NEWLY MINTED air force Second Lieutenant Daniel Corben fisted his hand around the black velvet ring box in the pocket of the dress blues heâd worn to his graduation ceremony at the University of Texas. All he could think about was ditching his adoring family so he could be alone with Taylor.
Taylor Milton, twenty, red-haired, a regal beauty. She stood near the end of the reception hall of the ROTC building in a white dress so thin he could see the shape of her thighs through the gauzy material. She gave him a come-hither smile, then coyly dipped her head, but she never took her eyes off him.
His throat constricted and his groin squeezed.
What a woman.
Just looking at herâtall, curvy, sassy and smartâcaused his heart to chug as though he was running track. He couldnât help noticing that every masculine gaze in the place landed on her. Taylor was the kind of woman who commanded attention.
And she belonged to him.
Smugness swelled his chest. He tightened his grip on the box containing the three-quarter-carat diamond solitaire set in platinum and gold that heâd bought that morning. In two weeks he would report to the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences at the Bethesda Medical Center near Washington, D.C., to start his medical school training.
But he wanted his ring on Taylorâs finger before he left. He wished he could afford something bigger. As it was, heâd drained his savings account to pay for it. He knew she could buy her own ring worth ten times as much as this one and he felt a little insecure about that. Still, he was giving her his all. The very best he could do. He was certain sheâd appreciate that. He would promise her that after he was through medical school, heâd buy her a proper diamond.
Danielâs mother reached up to brush a hand over his shoulder, her eyes misting with tears. âIâm so proud of you,â she murmured.
âAw, Mom, donât cry.â
His mother swiped at her face and smiled widely. âTheyâre happy tears.â
âKeeping up family tradition.â His father thumped him on the back with a hammy palm. âYouâre a true Corben, son. Following in the footsteps of history.â
âAll my friends think youâre hot.â His sixteen-year-old sister Jenna giggled. âAn airman and a doctor. Oo-la-la.â
âIâm not a doctor yet,â Daniel reminded her. His family tended to get carried away with military medicine. âIâve got four years of medical school, an internship and a residency ahead of me.â
âBut youâre on your way,â said his grandfather, retired air force Colonel Dr. Daniel Walter Corben, Senior, who was also best friends with a former Surgeon General. âJust stay true to your objectives, hold the course. Youâll make it.â
âWeâve got dinner reservations at the Rivera,â his mother said. âWeâd better get a move on. Are you riding with us or taking your car?â
âUm, Momâ¦â Daniel began, realizing that what he was about to say was going to go over like a cast-iron balloon. âIâm afraid Iâve got other plans.â
A frown creased his motherâs forehead as she tracked his gaze to Taylor. She pressed her lips into a tight line. âOf course you do. How presumptuous of me to assume youâd spend the evening of your college graduation with your family.â
âPamela.â His father took his motherâs elbow. âDaniel is an adult. He has other plans. Let it go.â
No one suggested that Taylor join them. Daniel didnât miss the slight. He knew what his family thought about his girlfriend, but for the first time in his life he didnât let their opinion sway him. âWeâll go out tomorrow,â he promised. âMy treat.â
His mother turned away, shoulders slumping, her feelings hurt. He took a deep breath.
They disliked Taylor because she was flamboyant, impulsive, opinionated and passionate about the things she believed in. They warned him that a woman like Taylor would be a liability for a career military officer who had to toe the line and be part of a team. He needed a wife who could do the same. Taylor spoke her mind when a proper military wife would find a discreet way to get her point across. She didnât kowtow to everyone and the military was all about kowtowing.
During the short time heâd known her, Taylor had been arrested when a campus protest against the policies of the White House had gotten out of hand, ended up on probation for a streaking stunt gone awry and sheâd written an inflammatory letter to the local newspaper espousing her liberal viewsâhis parents were staunch conservativesâand she wasnât about to back down.