have it. That was Magdalene. Fierce and bold.

  “Honestly, Siddaleigh, wake the fuck up. Get over this crazy obsession with this guy. You haven’t heard anything from him, maybe he’s dead.”

  “No! Don’t say something like that, Mags. That’s such an awful thing to say.”

  “Ok, yes, it was. I am sorry but maybe it’s time to move on. Your grades are getting shitty. You’re working yourself into an early frickin’ grave. Have we not become besties, Siddaleigh Mare? You were so happy when we met and then all of a sudden, no word from this guy and you’re so depressed. You don’t want to injure yourself, do you? I’m not leaving you, Siddaleigh. Besties always. Pinkie promise, Sidda.”

  “You’re right. I just, you know. I really love him, Magda.”