Faded Cotton (Erotic Romance) Read Online Free PDF

plane to a halt
before the runway disappeared.
    Disembarking, she blinked at the bright sun
and surveyed her new surroundings. Laurel turned her face into the
island breeze, closed her eyes, and breathed in deep.
    “Not bad boys, not bad!” After a pregnant
pause, she finished her announcement. “Now, I need a shower, a
margarita, and a swimming suit!” The group relaxed, chuckling.
Their mission had been accomplished, their cargo delivered.
    “Is that all?”
    Laurel turned to face the laughing voice
behind her. There he stood. Several years older and as ripped as
ever. Pick an adjective. Dashing, sexy, and extraordinarily
handsome, Jake LeGrande would make any woman weak in the knees. The
combat boots and blue, green, and sand colored camo fatigues served
him well. It was obvious that he was in command by the snaps to
attention that came from the uniformed personnel in the group. He
pushed his aviators back over his head, revealing sparkling blue
eyes.
    “At ease, men,” he commanded easily. Shaking
the awe out of her head, Laurel’s face went from shock to a furious
scowl. She made a beeline for him, fists clenched. A strong arm
snaked around her waist after a couple of steps. Stopping her
progress, Brian scooped Laurel off her path.
    “Laurel, hun, I think we can come up with
what you need. Come on, you and I’ll go get a drink.” Brian towered
over her, flashing his trademark grin as he handled her easily.
Laurel was not getting out of his grip.
    Finally, she planted her feet in the
direction everyone else was headed. She stomped forward and looked
over her shoulder, fuming. Jake LeGrande was bent over in peals of
laughter as he watched his team direct her into a waiting Escalade.
She hadn’t changed a bit; swing first and ask questions later—that
was Laurel.
    __________________________
     
    Forty-five minutes later, the pilot, Robert
Morrison, and Laurel’s escort, Brian Tanner, were sitting on the
beach with Laurel watching the sun go down. In island print shirts
and cut offs, faces no longer blacked, the young men looked more
like they were on spring break instead of a SEAL mission. Finally,
she broached the subject that was still an elephant in the room—or
on the beach.
    “So, would either of you two clowns like to
tell me why I am sitting on the beach of a private island, in the
middle of the Caribbean?”
    The two looked at each other like two little
boys trying to figure out how they could blame the other. Laurel
was not supposed to have any idea where she was.
    Sipping their drinks, they peered over their
sunglasses at her and then at each other. “Uh..., umm...,” neither
had an answer.
    “Do I at least get dinner on this date?” She
put her hand on her stomach, which had been grumbling loudly. She
realized she’d had nothing since her lunch at City Creek over
twenty-four hours ago. The camouflaged cabana top fluttered in the
breeze.
    “But of course, mi amour!” Strong hands came
up behind her in the cabana, ridding her shoulders of the day’s
tensions. “What can I make for you Laurel?” Seth Stater smiled as
he massaged her shoulders.
    “Seth! Oh my gosh!” She twisted around to
pull him into a hug. It was starting to look like a Siddy Creek
Farm family reunion.
    The men had formed a strong network, based on
a common brotherhood bonded by the same woman. Little did she know
just how important she was to them. Each man stood with the other
when it came to Laurel. They thought of each other as brothers,
they shared common values, and an appropriate respect for the
opposite sex. Most of the Siddy Creek Farm brotherhood were Navy
SEALs or law enforcement of some sort. It made her smile, knowing
they were together because of her.
    Seth escorted Laurel back to the main house
of the island compound. They strode easily off the beach together,
arm-in-arm, through the large scrolled iron gates of the tropical
garden to the dining room.
    A wide lanai circled the house, giving the
occupants a