Marine Paul Torres is
used to the casual thing, women who enjoy the pleasure of the moment and whom
he can bed with a wink and a smile. Lately though, he’s turned on by the
allure of finding the right partner for him with so many of his friends
settling down. Attending a wedding in Texas for one of his oldest
friends, he meets Lillianna Hansen.
Paul and
Lillianna get off on the wrong foot, enjoying a wildly passionate
encounter after the wedding. He wakes to find her gone, but still
tries to track down her number. Paul wants more than a one-night stand, but his
limited leave is up and must return to active duty.
He might
be ready to take their relationship to another level, but all Lillianna thought
she wanted was a good time. But Paul’s attention—even from thousands miles
away—is hard to resist and while she tells herself repeatedly she doesn’t want
a relationship with a Marine, she can’t deny the consequences of their
passionate night.
And when
she finally does reach out, it’s to confess she’s pregnant, and she has to
figure out if she’s ready to let the father of her child be
her Marine ever after…
Excerpt:
Paul eyed
the bridesmaid from the moment she made her entrance through the double doors.
He was fourth groomsman, which meant he’d get to escort her out. Thank
you, Jesus.Gorgeous was the only word that would do. Not that the other
bridesmaids weren’t good looking, Jazz was a hell of a looker and if he looked
too long, one of her two husbands might be inclined to take his head off.
All in
good fun, at least on Zach’s part. Logan was standing right net to Paul. Better
to keep his eyes on the more attractive prize. From her rich dark hair piled
atop of her head to the deep natural dark tan of her skin. He hesitated to call
it brown, but the white gloves and deep navy of her dress looked so smashing
against her skin tone. He barely got a glimpse at her eyes and his training
kept his gaze forward as they walked.
Photographs
would be next and then a drive to the reception at Mike’s Place. If he played
his cards right, he’d be in her limo. Sadly, the evening wedding meant the sun
was already sinking as they exited and the shadows lessened the chance he could
tell what color they were.
But we
have to dance… A smile curved his mouth. He would have plenty of opportunity to
stare at her eyes and determine their color then.
“Paul
Torres,” he murmured.
“I’m
sorry, what?” She glanced up at him, a distracted smile softening her
expression. It hit him like a fist to the gut. He needed to revise his
earlier opinion, gorgeous didn’t do her justice.
“I’m Paul
Torres, you must be Lillianna,” the only bridesmaid who missed the big
rehearsal dinner. Not that I can complain…He almost missed it, too.
But his flight landed an hour beforehand and it was only with some skillful
driving that Damon managed to get them both there in time to be in the line up
before the bridesmaids did their obligatory walk.
“Yes,
sorry. I can’t get over how happy she looks. And Lillianna Hansen.” She let go
of his arm and offered her gloved hand to shake. The urge to kiss it was
a little too romance novel for him, so he shook it and then held onto it.
“The
captain looks pretty happy, too. I think he got the better end of the bargain.”
He chuckled. They were all settling down. He’d served with most of the men in
the groom’s party and earned his invitation when the wedding coincided with his
leave. Unfortunately, Brody hadn’t been able to make it. But he promised to
visit the happy couple on his next trip through Dallas.
“I hope
so. There’s a tiny part of me that doesn’t like him.” The announcement
surprised him, but the photographer summoned them to join the bride and groom
so he swallowed the question.
Five
hundred photographs later, they were dismissed to make their way to the waiting
limousines. A small fleet of them waited, Jazz and her husbands loaded into
one, the freshly marrieds got their own, James and Lauren claimed the third,
and Paul drifted back a little, and fortunately Lillianna waited for him as
Damon and A.J. helped their bridesmaids into a limo and joined them.
Score.
We get the last one to ourselves.
“Everything
all right?” She eyed him expectantly.
“Fine, I
just wanted to check a button.” Lame, Paul. Lame. But it was
the first excuse to pop into his head. He motioned for the limo and she shook
her head and led the way. He beat her to the door and opened it, and handed her
inside before slipping off his cover and joining her.
She sat
opposite him in the wide area of the stretch, and on the far side. He
considered swapping seats, but he liked looking at her better—even if only in
the illumination of passing headlights. “I hope you’re ready for a big
party.”
“Me too.”
Lillianna didn’t sound like she was ready. He raised his eyebrows and she
moistened her lips.
Damn.
Mind out of the gutter. He gave his body the order, but it was too
late to prevent the shock of reaction running riot through his system. If he
hadn’t already been curious about her before, he definitely was
now. Out. Of. The. Gutter
MARINE EVER AFTER
Always a Marine #14
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A national best selling author, Heather Long lives in Texas with her family and their menagerie of animals. In addition to military romance, Heather writes a wide variety of romance from paranormal historical western romance to contemporary romance and romantic suspense. She loves characters and the stories they have to tell.
As a child, Heather skipped picture books and enjoyed the Harlequin romance novels by Penny Jordan and Nora Roberts that her grandmother read to her. Heather believes that laughter is as important to life as breathing and that the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus are very real. In the meanwhile, she is hard at work on her next novel.
Website: http://www.heatherlong.net
Email: heather@heatherlong.net
Twitter: @HVLong
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