Operation Family Read Online Free PDF Page A

and after they’re in bed for the night, we can have our discussion.”
    “Pinehill doesn’t have a hotel. The nearest one is twenty minutes away.” She tugged her hand through her hair. “Why don’t you just stay here? There’s plenty of room and after all, it’s your house. You can get used to caring for the girls. For some reason, I suspect it will be a good learning experience for you.”
    “I’d appreciate it, all of it. When you’re ready, we can have our talk and find some common ground went it comes to the girls. I think we can work something out without having to take this in front of a judge.” At least he hoped they could, because if there was one thing he didn’t want it was a custody battle. He had men depending on him and he couldn’t keep his head on the missions if he was fighting a lengthy court battle. They’d have to find a way to work together, keeping what was theirs safe and happy. Together—that was the only way.

With a basket of freshly washed baby clothes in her arms, Nicole collapsed on the sofa in the family room. Between the girls’ unease, and her own grief, she was exhausted. Sleep had once been easy, now it was a fight for even the smallest amounts. Normally after a rough night with the girls, she’d take a nap to help prepare for the wakeup calls in the night, but sleep wasn’t an option with Mac in the house.
    She had prepared herself to hate him for his part in separating her from the girls, but now that he was here, it was proving more difficult then she imagined. Damn, the way he looked in the Navy working uniform, with its standard camouflage of blue and gray, stole her breath. He was an attractive man, the slightest hint of silver around his temples adding a pleasant imperfection she couldn’t help but find alluring.
    She had to keep her distance from him, build a barrier between them in order to keep him from ripping her heart out when he whisked the girls away—and tearing the rest of her to shreds in the process. The last six months had changed her, more than just turning her into a stand-in mother. She’d realized her calling, and it was with the girls. Being burned out with accounting was a blessing, because it had brought her this makeshift family for a short time.
    Piece by piece she folded the laundry, and with each article of clothing she tried to form the walls around her before Mac returned. She needed a game plan, something that would give her the advantage when she faced him with her desire to keep the children, to raise them as her own. If she went at him with the rage that burned within her, it would get them nowhere. She had to prove she was a better option for them than he was, otherwise they’d be off to Virginia before she even got a court date. Every ounce of her knew that if they left Texas, she’d never see the girls again.
    She heard a small cough, and looked up from stacking the freshly folded laundry in the basket to find Mac standing near the doorway. Stonewashed jeans slung low on his hips, encasing his legs to show hints of the toned thigh muscles beneath the denim. The gray T-shirt with bright blue Navy across the chest had her fingers itching to run along the contours of his body. She thought he looked good in uniform, but in plain clothes he looked even better. She bet he was irresistible naked. Every muscle in his body was toned to rock-hard perfection and his tanned skin highlighted each feature. Overall, he was one fine specimen of manhood. Not to mention he probably had a woman at every port.
    “Mind if I join you?”
    “Please.” She nodded to the recliner beside her. “If I’m lucky, the girls will sleep for another hour, so you can rest if you want. I mean, from what Mr. Batty said, you were on your way back from military duty, so you must have come straight here after you arrived. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
    “My squad was out for training. They returned Thursday, while I stayed behind to deal with a few things. I