Ten years
ago, Jackson Hardy joined the Marines, leaving behind a woman he still dreams
about. When he's called home to care for his ten-year-old nephew, no one is
more shocked than he to run into Emma again. Or to still have those same
feelings. But Jackson isn't looking for love, and neither is Emma,
especially not with him. His precocious nephew, though, and a retriever named
Bandit, are about to change that.
So what if Emma Mercer is an overachiever? She has plans to get her doctorate
in psychology and create a no-kill shelter for the EST dogs she trains. Which
leaves absolutely no time for romance. She's fine with a furry family—dogs
don't teach you to love and then rip your heart to shreds. But young Matty's
situation tugs at her heartstrings and there's no way she can't help
him…and Jackson.
She may
have hotter-than-ever chemistry with the soldier, but forgetting the past
isn't easy.
She’d said
she was proud of him—did she mean it? Her forearm brushed his leg, and her
throat turned a deep shade of rose as she held his gaze. Sweet. She wouldn’t say what she didn’t mean.
He tilted to
the right, wanting to touch her mouth with his. Sample a quick taste of Emma to
add to his memories. Her lips slightly parted, the pulse at the hollow of her
throat sped, her eyes dilated. They were so close to a kiss that all he had to
do was move his head forward…
She stood
abruptly, smoothing the yellow fabric down over her hip with an eye toward
Matty, racing around the fountain. “I’ll get dessert.”
Jackson
snapped back. Was she inviting him inside?
“I’ll help.”
She held the
door open for him, and he followed her. The instant they were out of sight she
launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around him to hold him tight—he
couldn’t have broken free if he’d wanted to.
And he
didn’t.
He buried
his hands in her soft, soft hair and cupped her head so that he could study
Emma and memorize each new line and freckle. He gently brought the pads of his
thumbs to her smooth jaw and plump pink lower lip. Her eyes, swiped with
copper, glittered sensually as she absorbed his touch. Auburn lashes at
half-mast as she relaxed into him.
He dropped
one arm to her hip to balance her, the other still cradling her head as he
lowered his mouth. She lifted to him, their lips whispering across each other’s
mouths before crashing together like surf against the sand.
She tasted
different but the same. It was meeting his other half, something he’d been
missing and suddenly needed more than his next breath.
“Em.”
“Jackson.”
Her words were hot against his lips and brought the embers of desire flaming
bright.
She entwined
her fingers behind his neck and pressed in to him.
He clasped
her tight, feeling the warmth of her feminine curves, the temptation she
offered.
The smack of
sneakers up the porch steps made them break away like guilty teenagers.
Jackson’s
chest heaved. They weren’t that anymore.
Em’s eyes
flashed, the pulse at her neck fast as a hummingbird’s.
“Emma,”
Matty asked, innocently entering the kitchen. “Can I have some lemonade?”
“Sure, hon.
I was just getting the cannoli out. Are you ready for dessert?” Emma turned her
back to him, and Jackson detected a tremor in her voice.
Jackson knew then that he’d never be over Emma
Mercer, not if he lived to be a thousand.
