Cami’s Georgia Patriots Romance Collection

by Cami Checketts

  He smiled. “No, I’m sure you don’t either, but I was pretty groggy and out of it, and the last thing I remembered was you at my side, promising you wouldn’t leave. Then I heard voices, and someone was kissing me. I remember thinking how the kiss was lacking but thought we were both just exhausted, and I wrongly assumed it was you. I’m so sorry.”

  Shar stared at him, trying to process what he was telling her. He hadn’t meant to kiss Meredith. He probably thought Shar was the biggest jerk for leaving him.

  Folding her arms across her chest, she bit at her lip and said, “I’m sorry too, Mike. I was like a zombie that day and so confused and upset. Seeing you kissing her and your family all there with her, obviously supporting her, I got … really awkward and embarrassed. I made a horribly wrong assumption, and then, all I wanted was to get out of there.”

  “I can understand that.”

  They stood there staring at each other for a few beats, then she said, “So, what do we do now?”

  Mike smiled and moved closer. Her back was against the wall. “Well, now I think we should most definitely pick up where we left off.”

  Shar’s stomach swirled with heat. “I’m trying to remember where that was again.”

  He bent down closer. “We’d shared some unreal kisses, gone through a life-threatening experience, and you’d promised you wouldn’t leave my side.”

  “Hmm.” She placed her hands on his strong shoulders and sidled in closer. “Those are some pretty good memories, but I’m still at a loss for what we do now.”

  Mike bent down and softly, achingly, brushed his lips over hers. Shar arched up toward him, and he grinned. “I think we can figure it out.”

  Shar wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in tight. “Yeah, I think we can.”

  Then he swept her off her feet, his mouth coming down on hers. His kiss was full of longing and passion. Those beautiful lips she’d dreamt about took possession of hers, and she knew she’d been deluding herself the past month thinking she could be okay without Mike. This man captivated her, and for the first time in her life, she wouldn’t mind putting a man before everything else, including her restaurant.

  Epilogue

  Shar glanced around the crowded suite, high above the Patriots’ stadium. It was the day after Christmas, and the Patriots had just beaten the Giants. Her man had played brilliantly, and she loved hearing from the commentators how he didn’t even show any signs of being injured earlier in the season. Mike and Preston had organized an after-party, holiday get-together in this suite for their families.

  Shar stood with Ally, waiting for Preston and Mike to come up from the showers. All the famous and perfect-looking Steele family members were here, as well as Mike’s distinguished-looking parents and beautiful sisters. Shar had gotten to know his family over the past couple of months, and they’d all been wonderful to her, even Eliza, the sister who was still friends with Mike’s ex, Meredith. Kim and Colt, and even Shar’s parents had joined the party. Everyone was talking, mingling, and filling plates with food from the generous buffet. Shar didn’t mind eating food she hadn’t cooked, but she definitely would’ve made a different sauce for the coconut shrimp.

  Lottie Steele pranced up to them and giggled, “Twins. So freaky.” She laughed and waved her hands at her forehead. Lottie was a gorgeous eighteen-year-old girl who had been born with Down Syndrome. She was extremely high functioning and even ran a charity with her renowned brothers and sisters-in-laws’ help.

  Gunner and Lily were close by, on a short break from saving the world. Gunner looked tough and unfazed by his injury. Lily looked beautiful and didn’t leave his side.

  “Can you tell them apart?” Lily asked.

  Lottie pursed her lips and shook her head. “Nope. Both beautiful princesses.”

  Shar grinned and looped her arm through her sisters. “Ally’s prettier than me,” she said. “That’s how you tell us apart.”

  “I don’t think Mike would say so,” Lottie sung out.

  They all laughed.

  A ruckus at the door announced Mike and Preston. The family all cheered and started hugging and talking excitedly about the game, Christmas, life, etc.

  Shar could hardly wait to get to Mike, but a soft hand on her arm stopped her. She glanced down at Lottie. “What is it, cute girl?”

  Lottie winked slyly at her. “Are you going to kiss Mike Kohler?”

  Shar laughed. “Yes, I am.”

  “Can I watch?” Lottie’s eyes widened with excitement.

  “Sure, stay right by my side.”

  “Let’s do it.” Lottie giggled and waved her hands at her forehead again. Then, she grasped Shar’s hand, and they started through the crowd. Mike spotted them and excused himself from talking to Slade and Mae Steele. Slade had an adorable, newborn girl in his arms, and Mae had a t-shirt on that said, “Mom life: #supertired #superlate #superworthit.”

  Mike hurried their way, and Shar found herself tugging Lottie faster. Mike reached them, swept her off the ground, and then hugged her tightly against him. “Hey, beautiful.”

  “Where’s the kiss?” Lottie demanded.

  Mike looked down at their audience of one and grinned. “You want to watch a kiss?”

  “Yeah, make it a doozy, Mike Kohler.”

  “I can do that.” Mike bent and captured Shar’s lips with his own. The kiss was all-encompassing and definitely a doozy. Shar heard the wedding march when it finished. She shook her head to clear it from her silly fantasies, but Pachelbel’s Canon in D was still playing.

  Mike smiled down at her and tenderly traced his hand along her jaw.

  “Now, ask her,” Lottie demanded.

  Shar wondered what Lottie was saying, but Mike winked at her as if they had some secret plan. “What’s with the song?” Shar asked.

  Mike laughed. “That’s Ally’s doing.”

  Shar glanced around, and everyone was staring at them with expectant smiles. She focused back on Mike. “Does everyone know something I don’t know?”

  He nodded and dropped to one knee, clasping her hand in his. “Shar Heathrow. I love your laugh, your loyalty, your kisses, and your crazy sense of humor. Please make me the happiest man in the world, and marry me?”

  “Like marry you this very moment?” Shar asked, still confused by the song and everyone staring at them.

  “No, you dum-dum,” Lottie sighed in exaggeration. “You’ve got to get the pretty dress first. Just kiss him right now, and say yes. Marry later.”

  Shar laughed, embarrassed. “I got it, thanks, Lottie.”

  She bent down low and kissed Mike long and slow. She heard a few whistles and catcalls, but ignored them. “Yes, I’ll marry you,” she said against his lips.

  Mike slid the ring on her finger, stood quickly, and swung her around before setting her on her feet and kissing her with all the passion and love she’d come to expect from this amazing, dedicated man.

  “Now, you’re cooking,” Lottie said from beside them.

  Shar and Mike finally broke apart and started receiving congratulations from family and friends, Lottie first of all. Shar could hardly wait to get the pretty dress and marry Mike. But this moment, these people she loved, and most of all, Mike, were just about perfect.

  The Committed Warrior

  Glancing around the quiet restaurant, Lily startled as she saw a man sitting in the corner booth. He was incredibly handsome with dark coloring, a well-trimmed beard, and a muscular frame, but he was also watching her intently. It wasn’t a creepy look, more of a gaze of either interest in her, or possibly recognition. Aw, shoot. She hated when someone put together whose daughter she was, even worse when it was a man that good-looking, because she wouldn’t let herself flirt with someone who knew who she was. No, strike that; she wouldn’t flirt with anyone who wanted a claim to fame because they’d figured out her lineage.

  It was the one luxury she allowed herself—flirting with handsome men. She rarely dated, as safety was her highest
priority, and though she’d won every fight she’d been in, she never underestimated anyone or put herself in stupid positions; but flirting she liked, a lot. Tugging at her long braid, she hoped she looked presentable after rushing around a hot kitchen for hours. She’d given up on makeup, fancy haircuts, and manicures years ago, one more way to spite her mother, but she liked to be clean and presentable.

  Lily gave him a forced smile that he barely returned. That worried her even more. If he was interested in dating her he’d smile or wink or something. This man appeared much too tough and serious. It was unsettling. She turned and hurried back into the kitchen.

  Hanging up her apron, she called to the owners Kristen and James, “I’m out. See you tomorrow for lunch.”

  “Be safe,” they both returned.

  She smiled. They had no clue how many different places she’d lived over the past six years, some of them very un-safe, or the fact that she’d been trained by her bodybuilder of a nanny behind her mother’s back and taken a variety of self-defense classes throughout the past six years. She was capable of protecting herself.

  “I always am.” She hurried back out into the restaurant before they could fuss about her anymore. The man in the corner booth caught her eye again. Sarah the waitress closing tonight should come wait on him, he’d be fine, but when their gazes caught she felt an unfamiliar connection to him. Maybe it was because he seemed to know her, but it might be something much more intriguing. His very build shouted safety and protection, unless he wasn’t on your team, and his dark eyes tugged at her. She could see herself becoming a fan of this man.

  Forcing herself to walk through the restaurant and past the deli counter, she exchanged goodbyes with the girls manning the counter and burst through the front door into the dry Idaho summer heat. It was after seven-thirty, but it stayed light until close to nine in late August. She’d be fine with daylight on the thirteen-mile ride to her lakeside home. Well, home was a loose word, but she loved her little camp trailer.

  Walking around the side of the building, she found her commuter bike propped right where she’d left it and undid the lock. The lock was pretty superfluous in this little town, but habits were hard to break, and she didn’t want to risk losing this bike. It was a good one and had taken her months to save up for, costing almost a thousand dollars.

  As she pushed it toward the road, the front door of the deli opened, and the man from the corner booth strode out. The air suddenly became oppressively hot as she couldn’t tear her eyes from him. The way he walked was like he was the world, so confident and appealing, yet not posturing or trying to put on airs. His very presence made her heart race. His dark gaze focused in on her, and he didn’t play any games. He walked right up to her, stopped a foot away and said, “Hey.”

  Lily clung to her bike, so she didn’t tip over. His sculpted muscles were semi-hidden by a soft t-shirt but nothing could fully disguise a build like that. His face was smooth and tanned with just enough facial hair to make her want to touch it and see if it was soft or rough. How would it feel if she simply brushed her cheek against it?

  Instead of asking him if she could touch his cheek with her own, she sputtered out. “Are you just in charge of the whole world, military boy?” He was many maturity levels above a boy but teasing was imperative right now.

  His eyes registered surprise, but he gave her a slight smile. “If I was, I’d ask you to dinner.”

  Lily’s breath rushed out in a half-laugh, half-longing sigh. “Oh, you would, would you?” She flipped her long hair and pushed a hip out. “And where would you take me on said dinner, oh, hot and mighty one?”

  His smile only grew slightly, but she could sense she amused him; he was simply a serious one. Ooh, he’d be fun to break.

  He pointed back at the restaurant. “This place had fabulous reviews on Trip Advisor.”

  “Hmm. But I get food for free there so that’s a pretty lame date.”

  His chin lifted, and his smile became a fraction more generous. She was going to have to work for a grin. Work, she could do. He was so tough and almost solemn, reinforcing her suspicions of a military background. He tilted his head across the street. “Should we try Big J’s instead?” It was obvious from the sound of his voice he wasn’t too impressed with what looked like an ordinary fast-food restaurant.

  “Oh, I think I’ve got your number. You’ve traveled the world and think a simple fast-food dive is below you?” She arched an eyebrow and dared him to challenge her. He simply lifted a shoulder. “You’ll have to be schooled then. It is completely unacceptable to use that tone of voice with Big J’s. Their bacon cheeseburger could make you sing, and they have a pizza bomb that I’m salivating about just saying the words.” He was making her salivate, but she didn’t want to let on. What was a man like this doing showing up in her small town? She didn’t know everybody in the valley, but she would bet all twenty-seven of the hundred-dollar bills she’d worked so hard to stash in her trailer that he wasn’t a local.

  “Salivate?” His gaze traveled over her face and truly made her salivate for more. “I’ll have to try both of them then. You in?”

  She was incredibly tempted, but it was a long bike ride in the late summer heat, and she didn’t prefer doing it in the dark. There was no way she’d let this man take her home, and she hated to put James out as he lived the other direction of where she needed to go, up a beautiful canyon called Cub River.

  “Not tonight, but thanks for the offer.” She smiled and pushed her bike away, hating to walk away from such appeal.

  “Are you working tomorrow?” he said to her back.

  She glanced over her shoulder. “I’ve got the lunch shift.” Yes! He wanted to see her again.

  “When do you get off?”

  She wanted him to smile fully. He was much too serious, no matter how much she teased. Still she saw no harm in getting to know him a little bit, maybe a date or two, maybe a kiss or two. His lips were a firm, manly line that she wouldn’t mind a taste of.

  “Four,” she admitted.

  “I’ll be waiting for you right here. Then I can salivate …” He actually gave her a larger smile. “Over the pizza bomb.”

  “What if I’m not ready to salivate?” she asked, winking sassily at him.

  He shrugged. “Then I’ll be waiting the next day, and the next day … until you decide you are ready.”

  “Persistent, aren’t you?”

  He actually chuckled and grinned. The combination robbed the oxygen from her body. “Handsome” didn’t do justice to this man when he grinned.

  “You have no idea,” he said.

  “I guess we’ll see if tomorrow’s your lucky day.”

  He sobered and stared deeply into her eyes. “I guess we will.”

  The moment seemed to draw out between them, and Lily was lost in the depths of his dark gaze. This man had seen the world and the pain that was in it. Lily wanted to hold his hand and help him to see the happiness that was in it too. She hadn’t known that happiness until she escaped her mother’s clutches and found real people and the good Lord. Could she help him?

  * * *

  Keep Reading The Committed Warrior here.

  Her Dream Date Boss

  Mae Delaney refastened her long, dark hair into its standard ponytail, pushed her large glasses firmly into place, smoothed down one of her favorite T-shirts, and made sure the screen angle didn’t show she was in yoga pants at two p.m. She ran some pineapple lip gloss over her lips and practiced her smile in the mirror. “Look at you, you stinking hottie. You’re going to slaughter him.” The self-talk helped a tiny bit. She was the furthest thing from hot, and her thick glasses made it impossible to see her dark eyes, which her best friend, Kit, reassured her were her best feature.

  Her stomach fluttering, she pushed the button on video chat to call Slade Steele: the most charming and handsome man on the planet, owner of Steele Wholesale Lending, and her boss.

  Slade’s perfectly sculpted face filled t
he screen, complemented by his deep brown eyes with lashes longer than her own and a trimmed beard that only served to highlight his intriguing lips. He was gorgeous but so down-to-earth and kind. She scoured the internet nightly for Slade Steele sightings. Over the last few months, she’d seen him on humanitarian trips with his church, helping a child who’d lost his mom at a hockey game, taking his beautiful little sister who had Down syndrome to the premiere of a chick flick, and playing rugby with teenage boys at the park. In one of the rugby pictures, he’d had his shirt off. She sighed inadvertently.

  “Hi, Mae. How are you today?”

  “If I was any better, I’d be exalted already,” she said.

  He chuckled. “Well, lucky for me, you’re still on this planet.”

  “Lucky, lucky you. Do you ever stop and thank the good Lord that you get the blessing of talking to me most days of the week?”

  He grinned. “Yes, ma’am, I do.” His eyes trailed over her T-shirt, and he read it out loud. “People in sleeping bags … are the soft tacos of the bear world.” Chuckling, he said, “Does that mean you have an aversion to tacos?”

  “No, sir. I like tacos. I just don’t want to be a taco.”

  He grinned. “Good to know.”

  All of Mae’s nerves settled, replaced with a deep longing to track him down, throw herself against his well-formed chest, kiss him good and long, and tell him she’d loved him for almost two years now. Then maybe they could go for tacos. But thinking about his well-formed chest … Could she touch it at their first meeting, or would that be an inappropriate action for a good Christian girl? She’d never really dated, so she had no idea. Hmm. It might be worth it. She might not get exalted as quickly, but she could repent later.

  “Mae. Mae?”

  “What? What just happened? Is it hot in here?” She fanned her face.

  Slade laughed. “I’m not sure what your weather is like in Sausalito, so I have no idea. It’s steamy hot in Boston.”