Hot for Pepper by Emily Ryan-Davis

 
    1
    U.S. Marine Captain Mitchell Scott turned off the air conditioner and lowered his windows as he passed through the security gate of his stepfather’s estate in Newport News, Virginia. The perfume of late-blooming flowers hung heavy in the humid night air. Hallsford, his stepfather’s mansion, stood proud at the end of the long, winding drive. Lights winked from every window. From some perspectives, Carlton Eaves’ extravagant electricity habits spoke of wealth and wastefulness. From other perspectives, the yellow glow spoke of welcome.
    In the fourteen years since his mother and Carlton married, then swiftly divorced, Mitch had rarely taken advantage of the welcome. Stubbornness, rebellion and school all kept him away at first. After he graduated, the Marines dictated where he went and when. When he did visit, his appearances were brief and guided by two things.
    His loyalty and respect for Carlton Eaves, who’d created Mitch’s first opportunity and paved the way for his military career.
    And his attraction to Pepper Eaves, whose sheltered innocence lured him back to her no matter how long he went between visits, or how many women he tried to put in her place.
    The mere thought of Pepper tightened his muscles with a familiar rush of heat. Mitch guided his SUV into an empty bay in the family garage and worked at blocking her from his mind.
    His stepbrother Andrew Wallace appeared in the door between the garage and the house as Mitch removed his shaving kit and suitcase.
    “I don’t know why you keep coming back,” Andrew said by way of greeting. “There’s nothing you want here.”
    Suppressing his fight instincts, Mitch pocketed his keys and closed the SUV’s hatch. The animosity he and Andrew shared was nothing new. He stared coolly at the other man. “Are you in charge of verifying invitations?”
    “You know that’s not what I mean.” Andrew slid his hands into the pockets of his tailored trousers and gave Mitch a head-to-toe once-over, not bothering to disguise his opinion of Mitch’s well-worn jeans and olive USMC t-shirt. “Candace doesn’t come back. Why do you?”
    “If your name’s ever on the property deed, you can withdraw the invitation.” Mitch held his muscles loose, deliberately neutral, and didn’t break his even tone. Fire on the inside, ice on the outside. Carlton Eaves had given Mitch that mantra, along with a military academy education and a promise of home at Hallsford. Even after divorcing Mitch’s mother and marrying Andrew’s, Carlton hadn’t rescinded his gifts.
    Anger flushed Andrew’s cheekbones. He held Mitch’s eyes, staring him down. Mitch met the challenge, careful with his outward calm. Except for one time, an incident that resulted in a broken nose for Andrew, Mitch had maintained his cool on Hallsford’s grounds. He wouldn’t back down and he wouldn’t discard Carlton’s gifts for the fleeting satisfaction of Andrew’s pain.
    “We’re going to end it this weekend,” his stepbrother finally said.
    Some of Mitch’s ice cracked. “There’s never been anything to end. I fuck women, not men. And never you.”
    Mitch set his course for the door. The other man didn’t move until the last minute, Mitch one stride away from full-body collision. But he did move.
    “I’m not talking about you and me,” Andrew called as Mitch let himself into the house. “I’m talking about Pepper. And you can’t have her. She’ll be engaged before the weekend’s over.”
    Andrew’s parting words hit him with the force of a crossbow bolt at close range. Years of combat training kept him going despite the icy arrow of shock. By the time he reached his room, hot determination burned through the surprise. He was not too late to claim her.
    Twenty minutes later, Mitch dove into a heated lap pool. Adrenaline pumped through his system. He worked it out in the salt-treated water, slicing his way along the lanes. Under normal circumstances he preferred to work off