Finding Home Read Online Free PDF Page B

Olivia.”
    “They’re beautiful.”
    “Claire and Coop are expecting their
first together…a boy this time.”
    “You sound like a proud Uncle.”
    “I am…Claire and the girls went
through hell when Tom died…aneurism.  It hit fast and he was just gone,
right there in front of them all.”
    “Oh, how awful!”
    “The girls were five and just barely
three.  AnnaKate barely remembers him.  Olivia doesn’t remember him
at all.  I was on a mission when it happened.  I resigned my
commission as soon as I heard, lived with them while this house was being
built.  Coop had gotten shot on a mission.  He came to visit while he
was recuperating and he and Claire hit it off.  Was a big relief to me,
knowing that they would be taken care of.”
    “I bet so…you have a beautiful
family.”
    He brushed his hand over her
ponytail, causing her to look up at him.  For several moments he looked
down into her eyes.  She could see several emotions working behind his
warm brown eyes, compassion and kindness most of all.
    “Are you hungry?  I’ve been out
in the sun all day, I’m starving.”
    “I could eat.”
    He held his hand out to her then
laced his fingers with hers when she placed her hand in his.
    “Let’s go.”
    She smiled up at him and Colt thought
he’d never seen a more beautiful sight.  She had a great smile, it lit up
her whole face and made her eyes shine as bright as diamonds; it was what had
first drawn him to her yesterday. 
    He led her back through the house to
the garage and opened the door to the truck for her.  Before she could
climb up, though, he pinned her between the seat and his body, placing a hand
on the back of her neck.
    “Colt,” she whispered just before he
claimed her mouth in a kiss that left her breathless and clinging to him.
    “Couldn’t resist,” he said, quickly
kissing her again, then stepped back so that she could get inside.
    She watched him walk around the front
to the driver’s side and climb in, feeling her heart accelerate when he winked
at her.  His hair was still slightly damp from his shower and curling
around his neck.  He wore an Atlanta Braves T-Shirt and black athletic
shorts.  His legs were tanned and muscular, and very masculine. 
Everything about him was exceedingly male.  He made her feel so small, and
for the first time in her life, she felt feminine.
    He glanced over at her and did a
double take when he noticed her gazing at his profile.  She smiled and
looked away, feeling a blush flood her cheeks.  His hand cupped the back
of her neck and gave a gentle squeeze, pulling her gaze back to him.  He
smiled at her and gave her a wink, then stroked his hand over her
ponytail.  His hand skimmed down her hair, to her shoulder and down her
arm to capture her hand in his.  They didn’t speak, but he gave her hand a
squeeze and continued to hold it. 
    He took them to a local sandwich shop
for a quick late lunch, and then surprised her by driving out to the marina at
the lake.  She was only momentarily puzzled but when he took a cooler from
the back of his truck and motioned for her to follow him to the boat docks.
    “Thought you might like a spin out on
the boat,” he said, leading her to a boat that was at the end of the
dock.  He stepped on board, put the cooler down, and then held his hand
out to help her onto the boat.
    “I’ve never been out on a boat
before,” she told him.
    “No? Well, first time for everything,
right?”
    “Looks like.”
    “Have a seat and I’ll get us out on
the water.  There’s sunblock under the right hand seat, as well as life
jackets.”
    She sat in the seat just in front of
the captain’s chair and watched him untie the boat and expertly navigate it
away from the dock.  He took it slow until they were well away from the marina
and then hit the gas.  Sarah held tight to the rail on the side of the
boat, but after the initial adrenaline rush brought on by the speed, she
settled back and enjoyed the