“Hey, I was almost asleep.”

  “You’ll miss me a little?” He crushed her body against his and lowered his head until his lips hovered over hers. “I’ll miss holding you like this.” John claimed her lips in a sensuous kiss that took her breath away. “I’ll miss kissing you like that,” he said when his mouth finally left hers. He brushed the hair back from her forehead and lowered his voice to a whisper. “And I’ll miss the way your eyes sparkle and your cheeks flush when we’re making love.”

  Her pulse kicked into highspeed. “Let me show you some sparkle and flush.” She took his hand and started for her trailer.

  As she rounded the corner to the front, a white sedan pulled into the park and came to a stop behind her car.

  Hope and Ryan leaped out. “Holy smokes, Mom. We were only gone overnight, and Sly’s been at it again.”

  Collette reluctantly released John’s hand and pulled her daughter into her arms. “Are you two okay?”

  “We’re fine, but Sly and his bunch trashed Ryan’s house. His parents are sick about it. You should see it. They’ll have to hire someone to power wash the brick and clean paint off the windows. There’s no way they’ll get it off themselves.”

  “Whoa, slow down.” Collette stepped back and turned to Ryan. “Sly and his gang got paint on your folks’ place?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Ryan said in his quiet tone, the flare of his pupils the only indication he was angry. “They spray-painted graffiti all over the house.”

  “Bastards,” John muttered.

  “They did it in the early hours of the morning,” Hope said. “Ryan’s folks were in Dallas for the weekend. They came home this morning to find the mess. We stopped by to see the damage after we left the church. I can’t believe that asshole is getting away with everything he’s done.”

  “You have to catch him in the act,” John said. “Did your folks have a security system that might’ve caught a face on camera?”

  Ryan shook his head. “They’ve never needed one. It’s only been since Mark disappeared that they started locking their doors at night.”

  “Did they report it to the police?” Collette asked, her arm still around her daughter.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Ryan responded. “They came, took pictures and wrote a report.”

  “But without eyewitnesses, or fingerprints on spray cans, the police don’t have much to go on,” John concluded.

  The teen nodded his head. “Exactly. My folks are tired of the threats and living in fear. My brother doesn’t realize how his actions are affecting the rest of us. I’m sure that if he knew, he’d find a way to stop Sly.”

  “And you have no idea where Mark is?” John asked.

  Ryan sighed. “No, sir.”

  “At least you weren’t run off the road again.” Collette hugged Hope, anger burning inside. She felt helpless. What could she do to make Sly stop terrorizing good people?

  “I thought they’d given up on bothering Ryan and his family,” Hope said. “I guess I was wrong.”

  “Which makes me afraid for you and Ryan,” Collette said. “I don’t like the idea of you riding your bike to school until Sly is brought to justice. I’ll drop you off on my way to class.”

  “What about after school? I ride my bike to the library or the church.”

  “I can get you there on my way to work,” Ryan said. “It’s on my way.”

  “And I can pick you up on my way home,” Collette said. “I don’t want you walking or riding your bike alone until Sly’s dealt with.”

  “Mom, I can take care of myself,” Hope protested.

  “Humor me.” Collette pulled her into another hug. “You’re all I’ve got.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” Hope said. “At least until I go to college.”

  “And I want to make sure you live long enough to get your degree and a job. Someone has to take care of me in my old age.”

  “Mom.” Hope rolled her eyes. “You’re not getting old.”

  “I will someday. You’re my long-term care plan.” She winked. “We’ll muddle through this situation the best we can.”

  “What about when you have to work on a weeknight?”

  John held up a hand. “I can pick her up from the church or library on those nights, as long as I’m not deployed anytime soon.”

  Collette smiled. “Thank you, John.” She turned to Hope. “Is that okay with you?”

  “Anytime I get to ride shotgun in Mr. Sanders’s badass truck is fine with me.” She grinned at John, her gaze going from him back to her mother, her eyes narrowing. “Something’s different.”

  Collette’s cheeks heated. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Are you hungry?”

  “Always,” Hope said.

  “I’ve got sandwich meat in my camper,” John offered. “We just finished eating lunch.”

  “I’ll make the sandwiches.” Collette headed for John’s camper. They’d been in and out of her trailer and his camper enough she felt comfortable making herself at home in either.

  “I’ll help,” Hope said, following her.

  Once inside the tiny kitchen, Hope pinned her mother with her piercing gaze. “What’s up with you and Mr. Sanders?”

  “Nothing,” Collette focused her attention on the refrigerator as she pulled out deli meat and condiments.

  “Liar.” Hope crossed her arms over her chest. “Something’s changed. You’re different.” Her eyes narrowed as she studied Collette.

  “I’m your mother. Always have been. Always will be. Now, what do you want on your sandwich?”

  Her daughter continued to stare at her, making her squirm in her own skin. Then her frown disappeared, and her eyes widened. “Holy smokes, Mom, you did it, didn’t you? You and Mr. Sanders did it.” She clapped her hands. “I knew it. You two had googly eyes for each other ever since you met.” She hugged her mother. “I’m happy for you. You needed it.”

  Collette laughed, her cheeks hot, her blood on fire. John had a way of doing that to her. She raised a finger to her lips. “Shh. What us adults do is none of your business.”

  “Come on, Mom. I’m not a small child. I’ve known about the birds and the bees since I was eleven.”

  Collette gasped. “What? I’m almost certain I didn’t tell you any such thing. Not at that age.”

  Hope shook her head. “You didn’t have to. My friends were happy to educate me with the pamphlets their parents were handing them. We would crowd under our sheet tents in our bedrooms and go over everything, giggling at the pictures and imagining our male classmates’ anatomies. Those pamphlets were very informative and made their rounds at school several times.”

  Collette shook her head. “And here I thought you were an innocent little girl.” She layered thin slices of turkey and roast beef on bread, added lettuce and tomatoes, a squirt of mayo and mustard and closed with another slice of bread. While she worked, she began to realize just how grown up her little girl was. She had to remind herself that she’d been sixteen when she’d gotten pregnant. Seventeen by the time she’d had her baby and had become a mother.

  She turned to Hope and gripped her shoulders. “Please, if you have learned anything from me, I hope you’ve learned from my mistakes. I know you’ll experiment with sex, just be careful.”

  Hope smiled gently. “I wouldn’t be here but for your mistake. So, I can’t call it a mistake. Don’t worry, Mom. Ryan and I haven’t gone past necking in the front seat of his truck. Which is in the shop. It feels weird going on dates in his parent’s car. I just can’t do anything in it.” She shuddered. “I’ll be glad when his truck is fixed, and we can go out in it.”

  “Do I need to set up an appointment with our doctor to get you on birth control pills?” Collette asked.

  This time, Hope blushed. “No, Mom. I did that myself. I have a prescription I’ve been using now for the past six months.”

  “Since you turned sixteen?” Collette shook her head. “Where was I? Have I been burying my head in the sand while my little girl has been growing up and taking charge of her own health and wellbeing?” Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m a terrible mother.”

  Hope frowned. “No, you’re not. You’re the best. And you’re working hard to make your life and mine better. You’re setting the best example for me to follow.”

  “Except for the part about getting pregnant at sixteen.” Collette gave her daughter a hug. “I love you and don’t regret a single thing about keeping you. My parents wanted me to give you up for adoption. I couldn’t. I’m glad I didn’t.”

  “So am I.” Hope hugged her back, and then stepped away. “Now, let’s get these sandwiches outside before I start crying. I like Mr. Sanders. If you two fall in love, you have my blessing.”

  Collette brushed a tear from her cheek as she watched her grown daughter carry sandwiches out to her boyfriend. She didn’t regret a day of Hope’s life.

  As she descended the narrow steps of the camper, her gaze went to John Sanders and a smile curled the corners of her lips. She didn’t regret making love with the man. If they only had a day, a week, two months or a year together, it was better than nothing.

  Hope liked him. Her approval meant the world to Collette. Her daughter had good taste.

  What wasn’t to like? The man was strong, handy with tools and sexy as hell.

  If she wasn’t careful, she would fall in love with him. If she’d learned one thing by having a baby before finishing high school, happily-ever-after was stuff fairytales were made of. She should be satisfied with happy-for-now.

  John’s brow creased. “Everything all right?”

  “Yes,” she said. For now.

  * * *

  Over the following week, John spent his days at Fort Hood training with his team and his evenings watching the sunsets with Collette and, sometimes, Hope.

  Without her bicycle, Hope depended on Collette to collect her from the library or the church every afternoon after her mother got out of nursing school.

  On Thursday, John got a text from Collette.

  Collette: Sarge needs me to work tonight after I get out of school. Are you available to pick up Hope at the church?

  John: No problem. I’ll be there around four-forty-five

  Collette: Thank you. I owe you.

  He wanted to tell her she didn’t owe him anything, but she’d argue the point. Her independence was important to her. He’d miss their evening watching the sunset after doing so every night of the week so far. They could start a tradition of watching the sunrises on Saturday and Sunday. Otherwise, it might be Sunday before they could spend time together again, unless he just happened to hang out at the Salty Dog Thursday and Friday night. He’d promised to watch football with the team at Bull’s place on Saturday and he could go to the Salty Dog that night as well.

  With Hope home every night, he and Collette kept their conversations and actions nonsexual. Apparently, Collette’s daughter had figured out they’d made love while she’d been away. Collette didn’t want to embarrass Hope with overt displays of affection. That didn’t stop John from sneaking a kiss in the dark when Hope had gone to bed. He didn’t want to push the issue, knowing Collette needed to focus on her work and Hope’s safety.

  He was glad to help by getting Hope home from the church. He’d even make sure she ate dinner by cooking a pot of chili. That way she wouldn’t have to be alone in the trailer all evening, and he could sit outside and enjoy the night air with good company.

  Hope was a lot like her mother. At the same time, she was her own individual. He liked her. Even more, he liked her mother.

  A lot.

  So much so, he could see them sitting on the swing on the porch of his house in the country, watching the sun set on the horizon every night for the rest of their lives.

  He’d be damned if he wasn’t falling in love with Collette McCallick.

  Rucker crossed to where he sat in the armory after getting the text from Collette. “What’s got my buddy Tank frowning like someone just kicked your dog?”

  “I don’t have a dog,” Tank grumbled. Love? Was he really falling in love with Collette? He wished Rucker would go away and let him chew on this new feeling.

  “Seriously, man. You can talk to me. Someone piss you off?”

  “You love Nora, right?” Tank burst out before he could form a reasonable thought.

  Rucker leaned back, his eyebrows forming a V. “Yes. I do. Why do you ask?”

  “When did you fall in love with her?”

  Rucker’s lips spread across his face in a wide smile. “Not long after we met. I just didn’t realize it at the time because I was so convinced love and marriage wasn’t for me. Why do you ask?” His eyes widened. “You’ve got a woman.”

  “No, I don’t,” John disagreed vehemently. Then he thought of the night they’d spent together making love and the ones they’d held hands watching the sunset. He’d been just as happy holding her hand in silence, drinking in the beauty of nature and the feel of her hand in his. He sighed. “I guess I do. Sort of.”

  Rucker’s face broke out in a grin, and he shouted, “Hey, guys! Tank’s got a woman!”

  Dash was the first to reach him and pound him on the back. “Son of a bitch, what poor woman was dumb enough to fall for you?”

  Bull was next. His slaps on the back sent Tank staggering forward. “Didn’t see that coming. Who is she?”

  “I bet it’s the redheaded waitress from the Salty Dog,” Mac said. “He was eyeing her like a side of beef at Dawg and Beth’s engagement party.”

  “Redhead?” Blade glared at Tank. “Don’t go poaching on my redhead. Sophia’s my woman.”

  Mac backhanded Blade in the belly. “Not that redhead. The waitress who kicked Joe’s ass.”

  “If she can put that asshole Joe in his place, she can put up with Tank.” Dawg clapped a hand on Tank’s back. “Congratulations, dude. I thought you were waiting until you retired to find someone.”

  “When you find the right one, you can’t let her get away.” Lance shook Tank’s hand instead of pounding on his back, for which Tank was grateful.

  Mac snorted. “Lance, what do you know about women? You’re the last man standing without one.”

  “I just know,” Lance grumbled. “Anyway, you’re missing the point. Tank’s got someone.”

  “Thanks,” John said. “But I’m not sure I have her.”

  “What do you mean?” Rucker asked.

  “I mean, I like her and all, but I’m not sure she’s wants anything permanent.” He shoved a hand through his hair, hating that the guys now knew he was interested in Collette. They’d tease him relentlessly. “And I told her that I wasn’t in the market for a relationship until I retire from the Army.”

  “That’s what you always told us,” Mac said. “But how many of us said the same thing? Delta’s have a high divorce rate. Women want a man at home, not gone 365 days a year.”

  “So, how is it Kylie Adams fell for your ugly mug?” Bull asked. “Or Nora for Rucker?”

  “They understand deployment,” Rucker said. “Then there’s Layla.”

  Bull frowned. “What about her?”

  “She knows what she’s getting into with you, and yet she chooses to be part of your life,” Rucker said.

  “She grew up in the State Department with her father being an ambassador and all. She knows the sacrifices our military men make,” Bull said.

  “Sophia didn’t grow up in the military, nor is she serving,” Blade said.

  Rucker nodded. “What all our women have in common is that they’re strong, independent and kickass. They don’t need us.” He paused. “They choose to be with us and can function on their own without us around.”

  Bull nodded. “We’re damned lucky.”

  John thought about the women his teammates had in their lives. Each one of the men had been against long-term relationships, either because they’d been burned before or had watched other Deltas suffer when their wives left them. John was no different. He hadn’t wanted to get involved. Once burned, and all.

  “Your woman is like ours in that respect,” Rucker said. “We heard what she did to subdue Joe. I wish we’d been there to see that.”

  “If you’re serious about her, you need to tell her,” Mac said. “Don’t let her get away without telling her how you feel. She might think she doesn’t want to live with the complications of being with a Delta, but if she loves you, she won’t want to live without you.”

  “That’s right. You have to give her the choice,” Blade said.

  John grimaced. “We just started seeing each other.”

  “At the Salty Dog?” Bull asked.

  John shook his head. “No. She’s actually my neighbor at the trailer park.”

  Blade gave John a crooked grin. “You know Sophia and I started out that way. Friends and neighbors. It took a trip to Cancun and an altercation with a drug cartel for me to realize I loved her.”

  “So, what are you waiting for?” Dawg asked.

  “Time for us to get to know each other,” John said. “I’ve only known her two weeks tops.”

  “When you know…” Mac started.

  “You know,” Bull finished.

  “Yeah, but I don’t want to scare her away.” John paced away from his teammates, turned and came back. “Look, don’t say anything to her at the Salty Dog. I need to take this at my own pace.”

  Lance snorted. “Glacial, I’d bet.”

  “She has a daughter to think about.”

  “A little girl?” Rucker grinned. “A ready-made family. That’s awesome.”

  John shook his head. “Not a little girl. She’s sixteen and, strangely, an old soul.” He looked up at Rucker. “You’d like her. And you’d all like Collette.”

  “The redhead has a name.” Mac raised an imaginary beer. “To Collette!”

  Dash shook his head. “Let’s celebrate at the Salty Dog tonight with a real beer and maybe the woman of the hour…?”

  “No can do,” John glanced at his watch. “I need to go. I have to pick up her daughter and get her home. Collette is working tonight.”

  Dawg gave him a sly grin. “At the Salty Dog?”

 

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