A Hero's Homecoming by Tessa Layne

Author:Tessa Layne [Layne, Tessa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780998327594
Publisher: Shady Layne Media

Chapter Twenty

“Something wrong with your new bike?” Not that Parker was complaining. He’d give anything to fiddle around with the Ducati.

“I’ve decided I want to get Dad’s old bike out. You know,” she winked up at him, “for old time’s sake.”

“How many hours did we spend working on that thing when we were younger?”

“I didn’t lift a finger. I still don’t know how the dang things work.”

He tsked, shaking his head. “I’ve always told you, you shouldn’t be driving it if you can’t fix it.”

“I can’t even fix a pair of roller skates, Park.” She laughed, reaching behind her and lacing her fingers through his. “Please?”

The smile she gave him melted him. He never could say no to her pleading smile. Especially when her eyes were so bright and sparkly. His throat grew tight with emotion, and it made his voice rough around the edges. “I’ve missed you, Cassie.”

She looked at him with soft eyes and reached up on tiptoe to kiss him. Her mouth was soft and sweet against his. “I think I’m falling in love with you, Parker Hansen,” she murmured against his lips.

He tightened his embrace but still allowed her kiss to be gentle. Hope spread across his chest, taking root in his soul. A lightness he’d never felt took wing. He would fix her bike and more. The possibilities stretched before him as their kiss grew deeper. When they finally came apart, he couldn’t hold back. “I know I’m in love with you.”

She gave him another soul melting smile. “Lucky me. I thought for sure you’d be married when I came home.”

That she’d even wondered about him at all, stunned him. His chest puffed in satisfaction. “Did you now?”

“Of course. You’re a catch, Park.” She rubbed along his chest, and he fought the urge to throw her over his shoulder and march straight to his bunkhouse with her. “But I’m curious, there must have been someone?”

Probably best to clear the air. Prairie was small enough, you never knew when the gossip mill would start to turn. “Well, there was a girl at junior college, but she didn’t want to live in Prairie. And I couldn’t leave.”

“Couldn’t or wouldn’t?”

“Okay, wouldn’t. Cody had just left to join the rodeo circuit, and mom took it hard. I wasn’t going to leave her alone.”

“You just have to save everybody don’t you?” Laughter tinged her voice.

“That’s me. Park Kent, Prairie’s one stop superhero. Saving treed cats and damsels in distress.”

She threw her head back, laughing full and rich at his joke. God, he loved that sound. So free and easy, as if she wasn’t burdened by ghosts and violent memories.

“So what about you? You must have met someone you thought you could marry?”

A shadow crossed her face, and for a moment her eyes went bleak. Then she wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “Nope. I’m too much woman for most men, and with a military career?” She shrugged. “Settling down was never a priority.”

“And is it now?” He shouldn’t be asking this.

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