Cammie studied Finn’s body language. He smiled and appeared to be making small talk to Heather and the cashier, but she knew by the rigid set of his shoulders, the cowboy was not comfortable.
Should she intervene? He already thought she was a control freak. Still, just as it was in her genetic make-up not to be rude, she also couldn’t sit back and do nothing when someone needed rescuing. She was a Marine.
Squaring her shoulders, Cammie walked to the register with his mother in tow. When she reached the group, she stepped close to Finn and slipped her arm around the cowboy’s waist. “All set?”
Finn looked down at her, a measure of relief flashing through his eyes. “Yep, we’re good to go.” He dropped an arm around her shoulder, then turned to Heather. “It was nice seeing you again.”
He took her hand and they walked out and down the sidewalk. Cammie could tell by his stiff touch the cowboy’s sour mood had returned.
When they reached the truck, he held the door open for her and his mother to climb inside. Once they were settled with the bags on their laps, he slammed the door with a little more force than necessary.
His mother flinched. Cammie sighed.
It was going to be a long drive back.
****
When did I lose control of my life?
Oh, right, that would be when she had agreed to help her C.O. and wound up in a fake engagement to his brother.
His Cowboy-Sexy brother.
His Navy SEAL brother.
A brother who didn’t care for Marines.
A brother she was beginning to like a little too much.
Cammie secured the twisted rope strap of her party dress around her neck and continued to think about the man getting ready in the next room.
After their trip into town yesterday, Finn had disappeared out on the ranch somewhere and was quiet when he returned after dinner. Rose had apologized, but Cammie understood the man needed time alone to work through his thoughts.
She only wished she could work.
It had been two days since she had done any manual labor thanks to this party. Yesterday afternoon and today, Rose and Aunt Lettie had monopolized her time with details the sisters where more than capable of handling. But, Cammie couldn’t hurt their feelings by abandoning them to work in the stables. She would be glad when it was over and things got back to normal tomorrow.
Normal. She snickered. More like abnormal, but she’d take it. Anything was better than what lay ahead of her today. She had to lie to people she didn’t know, and just because she didn’t know them didn’t make the prospect any easier or right.
Finn knocked on the bathroom door. “Cammie, do you want me to wait for you or head down?”
“You go ahead,” she responded, still needing to get ready. “I’ll meet you downstairs.”
“Okay.”
A few seconds later, Cammie heard the bedroom door shut, then silence. She turned back to her reflection and sighed. Like it or not, this party was happening, so she might as well get it over with.
She finished her make-up, secured her twisted hair with a clip at the back of her head, then headed downstairs. She was just stepping off the last step when Rose met her in the foyer like that first night.
“Here she is,” Rose exclaimed, rushing forward. “This is my soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Cammie.”
Déjà vu all over again.
Her hostess linked their arms and drew her into the open gathering room, bursting with people, including two small children.
Was she late? She glanced to the clock on the wall. No. She was twenty minutes early. And so apparently, was their company.
Where was Finn?
Her gaze found and locked onto the handsome cowboy near the wet bar again, surrounded by handshaking, back-slapping well-wishers. Cammie’s pulse tripped. Her fiancé was wearing navy pants and a white buttoned-down shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, top two buttons undone. Cowboy-Sexy minus the Stetson still equaled Cowboy-Sexy. The man was hot.
As if sensing her scrutiny, he glanced her way, and did a double-take.
Chapter Nine
Finn’s gaze dropped to her feet and slowly traveled over her tingling body. Breathing became difficult. Maybe because Cammie had stopped breathing altogether when unmitigated admiration lit his eyes.
“This is, Cammie,” his mother was saying, pulling her to the next relative.
With Cowboy-Sexy’s spell broken, her head was back in the game. She smiled, shook hands and received several big hugs from quite a few aunts and uncles, and more than a handful of cousins. She greeted Clint, Aunt Lettie and Uncle Bo and barely caught her breath when a pretty little girl of about four years old stepped forward.
“Hi. I’m Maddie,” she said, little hand outstretched. “Short for Maddison.”
Cammie knelt down to look the beautiful child in the eyes and shook her hand. “Hi, Maddie. I’m Cammie, short for Camilla.”
“Oh, that’s pretty. You’re pretty,” the tiny sweetheart added, touching Cammie’s hair. The clip fell out and wave after wave tumbled down her back. Maddie’s eyes grew wide. “I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay.” Cammie swiped the clip off the floor and placed it on a nearby coffee table. “I don’t think it would’ve stayed anyway.”
Maddie ran her little fingers through the dark curtain covering Cammie’s shoulder.
“You have pretty hair.”
“Thank you, Maddie.” She smiled. “You know, I just love your dress.”
Strawberry blond hair bobbed when she looked down at her pink flowered sundress, then swished when she twirled in a circle. “I picked it out myself.”
“You did a great job,” she told her and promptly received a hug.
Tears burned Cammie’s eyes and throat as she soaked in the sweetheart’s innocent, giving nature. Her own child would’ve been a year-and-a-half. She’d been denied these hugs and smiles, laughter and kisses.
But now wasn’t the time to dwell.
She hugged the little girl back and stood, refusing to breakdown in front of a room full of her commanding officer’s family.
“And this is Maddie’s little brother, Jonathan. He’s thirteen months old today.” Aunt Lettie proudly handed her grandson to Cammie.
The little tyke was heavier than expected. She balanced him on her hip, caught his shy gaze and grinned. “Well, aren’t you just the cutest thing?”
Biting on his index finger, he shook his head and gave her a bashful smile.
“Yes you are,” she insisted, unable to resist tickling his tummy.
Beautiful brown eyes, bright with joy melted her heart.
He cackled and demanded, “Mo’.”
Cammie tickled him again and was rewarded with more giggles. She pushed her sadness aside and enjoyed the cheerfulness both children had to offer.
“You know, Jonathan, you’re one lucky little boy. You have Maddie for a big sister,” she said, slowly kneeling in front of the smiling girl. “He’s going to look up to you, Maddie, and learn by watching what you do. Why, I bet even now he’s trying to walk after you.”
“He is. How’d ya know?”
“Because he’s smart like his big sister.”
“I am smart,” the little girl stated proudly. “My mommy said so.”
Laughter erupted from those listening in.
“You’re mommy is right,” Cammie reassured, then leaned closer. “You know what else? You’re also lucky to have Jonathan as your little brother. I wish I had one.”
Surprise widened those big beautiful brown eyes again. “You don’t have a brother?”
Cammie shook her head.
“How about a sister?”
“Nope. Just me.”
The little girl looked at her brother a moment, then to Cammie. “I can share Jonathan with you. He likes you, so I’m sure it would be okay.”
The sweet child’s unexpected, selfless gift was nearly Cammie’s undoing.
“Thank you, sweetheart,�
� she choked out.
First Lieutenant Camilla Walker never ran from adversity. She was a survivor. She survived two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. She survived the explosion that took her fiancé and their unborn child, and she just survived the settling of her mother’s estate. No. Running was not in her vocabulary.
But it had been a very long and trying week, and she was wearing out the last of her reserves. She needed a break. She needed to regroup. She needed to lick her wounds in private.
Out of nowhere, Finn was by her side, swooping the little girl into his arms.
“That’s an awfully nice offer, Maddie.” He extended his free hand to Cammie, helping her to her feet. “But Cammie’s a little too…old to be your sister.”
Grateful for the cowboy’s intervention and firm, steady grip on her hand, she took an extra second for herself by keeping her gaze on the little boy, happily running his hand in and out of her loose hair.
Once she felt better, she turned to the four-year-old and found her looking completely at ease in Finn’s arms. The sight caught Cammie off guard.
Where was the sullen ex-SEAL?
Gone was the grim shroud and guarded expression, and in its place was an open, compassionate face.
“But, you can be our friend, right?”
Maddie’s question brought Cammie out of that damn cowboy-sexy haze. She released Finn’s hand to touch the little girl’s rosy cheek.
“Absolutely. I’d like that.”
The four-year-old beamed.
“I’m glad you’re marrying Finn.”
What in the world could she say to that?
Me, too, and Here, here, resounded around the room from everyone except Cammie and Finn.
She looked up at the cowboy and was a little saddened to see some of the shroud had returned. But that was okay. He had his own way of dealing with the mess her C.O. had created. None of this was real, and she needed to keep that in mind as she accepted well-wishes and made small talk.
An hour and a half later, the party grew and spilled into the backyard. Red roses added just the right splash of color to the round tables covered in white linen dotting the large patio. A long, white buffet table bordered the house laden with enough food to feed a Battalion. The aromas emanating from the trays made Cammie’s stomach growl, but it was the sight in the far corner that caught and held her attention.
A chocolate fountain.
Her mouth watered. Though addicted to the confection, she dutifully curbed her chocolate desire and stood in the food line with Finn instead. Desert would have to wait.
They were chatting to one of his many cousins when three large, muscular men emerged from the house.
“Finnvincible!” one of the men hollered as the group approached.
Finnvincible?
Cammie nearly choked on the grape she’d plopped in her mouth. Yet the name was perfect. Finn was invincible. She turned to get a better look at the newcomers.
Finn began to call out, “T-bone! Ramrod and—”
“Maddog,” Cammie finished for him.
All four men stopped to stare at her.
“Cammie?” Maddog blinked, his stunned expression turning to joy as the tall, muscular man lifted her off the ground and twisted her in a circle. “I don’t believe it.”
“Me either,” Ramrod piped in, replacing Maddog for another twisting hug. “It’s great to see you!” The man of equal build set her back on her feet. “What are you doing here?”
“Cammie is my fiancée.”
Finn dropped an arm around her shoulder, his expression hovering between possessive and confused.
“No way!” Ramrod smiled, cupping the cowboy’s shoulder. “Damn, Finn. You’re one lucky man.”
“Yeah.” Maddog nodded, shaking Finn’s hand. “I’m so relieved. I thought we were going to come here and find you re-engaged to that heartless bi—I mean, chick.” Maddog’s gaze shifted to her and he smiled. “Cammie would’ve stood by you. She’s a keeper.”
Finn’s arm stiffened around her, but when she looked sideways at him, he was giving Maddog a smiling nod.
T-bone stepped forward and held out his hand. “Seems my brothers have an advantage over me. My name is Tim Bonner, T-bone for short.”
Liking him instantly, Cammie grasped his hand and smiled.
“Hi, T-bone. I’m Camilla Walker, but everyone calls me Cammie.”
Finn looked down at her, his expression quizzical as his gaze bounced from her to the guys, then back again.
“How in the world do you know these two delinquents?”
She kept her smile in place. “They did a few missions with Tom.”
“Yeah, the three of us went through training together,” Ramrod explained.
“Oh, that’s right.” Finn rubbed his chin with his free hand. “You two were part of SEAL Team Seven before you joined T-bone and I on Team Three.”
“Yes.” Maddog’s gaze turned serious as he stared at her. “Tom was a great guy. I’m really glad you found yourself another one.”
Cammie nodded, feeling like a hypocrite. She hated lying to these guys and hated the mockery it made of her real engagement three years ago.
“I’m the lucky one,” the cowboy said, gazing at her like he meant it.
She reminded herself they were only play acting and that he had to say that to keep up appearances. Tamping down feelings trying to unsettle, she shook off her guilt and melancholy. Cammie knew coming into this party what role she had to play. Time to step up. These men were no push-overs. They knew how to weed out the truth. Their lives depended on it.
“Thank you for enlightening me on the Finnvincible nickname.” She summoned the courage to run her gaze up Cowboy-Sexy’s delectable body, then cupped his chin, looked into those mesmerizing blue eyes of his and added, “He’s certainly all that,” before kissing him full on the lips.
Cammie had to admit, that was the one part of their charade where she didn’t have to act. She enjoyed touching him, kissing him, perhaps a little too much.
The group whistled and hooted and just as she was about to pull away, Finn crushed her closer and deepened the kiss. Damn, the cowboy didn’t play fair, or maybe he wasn’t playing either. She didn’t know what was more unsettling, the way her body came to life under his touch, or the way his body came to life under hers.
His skin was hot and body hard. All of him. He held her so tight she could feel every delicious inch of him below his belt. By the time they broke for air, he had successfully stolen the strength from her legs and Cammie was thankful his strong arms still held her close. It wasn’t just his friend’s who were clapping and hooting now.
She buried her face in his neck and whispered, “Damn, Navy, you really pack a punch.”
His chuckle trembled through her and she had to fight to keep the threatening haze at bay.
“Right back at you, Marine.”
She drew back slightly and held his smoldering gaze.
“Okay you two, you’d better cool it, or we’ll have to throw water on you.”
Ramrod’s teasing garnered laughs from the crowd and caused the cowboy’s veil to return.
The SEAL’s words were meant to be funny, but they were every bit as effective as actual water to Cammie. Happy to have the feeling return to her limbs, she pulled away, but held on to Finn’s hand for show.
“Wait a minute,” she said, pointing to Finn. “He’s the squid, not me.”
For the next hour, Cammie grilled the men about Finn and he could do nothing about it. His fiancée would naturally want to know about his SEAL days. She already knew why he hated the Marines, now was the perfect time to find out why he loved the Navy.
Tom had loved the adrenaline. He had enjoyed the danger as much as the reward, but Finn, she discovered through the men’s recollections, loved helping people. He didn’t do it for medals or promotions. He loved using his abilities, doing what he was trained to do—the impossible—in order to be there for someone in need.
>
The revelation hit home for Cammie. She felt the same way. Helping people was exactly why she loved the Corps.
“You would’ve made a great Marine.”
She regretted the words the instant they left her mouth. Finn’s demeanor changed and the light disappeared from his eyes.
“I’m nothing like a Marine.”
His tone was cold enough to freeze magma and she noticed several of the guys flinch.
“I held my post. I did my job and did not carelessly put others in danger.”
“I know.” She covered his hand with hers, forcing him to lock gazes. “I’m a Marine. Surely you don’t think I did careless things.”
He studied her through narrowed eyes, but said nothing.
“Oh, hell no,” Maddog replied. “Cammie’s much too responsible and too damn good to be careless.”
“That’s right,” a deep voice said from behind. “Lieutenant Walker is a highly decorated Marine, and you don’t get that way by being careless.”
Chapter Ten
Cammie turned to see who had spoken on her behalf then gasped. Two very familiar Marines stood behind her and Finn. Cammie jumped to her feet and shook hands with the older gentleman and young woman.
“Colonel Fisher, Corporal Jennings. So good to see you both. What are you doing here?”
Her stomach tightened. Damn, now she was forced to lie to her friends, too.
“You didn’t think Captain Brennan would allow you to go unrepresented at your engagement party, did you, Lieutenant?”
The colonel’s brow rose to match his upturned mouth.
“Since the corporal and I came back on the advance, we were more than happy to fill in for your C.O.”
“Yeah, and I couldn’t pass the chance to meet the captain’s Navy clone…I mean twin,” Corporal Jennings added with a smile.
The woman was joking, but by the stiff set of Finn’s shoulders as he rose to his feet, Cammie knew the corporal’s humor was lost on him. She laughed, hoping to defuse a potential ugly scene.
“Finn is hardly a clone.”
Cammie touched his chest, praying he would heed the warning in her gaze.
“He’s all Navy cowboy, and he’s all mine.” She turned to her former superior and started the introductions. “Colonel Robert Fisher, may I present Lieutenant Commander Finn Brennan, my fiancé.”
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