Operation Willow Quest Read Online Free PDF

all think about it.”
    “Is that concern I hear, Sheldon?”
    “It’s common sense.” She pointed at his leg.
“How many close calls can you expect to get away with?”
    “Spoken like a true hypocrite.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “I don’t recall you   being too cautious when
you went stumbling about in a Cambodian jungle not so long ago, courtesy of your   occupation.”
    Willow ’s eyes hardened at the
memory. “We were talking about your   occupation,” she pointed out stiffly.
    “What is it you have against Marines anyway?” Del asked, placing his
empty beer bottle back on the table and reaching for another.
    “I don’t have anything against Marines; I said
they weren’t my thing.”
    “So enlighten me, Sheldon, what would be your thing ?” Del
asked, looking up as he slowly twisted the lid off the bottle.
    Willow let her gaze drift
back out over the blanket of dark ocean spread out below them. “I don’t have a
thing.”
    Del gave an unconvinced
chuckle. “Everyone’s got a thing. I’ll tell you what mine is, if you tell me what
yours is,” he offered with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
    Willow tipped her head
slightly, to look at him. “I already know what your type is, Delaware—anything female, with a pulse.”
    Giving a low whistle through his teeth, Del eased back in his
seat, watching her thoughtfully. “Actually, nowadays I’m a little more
particular. I like tallish brunettes, with a sassy mouth.”
    “Then you’re destined for disappointment,
aren’t you?”
    “Oh, I don’t know ’bout that. I like my
chances,” he told her, oozing confidence.
    Willow stared at him doubtfully, but refrained from answering. There was no point
arguing; he seemed to enjoy provoking her. “Well, you and your deluded reality can stay out here and entertain each other.
I’m going to bed.”
    “Sweet dreams, Sheldon,” he called after her as
she crossed the deck and slid the door shut behind her.
    She could only wish for sweet
dreams—unfortunately, the only kind she had were of the bitter variety.
    * * * *
    Willow walked out of her room
and saw Del
glance up and follow her progress across the room with his ever-watchful gaze.
She tried to ignore the warmth she sensed as his gaze trailed across her skin,
scoffing at her overactive imagination.
    She came to a standstill as she took in the
precious bundle he gently cradled in his arms. There was something so vulnerable
and heart-wrenching about watching a big man hold such a tiny baby. Her throat
tightened and she had to turn away before he caught a glimpse of the weird
emotion that stung her eyes and wet her lashes.
    “I came out to start dinner, but you’ve beaten
me to it,” Willow
chided her sister, as she watched her putter around the kitchen.
    She shrugged. “I found a baby sitter,” she said
with a grin towards Del
standing in the doorway.
    “So I see,” Willow murmured, her gaze skittering towards
the wide chest and big hands. Looking up, she took a slow breath as he watched
her steadily—a small smile tilting his lips and an expression in his eye she
found difficult to read.
    She turned away and began chopping tomatoes and
shredding lettuce in an effort to keep from thinking about Peter Delaware and
his annoying habit of throwing her off balance.
    Emily began to fuss not too long afterward, and
Summer left to feed her, leaving Del and Willow alone in the kitchen.
    Willow was uncomfortably
aware he was watching her from his position across the kitchen where he was leaning
against the bench, his arms folded across his chest. She clenched her jaw and
forced herself to concentrate.
    “Do you want kids, Sheldon?” he asked, breaking
the silence and her concentration—enough for the knife to slip and cut her
finger. With a startled gasp she cradled her injured finger in her other hand
and squeezed tight. Del
was beside her before she knew it, taking her hand and putting it under running
water in the sink. Willow
sent him a glare, which