Last True Hero Read Online Free PDF Page A

send up a silent prayer, and shoot Drake a nod. He looks back at me with a knowing gleam in his eyes, and salutes me.
    When I open the glass doors, those deep, liquid-amber eyes set so deep in her face find me, and I’m lost.
    Like I said, my mission is set. No aborts, no retreats. This is do or die.
    I walk over to the counter and begin typing up her receipt. I haven’t found any words yet, and I decide to wait and see what she’ll do.
    She walks slowly over to the counter, her eyes never leaving me as she moves. When she arrives, she sets both elbows on top and leans forward. I will my eyes to meet her gaze, and swear I will scratch them out if they dare to glance down to the cleavage I’m sure is revealing itself from the top of her shirt.
    “Hey.” That slow drawl is going to get me every time, I know that already.
    “Hey,” I reply. I hope my cool attitude is coming across, and that the sweat beginning to dampen my hands isn’t also affecting my brow.
    “I know you.” Her tone is casual, but not as cautious as the first night I saw her. Is that curiosity ringing through?
    I’m going to take that as a good sign.
    “I know you, too, Berkeley.”
    She draws back, surprise crossing her face. “You remember my name.”
    “I do. Couldn’t forget it. Not with a face like yours.”
    She smiles, as if she can’t help herself. Thank God I found my charm somewhere among the bag of nerves opening up in my insides.
    “Well, you can’t hold it against me that I don’t know yours. You never told me.”
    “Huh,” I say as I thoughtfully scratch my rough chin. “If I recall correctly, I didn’t have a chance to tell you my name. I believe you wrote me off as army trash on sight, and asked me never to disgrace you with my presence again.”
    She gasps. “I did not! I would never do that…”
    When she trails off, I shoot her a grin. “Didn’t you?”
    The tiny wrinkles are back in her forehead, and my lips practically twitch with an unexplainable need to allow them to meet her skin. I finally let my eyes leave her face, and rake them across her body as quickly as I can so as not to appear like a sleaze. Which I might be, because every inch of her just calls out to me like a siren. She’s inviting, she emanates warmth and sultriness, and my nerves are standing at attention just being this close to her.
    “Okay, maybe I did.” Her admission of guilt comes complete with one corner of her plump bottom lip being pulled into her mouth. I think I manage to contain the groan that forms in my chest.
    I think.
    I suck in a breath and refocus on her eyes. “What do you have against guys in the military, Berkeley?”
    I use her name because it feels fucking delicious in my mouth.
    She studies me and there is a question in her eyes. I want her to ask it. Badly.
    “I don’t have anything against guys in the military. My dad…”
    Her hesitation fuels my curiosity. “Your dad…what?”
    Suddenly, she changes the subject. “What’s the damage on my car, uh…”
    “Dare. I’m Dare.” I tell her the total while I wait for her to comment on my name.
    She doesn’t.
    She hands me her card, and I scan it before I run it. I stare at her face as I wait for the receipt to print, memorizing each minute detail. Sprinkle of light freckles on the bridge of her nose. Lashes long enough to brush her cheeks. Natural-looking makeup, not pasted on like a lot of other girls our age. Her eyes seem darker at this distance, the most satiny brown I can imagine, and it is such a contrast with her hair color that I can’t pull my gaze away.
    “Thank you, Dare.”
    Fuck me. I want her to say it again. And again.
    And again.
    “You’re welcome Ms. Holtz. You seem like you keep a good regular upkeep on your vehicle. Keep that up. The sticker on your windshield will tell you when you’re due back.”
    She nods, and turns and heads for the door. Before she reaches it, she whirls around.
    “Will I see you back at See Food?”
    “I’ve