you’ve lost,” Caleb said. “I’m sorry.”
She sniffled and snuggled into the crook of his shoulder. “It’s not your fault.”
Though she absolved him, a wave of regret washed through him. That was his son’s room that had gone up in flames. He might never have known little Jason other than as a name attached to a photograph had his little boy been sleeping in his bed when the electrical fire started.
He wanted to make up the loss, not only the stuff that Hannah had treasured and saved, but of the time he had missed while under deep cover. Caleb tucked his finger under her chin and tilted her face up. “I’ll help you sift through all the Facebook albums everyone has online. We’ll get most of the pictures back,” he said. Plus, the project would give him another way to draw closer to her and find a way to reach past her stubborn refusal to be with a military man again.
“But you barely have time to deal with the corporate takeover threat,” she said. “I won’t let you jeopardize your family’s company.”
“I’ve got it under control,” he said. Though convincing the jackals that had been circling Gibson Technologies to back off had taken a shitload of finesse. He still had to log countless hours with his chief financial officer to hack through the numbers to guarantee that another corporate raider wouldn’t attempt another attack. His business degree had given him the necessary diploma to do the job, but it was his experience out in the field as a leader of an elite military ops team that solidified his focus in the boardroom.
His dad might have used this situation as an excuse to back out of supporting Caleb’s mother, but Caleb wasn’t that kind of guy. “Nothing will stop me from doing what’s best for my family,” he said. Or for her. Even if she fought him every step of the way due to some misguided sense of pride. Not that he could blame her.
Hell, he’d already fucked up royally the first time he’d issued a marriage order when he knew he’d rejected her two years ago by taking a third tour of duty. He didn’t deserve a second chance as long as he wasn’t willing to give up his career for her.
Yet here, with Hannah anchored in his arms, her body warm and pliant and fitting to his as if she were made for him, he yearned to close the distance between their mouths. He longed to kiss her full, luscious lips and drink her in like a long, tall glass of sweet tea on a hot summer day. He wanted to feel her draw him in, fill her with everything he had as man and as a lover.
###
Hannah stared into Caleb’s indigo eyes, desire and regret and compassion swirled in their azure depths. The noise from the television screen faded and the air seemed to form a bubble around them. He had called them his family when he’d offered to paste together a new album of photos. And she had faith that he would do exactly what he had promised. Protect them. Financially and physically. And, where Jason was concerned, Caleb had already established a clear emotional bond with their son. But he couldn’t protect her heart from breaking again when he left Sweetbriar Springs.
His mouth was dangerously close to hers, making her want to taste him again. But doing so would be like trying to eat one piece of chocolate. She’d never get enough, craving so much more.
Still, he’d jumped right in to take care of the monumental mess the fire in her boutique had caused and maybe, just maybe, that meant he cared for her. She chewed her lower lip, watched his gaze darken even more, and a zip of electricity shot through her.
Her nipples tightened and heat pooled low between her thighs. Oh, how she longed to act on the desire pulsing between them. To be wanted by this glorious, sexy beyond imagination man was intoxicating. But it would be way too addictive. One taste, one slide of his mouth against hers, would never be enough.
Taking a fortifying breath, she held the air until the exquisite ache tugging her sex
She sniffled and snuggled into the crook of his shoulder. “It’s not your fault.”
Though she absolved him, a wave of regret washed through him. That was his son’s room that had gone up in flames. He might never have known little Jason other than as a name attached to a photograph had his little boy been sleeping in his bed when the electrical fire started.
He wanted to make up the loss, not only the stuff that Hannah had treasured and saved, but of the time he had missed while under deep cover. Caleb tucked his finger under her chin and tilted her face up. “I’ll help you sift through all the Facebook albums everyone has online. We’ll get most of the pictures back,” he said. Plus, the project would give him another way to draw closer to her and find a way to reach past her stubborn refusal to be with a military man again.
“But you barely have time to deal with the corporate takeover threat,” she said. “I won’t let you jeopardize your family’s company.”
“I’ve got it under control,” he said. Though convincing the jackals that had been circling Gibson Technologies to back off had taken a shitload of finesse. He still had to log countless hours with his chief financial officer to hack through the numbers to guarantee that another corporate raider wouldn’t attempt another attack. His business degree had given him the necessary diploma to do the job, but it was his experience out in the field as a leader of an elite military ops team that solidified his focus in the boardroom.
His dad might have used this situation as an excuse to back out of supporting Caleb’s mother, but Caleb wasn’t that kind of guy. “Nothing will stop me from doing what’s best for my family,” he said. Or for her. Even if she fought him every step of the way due to some misguided sense of pride. Not that he could blame her.
Hell, he’d already fucked up royally the first time he’d issued a marriage order when he knew he’d rejected her two years ago by taking a third tour of duty. He didn’t deserve a second chance as long as he wasn’t willing to give up his career for her.
Yet here, with Hannah anchored in his arms, her body warm and pliant and fitting to his as if she were made for him, he yearned to close the distance between their mouths. He longed to kiss her full, luscious lips and drink her in like a long, tall glass of sweet tea on a hot summer day. He wanted to feel her draw him in, fill her with everything he had as man and as a lover.
###
Hannah stared into Caleb’s indigo eyes, desire and regret and compassion swirled in their azure depths. The noise from the television screen faded and the air seemed to form a bubble around them. He had called them his family when he’d offered to paste together a new album of photos. And she had faith that he would do exactly what he had promised. Protect them. Financially and physically. And, where Jason was concerned, Caleb had already established a clear emotional bond with their son. But he couldn’t protect her heart from breaking again when he left Sweetbriar Springs.
His mouth was dangerously close to hers, making her want to taste him again. But doing so would be like trying to eat one piece of chocolate. She’d never get enough, craving so much more.
Still, he’d jumped right in to take care of the monumental mess the fire in her boutique had caused and maybe, just maybe, that meant he cared for her. She chewed her lower lip, watched his gaze darken even more, and a zip of electricity shot through her.
Her nipples tightened and heat pooled low between her thighs. Oh, how she longed to act on the desire pulsing between them. To be wanted by this glorious, sexy beyond imagination man was intoxicating. But it would be way too addictive. One taste, one slide of his mouth against hers, would never be enough.
Taking a fortifying breath, she held the air until the exquisite ache tugging her sex
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