Page 73 of Her Tempting Protector

“Or a beer,” David offered. “I’m Captain David Sloane, United States Army. You’re Chief Petty Officer Cullen Lyons with the United States Navy,” David said as he held out his hand.

“How do you know?”

“Same way you know about me. We’ve checked one another out. I figure Kane McNamara finally tracked us down and that’s why you’re here.”

“I forgot you’re Military Police,” Cullen chuckled as he took the proffered beer and sat down at the kitchen stool. He scanned the backyard through the sliding glass door, but the backyard was too big, he couldn’t see Carys or their daughter.

“I’m Sarah Sloane. But apparently you know that as well,” Sarah smiled as she pulled out a tray of vegetables and plopped those down in front of him.

“I’m surprised you managed to stay away as long as you did,” David said as he leaned on his elbows on the kitchen island across from Cullen. “I’ve been telling Carys to expect you at our door for the last two weeks.”

“She said something about next week, but it was time to take the yak by the horns. I also wanted to do it where she had friends backing her up, in case it all goes South.”

He wanted to ask them if it was going to go South. He didn’t think it would. He prayed it wouldn’t. David had given him a beer. Sarah had let him into the house. Those were good signs, right? But maybe this was just because they were feeling sorry for him.

Cullen saw the diminutive girl in pink jeans running from the side of the house to the door. He then caught sight of Carys chasing slowly behind her. She was smiling. A real smile.

“Can I have some juice?” a little voice piped up as the sliding glass door opened.

“Tonya beat me again…” Carys’ voice trailed off as she saw Cullen.

This was it, the big reveal.

* * *

Carys stopped short, she couldn’t breathe.

He was here. Cullen was actually here.

She wanted to soak Cullen in through her skin. Just seeing him made her heart beat faster.

Heck, who am I kidding? Seeing him here just made my heart finally start beating again!

He looked so different in his jeans and black Henley. The man she had been dreaming about for over a month looked more laid back, more approachable, which made him so much scarier.

Africa had been one of the top three worst experiences of her entire life. But because of Cullen, she remembered parts of it with absolute joy.

How was that even possible?

Cullen set down the beer he had been holding, got off the kitchen stool and prowled over to her.

“Mom, who’s he?” she heard Tonya ask.

“Carys, can we go outside?” His low voice vibrated through her body.

She looked up into those tempting blue eyes and nodded, because she didn’t have enough air to speak. He lightly touched her lower back as he opened the sliding glass door and guided her outside. His hand felt like it offered her protection, courage, and something she couldn’t quite define. She looked up at him through her bangs.

“When are you going to yell at me?” he asked. She led them toward the cushioned wicker bench and motioned for him to sit down. She scooched to the corner.

“How can I yell, when I’m relieved, you’re here? Plus, Sarah’s been saying for almost two weeks that I should expect you. She laughed at me after I called you, she said it was an engraved invitation.”

He scowled at her. “It wasn’t. I really had to think this over. But after imbibing a tall, cool can of fuck-it-all, I decided this was the right thing to do.”

She giggled.

“I’ve been around a lot of military men, and I haven’t heard about that drink yet.”

“I’m thinking of starting a home brewery.”