Page 97 of Will Bark for Pizza
“Yeah.”
“You were a Blackhawk mechanic, like my brothers and Thoren?”
“Yeah.”
“I think it’s really cool how the four of you were together from the beginning.”
“Me too.”
“So, she came out to Fort Lewis. Then, what?”
“We got married at the courthouse, and a week later, she ran off with an infantry guy.”
“What?”
“True story.”
“Geez, Beck. I’m sorry.”
“I was devastated back then. She cleaned out my meager bank account, so that sucked. Stole my car and wrecked it. But I found out later she’d been sleeping around while I was in Basic. It would have been better if I knew before we signed the marriage certificate. But the judge was kind enough to grant an annulment, and save me a lot of headaches.”
“I’m guessing Nana was not pleased.”
“She didn’t want me to marry her in the first place.”
“She has good instincts?”
“Most of the time.”
“There were more?”
“There have been a few others, yes,” I admitted.
“Would it matter if I told you I’m not a natural redhead?” Kira asked, looking up at me again.
God, it would be so fucking easy to lower my lips to hers and kiss away her fears. To take my time showing herexactly how special she was. How well she deserved to be treated.
Husker rocked the bed as he hopped to all fours, the only warning we had before a quick knock came.
“Are you two decent or do I need to get the garden hose?” Nana hollered through the door.
TWENTY-NINE
KIRA
Armed with an iced caramel mocha,I headed for the bookstore an hour ahead of the time the book club was scheduled to meet. The store wasn’t technically open today, as Dad wanted to preserve the book club’s final meeting the best he could, but I had permission to sell books if someone walked in.
The big going-out-of-business sale would start tomorrow, and go through the end of the week. I agreed to stay through the duration of it, even if it was likely to gut me. This weekend, it was all hands on deck, with my brothers and the rest of my family to clear out whatever remained, bookshelves included.
Mom would want me here.
At least, I hoped so.
After the sale was over, and the business fully liquidated, I’d make an official decision about moving home. Because right now, my head was still a giant jumble all thanks to a very titillating kiss that played on repeatwithout my express permission. A kiss I shouldn’t crave again.
If only Beckett hadn’t been a fucking incredible man last night when I was at a low point, maybe the potency of said kiss would have worn off by now.
Maybe.
