LITMIR.BIZ

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reached up and covered his hands with her own. “Jeff, I’m sorry about Kevin. He’s just—”

      He grinned down at her. With her right here beside him, he couldn’t have cared less about a handful of brothers with bad attitudes.

      “Kevin who?” he asked, and bent his head to claim the kiss he’d waited so long for. She leaned into him, lifting up onto her toes to meet that kiss and do a little taking of her own.

      Softly at first, as if reminding himself of the taste of her, Jeff quickly gave into the thrumming need inside him and deepened the kiss. He parted her lips with his tongue and explored her mouth as his hands moved up and down her spine, pulling her harder, closer against him.

      Kelly clung to him, and gave herself up to the wonder of having him back home. Alive. Safe. The magic of his touch shimmered throughout her body, and she told herself that she hadn’t imagined it. It had been so long, she’d almost convinced herself that what she’d felt in Jeff’s arms couldn’t possibly have been real. Yet here he was, and once again her body was on fire and burning from the inside out.

      The shriek of a child’s laughter finally shattered the spell, though, and Kelly reluctantly pulled free of his arms. After all, what with the fight and now this kiss, they’d given her neighbors enough of a show for today.

      Besides, there were still a few things that had to be said.

      “Jeff …”

      “Yeah?” His hand slipped from her cheek to her neck, and his thumb rested on the pulse point at the base of her throat.

      “Come on in the house,” she said, and reached up to take his hand in hers.

      He laughed shortly. “With that bunch? Am I allowed to fight back?”

      She grinned at him. “Don’t worry about them.

      I’ve been dealing with them for years. Their barks are worse than their bites.”

      Jeff rubbed his jaw. “Honey, if that’s his bark, I don’t want to see his bite.”

      “Hey,” she countered, “are you saying a Recon Marine isn’t tough enough to handle three civilians and a Gunnery Sergeant?”

      “If that’s a challenge, honey,” he said in a low growl, “consider it taken.”

      Three

      The inside of the house was just as he remembered it. He’d always thought it looked a bit like a child’s playhouse might. The rooms were small, cozy. Fresh flowers dotted every table, and brightly colored pillows were stacked on all of the chairs. It was cool, welcoming, with the faint scent of lavender flavoring the still air. Pale blue walls gave the impression of a soft summer day, and the overstuffed furniture invited people to settle in and stay for a while. And there was nothing he would’ve liked more.

      However, the four huge brothers glowering at him from across the room took the edge off his homecoming.

      He had no idea what he’d done to deserve all the hostility, but he was damned if he’d back off. Jeff’s spine stiffened and he lifted his already bruised chin. His body still humming from that kiss, he was prepared to face down whomever he had to to get Kelly to himself.

      Unconsciously, he mirrored the brothers’ stance. Arms crossed, legs braced wide apart and a defiant glint in his eyes. One at a time or all four at once … Jeff was ready for them.

      “Kelly,” Kevin said, “I think we should—”

      Jeff’s gaze shifted to Kevin and he felt a brief spurt of satisfaction at the other man’s split lip and already blackening eye. On the couch in front of him was a Smokey Bear hat, and Jeff knew that Kelly’s older brother was a drill instructor. He should have guessed when he heard the man talk earlier. His voice was rough from too much shouting, and he was talking to his sister as if he were giving orders to a boot recruit.

      And from what Jeff remembered of Kelly’s temperament, her reaction should be worth watching.

      He was right.

      “Kevin,” Kelly spoke up, interrupting him, “I think you’ve done enough for one day.”

      “Hey, this wasn’t Kevin’s fault,” one of the triplets said.

      “Really?” she asked, turning on him like a snake. “Who punched whom?”

      The big guy actually backed up a step, and Jeff hid a smile. Man, it was good to watch her in action. For such a small thing, she had enough fire in her for three women. And seeing her set loose that temper on her overbearing brothers was damn entertaining.

      However, he wasn’t going to stand there and keep quiet while she defended him against her own family.

      “Whatever your problem is with me,” he said, staring straight into Kevin’s flat gaze, “I’d be happy to settle it with you.”

      The other man tensed. “Anytime, Gunnery Sergeant.”

      “Fine,” Jeff muttered, already gearing up to finish what had been started outside. “Let’s go.”

      “Nobody’s going anywhere,” Kelly snapped, looking from Jeff to her oldest brother.

      “Kelly,” Kevin spoke up again in that drill instructor growl of his. “We’ve been waiting to talk to him for a long time.” “So have I,” she retorted. “Well, I’m standing right here,” Jeff said, looking from Kevin to Kelly and back again. They were all so busy talking around him and about him, no one was talking to him, and a tiny thread of warning unraveled inside him. Something was definitely up, and he wanted to know just what it was. “How about somebody tells me what’s going on around here?”

      Kelly turned toward him, and for the first time he noticed a slight tension etched into her features. She looked worried. But about what?

      Kevin opened his mouth again, but Kelly gave him a look that could have toasted a lesser man and he scowled, but kept quiet.

      “This isn’t going at all how I planned it,” she said, turning back to Jeff, her wide eyes focused on him as if he were the only man there. “I want you to know that. I tried to get rid of them earlier, but they just wouldn’t move.”

      Jeff ignored the brothers, which wasn’t easy since they took up so much space in the small room. But if she could do it, he sure as hell could. Keeping his gaze locked on her, he said simply, “Forget them, Kelly. Just talk to me.”

      She inhaled sharply and blew the air out in a rush, ruffling the loose curls on her forehead. How many times had he thought of that little gesture of hers? How many nights had he dreamed of being right here … in this house … with her? Well, here he was, but so far the reality was nothing like his imagination.

      “You’re right,” she said, nodding. “This is between you and me, no matter what they think.” She gave her brothers a warning look, then stepped forward, took Jeff’s hand and led him into the hall toward the two tiny bedrooms.

      He felt the combined gazes of those brothers boring a hole into his back, but he did his best to ignore it. The last time he’d walked down this hall, he remembered, Kelly had been in his arms, nestled against his chest. If he tried, he could almost feel the beat of her heart against his again. Enjoying the memory, he let it unfold, recalling how he’d carried her into her bedroom, laid her down atop the bed and then fell into her welcoming arms.

      It had been their last night together. A night that had lasted until morning. A night that had been burned into his brain with such clarity that even now, with her brothers hot on his heels, he felt a rush of desire so strong it nearly swamped him. But, he reminded himself, that was then and this was now.

      A tinkle of music drifted toward him, along with a scent that he really didn’t recognize. It was soft and pleasant and faintly familiar, though he couldn’t place it. Behind him, he heard the heavy footsteps of the four men who were following after them and Jeff wished again

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