Tess Keller has loved Bran since they were in high school. The former football captain always treated her like a friend so she tried to move on. Unfortunately, he's in her business constantly now. One passionate argument leads to more than either of them expected. Tess knows it isn't going to last because Bran is never going to settle down. So, to save face, she suggests they stay friends, only with the side benefit of being sometime lovers.
A Marine determined to win at all costs.
Bran agrees to the friends with benefits idea just to keep himself close to Tess. She might think he's not around for the long haul, but this is one Johnson brother who knows exactly what he wants … and just how to get it. And what he wants is Tess in his bed and in his life forever. Nothing will stop him, not even Tess herself.
* * * *
She shook her head. "You know, I'm amazed they let you fly a Raptor. I would think you might forget where you parked it."
He knew she was trying to lighten the mood. That was what he would have done in the situation, but his brain wasn't working. In fact, he was feeling a little light headed but it might have to do with the lack of sleep.
"You're wearing makeup." It came out as an accusation, but he couldn't help it. He wasn't used to seeing Tess Keller with makeup on. She wasn't wearing much, but even as he said it, she was slathering on lip gloss. How did he not notice her lips were so full and sexy before now?
She smirked at him. "Yes, I do that sometimes. It's kind of something I do on dates."
"You wear makeup."
She rolled her eyes a sure sign she was irritated. "Uh, yeah among other things."
He frowned. He opened his mouth to ask her just what those other things were but the doorbell rang.
"There's Jed." She walked to him and gave him a patted his cheek. "Don't wait up."
"Don't you have duty in the morning?"
She stopped with her hand on the doorknob. "First of all, I'm an adult and a lieutenant in the Navy, so I can decide for myself. But, to ease your mind, I'm off tomorrow."
Then she left him standing there in the middle of the room, feeling mildly frustrated and trying to figure out what the hell just happened.
Now, a peek into Heather Long's upcoming Always a Marine release: Her Marine Bodyguard.
Prologue
Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan
Lieutenant Brody Essex threw the baseball up and caught it, only to repeat the motion. For three weeks, he and his team had been stuck in a holding pattern waiting for the final orders to be cut that would send them to Bagram and from there, aboard a C-130 for Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, debriefing, psych evaluations, and finally he would discuss his terminal leave-if approved.
Of course, all of that required that he get back to the States. His unit's exodus, like his promotion and so many other day-to-day issues, had been tied up in bureaucracy. Keeping the ball in motion, he concentrated on patience. Each day brought him a step closer to seeing Shannon again.
Maybe he'd even sneak up to Boston and surprise her at her show. She'd been so excited when she'd Skyped a month before-the last time they'd had to chat.
A rapid three-beat knock hit his door. Brody caught the ball and sat up. "Come."
"Lieutenant, there's a call for you in Coms." The private wasn't one Brody recognized.
Rising, he retrieved his cover from the shelf and set the ball in its place. The room-one he split with another lieutenant, remained bare of anything personal. He and his team hadn't been planning on staying. The forced inactivity coupled with the transition state had him less inclined to make his mark.
"Dismissed," he told the private and followed him out. Maybe the call included his orders. When he'd last checked, Colonel Jamison had told him his orders would get there when they got there. Until then-stand by. Like Brody, the rest of his unit waited, their patience dust-covered and grim-faced after months of dodging and delivering gunfire, seeing comrades killed, tracking targets across the countryside, and sleeping on dirt more often than a bed.
Marinestan had been an upgrade of sorts. Two sergeants stood having a smoke, and they straightened-saluting him as he passed. He returned the gesture and eyed the butts on the ground. One sergeant shifted and put his boot over them and nodded. They'd police the area before they left it. Noting their names, Brody kept walking.
In the building housing coms, he was directed to a black phone with a light flickering indicating a call on hold. The private moved away, tacitly offering him privacy.
Retrieving the handset, Brody hit the button. "Essex."
"Brody, Luke Dexter." The former Marine had been Brody's commanding officer for his first three tours and his friend for longer. Also the absolute last voice Brody expected to hear.
Spine stiffening and his blood going cold, he frowned, but kept his voice low and controlled. "Sir? What's wrong?"
Because Luke had no reason in the world to pull strings and get a call put through to Afghanistan. None except … .
"It's Shannon. She was attacked … ."
Chapter One
Boston, Massachusetts
Three weeks earlier … .
"I told you that you were going to be a hit," Liam Gardiner put a hand to the open elevator doors, holding them and allowing Shannon Fabray to precede him.
She glanced at her host and laughed. "Yes, you did and thank you for saying I told you so."
After sliding his hands into the pockets of his slacks, he walked with her toward her room. Though he'd initially invited her to stay at his townhouse, she'd declined. Most men made her uncomfortable, and though she'd gotten to know Liam better over the last several months and knew without a shred of doubt that he was no threat to her physically or romantically, she'd preferred the privacy of the hotel. It made her more comfortable.
Like her, Liam waited for his Marine to come home. "How is Brenden?" she asked.
"He's good. Always has a new story when he calls. I didn't realize how interesting Embassy duty could be." A hint of a smile softened Liam's mouth. Vice-president of a local bank, Liam possessed a quiet, determined charm and impeccable taste. He'd been passionate about advocating her show, helping her with the venue negotiations, facilitating arrangements from the backers to the show itself and finally escorting her tonight.
"And how long 'til Brody is home?" They had a pact, the two of them, for mutual support and general bitching as needed-Liam's words, not hers.
"Soon, I think." Excitement bubbled in her stomach. "He's due to be back in North Carolina anytime now, I just don't know exactly when. Apparently, dates are flexible when it comes to PCSing from combat to relief-or however that goes." She still didn't get all of the military terminology, though she'd had plenty of lessons over the last two years.
Two years. It made her head spin. Two years since she'd met Brody and more than a year since she'd gone to Italy and met him for a long, fabulous week. Both seemed like a lifetime before.
At her room, Liam gave her a quizzical look. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," she covered and dug her room key out of her purse. "Tired." Worried. "Thank you for tonight, really-it meant the world to me."
"You're very welcome, just wait and see, you're going to be a huge hit. I bet you'll be swimming in orders by tomorrow."
Laughing at his optimism, she slotted the room key and waited for the lock to flash from red to green before she pushed the door open. One moment she leaned her weight on the door, half-turned to bid Liam a good night and the next she fell as the door yanked wide open. Stars burst when her head collided with the wall. A foot caught her in the shoulder and she bit off a scream at the fresh bruise of pain.
Liam shouted and she struggled to sit up, and winced as the door slammed into her shoulder. Across the hall, Liam grappled with a man and then crashed into the wall. Glass shattered. Masculine grunts filled the air, along with the sound of fists striking a body. Fumbling with her purse, she got out the mace, but too late-the man in black thrust away from Liam and raced down the hall.
"Shannon?" Climbing to his feet, Liam glanced down the hall and then hurried over to her. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he braced the door to get it off of her. "Hey? You okay?"
Voices came from the other end of the hall. "Are you all right?"
"I called security."
Raising a hand to her head, she found a tender spot. Shannon winced and let Liam pull her to her feet. Blood spotted her fingertips. More guests filled the hallway. Apparently the commotion had garnered some attention.
The expression on Liam's face turned taut and his mouth compressed. He looked past her, and she turned to find the whole room in shambles. Drawers from the dresser had been pulled out and emptied, her clothes scattered everywhere. Her art case tipped on its side on the bed and her sketchbooks lay haphazardly.