by Lori Foster
Molly jerked fully awake at Gator’s squawks. Was Wade back already?
“Bastard. Bastard.”
Frowning, Molly slipped out of bed. Gator never repeated himself like that. His voice sounded panicked, almost as it had on the night she’d been attacked in the parking lot and had dropped his cage.
“Bastard.”
This time, Molly understood.
Gator was warning her.
Someone was in the house with them, and she was pretty sure it wasn’t Wade.
Wade went straight from the market to Molly’s clinic. However, Danny McKinney wasn’t on duty, so he tried calling Molly. She didn’t pick up. Considering where he’d left her, that had his panic spiking. It escalated out of control when he pulled into her driveway and saw the bicycle discarded on the sidewalk in front of her house.
As he got out of his car, his heart thundered with fear. In the house, the lights were still off. One high-pitched scream after another blasted through the windows. Wade pulled out his gun and ran to the front door. Simultaneously, he radioed into the station and called for backup.
When he got inside, he could hear crashes and thumps coming from the bedroom. Gator’s cage was empty. When Wade barreled into the bedroom, Gator was attacking a man lying prone on the floor. The screams he’d heard were not only the bird’s and Molly’s, but the intruder’s.
Gator bit the man’s face even as his body bounced and shook on the floor. A naked Molly stood over the man, her face filled with both horror and determination. In her hand, she held a Taser and the prongs were still embedded in the body of Danny McKinney, the guard from the medical clinic and the man who’d dared to threaten her in her own home.
“Holy shit, Molly. Are you okay?”
Her eyes were slightly dazed as she stared at him. She nodded. “I got your rose,” she said weakly.
Several weeks later, Molly woke to a game of hide-and-seek.
Only, she wasn’t the one hiding or seeking.
“Where’s Gator? Where’d Gator go?”
Wade’s crooning voice drifted into Molly’s bedroom from the living room. Three seconds later, she smiled when she heard the flap of Gator’s wings and his squawking reply, “Here I am!”
It had taken less than three days for Wade to teach Gator that one. The two had become fast friends. And she and Wade…
Stretching, she rolled over and buried her face in a pillow—Wade’s pillow—and inhaled his wonderful scent. It was just one of the things she loved about having him stay with her. Of course, she also loved his kindness and affection, his playfulness with Gator, his strength and intelligence, his devotion to his family, and the way he pleasured her and completely relished the pleasure she gave him in return. In short, she’d fallen in love with him. The whole package. And for a second, that scared her.
In such a short time, he’d come to mean so much to her. Granted, the first few days of their acquaintance had been intense, even after Danny McKinney had been arrested and locked up. Apparently he’d recently broken up with his girlfriend and his only consolation had been fantasies about Molly. He’d sworn he’d had no intention of hurting Molly, that he’d just wanted her to talk to him and give him a chance, but Molly and Wade had both known that, despite his lies or delusions, he would have done far worse than punch her in the face if he’d been given the chance. Of course, thanks to the three of them—Gator, Molly and Wade—Danny was in jail and finally getting some psychiatric help even as he dealt with the legal ramifications of his actions.
Wade walked into the bedroom. He was bare chested, with soft gray pants hanging low on his waist and Gator propped on his arm. “Hey. You’re awake,” he said with a smile. “Perfect.”
She sat up and tugged the sheets up around her. “Perfect for what?” she said.
“Perfect for me. I’ve been missing you.”
She cocked a teasing brow. “Really? Sounded like you and Gator were doing just fine without me.”
“Surviving without you,” he corrected. “Isn’t that right, Gator?” he crooned.
Squawk. “Say hello to my little friend,” Gator called.
Molly laughed with delight. “You taught him to say the whole thing.”
“It just took a few more viewings before he got it right. I have a few other movies in mind for him, too. Do you mind? Me teaching him new tricks?”
Her eyes narrowed. “What other new tricks have you taught him?”
Wade shrugged, then pursed his lips and made kissing sounds. Gator immediately placed his beak against Wade’s cheek. “Thanks, little guy,” he said. “Now, it’s time for the adults to have some private time.”
“Hmm. And what’s this private time for?” she called as he walked Gator into the other room.
When he came back, he shut the door behind him.
His serious expression wiped the smile off her face. “Wade. What’s wrong?”
“Shhh. Nothing’s wrong, darlin’. In fact, everything’s great. I told Grandpa Paul we’d stop by for brunch today. Does that sound good to you?”
“Of course. I love your grandfather and I’m so glad he’s doing better. No relapses, right?”
“No relapses. And he loves you, too. You and Gator. Why, he told me flat out I’d be a fool to ever let you go.”
She swallowed loudly. “And what do you think?” she whispered.
“I think my granddad’s just about one of the smartest men I know.”
She wondered if her face reflected the sheer happiness she was feeling. “Just one of the smartest?”
“Yup.” He sat beside her on the bed and cradled her cheek in his palm.
She closed her eyes, relishing his touch. “And who’s the smartest?”
“Why, the man who got you this, of course.” He shifted even as her eyes sprang open.
Slowly, he brought his hand out from behind his back. In it, he clasped a small ring box. He opened it up, revealing a simple but gorgeous diamond engagement ring. Molly’s breath caught and all she could think was Am I dreaming?
But Wade took her hand, knelt beside the bed and said, “Molly Peterson, I know we’ve only known each other a short time, but I can’t think of any woman, let alone any yank, I’ll ever love more. Nor one I’ll ever want to spend the rest of my life with. Will you marry me?”
Molly gazed at him. She thought about her parents’ marriage. Her own bad luck with men. The differences in their background and social status. How people would think she was insane for rushing into marriage when she and Wade hadn’t known each other long at all. But she knew everything about him that mattered. He wasn’t perfect, but he was good. He loved fiercely and loyally. He had honor and humor and, despite coming from money, he worked hard and tried to help those less fortunate than him. He’d even understood her desire to visit Danny McKinney and get him some private help.
That told her a lot.
It told her she wasn’t dreaming.
It told her Wade was her dream come true.
After she’d said yes and after he’d placed the ring on her finger and after he’d wiped her tears and his own away and started to make love to her, she dimly heard Gator from the other room.
“Make my day,” he called. Squawk. “Make my day.”
He already has, Molly thought. And together they’d make every other day count, too.
VIRNA DEPAUL was an English major in college and, despite a passion for Shakespeare, Broadway musicals, and romance novels, somehow ended up with a law degree. For ten years, she was a criminal prosecutor for the state of CA. Now, she’s thrilled to be writing stories about complex individuals (fully human or not) who are willing to overcome incredible odds for love.
A national bestselling author, Virna’s blessed to write for Harlequin HQN and Harlequin Romantic Suspense. Virna also writes paranormal romantic suspense, including her Para-Ops series. All of her books encourage individuals to “brave the darkness and discover the light.” She loves to hear from readers at www.virnadepaul.com.
Look for the first in Virna’s Special Investigations Group series, Shades of Desire, available now from Harlequin HQN!
Dog Tags
By Catherine Mann
To the selfless heroes and heroines who work at the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Thank you for your tireless work to help the neglected, abandoned and abused animals that come into your care. It’s an honor to know each and every one of you.
Chapter One
Tech Sergeant Brody Ward unlatched the gate to the white picket fence, more than ready to see his girl. After a twelve-month deployment to Kuwait, he’d been away from Penny for far too long.
But he knew without question she would be waiting for him.
The Florida sun hammered down on his head, his flight suit sticking to his back. A loadmaster on an AC-130, he hadn’t even bothered to change out of his uniform after they’d landed at Hurlburt Field. He’d sped through in-processing and driven his old truck straight across Fort Walton Beach until he’d arrived at the waterside duplex.
And then he saw her. Sitting on the front porch of the yellow stucco cottage. Waiting for him.
“Penny,” he called out, his heart already squeezing tight.
In a flash, she raced down the stone walkway. Long hair streaked behind her.
Kneeling, he held out his arms.
His Border collie loped faster, barking, and barking some more. Penny. Named for the copper streaks in her white fur that rippled as she ran to him.
Finally, a sense of coming home hit him as hard as his fifty-pound dog slamming full-on against his chest.
“How’s my girl?” He buried his face in the soft fur along her neck. “Did you miss me? Because I sure missed you like crazy.”
Penny’s barking shifted to more of a whimper talk that seemed to say, I missed you like crazy, too. Where have you been? Skype sucks because I can’t sniff you or lick your face.
Although she was more than making up for that now.
Laughing, Brody wiped the dog slobber off his chin onto her fur. Thank God she was okay and healthy. Most important, she was back with him. This deployment had almost cost him Penny forever. He swallowed hard and scratched her ears.
When he’d flown out a year ago, he’d thought Penny was safe and cared for with his dad and his stepmom. He’d left plenty of money in an account to pay for dog food and any possible vet visits. He’d been sad to leave his pet, but his stepmom had assured him they would look after Penny.
He should have known better than to trust his old man.
A month into the deployment, an emergency message had come through from county animal control. Penny had been picked up as a stray, thin and matted, her coat full of sandspurs. His dog’s microchip had enabled the shelter to contact Brody.
Straightening out the mess from across the globe via sketchy cell phone calls and email had been tough as hell, but he’d refused to give up. His dad had insisted Penny was too much trouble and refused to spring her from the shelter. Animal control made it clear his father had been doing a crappy job caring for Penny anyway, and they were considering cruelty charges for neglect. His dad had never been the most dependable, but his father’s new wife had seemed trustworthy.
Fury had been futile. In his limited time for calls, he had to focus on securing a safe place for his dog to stay for the remaining eleven months of the deployment. There wasn’t any other family to call, since his mother lived in a no-pets apartment across the country. He’d broken up with his girlfriend two months before flying out. All his friends were deployed to Kuwait with him.
He’d been at his wits’ end, calling dog-sitting businesses, willing to hock his truck if he’d needed to, since his dad had already spent all the cash.
Then the shelter had mentioned a possibility.
They had a handful of volunteers willing to foster long term for deployed service members. The list filled up fast. But they’d given him a name to try—Leah Russell.
His own personal godsend.
She’d come highly recommended, ran her own gourmet dog food bakery. She’d agreed and had taken in his dog for eleven months. He owed Leah Russell a debt he could never repay. She’d cared for Penny, sending him photos and video updates. She’d even set up Skype sessions so Penny could see his face and hear his voice.
Then he’d heard Leah’s husky voice. Seen her beautiful face. And wow. Just wow.
Today, he would meet her in the flesh for the first time.
Brody looked up from Penny to the duplex, searching for Leah. Was she somewhere across the simply manicured lawn? Standing in a window? Hanging out on the porch?
The creak of a chain caught his attention and he realized she sat on the porch swing. At least he thought it was her. Late-afternoon shadows grew longer, which accounted for why he hadn’t seen her right away.
Standing, he took a step toward her. “Leah?”
“Welcome back, Brody. You’re early.” She sounded like Marilyn Monroe with a southern accent, even sultrier without the filter of computer technology. “I didn’t expect you for another half hour.”
“Is it okay that I’m here now?” He hadn’t been able to wait to see Penny.
To see Leah. In person, rather than in computer HD.
Intellectually, he knew he was just some cause to her. Support our troops. A part of the patriotic wave to lift a warrior’s spirits. So he’d tried not to make too much of her emails and care packages. Still, he’d found himself anticipating those Skype sessions more and more.
Could the connection he’d felt have been his hyped-up imagination, spurred by battle fatigue and the need to connect with home? His feet grew roots on the flagstone walkway. Leah stayed in the shadows, the swing creaking.
“Of course it’s okay that you’re here now.” Her voice carried on the salty breeze rustling the palm trees. “Penny has been watching for you every day.”
Moving forward, Brody walked the last few feet to the house, his hand still resting on Penny’s head. His eyes adjusted to the shaded dimness of the porch, to the sunset and shadows. Leah’s caramel-blond hair shone as she swung into and out of the light.
At the top of the four steps, he finally saw her clearly. And more than wow. The reality of having her close took his breath away.
She wore jeans and layered tank tops that hugged her curves. Her long, lean legs were tucked to the side. She had the sort of soft, pale beauty that made a man go all protective, especially when he already had twelve months of battle mind-set testosterone pumping through his veins.
He locked in on the deep blue of her eyes, noticing the flecks of green that hadn’t been evident online. “I can’t thank you enough for taking such great care of Penny.”
She waved away his words with a slim hand. “Brody, anything I did is minor in comparison to your sacrifice this past year. I’m just happy to help in my own small way.”
“You made my time away less stressful, and as far as I’m concerned, that’s no small thing.”
“Penny’s such a good girl, it was easy. I even took her with me to work.”
Leah’s tank top bore the logo for the Three Pups and a Pony pet-food shop stamped across it—across her breasts. His mouth damn near watered.
What was she saying just now?
Oh, right. Something about his dog, who was currently plastered against his leg.
“You’re joking about taking her to work with you, right?” Brody dropped into the wicker chair near the swing, stroking Penny’s neck. “I know she’s a great dog—the best—but ‘easy to handle’ isn’t a phrase I would use.”
Although his dog was sure behaving right now.
“She just needs to be worn out and kept busy.” Long feather earrings played peekaboo in Leah’s shoulder-length hair. “She’s a working breed.”
“You understand dogs.”
Her plump lips curved into a smile. “Penny’s not my first foster for the shelter. And I gain insights from clients at the shop.”
She smiled, her cheekbones as high as any model’s.
“Then too, I have my own dog.”
“Monty. Your golden retriever.” Monty had made his fair share of appearances in the photos and on Skype. “Where is he?”
“In the house.” As if on cue, paws thudded on the window behind her. A long, golden nose pressed against the pane. “I was just spending a little alone time with Penny before I have to say goodbye to her.”
Goodbye? Whoa. Wait.
“Who says this has to be goodbye? I know this started out as you just helping another deployed service member. But you and I spent a lot of time getting to know each other over the past eleven months. Talking, laughing, hanging out. That doesn’t have to stop just because I’m back in the States.”
Friends, right? He was going with that. For now.
Which meant there was nothing wrong with a friendly invitation to supper, even though his body’s reaction to the sight of her was more than a “just friends” kind of thing.
He held those thoughts in check, though. Because, damn it all, he wasn’t just some horny guy looking for any woman once the landing gear touched down on U.S. soil. This was Leah—and she truly was a friend. They’d spent eleven months talking about everything from family dramas to favorite college sports teams—FSU for her, LSU for him. Music—country for both of them. Their common love of animals.
Their favorite meals—seafood.
“Leah, I’d like to take you to supper, to thank you for saving my ass. For saving Penny. Or we could go for a day on the beach, Jet Skis and skimboarding. You name it.”
If not for Leah, Penny could very well have ended up being euthanized due to shelter overcrowding.
More green flecks shone in Leah’s blue eyes. “You sent money every month for Penny’s care and vet visits. You don’t owe me a thing.”
He’d wanted to send more, but his dad’s stunt had cost him, big-time. “There’s no way to repay what you’ve done for me. But I would like to try.”
“Okay, then.” She looked away, picking along the side seam on her jeans leg, fidgeting.
“Maybe sometime we can go out to eat.”