SEALs of Winter: A military romance superbundle by Seton Cora & Kennedy Elle & Marsh Anne & James Elle & Lowery Jennifer & Butler S.M. & Devlin Delilah & Troutte Kimberley & York Zoe

Author:Seton, Cora & Kennedy, Elle & Marsh, Anne & James, Elle & Lowery, Jennifer & Butler, S.M. & Devlin, Delilah & Troutte, Kimberley & York, Zoe [Seton, Cora]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, Military, Bundle, Anthology
Publisher: SOS Ladies
Published: 2014-11-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

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Strong wasn’t a big town. With only a handful of streets, the place barely qualified as a blip on the map. Zack loved it. Maybe he had a Mayberry gene in him, but it was impossible to get lost here, everyone knew his name, and no one had drawn a gun on him or opened fire from the shadows. That worked for him.

He re-stowed the kitten in the pocket of his jacket and grabbed the bag of kitten supplies from his truck while Bree ducked inside Ma’s to collect her things. She’d shimmied out the leather before he could tell her to keep it. He liked looking at her in his things. The leather smelled faintly like her perfume now, something sweet and floral. Pretty.

She came back out of the bar, her eyes going straight to him. He didn’t realize until he saw her that he’d been worried she wouldn’t come back out. She’d come here with friends and he wasn’t a prize, marital or otherwise. He couldn’t imagine her friends being real happy about his tentative place in Bree’s life and friends talked. She didn’t look upset though, so he pulled her up against his side and started walking.

She melted into his side without a moment’s hesitation, her hip bumping his with each step she took. Strong was plenty peaceful and quiet at night. It was dark too, although the bungalows they passed shed some light on the sidewalk and there was always the starlight overhead. He’d navigated by far less and gotten the job done. The soft tap of her cowboy boots on the sidewalk made a nice rhythm, though, and the rhinestones still make him smile.

Five too-short minutes later and they were standing in front of her bungalow. The reindeer heads went up and down, twinkling like mad. Santa hadn’t deflated yet; his most recent repairs must have held.

She peeled away from his side and hotfooted it up the sidewalk, fumbling in her bag for the key. Her cheeks were pink, but he was hoping it wasn’t from their walk. Please let it be me. Jesus. She did something to him. He’d never been one for introspection—the Navy-mandated counselor who had spoken with him before he’d left base for the last time had suggested he “do an inventory of his feelings” and he’d laughed out loud—but he felt something for Bree all right. He took the steps two at a time, right behind her.

“So.” She rocked back on her heels, rhinestones flashing in the porch light. “We’re here.”

“Uh-huh. You going to take that kitten inside?”

She didn’t make a move towards the door. “He—she?—needs a name.”

“He.” He flashed her a grin. “I checked.”

She cupped her hand against his jacket pocket, her fingers brushing his shirt and side. He wondered what it would take to coax her into putting her fingers elsewhere.

“Sparky? Pickles? Smoke?”

All of which merited a place on the World’s Worst Names for a Cat list. “It’ll come to you.”

“Come on. Help me out here.” She tugged lightly on his shirt.