Free nb1 by Lora Leigh

laugh at some of the pranks he and his buddies had played on their CO or other soldiers. She saw the beauty of the sun rising over a desert landscape, the calm tranquility of the moon rising with his deep voice and reverent descriptions.
    But he had missed home. She heard that in every word. How beautiful the moon glistening off the sand could be, but it didn’t compare to the early morning fog that rose from the lake or the moon slicing a path of golden light across the wet surface.
    How he would miss the guys he’d fought with, but he dreamed of slipping off into the mountains and making the homemade moonshine he, Natches and Dawg often made.
    The silence of the desert, the symphony of the forest. He saw the beauty of the land he’d been in, but he knew the treasures to be found in the land he’d grown up in.
    “What about women?” She finally got around to the question that plagued her most as he stacked the dishes in the tiny dishwasher and turned back to where she watched him from the table.
    -63-

    Lora Leigh
    She propped her elbow on the table, cupping her chin in her hands as she watched him curiously.
    “I wasn’t a saint, baby.” His lips quirked with that sexy little half-smile that was trademark Rowdy. “But there was nothing serious. Hasn’t been anyone in a while, actually. What about you?”
    He was leaning against the counter, his muscular body relaxed. Well, mostly relaxed. He was hard. She could glimpse the bulge in the front of his jeans from the lower portion of her vision and was dying for a full look.
    “No one for me,” she finally answered with a self-mocking grimace. “I couldn’t get over you. You left and broke my young heart.”
    “Better your young heart than my neck.” He grunted. “I was twenty-two years old, Kelly. I should have been shot for even looking at you then.” His eyelids lowered. “But it was damned hard not to look. You filled out a pair of shorts almost as good as you fill them out now.”
    She felt the flush that rose over her face, her gaze flickering away from him for long moments as she breathed in deeply.
    “You know, those loose clothes are going to have to go,” he finally sighed. “One of my favorite parts of coming home was watching you run around in those snug little shorts and tank tops. Made my dick harder than hell, but it was a sight I sure as hell miss, Kelly.”
    Her gaze slammed into his. The green was darker now, his expression heavy with hunger.
    “I…” She swallowed tightly. “I’m more comfortable…”
    “Bullshit.” The whispered retort was delivered with a knowing smile.
    “You’re scared. I’m home now, Kelly. Trust me.”
    He had promised her, so long ago, as long as he was around, no one would hurt her. It was the bully, she remembered. She was terrified of staying in the park after school while her mother worked, after the
    -64-

    NAUTI BUOY
    bullies had started picking on her. Unless Rowdy was there. He had taken care of her. And sometimes one of the others. If Rowdy couldn’t be there, Dawg or Natches had been.
    “Remember when I promised I’d always take care of you?” he whispered. “You were the littlest bit of thing I had ever laid my young eyes on. Those tears on your face when those bullies stole that frippery in your hair made me madder than hell.”
    “You saved my hair bows.” She restrained her teasing smile. “And saved Mom a ton of extra money. I loved my hair bows.”
    “You still love your hair bows.” He grinned. “I saw them scattered all over your bathroom last night when I got up for a drink. Damned things own your sink counter.”
    She lifted her brows. “They’re pretty though.”
    He pushed from the counter, moving with a predatory ease, a shift of bone, muscle and sinew that had her breath catching in her throat as he walked to the table.
    “No.” He reached out, the backs of his fingers smoothing over the side of her face. “You’re pretty. Too damned pretty for those loose