To Love Someone (Baytown Boys #14) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,80
of places in my life. My parents’ house was huge, although my grandparents maintained a modest home even when they had the money to buy something much larger. Of the two of those, I always preferred my grandparents’ house. In the Navy, I was in a bunk room with a lot of others. Once out and on my own, I slept on couches in someone else’s house, tiny apartments barely furnished, and more than my share of campers. I’ve never judged anyone on where they lived, but yeah, it bothered me that you were in a camper because I never felt like it was safe enough or good enough for you.”
Warmth surrounded her heart, but just when she was about to speak, it seemed he wasn’t finished.
“You deserve whatever you want to have, be it palace or just a little home by the sea. Hell, if you wanted to build a mansion by the water, that’d be good, too. But, I know you… you’d rather have a simple home that’s full of pets and kids and a man that’ll consider it an honor to wake up to you every morning after holding you all night.”
If she thought her heart had warmed earlier, his last statement sent a blast of heat straight through her. Pets? Absolutely. Kids? God, I hope so. A man? Dare I hope it’s you?
“What are you thinking, babe?”
“That I want pets and kids with you.” As soon as the words rushed from her mouth, she winced. So much for coy finesse. Blushing deep red, she blurted, “Sorry. That was—”
“Perfect. Fuckin’ perfect.” His grin widened and his white teeth showed against his tanned skin and lush lips. “With you, there’s never any bullshit.”
A hasty gulp of air sucked in before she pulled her lips in, pressing them tightly together. “Really? You didn’t think that sounded weird?”
A deep, rumbling chuckle erupted. “No, Samantha. I never thought I’d hear those words from any woman, especially a woman as perfect as you.”
Joseph adjusted his night vision goggles. An easy purchase from one of the local stores, he also checked the camera he’d purchased online that allowed night photographs. He’d kept them tucked out of sight in his truck to keep Samantha from becoming curious. A casual conversation with Dylan had given him more information as to what the concerns were about a possible wolf-hybrid breeding business in the area. He was willing to let them wait to see what happened, but when Samantha mentioned she’d like to check out the back of the Bender Breeders’ property when no one was around, he knew he needed to step in.
He had no idea what he was looking for, but the idea of Samantha trying to be sneaky—or trespassing on private property, which could get her arrested—did not sit well with him.
So, here he was, his truck parked a mile away, and he was slipping through the underbrush and woods that filled the rural area. While trespassing wasn’t in his vast resume, with the use of the goggles, he could easily maneuver between trees, over fallen logs, and past the brambles that grew nearby.
He remembered Jim had said he owned thirty acres that bordered Maryland on one side and an inlet coming in from the Chesapeake Bay on another. Dylan had mentioned that the Virginia Marine Police were aware of the possibility of the illegal transportation of exotic animals by water. One of the original Baytown Boys that Joseph had met through the American Legion was Callan Ward. Callan had formerly been with the Coast Guard Station in Baytown and now worked with the VMP. With Callan’s input, he figured Dylan had the most up-to-date information when he said the VMP had so far not discovered any evidence.
Continuing his trek around the perimeter, he discovered one of the inlets and followed along the border of Jim’s property. He was not surprised to discover more than one pier. Most houses that back to water on the Eastern Shore had a pier, but he noted it was not the one he’d seen closest to Jim’s house that was probably used for personal boating. Continuing forward, he spied a small barn deep in the woods, completely surrounded by trees.
He halted, wondering if a security system was in place. If the barn was used for anything illegal, Jim certainly wouldn’t want it to be found. But, on the other hand, a security system could trigger questions by the authorities if they happened to find it. He listened carefully