Ruby Rose believes in the depths of her heart and soul that the love of her life and the father of her son isn’t dead. He can’t be. She’d feel the loss if he were. She doesn’t care what his friends say, she’s still holding out for a Christmas Miracle that her Corey will return and give her son the only present he’s ever asked Santa for.
For Jackie. Thanks for the push!
Chapter One
Five Years Ago
Captain Corey Foster set his beer on the counter and rounded his shoulders. Returning from a deployment was bittersweet when you were single, especially when half your team was married.
He glanced at his cell and laughed.
Brian and Decker were relentless with their desire to get him to join them in their latest endeavor.
Decker: Now that you are stateside have you given mine and Brian’s proposal a good look?
Corey: Yes. And you’re still on injured reserve.
Decker: Nope. We’ve both been served our walking papers, unless we want a desk job and you know us, that’s not going to happen. We sold our technology to the Government and funded the Aegis Network. We want you.
Corey: Talk to me when I have a significant other. Until then, the Marine Corps owns my ass.
Decker: Good to know.
Corey went back to nursing his beer, trying not to notice the sexy brunette and her friends standing at one of the high-tops. It had been a long time since he’d been with a woman, but that wasn’t why he was attracted to this particular beauty.
No. She had that something special.
While her beauty was undeniable with her long dark hair. Intoxicating dark eyes. And long legs that went on forever.
It was the way she carried herself with a sense of confidence that turned him on in more ways than one.
From the moment she walked into the bar, he could tell she was a force to be reckoned with and he loved that in a woman. Nothing was more sexy than a lady who knew exactly who she was and what she wanted. Something told him that the chick across the room didn’t let anyone make decisions for her.
“Here you go,” the bartender said as he pushed a plate filled with the best bacon cheeseburger and sweet potato fries this side of the Atlantic in front of him. “Can I get you another beer?”
“Absolutely.” He dunked one of his fries in some ketchup and plopped it in his mouth. He groaned. Almost as good as sex.
“You know, you totally just ruined the idea that it’s a sweet potato,” the object of his affection just said. “Of course, the fact that anyone fries a sweet potato is just criminal.”
“If you say so.” He swirled another one through the red sauce. He tilted his head and dropped it in his mouth.
She had the audacity to snag one of the tasty treats off his plate and put it between her savory lips. “So, you’re one of those . . .” she made quotation marks . . . “Marines that just got back from some dangerous mission looking to get laid.”
He found it interesting she posed that as a statement and not a question. He glanced around the bar and laughed, noticing a few guys trying to pawn themselves off as one of his kind. There was always one dickhead in the room.
“No. I’m the real deal and I’m not looking to get laid, as you put it.” He had to admire her bluntness.
“Really? Hard to tell in this town.”
“Actually, it’s pretty easy,” he said, pointing his beer to two of his single buddies. “Both are real Marines. Just back from a shitshow. Sitting alone. Well not alone. Both are with me; I just haven’t made my way back there yet.” He pointed to a few of his other buddies who happened to be sitting with some ladies. “They are with me as well and they’d been friendly with those ladies before we left, so not surprised they are friendly again.”
“Okay,” she said, leaning against the bar. “What about that man?”
“No idea, but his haircut would get him fired.”
“He told my friend he just landed stateside after being deployed on a special mission that he and his men nearly died on after being shot at behind enemy lines—”
Corey burst out laughing.
“You find this funny, why?”
“I know every Marine in this bar, and he’s not one of them.”
“How can you be so sure?” the pretty lady asked.
“Go ask him the name of the mission. If he tells you, then you know he’s lying, especially if he says he could get court-martialed for doing so.”
“How do I know you’re not full of shit?”
Corey pulled out his military ID badge. “Ask him to show you one of these. If he left it at his quarters, he’s again, full of crap. We don’t leave home without it.” He slapped it on the bar. “Feel free to compare if he has a fake. Some assholes actually go that far in military towns. I’ve even seen idiots who’ve had business cards printed. Ridiculous. Anyway, I’d hate for one of your friends to be duped by a fake James Bond.”
“You’re cute.”
He cleared his throat. “I’m actually not trying to be. I hate men who use my job, one where good men give their lives for, to pick up women.”
Her smile faded. She took his ID between her trembling fingers and nodded. “I’ll be back shortly.”
He shrugged. Honestly, he hated his gender sometimes. Not that anyone of his single men didn’t consider the idea, but they wouldn’t use what they went through to snag a lady. They all had more class than that. He glanced around and let out a long breath. His brothers were drinking and eating, together, except for two and that wasn’t a surprise.
They were men. There were hot chicks. Things happened.
Just not by puffing out their chests and using nearly dying to get a woman into their bed. A decent man didn’t need to do that.
An honorable man wouldn’t, which he and his men were, had more respect for themselves, but more importantly, for the object of his desire.
Corey was a proud Marine. A third-generation Marine, to be exact. But he didn’t need that to be his schtick to get a woman in his bed. He hoped he had more game than that.
But not tonight.
The pretty lady returned, slamming his ID on the wood counter. “You were right.”
“I want you to know, I don’t take pleasure in that fact.”
“Well, I do. I told my girlfriend that guy was a slime ball the second he and his friend bought us drinks. You just gave me the ammunition to prove it.”
“I feel so used.”
She laughed, hopping on the barstool next to him and smiled. “You should.”
“What happened to the other guy?” Corey asked. He shouldn’t. He hadn’t come here to meet a woman. All he wanted was a couple of beers and a good meal.
However, this gorgeous lady might be impossible to say no to.
“He’s hitting on another friend.”
“How many friends do you have here?”
“About twenty-five. It’s a birthday party for her.” She pointed to a girl hanging on some man. “It’s gotten a little out of hand.”
“How is everyone getting home?” He should not be concerning himself with any of these people.
“Aren’t you the boy scout.”
He shrugged. “Guilty as charged.”
“You really are sweet and a breath of fresh air in this joint,” she said. “What does a girl have to do to get a guy to buy her a drink?”
He waved to the bartender. “Whatever the lady wants and put it on my tab.”
“I’ll take a whiskey sour,” she said. “My name’s Ruby. What’s yours?”
“Corey. Nice to meet you.” He held out his hand and took hers in a firm shake. He had no desire to let go. Her soft skin felt warm and welcoming against his rough palms.
“So, you’re really a Marine?”
He nodded taking a big bite of his burger. He wasn’t sure what to make of the brown haired, blue eyed beauty. While he wanted nothing more than to find out what made her go wild under the sheets, he was always leery of anyone he met in a b
ar that was a known military hot spot. Even if they didn’t seem to be impressed by his career choice or wasn’t using all their God given feminine assets to seduce him.
He never did well with the art of seduction. He preferred the tried-and-true way of not making a huge mistake by jumping in too hot and too fast. He liked to take things slow. Get to know a woman. Find out what she liked. What made her tick.
And he didn’t do it in a bar.
“How long?”
“Since I was eighteen,” he said. “So, about twelve years.”
“Nice way of telling me you’re thirty.”
He laughed. “Wasn’t my intention.”
She took her glass the bartender handed her and clanked it against his beer. “Thank you for your service.”
“You’re welcome.” He raised his beer and took a long gulp. “My mother told me to never ask a woman her age unless I want to get slapped.” He lifted her hand and kissed it. “Am I going to get this across my cheek?”
“Are you asking how old I am?”
He nodded.
“Guess.” She smiled wide.
“Oh. That’s a dangerous game.” One he shouldn’t be playing. He laughed before stuffing his face with another fry. But if he guessed too old, she might just walk away, giving him the out he was too stupid to take. That might be a really good idea. “Twenty-eight.”
“Wow. Good guess. I’m twenty-nine.”
Shit. That didn’t work. “What can I say?” He shrugged.
“Can I ask you a personal question?” She rested her elbow on the bar and held his gaze captive.
“Sure.” Who was he to deny a beautiful woman anything. “I see a few other Marines hanging out either with each other, or a few with a couple women. Why aren’t you taking advantage of a bunch of easy, drunk women?”
“Because they’re drunk,” he said. “I like my women sober.” Jesus. Did he really just fucking say that? He didn’t come here to pick up some chick.
Even if she was hot.
And sweet.
And pretty much everything he was looking for in a person he’d like to get to know better.
“Interesting because I’m in between drunk and sober.”
He chuckled shaking his head. “So, why aren’t you with some of your friends and all those men over there?”
“Because I prefer men, not boys with small man syndrome.”
He coughed and nearly choked on his cheeseburger. He pounded at his chest while she slapped at his back.
“Are you okay?”
“I’ll survive.” He swallowed. “You don’t mince words.”
Her smile sent goosebumps across his skin. The longer he sat with her, the more he knew he wasn’t leaving that bar without getting her number.
“Lucky for me, I’m no boy.”
She lowered her chin and arched a brow. “Hmmmm. Are you sure about that?”
“I was two seconds ago, but I’m not so sure now.” God, this woman was too much fun. And he bet intelligent too. He wiped his fingers with his napkin and pushed his plate aside. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a young lady trying to fend off unwanted advances. He’d been watching this unfold for the last twenty minutes and it wasn’t getting any better.
Actually, it was getting worse.
And the gentleman wasn’t taking the hint.
“Will you excuse me for a minute?” he asked.
“Sure.”
He waved to the bartender. “Another round.” He hopped off the stool and strode across the room. In the back of his mind he heard his ex-girlfriend telling him he didn’t have to get involved in every injustice he saw.
However, this was something he couldn’t stand by and watch, especially when no one else was doing a damn fucking thing.
“Come on baby,” the guy said. “You have to admit it’s a little funny.”
The lady pushed his hands off her waist. “I don’t think so.”
“Awe. I’m sorry.” The guy patted the girl’s ass.
“I told you not to do that.”
“I thought you liked it when I did things like this in public.” He heaved the girl to his chest and tried to kiss her, but she wanted nothing to do with that as she turned her head.
“Stop it.”
Corey took the man by the collar and yanked. “The lady said stop.”
“Who the fuck are you?” the man asked.
“Your worst nightmare if you don’t leave.”
A few of Corey’s buddies moved from where they’d been in the bar, backing him up, if necessary.
Wouldn’t be the first bar fight he got into.
Probably wouldn’t be the last.
“Fuck off,” the man said, turning his back. He grabbed the lady by the face. “You shouldn’t—”
“Get your damn hands off her.” This time, Corey pulled him three feet away and pointed to the door. “You can exit the building on your own two feet. Or me and my friends here can give you a few hands.”
The man looked him up and down. “Who the hell are you? You don’t own this place? You can’t tell me what to do.”
“You don’t want to fuck with me,” Corey said. “Trust me on that.”
The man made a fist and cocked his head.
Shit.
Corey ducked, missing the man’s lame attempt at a jab to the face. Corey raised his arm and pushed the base of his palm into the man’s nose, hopefully not breaking it.
The man stumbled backward, holding his face, groaning.
“Someone want to get that piece of shit out of here?” Corey said, turning to the young lady the man was bothering. “Are you okay?”
“I am now. Thank you so much. That jerk has been trying to get me to go out with him for a while now. I keep saying no, but he keeps showing up here.”
“Well, I know the owner. He’ll be on the list of never allowed in again.”
“Thanks.” The girl kissed his cheek. “I really appreciate what you did for me.”
“You’re welcome.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets, eyeing Ruby, who leaned back on the bar and smiled wickedly. As he closed the gap, his pulse kicked up a notch. He was in over his head with Ruby and he knew it, and he didn’t care.
“Do you always go punching men in the face?” Ruby asked.
“No,” he said. A tinge of guilt squeezed his heart. “Only when they swing first.”
She reached out and curled her fingers around his biceps. “If anyone was ever man handling me, I’d want you to be my knight in shining armor.”
“And what if you were just a girl in a bar, having a whiskey sour while sitting next to a guy who just came in for a bite to eat. Would you give him your number and go out on a date with him?”
“Are you asking for a friend?”
He burst out laughing. “You’re funny.”
“I have my moments.” She wiggled her fingers. “Give me your cell.”
“Why?”
She leaned in and licked her big rosy lips. “So I can call myself. That way I have your number.”
He handed her his phone. “I’m free tomorrow.”
“I’m free in an hour, after I get a few of these drunk women home before you have to beat up more men.”
“Want some help?” He’d lost his fucking mind.
And maybe his heart.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
Ruby couldn’t believe her luck. She’d seen Corey three or four times in the bar over the course of the last eight months. However never consistently, and she’d never had the opportunity, or the opening, to start a conversation.
Not that she regularly picked up guys in bars.
Especially Marines.
“Thanks for your help.” She dug into her purse, looking for her keys to her apartment. It had taken much longer to get all her friends safely tucked into Lyfts or the few she’d driven home and now it was nearly three in the morning. While she really wanted to get to know Corey better, it might have to happen another time.
/> “It was my pleasure,” he said as he pushed open her door. “Some of your friends were hysterical, but boy are they going to be hurting tomorrow morning.”
“No shit.” She tossed her bag on the table and kicked off her shoes. What she really wanted to do was get out of her dress—no—her bra. “Do me a favor and unzip me?”
“Sure thing.”
She turned, holding the fabric to her chest.
His fingers tickled her spine, but he didn’t let them linger longer than necessary.
She wasn’t sure if that made her like him even more, or disappointed that he didn’t try to make a move. “I’ll be right back. Help yourself to something to drink.” She scurried off to her room, which was located behind the kitchen, wondering why she hadn’t kicked him to the curb. Standing in front of her bed, she dropped her dress and undid her bra. “Finally,” she said, stretching her arms to the ceiling. Nothing felt better than when the girls were set free. Now all she needed to do was find something comfortable, but that didn’t say fuck me.
Only, isn’t that why she invited him inside?
She turned, gasped, and cupped her breasts. “What are you doing?”
He held up two bottles of water. “I thought you might be thirsty.” He set one down on the dresser before twisting the top off the other one and taking a healthy swig. “Are you?”
“I’m basically half naked, that’s what I am.”
“I can see that.” He looked her up and down. “See, I’m not as big of a gentleman as I pretend to be.”
She dropped her hands and smiled.
His brows shot up.
“Are you saying if I asked you to leave, you wouldn’t?”
He groaned. “Do you want me to go?”
Inching closer, she sucked in a deep breath. “Do you promise not to judge me if I say I want you to stay?”
“Oh. I’m judging, trust me. Seriously, your taste in men is horrible.” He rested his hands on her hips, rubbing his thumbs over her skin in a tender circle. “What kind of an asshole walks into a woman’s bedroom after unzipping her dress?”
She smiled. “I’m honestly normally not like this.”
“And I swore I wouldn’t get involved with anyone, and yet, I’m thinking I’m going to want more than this one night.” He took her mouth in a hot, wet kiss. His arms circled around her body, pulling her tight to his chest. “I’m a jealous man.”
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