Free Her Sexy Marine Valentine by Candace Havens Page A

could I ever say no to that?” Maybe that would get her off Brody’s back. Poor guy. No wonder he’d panicked when he met her while shopping.
    Brody helped set up a play and they scored a point. He turned to look at her and she remembered to blow him a kiss. He pretended to catch it.
    Cheesy. Yes. But it didn’t keep the flutters from taking flight low in her belly.
    That’s dangerous .
    I’m acting . Yep. Right.
    And now she was talking to herself.
    Speaking of bodies, that man’s abs were outstanding. The last several mornings, as she’d been getting her morning coffee, she’d hear dogs barking in the neighborhood. The barking usually meant Brody was coming back from one of his twice-daily runs. She’d accidentally find herself at the front window watching his glistening body as he came up the street.
    And he had to do weights to have all of those rippling muscles. What would it feel like to run her hands down—
    â€œWhoa,” the crowd around the game roared. Brody was in midspike. The other team didn’t have a chance. The CO high-fived him. He glanced at her again and opened his hands as if to say “where’s my kiss?” She smiled and blew him another one.
    How he looked at her sent her body into a full-on heated flush. A potent combination of adrenaline and arousal sped through her veins. It had been a really long time since she’d had sex. Her ex thinking she was terrible in bed was the sort of comment that stuck with a girl. Whereas Brody made her dream about doing naughty things that would feel so good.
    Maybe he could teach her—
    No. Bad idea. First, he was free labor. And if she was really as terrible in bed as her ex said, then it would be all awkward and just plain wrong.
    Probably best to keep Brody as a friend only.
    The crowd roared again and she caught a glimpse of him as he high-fived the CO. Then he turned and winked at her.
    She blew him another kiss.
    He put a hand over his heart and the women around her sighed. Dang. He was getting into this. And so was she.
    The rest of the game went by in a blur, as she imagined rolling around in the sand with Brody. Naked.
    Wrong . So wrong . You can’t think of him like that .
    â€œHey.” Brody pulled her out of her reverie. “We won. And you owe me at least four more kisses.” He glanced around them. “I’ll make you pay up when we get home.”
    â€œThat sounds like a threat.” Her voice was low and raspy. “One I’m perfectly willing to give in on.” And then she smiled at him. “You were kind of awesome out there.”
    â€œIt was all for you, babe. You made this a great day.” When he leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips, someone walked past them and whistled. Brody leaned away and gave her one of his devastating smiles.
    He had the towel from the beach bag and he was wiping the sweat from his arms and stomach.
    Save me . Universe . Please .
    â€œCan you get my back?” He handed her the towel and then turned around. There were scars up and down his spine. Some were round, others were thin and long, as if he’d been cut by something. While the round marks were faded, older perhaps, the slashes were pink and puckered, as if recent.
    What had happened to him? He’d mentioned he didn’t sleep much and there was always that hint of something sad in his eyes. The only time she’d seen it disappear was when he’d been talking to baby Lily.
    She patted him down and then handed him the towel.
    â€œGood game, Lieutenant,” the CO said as he passed by.
    â€œYou, too, sir.” Brody watched the other man with a smile on his face.
    â€œLook at you, big winner. I bet you’re happy,” she said.
    â€œI am. That was fun.”
    She laughed. “Yes, because you guys won.”
    â€œI’m surprised you noticed. You seemed kind of lost in thought while I was out there.”
    â€œI was