Men of Courage II Read Online Free PDF

control only added to her fury. Hamilton knew how much she hated to be seen crying.
    “Liv.” He tried to tug her into his arms.
    She shoved away. Giving him her back, she spoke quieter, softer. “I can’t keep going through that, Ham.” And with iron resolve, she added, “I won’t keep going through that.”
    Hamilton struggled with himself, but he wouldn’t give everything away, not yet. Timing was everything.“Regardless of how we’re involved, it sounds to me like you go through it anyway.” He settled his hands on her shoulders and pulled her resisting body back into his chest. “We have a lot of talking to do, Liv.”
    “Right. Talking about what I want?”
    “Yes.” They could be together, not here, not where she most wanted to be. But if she truly loved him—
    When she pulled away, he let her go, but went with her up the porch steps.
    “Here it is in a nutshell, Colonel. I want a home and stability, friends I can keep forever and a community that knows me.”
    Ham started to describe the possibilities, but she held up a hand. “I have that now, right here. And I’m not about to give it up.”
    Did she even care about what he wanted? Hamilton stood right behind her, crowding close while she unlocked the front door and stepped into the small foyer. Did she realize that the air force was in his blood?
    He felt challenged enough to point out the obvious. “What about a husband and kids, Liv? I remember you used to want them, too.”
    “I still do,” she remarked, giving him a quick glance over her shoulder, “and eventually I’ll have both.”
    Jealousy raged through him, setting his blood on fire. Only if you marry me, he silently vowed.
    Before he returned to base, Liv Amery would accept that he’d always put her first. She’d admit to her feelings, she’d trust him, and then they’d find a happy compromise in the military—one that would leave them both content, with exactly what each of them wanted. On this mission, he wouldn’t fail.
    But for now, it’d do him well to back off a little, to show her, rather than tell her, how much she could enjoy life with him.
    His plan to give her some space lasted about three seconds, right up until Liv said, “Jack must be sleeping. But you’ll get to meet him in just a second.”
     
    L IV BECAME AWARE of Hamilton standing frozen behind her, and she turned to face him. Having him in her home left her filled with unmeasured emotions. He liked her house. He’d looked at some just like it.
    She couldn’t, wouldn’t, buy into that. What did a lieutenant colonel care about setting down roots? Her father had never cut grass, never voted on school levies or concerned himself with holiday decorations. And Hamilton, for all his assurance otherwise, was as military-minded as her father. “What’s wrong, Ham?”
    Stony-faced, his brown eyes fierce and hot, he stared at her. In a low, harsh whisper, he demanded, “Who the hell is Jack?”
    The question reeked of possessiveness, and Livcouldn’t help feeling just a touch of satisfaction. At least she knew she wasn’t the only one uncomfortable with their current nonrelationship. “Jack is the new love of my life. But he must be sleeping. I swear, he sleeps like the dead.” Smiling, she called out, “Jack?”
    Two seconds later the rush of nails on hardwood floors thundered through the hallway. Jack, her nine-month-old shepherd-rottweiler mix, bounded around the corner in unrestrained joy. He jumped up and his sixty-pound body landed against hers with enough force to take her to the ground, except that she’d learned to prepare for Jack’s welcomes, and always braced herself.
    More than ever before, she appreciated the unrestrained welcome. Liv put her arms around him, buried her face in his scruff and just held on. She felt emotionally ravaged and vulnerable when accepting comfort from Ham, but Jack loved her unconditionally. And she loved him the same.
    After accepting a few licks of greeting, Liv