A Major Connection Read Free Page B

with strong black coffee. They ate together in silence, each gauging the other.
    “Okay, I give,” she said, finally caving. “What exactly do you want from me?”
    He raised a brow and gave her an appraising stare.
    Her cheeks turned pink, but she didn’t look away from him. “Gunny, you are seriously trying my patience.”
    “Yeah? Well try dealing with a busted sprinkler system, more dead plants, and a ruined container bed. Look, I’m all about letting dogs be dogs, but Lobo has attacked my poor plants for the fourth time in a month.”
    “Lobo, really?” She stared at the dog currently slinking from the kitchen.
    “Really. I know you just took on the responsibility, but I let this go long enough.”
    “Any idea why he keeps heading to your place?”
    “No. When Captain Morrow was stateside, I saw him once or twice walking Lobo. He lives down the street from me.”
    “Yeah, I know.”’
    “But that was it. Now Lobo acts like he owns my house, and he’s not choosy about where he likes to dig.”
    She sighed. “Fine. What do I owe you?”
    “You’re not going to try to weasel out of it?”
    “You are really on my last nerve.”
    “I try.”
    She worked to bite it back, but he saw her grudging smile.
    He stilled. His chest felt tight and he had shortness of breath, in addition to a flutter in his gut that made him uneasy.
    Damn, this attraction felt weird. Deep. He wanted to hear her laugh, to watch her eyes light up when she smiled, to see the joy when she— Cut it out, Thorn. Man up. You’re too old to be crushing on a woman. She’s good looking. So what? Get over it.
    “Smart move, bringing coffee and sweets,” she said.
    Getting a hold on his uncharacteristic emotions, he forced a grin. “I’m much brighter than I look.”
    “Good to know.”
    “Swing on by my place and fix what he broke, we’ll call it even.”
    “I can do that. But I warn you, I’m no fix-it girl. I can plant and water veggies. Sprinkler lines aren’t my thing.”
    “I figured as much.” He sighed.
    She narrowed her eyes. “Why? Because I’m a woman I won’t know how to fix things?”
    “Because it would be a stroke of luck if you were a master plumber who could save the rest of my garden before it dies. As to how capable you are with tools, that remains to be seen.”
    She took a sip of coffee, glaring at him over the brim of her cup.
    “Anyone ever tell you you have anger issues?” he taunted, wondering if he’d get a face full of coffee for his bravado.
    “Didn’t you say something about being brighter than you look?” she said sweetly and swirled the coffee in her cup, eyeing him with deliberate mischief.
    He couldn’t help it. He laughed. “If you’re trying to scare me, you need to try harder. That death glare you’re using is turning me on.”
    She flushed.
    “Sorry. Did I embarrass you, Major ?”
    Her jaw clenched. God, she was fun to rile.
    She stood and gave him an insincere smile. “Thanks for the coffee and the food.”
    “I get the sense you’re kicking me out.” He tried to grab another Danish but she moved the plate out of reach. “Yeah, totally getting the vibe you don’t want me here.”
    “I have things to do, Gunny. And you’re bothering me.”
    “You bother me too. I guess we’re even.” He stood and decided to be bold. Thorn pulled her into his arms, startling her with the suddenness of his action.
    “Wha—”
    He kissed the question out of her. As he’d expected, a jolt of lust hit him squarely between his legs. His heart raced, his entire body tensed, and the scent and taste of her went straight to his head. Not wanting to totally freak her out, he didn’t hold her too close, just kept his hands lightly on her shoulders so she could pull away at any time. Never let it be said Bobby Thorn forced himself on a woman who didn’t want his attention.
    But when she softened and opened her mouth, he couldn’t stop himself from penetrating with his tongue. He deepened the