Free The Hometown Hero Returns by Beth Kery Page A

strip down to that little bikini he’d brought her, as much as he wanted to do just that.
    He resurfaced from a short swim a minute later and turned toward the shore. He saw Mari standing waist deep in the water and swam toward her. She was smiling at him when he surfaced five feet away.
    â€œFeels good, huh?” he asked.
    He was captivated by her eyes as she nodded. She had the most beautiful eyes he’d ever seen—a rare color, like brown infused with amber.
    â€œIt feels wonderful. The water is a little warmer than the lake itself this time of year,” she said and moved her hands as though caressing the surface of the lagoon.
    Marc’s gaze traveled up the path of an elegant arm and lingered on a smooth shoulder. The need to touch her swelled in him, but he refrained.
    With effort.
    â€œI see the suit fits all right,” he said as he glanced at her breasts, barely restrained behind two scraps of gold cloth.
    â€œGet that grin off your face, Kavanaugh,” Mari said, rolling her eyes.
    â€œAm I grinning?” Marc laughed, ruining his innocent look.
    â€œYou know you are.”
    He continued to chuckle as she plunged into the water, covering herself from his gaze. She surfaced several feet away from him, standing in water that covered her from the chest down. She wiped the water out of her face and gave him a censorious look.
    â€œIt’s one of Deidre’s swimsuits,” she said reprovingly. “You know how small she is. One of Colleen’s would fit me much better. Not that I’m telling you anything you don’t know,” she said, giving him a disgusted look.
    â€œDo you think I notice stuff like that? They’re my sisters, for Christ’s sake.”
    â€œYou never noticed that Deidre is petite and delicate?”
    He snorted. “I don’t know what you remember about Deidre, but my sister is anything but delicate. She’s been known to run into the line of fire and hoist a wounded soldier over her shoulder before carrying him to safety.”
    â€œShe did that?” Mari asked, her eyes going wide.
    Marc nodded, not particularly fond of this latest example of his sister’s reckless bravery. “She won the Army Medal of Honor for it. Thank God, she’s been transferred to Germany, far from active battle.”
    â€œYou must worry about her a lot,” Mari said as she took a step closer.
    â€œLike you do about Ryan,” he murmured.
    A hush fell over them. A robin twittered in the distance.
    â€œI’m sorry about the way you found out about Ryan and me fighting after the trial all those years ago,” he said.
    She glanced up at him, her sad, sober gaze tearing at him a little.
    â€œYou weren’t there, Mari. To say emotions were running high during the court proceedings is a huge understatement.”
    â€œYou and Ryan used to be so close,” she whispered. “Sometimes…” She stared at the narrow opening to the blue lake and made a hissing sound of frustration. “What?”
    She shook her head. “I just wish the crash had never happened.”
    â€œYou’re still angry about it.”
    Her gaze shot to meet his. “I didn’t say that!”
    â€œIt wouldn’t surprise me if you were. Who wouldn’t be angry about having their parents unexpectedly stolen from them one stormy summer night?”
    He saw her throat convulse as she swallowed. He realized he was holding his breath when she took another step toward him in the cool water.
    â€œMy parents weren’t the only thing I lost,” she whispered.
    Desire sliced through him as he looked down at her face. He held himself on a tight leash, but he didn’t want Mari to know that. Not at that moment, he didn’t.
    â€œIf you’re referring to me, I’m standing right here,” he replied.
    She started, blinked and looked away. “I was referring to you. But I was referring to more than that.