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He peered down from one arm to the other, pointing toward his right one, jerking up the cotton material even more. “Semper Fi.”
“That’s right. You were a Marine just like my father. I read all about the fact you’re a war hero.”
“I don’t know about hero, Rylee. You’ll learn I’m no one’s hero. My father was a proud Marine as well, the man challenging me to follow in his footsteps. So I did. Maybe he pushed so hard because of my uncle. Maybe he thought I was the bad seed. He taught me how to be a man who followed strict rules. My unit and those involved taught me how to be a man.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off him, the longing turning into something so personal, it terrified me.
“I think that comes naturally to you.”
“Oh, you do now, huh?”
I nodded several times, daring to walk closer. “And the one on the other arm?”
He took a few seconds to glance down at the vivid detailing covering a significant portion of his skin. “Just something I share with my buds.”
“Like the three musketeers.”
“We made a pact never to get close to anyone. It was stupid, the thing guys do after drinking tequila, but it made us closer after all these years and all the difficulties the three of us have experienced.”
“I think that’s wonderful. I was never close to anyone but my sister.”
“That’s heartbreaking in itself. Hey. You have three men in your corner now. If you want them to be.”
For a few seconds, I knew I wanted that almost as much as I needed air to breathe. “Maybe. If you’re very good boys.”
His laugh was rich and powerful, the sound titillating my senses, igniting a fire deep within my core. “Now, you have me curious, little miss sunshine. How much additional investigation did you do on the three of us and my crew?”
“As much as I could find. I needed to know who I was being told to work with. You have an eclectic bunch of men. Scholars. Actors. Hockey players. Even computer nerds.”
The smile turned to slight ire. “And criminals?”
A flush hit my face hard. “I didn’t mean to throw that in Jack’s face. What happened?”
He took a deep breath, holding it for a full ten seconds before exhaling. “You heard the basic rundown. If you want details about how much the man suffered because of his quick and caring thinking, then you’ll need to ask him. But I will tell you this. He’s a good guy, just a little rough around the edges.”
“Like all three of you?”
I was rewarded with another deep growl as well as a beckoning gesture.
This time, I was swooning, uncertain if I could stay on my feet. The most terrifying feeling of all wasn’t about Madden’s threats or even about my past.
It was about the future.
What if I wanted all three men in my life permanently?
Oh, God. I was falling for them.
CHAPTER 17
Rylee
Foxx issued another growl, drawing my attention from the mind fucking I was doing to myself. Now his expression was carnal, a hunter in the wild.
And I was his prey.
“No more business talk. Come here, little miss sunshine. Do not make me say it a third time.” His voice was laced with danger and darkness, a seductive combination.
“Didn’t you call me something a little less… friendly before?” Was I actually purring?
