Page 35 of Rescued Hearts

He concentrated on working the wire into place and the feel of the cool, smooth beads in his fingers.

When Honor shifted in his direction again, he was far too aware of it. Everything about the way she moved set him on edge yet settled him at the same time. She wandered over to him and leaned in.

That long lock of hair swung forward, the urge to touch it making him clamp his fingers. To ball it in his fist and draw her mouth to his.

Fuck. Now he was getting hard, and any man—military or not—knew that being around his brothers-in-arms was neither the time nor place.

Honor’s sweet voice lilted over him. She brushed her fingertips over his knuckles. “Is the bracelet for your sister?”

He hesitated, fingers still on the wire. The truth pushed at the back of his throat, but he swallowed it down. “No.” He left it at that.

Honor arched a brow. But before she could push him for more information, a newcomer joined them. The tall and beautiful kind that got all the vets interested—except Gray.

“Hey, guys!” Willow didn’t have a subtle bone in her body and possessed absolutely no reservations about making Gray uncomfortable.

The way she looked between him and Honor had him girding his loins for an inquisition, and not just little sister style—Malone style.

He bit back a groan. This was about to get real awkward real fast.

Willow tossed smiles to the men like candy from a parade float. They scooped up her grins and some returned it with one of their own. His sister’s long legs crossed the space to Gray far faster than he wanted.

She stepped forward, tucking her hair behind her ear and revealing the earrings he made her.

Honor straightened, eyes sparking with recognition. “Oh! I see you’re wearing the earrings Gray made you.”

Willow beamed. “Of course. I had to come meet the woman behind the whole thing.”

Honor’s lips twitched. “So, you were talking about me?” Her teasing tone made him want to grab her and pull her down on his lap, hold her there and kiss her until she moaned his name the way she had last night.

Willow stopped. “Wait—Gray told you he made me these earrings?” She stroked a finger over the beads, sending them swaying.

“Yes. We talked for hours last night.”

Willow’s eyelids fluttered as if she were having an episode. “Hold up now.” She raised one hand. “You talked for hours? With this guy? I get ten words a day out of him.”

Honor’s laugh floated on the air and wrapped around him. “I guess he was feeling chatty.”

In true Willow fashion, she pulled out a chair and plopped into it, resting her chin on her hand and diving right in. “Sounds like you two really bonded last night.”

A light pink flush spread across Honor’s cheeks, highlighting those damn freckles that had been driving him crazy since the day in the post office. Hell, if he was honest with himself, he noticed them back in the coffee shop.

His sister’s gaze dropped to the bracelet he was making. Her teasing smile shifted into something more certain.

Gray gave her a warning look that would have been a warning growl if Honor weren’t standing so near. Thankfully, Willow only gave him a shrug and continued chatting with Honor.

“I should thank you.”

Honor laughed again. “For what?”

“I haven’t seen this one so relaxed in years.” She elbowed Gray. “And the rest of the guys seem real chill too. Especially Crew. He doesn’t like working with horses but he seems to be getting on fine with that wire.”

Crew looked up at Willow, a half-smile on his face at her gentle ribbing. Willow was kind of the sweetheart among the guys on the therapy ranch. Her easy manner made people let down their guard. Go figure—what worked on horses also worked on some of the vets.

She touched her earring again, making it swing. “It was really nice of Gray to make these earrings to cheer me up.”

Honor remained silent, too tactful to question Willow what she needed cheered up from, even though he already told her.

“My ex is getting married.”

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