down at the floor and ran a hand over his face.
Emily braced herself for more bad news. “Something you want to tell me?”
“I got kicked out of the Navy—I’m so ashamed. I didn’t want to tell my mom until after the wedding, but now it’s going to come out and make her feel even worse.”
“A dishonorable discharge? For what?”
“I did something really stupid, and let’s just say they strongly encouraged me to take the early-out offer. I drank too much one night, and me and a couple of my buddies played a prank on an officer. Apparently he didn’t think it was funny. We all got the same offer. I guess we’re lucky they didn’t throw us in the brig.”
“Oh, Josh,” was all she could manage to say.
“I know. It was stupid.”
She didn’t even want to ask what he did. She rose to her feet. “Let your mom sleep and have a good talk with her in the morning. She’s going to need you more than she ever has. You can’t imagine how hard it is to lose someone you love.”
“You’re talking about Evan, aren’t you?”
She nodded, releasing a sigh. “I’m going to go now, but I’ll check in with you tomorrow.”
~*~
Daybreak came and the morning light began peeking through Emily’s bedroom curtains. She was slowly waking from a romantic dream about Colin and she felt warm and tingly all over. Startled by a sharp knock at the door, she bolted upright and checked her digital clock, which read six forty-five.
“What the heck?” She swung her legs over the side of the bed and reached for her silky white robe. Irritated, she ran to the door, wondering who would be knocking at such an early hour. In the dim early morning light, through the row of small windows across the top of her front door, she saw the top of a man’s head covered by a dark ball cap. After having been broken into recently, she stood still for a moment trying to decide what to do. Should she open it? Should she get her gun?
Another hard knock jolted her attention and she flinched. Only when she heard the man’s voice did she relax.
“Emily? Open up! It’s Colin.”
With delight, she flung the door open wide. Wearing a big smile, he stepped inside, sweeping her up into his arms. “Good morning, sleepy head.” He gazed into her eyes, then swept the door shut with his foot.
As he lowered his face to hers, she anticipated his long-awaited kiss. He brushed her lips with his, then smiled at her, as if he was waiting for an invitation. She pushed up on her tiptoes, pulled off his cap, and pressed her lips to his.
In response, Colin pulled her tighter into his arms and her body melted against his. He returned her kiss more deeply and passionately than she had expected, sending heat radiating through her body. She let his hat fall to the floor.
When he finally released her, she felt weak and dizzy under his power. “Whew, I think I need to sit down,” she cooed.
He led her by the hand into the living room and sat beside her on the sofa, resting his arm on the back. She leaned against him, pulled her bare feet up under her, and nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck as she rested a hand on his chest. He lowered his arm around her shoulders and held her close.
“I’m thrilled to see you, Colin,” she breathed in his masculine scent and savored the warmth of his body against hers, “but what are you doing here?”
“Ernie called me last night, said Maggie’s fiancé was murdered. He thought you might need me.” He brushed a stray curl back from her face with his finger. “Was he right?”
Yes, she needed him. She had ached for him since the day he left to help care for his dad. Being startled awake from that dream-like space between being asleep and fully awake, she had not yet given any thought to the events of the night before. His comments brought them rushing back at her—walking in on Lucas’s bloody body, Maggie’s avalanche of shock and grief, her probing conversation with Josh.
She sat up straight and stared wide-eyed at him. “Yes, Colin, I need you. You have no idea.” She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him softly. “I’m thrilled you’re here.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. I drove through the night to get here.”
“But what about your dad?”
“He’s improving