A Marine for His Mom (Sugar Falls, Idaho)

by Christy Jeffries

  As her hands coursed along his chest and shoulders, every muscle in his body tensed in anticipation of her exploration. He kissed her again before returning the favor and helping her take off her own top.

  Her breasts were beautiful, sitting up firm and high in her white lace bra. He’d imagined seeing and tasting them since they’d first met. In fact, he wanted to see and taste every bit of her.

  Her hands traced their way to his waist and she dipped her fingers underneath the band before unbuttoning his fly. He felt each hesitant and shaky movement through the thin fabric of his boxer shorts and his own hands froze on the clasp of her bra.

  “If you keep touching me like this,” he said, “I’m not going to be able to slow down.”

  “I don’t think I can stop touching you. When you’re near me, I seem to throw every bit of common sense out the window.”

  He understood the feeling all too well.

  “Are you sure about this?” He could tell she was nervous and he didn’t want her regretting anything afterward.

  “I’ve been waiting a long time to feel like this and there is no way that I could bear it if you stopped now, Cooper.”

  The second he heard his name on her lips, he was lost.

  He had no idea where their clothes went, but within seconds, she was lying naked in the bed, his body stretched out on top of hers. There was nothing between them but hot, smooth skin and a raging determination that quickly moved from a pulsing ache to a desperate need.

  She opened her thighs. She was so slick with desire he practically slipped right into her. He pulled back, and she whimpered in protest. He used his hand to stroke her into temporary satisfaction while he fumbled in the nightstand drawer for the box of condoms he’d bought on his last trip to Boise. He hadn’t been anticipating things moving this quickly between them—hoping, maybe—but a soldier was prepared for anything.

  She was so tight and wet around his finger he almost regretted having to withdraw so that he could roll the contents of the foil packet over himself.

  Once he settled back between her legs, she arched up to receive him. He moved slowly at first, kissing her as their bodies joined and learned each other’s movements. But as she urged her tongue quicker in his mouth, he thrust his hips to match her speed.

  When she cried out, he felt her muscles contract around him, and he poured himself into her—and not just physically. He’d never let go like this before, and he was surprised at how he couldn’t wait to let go again.

  Chapter Eleven

  Just past midnight, after their second round of lovemaking, Maxine collapsed on top of Cooper, her heart pounding, her lips spreading to a slow smile. This time around, they’d gone much slower and had been less frenzied as they’d leisurely explored each other’s bodies.

  Did she seriously just have sex with the man? Twice? She hadn’t lied when she’d said she’d waited a long time to feel the way he’d made her feel. But the more accurate truth was that she’d never experienced that kind of physical sensation and release—even with Bo. As embarrassed as she was about her lack of intimacy, recent or otherwise, Maxine now feared that one night with Cooper had unleashed an uncontrollable passion inside her, and she had no idea how to get her emotions back in check.

  It wasn’t as if she hadn’t thought about a natural progression of dinner leading to lovemaking, but they’d blown right past the set table and straight into the bedroom.

  She buried her head against his neck, fearing she’d see regret in his eyes.

  He ran his fingers up her spine until they rested along the sides of her head.

  She lifted her face, and he kissed her softly, not letting her go.

  “I take back what I said earlier about liking your hair.”

  Her hand flew up to the tousled mess. She’d spent hours trying to tame her curls into place this afternoon and could only imagine the crazy disaster her bird’s nest had become. She attempted to finger comb the mess, but judging from the tangles and fullness, she knew it was no use.

  He captured both of her wrists into one of his, drawing her hands down to his chest. “What I meant was that it looked beautiful before, but now that I’ve seen it like this, I don’t ever want to see it any other way.”

  She shook the blond tresses out of her eyes and leaned back. Sitting on top of Cooper like that, straddling him, she felt like a warrior queen who’d just conquered the world.

  “And if you promise to leave it all loose and wild,” he said, pulling her down and then rolling her over until he was in the power position. “I’ll feed you some cold chicken sautéed with mushrooms and artichokes along with a side of overcooked orzo.”

  “I’ll do whatever you say if it means I get a sexy, virile man to cook for me.”

  “Deal!”

  She playfully smacked his bare rear as he hopped off the bed and walked naked to the kitchen. She’d thought his chest had been incredible but it was nothing compared to the sight of him from behind.

  She could certainly get used to him—to this.

  Stop it, Maxine. One reckless night of passion didn’t mean they were heading straight into the realm of serious relationship. After all, just last week this same man had all but told her he was like a tumbleweed without roots.

  She followed him into the kitchen, intent on trying to act as normal as possible. Or at least as normal as a woman who hadn’t had sex in a while could act after the passion she’d just unleashed in the bedroom.

  They ate a reheated dinner in bed, then fell asleep in each other’s arms. After a third session of lovemaking in the morning, they took a shower together.

  “So, I need to pick my suit up in Boise today,” Cooper said as he pulled on a pair of jeans.

  “Okaaaay.” Where was he going with this?

  “Did you, uh, have to pick up Hunter or anything this morning?”

  “No, I’m not supposed to get him until tonight.”

  “Oh. So you’re free all day?”

  “You know, if you want to ask me something, Cooper, you can just ask it.” She knew what he was trying to suggest, but she didn’t want to seem so eager to spend more time together that she’d invite herself along on his errand.

  He blew out a breath, and then gave her a sheepish smile. “Sorry. It’s a really bad habit I have. My ex-wife once said I was the best investigator she’d ever seen, but that I have the communication skills of a canned ham—great for emergency situations, but sealed up tight with a preserved shelf life that she couldn’t wait around for.”

  Wow. He was finally telling her a little something about himself that she hadn’t been able to pick up from letters or Cessy’s background check. The fact that he was talking about his ex-wife right after they’d spent the night making love didn’t exactly bolster her uncertainty about things progressing so quickly between them. But she’d opened up to him about Bo, and besides, when would she get another shot at learning more about him?

  “So is that why you guys got a divorce?” Maxine slipped her clothes from last night back on, trying to make the question sound as neutral as possible in the hopes that Cooper would keep talking.

  “That might be the main reason, but really Lindsay and I were never suited for each other in the first place and we lasted only a couple of months before she set her sights on marrying up to the next rank. Last I heard, she was married to a chief warrant officer and now has a couple of kids. Which worked out better for both of us.”

  Cooper shook his head, pulling on a pair of jeans. “I’ve always been a loner, which is why I think Gregson paired me up with Hunter as pen pals. When I was twelve, my mom died of a heart attack probably caused by working too many jobs and dealing with too much stress. The day after the funeral, my stepdad decided he didn’t want the responsibility that came along with raising a kid so he turned me over t
o the authorities. I bounced around in the foster care system until I joined the Corps when I was eighteen. You can say I’m preprogrammed to keep my mouth shut and my emotions to myself.

  “Anyway, I guess I should have just come out and asked if you wanted to drive down to Boise with me.” He grabbed a T-shirt out of the rustic maple dresser and pulled it on over his head as if he was sliding his emotional armor back into place.

  She took the hint, knowing that he was effectively shutting down the conversation, just as he had last week when they’d been talking about plants and putting down roots in Sugar Falls. She wanted to respect his boundaries and not push for more information. Nor did she want to say the wrong thing and make him think she was patronizing him with sympathy or pity. A man like him wouldn’t respond well to either. So she simply smiled and said, “I’d love to go to Boise. Thanks for asking.”

  They reverted back to the more comfortable informal banter as they finished getting ready—neither one mentioning the obvious shift in their relationship.

  She had yet to ride in the beat-up yellow Jeep, but knew her car would be more suitable for a road trip to the city. He agreed, then grabbed her keys, insisting on driving, and opened the passenger door for her.

  “I see the time you spent in the kitchen last night didn’t diminish your need to reassume your preferred male-dominated role.” She arched a brow, then slid into the car.

  “And I see the time you spent begging me for more didn’t diminish your need to get off your girl-power kick.” He bent and placed a kiss directly on her mouth, effectively cutting off the argument on the tip of her tongue.

  As he navigated the road down the mountain, she relaxed and allowed herself to bask in the way it felt to have a man take care of her for a change. She definitely didn’t need Cooper around, but after years of doing for herself and Hunter, it certainly was an added bonus. Plus, she liked being with him.

  It was almost noon by the time they arrived in Boise. She was surprised when he drove past the Towne Square Mall, where Cessy recommended he shop, and instead drove toward the more eclectic shops downtown.

  “I’m starved,” he said. “You want to grab a little lunch before you help me update my wardrobe?”

  “I might need more sustenance than that if we’re talking about a complete update.”

  “Are you saying you don’t like my clothes?” He looked down in disbelief at his olive colored T-shirt, and she almost grabbed the steering wheel to keep him from veering toward a one-way street.

  “I’m just saying your closet could stand to have something other than jeans and old green shirts that should’ve been put out to pasture back when you were a corporal.”

  “Says the woman who wears a daily uniform of sexy denim and white.”

  “I like white. It’s my signature color.”

  “It makes you look like an angel.” He put his hand on her thigh as they stopped at a busy intersection. “A fallen angel.”

  She shoved him playfully before pulling him right back toward her for another kiss. She enjoyed the way they’d been teasing each other today and wondered if she would have appreciated his sense of humor all along if she hadn’t been ready to jump down his throat at every comment he’d made.

  They had lunch at a sidewalk café, and she took him to her favorite Western store, talking him into some new footwear.

  “You sure I won’t look like a tool trying to fit in as a country boy?” he asked as he eyed the handcrafted leather cowboy boots he’d just tried on.

  “Positive.”

  “They’re actually pretty comfortable. I’ll make you a deal. I’ll buy the boots, but you have to let me get Hunter that tent and sleeping bag he wants.”

  “Is that your way of talking me into letting my son go camping with you?” Geez, the man had a way of phrasing questions that always left her second-guessing what he meant. Why couldn’t he just come out and make his intentions known? It was almost as if he didn’t want to risk her saying no. Which made sense now that she knew about his childhood. But she thought they’d been moving past that stage.

  “If you don’t want us to leave you out, you can come along, too.” He smiled in invitation, and her tummy flipped at the implication of them doing anything together like a family.

  “Hunter can go, but I’m a maybe. It’ll depend on whether Jake Marconi goes and I’d have to risk having fish guts flying around. Either way, I don’t want you to buy Hunter any camping gear. You don’t have a job yet, and I’m not sure what your budget’s like...”

  “I may not be living in the Cessy Walker lap of luxury,” he replied. “But I’ve never been a big spender and I have a pretty good nest egg saved up. So I can afford anything I need.”

  And then, to prove it, he bought the boots, as well as something from each store they visited. He spent way more than even Cessy would have, had she been with them, and Maxine had to wonder where the man would put all his purchases if he decided not to stay in Sugar Falls.

  All week long she’d forbidden herself from thinking about whether or not he would be leaving. Now, after last night, she didn’t think she’d be able to stand it if he did.

  She was helping him pick out a tie to match his new suit when she finally figured out a way to bring up the dreaded conversation about the chief of police job.

  “You know, you probably have that interview wrapped up and in the bag,” she said. “You probably could forgo the whole suit-and-tie thing.”

  “That’s what everyone at the Cowgirl Up keeps telling me. But I still want to look my best. I don’t do anything half-assed.”

  “So, if you took the job, when would you start?”

  He shrugged. “Probably midsummer. Usually, there are exemptions and reciprocity agreements for military police transitioning into civilian law enforcement. So if I get hired, I’d still have to attend an abbreviated police academy. But it would just be a short, supplemental-type course to get me up-to-date on laws specific to Idaho.”

  Wow. He’d already done the research, so it sounded as though he was seriously considering the job. She thought of re-creating more nights like the one they’d just spent together, and she locked her knees together to keep from doing a little happy dance right there in the men’s accessories aisle.

  He held up a camouflage-colored tie, and she shook her head, unable to wipe the growing grin off her face.

  “How about something in a soft pink or pale yellow?” she suggested.

  “No way.” He wouldn’t even look at the two options she’d pointed to. “Those are girl colors.”

  “Speaking of girl things, I heard there’ve been a few women who applied for positions with the new Sugar Falls PD, but that whoever they pick as chief would have control over who gets hired.”

  “Yep, that’s what the mayor told me.”

  “Would you be opposed to working with women if that’s who applied for the officer jobs?”

  He turned toward her and set down some of his shopping bags before pulling her in for a soft kiss. “I know you think that I’m stuck in the Stone Age about some things, but not about women. I’ve been in combat with females who are tougher than most of the guys in their unit. I’ve been on the range with some who could outshoot me. And I’ve been in interview rooms with female officers who had a criminal giving a full confession while everyone else was standing there scratching their heads.”

  “That’s good to hear.”

  “Why? Are you thinking of a career change to law enforcement?”

  She scooted closer to him, breathing in the smell of his shower gel and remembering all the exact spots he’d rubbed it this morning. Geez, she was a sucker for his dimples.

  “Nope. I just wanted to know if I’d be evenly matched if I had to put one of your lady cops on notice for flirting with her new boss.”

  “Jeal
ous?”

  “Let’s just say that I don’t like to share.”

  “Well, then let me assure you,” he said, kissing her lightly. “Not only am I more than professional and above reproach when it comes to my work, but I also don’t like to be shared.”

  She kissed him back, wondering if they’d just committed themselves to something. But apparently, neither one of them was the type to just come right out and say it.

  Someone coughed discreetly. “Excuse me.”

  Cooper pulled back and glared at the shorter salesman who’d dared to interrupt them.

  The man tugged at his cuff links, averting his gaze as if the last thing he wanted to do was help some couple who were getting hot and heavy in his sophisticated store. “Can I help you two find something?”

  “Yeah, a room,” Cooper whispered in her ear, as they turned toward the disapproving sales associate. He kept his hand firmly on her hip, as if he would only concede so much. “I was in here last week and bought a suit,” he told the man. “The alterations are supposed to be finished, but I need to get a shirt and tie to go with it.”

  “Very good, sir. Did you have an idea as far as color goes?”

  “Not green,” Maxine said. She was rewarded with a playful pinch that she doubted the snooty clerk would’ve approved of.

  “The suit is dark gray,” Cooper said, reverting to his military-like formality. “So something to go with that.”

  “What’s the occasion? Are you looking for something festive or something professional?”

  “Professional. It’s for a couple of job interviews.”

  A couple? Maxine’s gaze shot to the man who’d all but confirmed that he didn’t want any other woman but her, yet Cooper was already following Mr. Snoot.

  Her boots clicked quickly on the marble floor until she caught up with them.

  “Did you have more than one interview lined up?” she asked, trying to pretend as though she was more interested in the yellow paisley silk tie than the answer that could change her—and her son’s—whole life.