Page 113 of Sapphire Sunset

“Definitely on the agenda,” Connor said.

Their lips met. Logan’s hand went to the back of Connor’sneck, found its by now familiar grip that started out gentle and then gotharder the more Connor went boneless under it.

Suddenly, Logan broke their kiss. “Wait. Your mother. Iremember your mother. Was she actually wearing all yellow or was that like thesnake?”

“The yellow was real. Very real.”

“And she was angry,” Logan whispered.

“Ish.”

“Did you guys talk?” Logan asked.

“We did.”

“And it turned out okay?”

Connor sat up and lifted the ribbon-strewn gift bag in hisother hand. “She sent over a gift.”

“Oh, that’s nice.”

“It’s for you.”

“You’re kidding.” Logan pushed himself to a seated position,which caused the comforter to tumble farther down the parade of defined musclesthat was his torso.

“Open it carefully,” Connor said. “It was a…complexdiscussion.”

Logan stared down at the bag on his lap as if he thought itsinhabitant might jump out and bite him. Then he started gently fingering hisway through the blue tissue paper inside. He pulled out what was clearly awrapped hardcover book, but no sooner had he torn a single strip away then hegasped.

“Chesty Puller,” he bellowed.

“Who’s that? A stripper?”

Logan tore the rest of the paper off, revealing the cover ofa book calledMarine! The Life of Chesty Pullerby Burke Davis. Therendering of the title character featured a man with a deeply lined face,outfitted in green camouflage with binoculars hanging from his neck and whatlooked like a green baseball cap shading his lantern-jawed face.

“He’s only one of the most famous Marines who’s ever lived,”Logan said. “He’s the most decorated Marine in Marine Corps history. Fought allover the world. He was a lieutenant general by the time he retired. He’s like thefather of the modern Marine Corps.”

“Is there a stripper who’s named afterhim?”

“All right, now. Don’t be smart. I get real serious aboutChesty.”

“I can see that. I’ll read the book.”

Logan flipped open the cover and read something on theopening pages. “Yeah, no you won’t. This is a first edition. And it’s signed.Nobody’s ever touching this again. I’ll get you a paperback.”

Logan opened the nightstand drawer and dropped the bookinside.

“Yeah, right next to the lube?” Connor said. “Not sure that’sa good plan, soldier.”

“Marines are not called soldiers.” Without taking his eyesoff Connor, Logan opened the top drawer, pulled the book out, then dropped itin the drawer below. “We’re called Marines.”

“Glad to see your shoulder and your ego are on the mend.”

“Yeah, there’s nothing a few hours of a narcotics-fueledcoma won’t fix. This is an amazing gift. I’m going to have to thank your mom. Iguess your talk went really well.”

Connor grunted and got to his feet, walked to the end tablenext to the double doors, and started emptying his pockets onto it.

“Or not,” Logan said.

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