Free The Gunny & The Jazz Singer (Birchwood Falls #1) by Jane Leopold Quinn

foot up to set his ankle on the
opposite knee. "Would you mind getting it started right now? The sooner I
get this done the better. I'm only home on leave." He'd show the bastard
he wouldn't be brushed off that easily.
    Wilcox, already standing up,
apparently decided to use that movement and strode to the door to talk to his
secretary. Marc could hear mumbled voices. Was Wilcox really asking for the
file or was it all a show? He figured he'd find out soon enough. Either he'd
get the file in the next day or so or it would be conveniently lost, like the
police file.
    Whatever. He'd deal with whatever happened. This evening he had more important things to
think about. He gave a silent apology to his parents. He didn't consider them
of lesser importance, and he'd get to the truth soon. But quirking a
self-satisfied smile, he anticipated a very enjoyable evening with Phoebe
Barnes.
    ***
    Early that evening after showering
and shaving, Marc donned black trousers and a light-blue dress shirt. Chuckling
to himself, he decided he liked any color combination except green and tan. He'd
had enough of camouflage and was enjoying civilian clothing during his leave.
Backing his car out of his driveway, he whipped it around to the curb just
across the street.
    "You look beautiful, Phoebe,"
he said when she answered the door. She stunned him, but he wondered what look
she was going for.
    A tight black skirt to just above
the knees looked businesslike, but that definitely didn't describe her top
half. The blouse was sleeveless, all white silk and ruffles, dipping to a deep
V between her breasts. Not businesslike
at all.
    The spit dried up in his mouth as
his cock throbbed and swelled. She wasn't a tall woman, but in this outfit she
looked statuesque and angelic. Angelic with a bit of the devil, with her long
hair pulled back in a simple bouncy ponytail with the bright-pink streak front
and center in her bangs.
    What the hell message was she
sending?

 
    Chapter Nine
    "Why, thank you, sir."
Her smiled faded a little, although he was having the exact reaction she'd
hoped for. She needed to keep the control because she had plans for her future.
Already attracted to Marc, she had to make sure it didn't go too far too fast.
    He gave her an indulgently droll
look. "Don't call me…"
    "Oops." She tipped her
lips in a teasing smile.
    His light eyes surveyed her up and
down, finally focusing on the frothy lace over her breasts. Because of the
nipple ring, she almost always wore something that wasn't formfitting,
especially on a first date. She didn't want a man to get the wrong idea about
her. The piercing didn't mean she was easy. He'd felt it the first night they'd
kissed, and she had no intention of his getting to it again until and unless it
was her choice.
    At her urging, they turned, and she
led the way down her front walk to the street. "Wow," she exclaimed. "That
is one heck of a beautiful car. What is it?"
    He gave a low, throaty laugh.
    She glanced at him. His face lit
up, his expression of pride and love added to his attraction. "Oh my God,
you love it, don't you?" She laughed along with him.
    Then he turned a bit sheepish, his
cheeks flushing. Shrugging, he said, "It's a BMW Z4."
    "It's gorgeous."
    "Thanks. I always wanted a
roadster when I was a kid. A 'Vette would've been good, but then I saw this
baby."
    "You've probably saved a lot
of money over the years."
    "Yeah. The Marines take care
of most of my needs, so I didn't make any major purchases except this one. Come
on. It drives pretty smooth." He opened the passenger door for her. "Do
you want me to put the top up to save your hairstyle?"
    Gazing into his amazing eyes, she
couldn't disappoint him. "No, I'll just hold it down." She swept the
tail to the side, wrapping the strands together in one hand.
    "Great!" He strode around
to the driver's side and folded his long legs into the car. The engine purred
to life. "I've heard there's a new restaurant over in Birch Park. At least
new to