Luke was welcomed by the brothers and drawn in with friendly approval. The conversation quickly turned to missions and commands as they compared notes, trying to figure out if they had mutual friends...
Luke made fast work of his first drink and was nursing his second, through many jokes and soft, respectful laughter, when Mike came into the great room holding a very small bundle wrapped in a pink re...
Jack’s hands were shaking as he did so, wiping the muck of birth from his son’s little body. Mel was straining up to see him, her fingers reaching toward him to touch him. For a moment Jack was paraly...
Jack had seen his brothers-in-law, all puffed up with testosterone pride when they’d gotten their wives pregnant, when the babies came. He never pretended to really understand it. He was too busy with...
I’m not interested in one night. I want it all. If that’s too much for you, tell me right now. If it’s going to scare you off, I want to know. All? I want to go to bed with you, and wake up with you....
I’m a little embarrassed it took some city-boy preacher to get a project like this going in our own town, Jack said. We should’ve been on this. We start for Christmas right away. And then we get going...
Huh? she said. What’s this? I think you have a fever. Might be from damn near freezing to death, might be from something else. First we try aspirin. Yeah, she said, taking them in her small hand. Than...
How about going after her? I tried. She’s gone. Jack leaned on the bar. I’m sorry, man. I thought that was going to happen to me with Mel. From the second she hit town, she said she was leaving. When...
Here, honey—sit down. Tell me about it. Did you have an easy time? I had a very long time. It wasn’t so much hard as it took forever. I was starting to think she’d never come. And John almost drove me...
Gee, Sean, you’ve had an interesting few days. Tell me about it. Then I spent the night with her. He boldly connected eyes with Noah, waiting to be told how many Hail Marys that would cost him, but No...
For a man like Preacher to see his little wife struggle and have pain was obviously torture. He was much more comfortable in the role of protector. Mel knew immediately that he wasn’t going to be much...
Do you think it’s a bad omen to meet in a cemetery? she asked him. I have a special fondness for this place, he said. This is exactly where you completely lost control, threw yourself at me and passio...
Do you suppose we’ll be doing that again? he asked. That kind of kissing? Beats the hell out of those little pecks and pats, don’t you think? she asked. I have to agree with that, yes, he answered. Le...
Damn, boy. Look at you. You’re almost as old as me. Hardly. Ricky laughed. Look at you. You’re getting gray, what’s this? Melinda, naturally. She’s working me over. You should be careful, Rick. Strong...
Crazy thoughts began filling his head, chief among them was that he couldn’t imagine there ever being another man in her life, in her body. He’d never had such possessive, proprietary feelings. He was...
Cocktail weenies? he asked, holding up a little can. Who gives cocktail weenies to a needy family? I mighta done that, said Hope McCrea, pushing her big black glasses up on her nose. The can is bulgin...
Can I foster her until my wife and I have had a chance to make a final decision? The lawyer shrugged. I don’t see why not. Terri had you in mind anyway. Paul held little Hannah close. Vanessa is going...
But maybe she’d have herself a little adventure in there somewhere. Maybe on her cruise, on one of her trips. Not with this kind of man, of course. He was too mature, for one thing. One look convinced...
But he stood there, his eyes riveted on that tattoo. She looked over her shoulder again. It’s called a tramp stamp, she said. I got it when I was fifteen, to be cool. I know what it’s called. I just c...
Aw, man, Preacher groaned. He walked over to Paige and swept her up in his arms to carry her to Doc’s. Ah, Preach, don’t do that, Jack said. The minute she gets to Doc’s, I bet Mel is going to have he...