The Right to Bear Arms: BBW Military Paranormal Romance (Wild Operatives, #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

toward the leftover potato salad on his plate. “Now that’s cooking. I try, hence having all the groceries for it, but it’s a hot mess when I’m done.  You can’t buy food like this from the store. ”
    “Yes, you can. It’s called the deli at Wal-Mart.”
    Russ shot me a look, but his good-natured amusement showed through his faux grimace. “That’s not what I meant. I mean, sure you can buy a tub of it from the store, but it’ll never taste the same as a meal made with love in your own kitchen.”
    “I’ll agree with you there.” Russ and I chatted into the evening until the threat of mosquitoes chased us inside. There, he opened a bottle of peach brandy and we talked longer about our families — or rather, my huge family and his lack of one. Trigger wriggled in beside me and laid his head in my lap the whole time we talked.
    “I’m sorry, Russ... I knew you were a widower, but I didn’t know it was so recent.”
    A hint of a sad smile touched his lips. “Two years ain’t that recent. Not really. I sold the house after that, put in for my retirement, and moved out this way for the privacy. The big home and picket fence was always what Katie wanted anyway.”
    And now he lived alone with his dog. My heart ached for the man who had served his country for two decades, only to lose the woman who mattered most to him. Life wasn’t fair, and Russ’ circumstances were a prime example of the universe’s cruelty.
    Our talk turned to happier topics after that, and he told me stories about my landlord. Apparently, he and Ian were fishing buddies who met first as neighbors while living in military housing. Later, they served together in a unique cross-branch squad that wasn’t known to the public by name.
    “So you were sort of like... what? Delta Force? Seal Team 6?” He sounded sexier and sexier by the second. I imagined him in complete combat armor, a military grade shotgun in his hands, moving in formation with a group of similarly equipped soldiers. My breath caught in my throat.
    “You could call it that. I can’t say a whole lot about it, but I can say we did a lot of good here at home and in the Middle East. I retired as a Master Sergeant, but I’m kinda still on contract. When I retired, I agreed to let them recall me as needed.”
    I didn’t even realize how late it had gotten until my phone buzzed. I silenced the call from my sister and gaped at the time.
    “Wow, it’s eight already. I should probably get going, just let me help you get everything cleaned up.”
    “You cooked it; I’ll handle the dishes.” His lazy grin made my heart speed into a gallop. Looking as good as he did in a t-shirt and jeans, lounging in an armchair, should be illegal.
    “Sorry, bud, you’re gonna have to let me up now.” Trigger whined and didn’t budge, content to remain where he was. I laughed and scratched his head. “I’ll rub your ears again next time.”
    Because I really hoped there would be a next time.
    Trigger padded off and Russ walked me out. He held the door for me like a gentleman.
    “I had fun today, Russ, thank you.”
    “I’m real glad you dropped by.”
    Maybe we had the same thing on our minds when I stood on the front porch, wringing my hands together, fretting, and doubting myself. When his lips touched mine, a jolt of electricity shot through me and a warm feeling zipped right to my core, reminding me of how long it had been since the last time I’d gotten laid. A year almost?
    No, I told myself firmly. You are not going to try to fuck this man on the first date. I set some limits in my head as we separated. In reality, the kiss hadn’t been as long as it seemed in my mind and nothing more than the corners of our mouths had touched. In fact, I was positive he’d been aiming for my cheek, but I had turned my head like an idiot.
    Once I finished mentally cursing myself, I put a sunny smile on my face and let the memory of his lips bolster my confidence. Just as I planned to