One E-mail: (BBW Romance) (One Soldier Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

around her waist. She immediately settled into me, as if we’d done it a thousand times before. It felt like I’d held her like this a thousand times before, as if this was where she belonged and we both subconsciously knew it.
    She refocused on my mother; her brows creased in concentration. “I think it’s hard for any mother to let go of her children. Mine thinks I will forget about her if she doesn’t call or stop by several times a day. But any child knows that you’ll never forget your mom; you’ll never stop loving her, and, as a woman, I’ll never stop trying to be her, whether she’s near or far, and whether it’s been an hour since I’ve seen her or a year since I’ve seen her.” She reached for my mother’s hand. “Your boys love you. And whether you know it or not, you’ll always be their beacon and their reason to come home.”
    I swallowed hard, holding her a little tighter. I knew the effect those words would have on my mother before I ever looked at her, because they had an effect on me.
    Tears shone in my mother’s eyes. She sniffed, squeezing Maddie’s hand before she pulled away. “This is why I’ve always wanted girls. They don’t roll their eyes when you tell them you miss them.” She frowned as she looked Maddie up and down. “They also would encourage me to dress better.” Her gaze dropped to study her standard uniform of tan pants with an elastic waist she tried to hide under a plain black t-shirt. My mother never wore jewelry, aside from her wedding ring, and, in all my years, I’d seen her wear make-up once.
    Maddie laughed. “I run a plus size fashion blog. Anytime you want to go shopping, just let me know.”
    My mother knocked her arm against my father’s side. “Get your checkbook ready, Rick, my future daughter-in-law is gonna jazz me up.”
    I studied Maddie’s reaction closely. She opened and closed her mouth a few times , like she wanted to argue that one line, but she ended up wordlessly dropping her gaze to her lap, as if it could hide her deep blush. The fact that she didn’t believe my mother had me wanting to drag her to a jewelry store and buy her a ring on the spot. She didn’t assume anything. She didn’t look at me as an object, a ticket or an award to flash; she really did expect nothing in return, which made me want to give her everything I had.
    “Taylor, why don’t you take Maddie back to you r place and get her settled in?” She focused on Maddie. “You must be plum tired, honey.”
    Hell yeah. I was ready to get her alone, and to give her a personal thanks for getting me through these last five months.

    Chapter Nineteen
    Madelyn
    I gave Taylor’s mom a polite smile. “Thanks for dinner.”
    She practically glowed. “Oh, I really like you now. Some people just aren’t grateful for what they get.” She narrowed her eyes on each of her sons.
    “I said thank you.” Tate practically shouted his defense.
    She harrumphed. “Five times in twenty-two years is not what I call a good attitude , young man.”
    “Thank you, dear. Dinner was g reat.” Rick gave his wife a kiss on the cheek, and it seemed to pacify her for the moment.
    Travis, Taylor and Trent muttered their thanks, but they didn’t have the same appeal.
    I chuckled quietly. It was clear that, at home, Linda ran the show. She bossed her five men around like it was her job, but they let her. Taylor especially could easily overpower his mother, but he didn’t. Their relationship was yet another layer of him that I enjoyed.
    In truth, the more I learned about my soldier, the more I loved him.
    I swallowed hard, standing as the idea sobered me. Do I love him? Could you love someone you’d only met today?
    He rose up behind me, placing a set of sturdy hands around my hips. He was so attentive, hyper aware of my potential needs.
    I spun, staring up at him. I softened as I met his gaze. His depths held promise, assurance, and desire. He was more than I thought I was e-mailing that