Free Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Saving Sarah (Kindle Worlds Novella) (New Orleans Connection Series Book 7) by Kathy Ivan

While his father loved women, and treated them with respect, he'd never seen him react to anybody the way he was Sarah, treating her like she was royalty.
    The house where he'd grown up was a sprawling ranch which faced the edge of the lake.  The yard overlooked the waterfront and was covered with an abundance of green grass and tall oaks.  Spanish moss decorated the branches, resembling melting candle wax dripping from their huge branches.  A large wraparound porch circled the entire front of the house, with a porch swing where he remembered his mama spending time curled up amongst the cushions, and staring out over the water.  Several white-painted rockers were scattered on either side of the front door. 
    When he'd been a kid, he'd thought the place was huge, especially after seeing some of the houses his friends lived in.  Nowadays he saw it for what it was, two thousand square feet of brick, concrete, and wood, with four bedrooms and two bathrooms.  A little tired and worn around the edges, yet even though he no longer lived there, it was and probably always would be—home.   
    Settling into the kitchen, Gator poured iced tea into glasses and passed them around.  A tray of cookies sat beside the tea pitcher.  Ranger recognized them immediately.  They were his daddy's special visitors-are-coming-over cookies, the ones that had to be ordered from the local bakery ahead of time.
    He narrowed his eyes at his daddy, shooting him a glare, which Gator ignored, focusing all his attention and charm on Sarah.  One day he'd figure out how his daddy always knew when folks were coming.  Today, he'd just enjoy the cookies and conversation.  Because Gator wouldn't tell them a damned thing until he was good and ready. 
    "Mr. Boudreau—Gator," Sarah hastily corrected when he frowned, "I don't mean to sound abrupt, but have you heard anything—about my sister?" 
    Gator leaned back in his chair, arms crossed across his chest in a comfortable posture and sighed, shaking his head.  "There's rumbling on the streets.  Ain't got nothing concrete, but I'll tell you what I'm hearing."
    "Please, anything you can tell me—us—will help." 
    Ranger reached across and wrapped his hand around hers, squeezing softly.  He didn't give a damn at the look his daddy shot him, what he did care about was the anxious tone in Sarah's voice.  The way her hand trembled slightly beneath his.  He smiled when she reversed its position and she twined her fingers with his.  That was more like it. 
    Gator started to chuckle, but quickly masked it with a cough.  Ranger wasn't fooled by his father's antics.  He knew exactly what the old goat was up to.  He was playing matchmaker.  A couple of years back, he'd gotten it into his head that he wasn't getting any younger, and it was time to see some grandbabies running around his place, and he'd been trying to match up all his sons ever since.  At the time, he'd been deployed and out of Gator's range.  Now that he was back in New Orleans, apparently his daddy thought he was fair game. 
    Not that he could complain too much—since his thoughts were running along the same lines.  When everything was said and done, and the smoke had cleared, he intended to make Sarah his in every way possible, including legally.  She just didn't know it yet.  PTSD notwithstanding, or the fact he wasn't good enough for her—nobody was going to keep them apart— not even me . 
    "Mind letting me see the picture of Anna?" 
    Ranger pulled out his phone and pulled up the photo, feeling that spark he felt when he saw her face.  He'd dreamed about her again.  The good news was in this dream she was alive, though she wasn't in great shape.  Her face and arms were covered with bruises, and she'd had a bloodied lip.  He drew in a deep breath, and handed over the phone. 
    Gator studied the picture closely, silent for several seconds.  Finally, he handed it back.  "She resembles the gal I heard about.  You