Tempted by the Soldier

Chapter Twelve


Nate lost count of the downed trees and power lines they passed on their walk back to town. Seeing the storm damage firsthand made him thankful he’d gotten Lilly out of the elements last night. She might have been traumatized by the sleazy motel room, but at least she’d been safe. Hell, he wasn’t even a vegetarian and no way could he have fallen asleep with that damn dead deer staring down at him. If they couldn’t get the truck back today, he had to find somewhere better for them to stay. He wouldn’t subject her to that again.

He knew getting his truck repaired quickly was a long shot, but maybe if they camped out in the garage’s waiting room, the guy would get his act in gear and they could make it to the wedding before Jace and Hayden left for their honeymoon. He hated that he was missing out on the extra time he’d wanted to spend with his brother. It had been the entire reason for his driving up three days early. God knew he wasn’t going to get another chance anytime soon.

If ever.

“What’s going on?” Lilly asked as they approached the small auto shop. He released her hand and strode forward, toward the chaotic sea of people gathering outside the volunteer fire station next door.

“Looks like disaster relief,” he said, stopping her at the open garage door. A sight that was all too familiar.

“Oh, my God. Do you think anyone got hurt in the storm?”

“I hope not,” he said. “Wait here.”

He jogged through the crowd, his search-and-rescue instincts kicking in. A few men were attempting to manage the crowd, handing out bottles of water, blankets, and cleaning supplies. A crew of weary firefighters who looked as if they’d been working through the night were offering medical aid under a Red Cross tent.

“What’s going on?” he asked an older man with graying hair.

The man took off his baseball cap and wiped the sweat from his brow as he pointed down the street. “Storm hit hard. That half of the town is without power. A few neighborhoods were flooded.” He glanced at Nate’s dog tags. “You based at Quantico?”

“No, sir. Camp Lejeune. My father was based out of Quantico, though. I’m just in town visiting.”

“Greg.” He offered his hand and Nate gave it a firm shake.

“Nate Jennings.”

“Have time to give a hand, Nate?”

He glanced back at the entrance to see Lilly watching him, a proud little curve to her lips. She gave him a nod, then turned and headed toward a group of women sorting donations.

Nate looked back at Greg. “Yes, sir. Put me to work.”

An hour later, Nate was drenched in sweat, hauling supplies off the third truck to come in, and helping distribute everything from food and water to cleaning supplies. For the first time in ages, the darkness had faded to a barely noticeable pulse in the back of his mind. Seeing so many people helping one another, and knowing he was a part of it, hit him deep. This was something his father would have been proud of him for.


They’d only endured one storm when he was a kid, but his father’d had their whole family on a cleanup crew before the clouds had cleared. For so long, Nate had been lost and mired in his mistakes, and he hadn’t taken time to do anything that really mattered.

Watching the Marines who had come in from the base to lend a hand reminded him of how much he missed being part of a team. Existing for something bigger than himself.

Hungry for the sight of Lilly, he dropped the last box from the truck into waiting hands, and scanned the crowd. When he spotted her, he halted in his tracks. She’d jumped in to help, too, and was handing out drinks and snacks to the displaced families and the exhausted volunteers looking for a cool drink and a spot of shade. She’d piled her hair on top of her head and threaded a pencil through it to hold it in place. Dirt smudged her cheek. She’d never looked so beautiful.

Even amid all of the chaos, he couldn’t get over the need to kiss her. To touch her. He was completely consumed and blinded by his need for her. He could still smell her all over him, hear her cries of pleasure in his ears. Jesus, he’d never get enough of her.

He didn’t know what direction their relationship was headed, but he knew the thought of being halfway across the world from her was nearly enough to bring him to his knees.

He watched her kneel down to a little girl and offer her a cookie, a smile lighting her up from the inside. That smile…he could wake up for the rest of his life to that smile and be a happy man.

The thought shook him to the core. He didn’t deserve that kind of happiness. He didn’t even know if he’d ever be healed enough to have a chance at it. But damned if he didn’t want it crazy bad. Resisting Lilly when she hated his guts had been hard enough. Now that he’d seen the possibilities between them, he didn’t have a chance in hell of staying away.

God, he needed to touch her.

He hopped down from the truck and came up behind her, sliding his hands over her hips. She stiffened for a moment, but when he pressed his lips to the back of her neck she melted back against him.

“I don’t think we’re offering what you’re looking for, sir,” she teased. “But I have cookies if you’re interested.”

“Oh, I’m very interested in your cookies.”

She turned in his arms and grinned up at him, holding an oatmeal-raisin to his lips. “Your wish is my command.”

He waggled his eyebrows. “Mmm. I’m starving.” He bit the cookie in half.

She rolled her eyes, laughing. “Animal.” She brushed a crumb from his lip with a finger and backed out of his arms. “I talked to the mechanic. He said he won’t have the truck ready until morning.”

Nate puffed out a breath of frustration. “Well, if he didn’t hurry it up for you, I’m definitely not going to get anywhere with him. I’ll call Jace. Explain the situation.”

She nodded and looked away, but not before he saw the disappointment in her eyes.

He touched her chin and turned her face to him. “We’ll make it there in time. Okay?” He couldn’t stop himself from leaning down to taste her.

Her lips moved against his, soft and slow, making his blood heat and his chest pound. If they kept this up, he was going to have a very embarrassing situation in front of God and half his hometown. He groaned and pulled away, seeing the desire he was feeling reflected in her eyes. That was a comfort, at least.

“Let me help these guys with one more truck,” he said, “then we can go find a better place to stay for the night.”

She grinned. “You mean no more Hunter’s Delight?”

“I owe you at least one good night on this trip.”

He owed her more than that. He owed her a year’s worth of good nights, to make up for the ones he’d ruined. If only he had more than two weeks to give her…