Page 22 of Her Delta Force Protector

He really was, and Harper was tempted to tell Fanny that the man was also the best kisser in the world...well, in her world of experience, anyway, but she decided that was information she wanted to keep to herself.

“Petunia needs some things, Fanny, but can you give us a minute?” Kade said.

“Of course.”

When they were alone, he stepped in front of her. “It would be best to pay cash for whatever you buy. Do you need any money?”

“I’m good. Dad sent me off with a full purse so I wouldn’t have to use a credit card.”

“Okay, that’s good. Take your time. I’ll be outside when you’re done.”

“Kade,” she said when he turned away from her.

He glanced over his shoulder. “Yeah?”

“I don’t know how to thank you.”

“My best friend staying safe is all the thanks I need.”

He winked, then walked out, leaving her with tears stinging her eyes.

Chapter Ten

Why had he kissed her? Well, he knew why, he just hadn’t thought it through. A part of it was because he wanted to put a claim on her in the minds of those in the diner. But he’d also done it because everyone in the diner who knew him had been staring at them, wondering who Harper was. He didn’t play in his backyard, so they’d never seen him with a woman, and if they couldn’t mind their own business, then he’d give them a show. That was him, the class clown.

He was the brother who disappointed. Tristan and Parker had been the favorites of their teachers as boys and still were for the people of Marsville. Those two could do no wrong because they never did anything wrong.

Kade, though, had been the one people pointed to and said, “Don’t be like him.” He’d finally matured enough to regret the headaches he’d given his oldest brother. Tristan had done his best to step into the role of father/mother/brother to him and Parker when they’d been abandoned by their mother to an aunt who hated them. What had Kade done to thank him? Rebelled at every turn.

He really needed to tell Tristan how much he appreciated the sacrifices he’d made for his two younger brothers, and that he wished he hadn’t caused so much trouble. What he should do was get with Parker and do something special for Tristan. Maybe send him and Skylar on a romantic weekend getaway. Man, he really was growing up if he was thinking stuff like that, but it was about time he thought beyond his own self.

Which he had not been doing when he’d kissed Harper because there was another reason he’d done it. He’d wanted to kiss her. And now he wanted more.

He unhooked Duke’s leash from the wall. “I kissed a girl, and I liked it,” he told Duke as they walked down the sidewalk. “Can’t do it again, and that pretty much sucks.”

Duke stopped, sat, and lifted his paw.

“You really are a goofball. I saidsucks, notshake.” Since Duke still had his leg in the air, Kade shook his paw. “You’re a real clown. Have you considered joining the circus?”

Harper was going to want her dog back when it was safe for her to return home, and he was going to miss the silly boy. Unless she still planned to spend a year in the Peace Corps, and then he’d get to keep Duke a while longer. He needed to ask her what her plans were. Too bad she didn’t live here so they could hang out like they used to. He missed that.

If the Peace Corps was now out, maybe he could talk her into moving to Marsville. She loved to read, and while she was in the Army, she’d had a part-time gig going as an assistant to a few authors, something she really enjoyed. For one thing, she got to read advance copies of their books, which she thought was super cool. She also did stuff for them, helping with their marketing and whatever. She’d talked about developing that into a full-time job after the Peace Corps. No reason she couldn’t do that here. Something to think about.

“Sean!” a woman down the block screamed.

There was hysteria in her voice, and when she screamed again, Duke whined, then took off toward her, only getting as far as the end of the leash. Something was obviously wrong, so Kade headed for the woman with Duke pulling him along. He had a bad feeling on seeing the child’s tennis shoe she held in her hand.

“Ma’am, can I help you with something?”

“Oh, please. My son is missing.”

“How old is he?”

“Six. We were in the ice cream store, and he was standing next to me, then I took my eyes off him to pay. He must have wandered off... Oh, God, do you think someone took him?”

Kade hoped to hell not. “I’m sure he’s around here somewhere. We just have to find him.” If they couldn’t turn him up in a few minutes, he’d call Tristan.

Duke took the shoe out of her hand.

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