military members would attend the service, she said, “Whiteman is an eight-hour trip, at least. Will that cause a problem with the funeral set so soon?”
“A tanker will bring the wing commander and most of the men from your father’s office. The word will get around, so there’ll be others, too. Those he’s served with who are at other bases, and local retired military and their families—they’ll all want to pay their respects. Military folks are tight, you know that.”
“Yes.” She drew a breath. “I’ve never handled a funeral before.”
Hating to see her tension, Ham reached for her hands, drew her up from her seat. “Weston died on active duty, Liv, so the air force will provide funeral benefits and arrange the burial ceremony.”
She turned her face up to his, brave and beautiful and his—if only she’d realize it.
“Even now, the air force plays such a big role in his life. But this time, I have to admit that I’m grateful.”
More thunder rumbled. Rain lashed the windows and lightning flickered. He cupped her cheek. “I told you, we’re one big family.” And then he kissed her—and he didn’t want to stop.
CHAPTER FOUR
L IV KNEW SHE DIDN ’ T WANT to sleep alone that night. Ham was right—it didn’t matter if she admitted how she felt or not because no one would ever replace him in her heart.
She made up her mind as Ham struggled to rein in his hunger. Not once in the many years she’d known him had he ever shirked what he considered his duty. He was honorable to the core, dedicated to caring for others, driven by a deep and patriotic love of his country.
How could she not love him?
His forehead touching hers, he whispered, “I shouldn’t keep doing this.”
“This?” Liv stroked her hands over the soft cotton T-shirt he wore, across his chest, up and over his shoulders.
“You aren’t thinking straight.”
She laughed, feeling lighthearted for the first time since he’d arrived at her classroom. “Does that mean my thinking is bent?”
He squeezed her. “It means I picked a bad time to keep coming on to you.”
“I think it’s the perfect time.” And she went on tiptoes to kiss him again.
Ham groaned, taking control of the kiss, pulling her into the hard lines of his body. Their breathing soughed in the quiet night, vying with the violent storm.
He wrenched away. “Liv, wait….”
“Why?”
He caught her face and held her still. Eyes smoldering with heat, he asked, “Do you love me?”
Liv recoiled from the idea of giving away so much. If she told him her deepest feelings, that she’d loved him forever and probably always would, there’d be no going back. She knew Ham, knew how he thought and how determined he could be.
She licked dry lips. “I want to make love with you.”
Something in his expression chilled and became distant. He stepped back. Every bit the officer, he held himself straight and proud—yet somehow wounded.“Let’s sit down and I’ll sort your dad’s things with you.”
“Hamilton…”
“You need time,” he insisted. “Time to deal with your loss and to come to grips with your feelings. You need sleep. You need…” Unblinking, he stared at her, then shook his head. “You need me to stop pressing you. Come on.” He picked up the candle with one hand and reached out for her with the other.
Given that she had electric heat, the house had quickly begun to cool during the power outage. The spring storm had brought with it chilly temperatures and window-rattling wind. She wore a sweatshirt, but Ham wore only a T-shirt. He didn’t look the least bit uncomfortable though.
The moment they left the table, Jack scooted out from underneath and chased after them. Candlelight danced and spread out, leaving dark shadows in her small family room. Once Liv sat on the couch, Jack dropped across her feet with a lusty doggy sigh. It wasn’t the most comfortable position, but she enjoyed his nearness as much as he enjoyed being
“A tanker will bring the wing commander and most of the men from your father’s office. The word will get around, so there’ll be others, too. Those he’s served with who are at other bases, and local retired military and their families—they’ll all want to pay their respects. Military folks are tight, you know that.”
“Yes.” She drew a breath. “I’ve never handled a funeral before.”
Hating to see her tension, Ham reached for her hands, drew her up from her seat. “Weston died on active duty, Liv, so the air force will provide funeral benefits and arrange the burial ceremony.”
She turned her face up to his, brave and beautiful and his—if only she’d realize it.
“Even now, the air force plays such a big role in his life. But this time, I have to admit that I’m grateful.”
More thunder rumbled. Rain lashed the windows and lightning flickered. He cupped her cheek. “I told you, we’re one big family.” And then he kissed her—and he didn’t want to stop.
CHAPTER FOUR
L IV KNEW SHE DIDN ’ T WANT to sleep alone that night. Ham was right—it didn’t matter if she admitted how she felt or not because no one would ever replace him in her heart.
She made up her mind as Ham struggled to rein in his hunger. Not once in the many years she’d known him had he ever shirked what he considered his duty. He was honorable to the core, dedicated to caring for others, driven by a deep and patriotic love of his country.
How could she not love him?
His forehead touching hers, he whispered, “I shouldn’t keep doing this.”
“This?” Liv stroked her hands over the soft cotton T-shirt he wore, across his chest, up and over his shoulders.
“You aren’t thinking straight.”
She laughed, feeling lighthearted for the first time since he’d arrived at her classroom. “Does that mean my thinking is bent?”
He squeezed her. “It means I picked a bad time to keep coming on to you.”
“I think it’s the perfect time.” And she went on tiptoes to kiss him again.
Ham groaned, taking control of the kiss, pulling her into the hard lines of his body. Their breathing soughed in the quiet night, vying with the violent storm.
He wrenched away. “Liv, wait….”
“Why?”
He caught her face and held her still. Eyes smoldering with heat, he asked, “Do you love me?”
Liv recoiled from the idea of giving away so much. If she told him her deepest feelings, that she’d loved him forever and probably always would, there’d be no going back. She knew Ham, knew how he thought and how determined he could be.
She licked dry lips. “I want to make love with you.”
Something in his expression chilled and became distant. He stepped back. Every bit the officer, he held himself straight and proud—yet somehow wounded.“Let’s sit down and I’ll sort your dad’s things with you.”
“Hamilton…”
“You need time,” he insisted. “Time to deal with your loss and to come to grips with your feelings. You need sleep. You need…” Unblinking, he stared at her, then shook his head. “You need me to stop pressing you. Come on.” He picked up the candle with one hand and reached out for her with the other.
Given that she had electric heat, the house had quickly begun to cool during the power outage. The spring storm had brought with it chilly temperatures and window-rattling wind. She wore a sweatshirt, but Ham wore only a T-shirt. He didn’t look the least bit uncomfortable though.
The moment they left the table, Jack scooted out from underneath and chased after them. Candlelight danced and spread out, leaving dark shadows in her small family room. Once Liv sat on the couch, Jack dropped across her feet with a lusty doggy sigh. It wasn’t the most comfortable position, but she enjoyed his nearness as much as he enjoyed being
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