The Stranded Patriot: Georgia Patriots Romance (Steele Family Romance) by Cami Checketts

Author:Cami Checketts [Checketts, Cami]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Birch River Publishing
Published: 2019-06-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

They sat with their backs propped against a tree and ate some dry crackers and jerky, then worked their way through a can of peaches. The whole time, Preston watched Ally carefully.

She seemed calmer, and something had changed in the air between them. He was still leery about telling her how beautiful she was, even with more smears of black makeup from her crying earlier. He’d thought he’d washed all that black stuff off. At least she appeared to be more comfortable around him and trust him. Holding her in his arms had been heaven. She was soft and womanly and felt perfect cradled against him. He wondered why he’d wasted his time dating scrawny models who were all bone and hard, fake curves. Ally’s shape was so much more appealing to him.

She closed her eyes and groaned. “If it wasn’t so hot, I’d crawl in that tent and take a nap.”

“You could take a nap right here,” he suggested. Did he dare suggest she rest against him? He loved holding her close and hoped she felt the same, but he had to remind himself to stay in control and that he couldn’t kiss her until she asked him to. That was a stupid agreement on his part.

Her eyes opened wide. “I wouldn’t dare. What if there is another snake out there?”

Preston didn’t dare tell her he’d noticed several different species of snakes. Maybe he’d reacted too violently by hacking the snake in two, but it had been a good release from not being able to fight Carlos and his men and feeling so helpless stranded here. At least that one snake wouldn’t be bothering them.

“So now we have nothing to do but sit here …” She let her voice trail off.

Sit here. For how long? He loved being around Ally, but he felt claustrophobic and scratchy at the thought of being on this island for too long. He wasn’t used to inactivity. Maybe he could chop down trees with his knife and expand their shelter. Their spot had plenty of shade, but the trees wouldn’t protect them much if it stormed. Maybe he could figure out how to start fire with sticks or hike around and kill snakes. That sounded like a worthy quest.

She arched an eyebrow at him. “Maybe you should tell me stories.”

“About what?”

Thinking for a second, she said, “Tell me about your sister.”

“Lottie.” He smiled as he thought about her, but then a pang went through him. What if he never heard her giggle again, never got a tight squeeze as only Lottie could give?

He swallowed and met Ally’s gaze, hoping his eyes weren’t bright. Her dark eyes were full of compassion, as if she could see straight through him and understood his fears. He talked quickly, before thoughts of never seeing their loved ones could start either of them down the road of despair.

“Lottie’s an angel,” he said. “She’s sixteen, almost ten years younger than Gunner, the youngest of my brothers. She was born with Down syndrome.

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