Possession: A Little Harmless Military Romance by Melissa Schroeder Page A

left tonight.”
    “And somehow I ended up over here. How did that happen?”
    Mitchell gave him a drunken smile. “Cuz I saw you coming out of the condo and I thought I’d offer to help to get you as far away from my sister as possible.”
    “I hate to tell you this, Mitch, but you suck at pushing me away from your sister.”
    “I know. But then, I didn’t realize what a sap you are.”
    “What?”
    “A sap. God, you looked like someone had stolen your puppy when you came out of the condo. First, you looked pissed, but I could tell it was more. It is a bit disconcerting seeing a man so head over heels in love with my sister. So, I figured I would give you a break.”
    “You should try it, you know.”
    “What?”
    “Love.”
    He snorted. “There is a little too much truth to what my sister says. I’m not made for long term. Maybe after the military.”
    Deke opened his mouth, but his brother decided to inject himself into the conversation. “So, you aren’t dating Zoe, right? Because I’d like to spend some time with her while I’m here.”
    “I said you need to watch yourself,” Mitchell said as he rose.
    “Gentlemen, I think we should avoid arguments when drinking. It only ends up—”
    Mitchell threw the first punch before Deke could finish the sentence. With a sigh, he took a sip of beer and waited to see who won the fight. Either way, the women in his life, his mother and Samantha, would be pissed if one of them got hurt. And he would be blamed.
    Today was just turning out to be a pisser.
     
    *  *  *  *
     
    The doorbell rang at seven in the morning on Saturday, and Samantha hurried to answer it. The only person she knew who would show up that early was Deke. When she looked through the peephole, she was disappointed to find her brother on the other side. She opened the door and frowned. He looked like hell. His skin was gray, he hadn’t brushed his hair, and he was wearing sunglasses.
    “What the hell are you doing up so early if you’re hung over?”
    Even though she couldn’t see his eyes, she knew he winced.
    “Get in here.” She pulled him into the condo. “You’re too old for this.”
    “Blame Deke and that devil of a brother he has.”
    “Diablo…Deke? What do they have to do with this?”
    “We were drinking last night.”
    Zoe came out wearing her scrubs. “Oh, poor baby. Did you have a little too much to drink last night?”
    The last was said loud enough to hurt Sam’s head.
    “Quit being mean. He said he was with Deke and Diablo last night.”
    “They’re still there.”
    “At your house?”
    “Yeah, I left them there. Well, Diablo was passed out on the floor. Deke was probably out running a hundred miles or something.”
    Deke always could hold his liquor, but she figured pointing that out wasn’t going to get her anywhere.
    “Did you go out?” Zoe asked as she took Mitchell’s arm and walked him into the living room.
    “No, we just drank at my house. I think there was an argument. Then we were singing something, then I woke up this morning.”
    Zoe eased him down on the couch then set her hands on her hips and looked at him. “I’ll take pity on you and get you a cure made up. Old Anderson recipe. And some ice for your head.”
    She gave Sam a look that told her she was giving them some time alone. “What are you doing here?”
    “You need to take him back.”
    That took her back. “Why?”
    “He loves you.”
    She shook her head. “That doesn’t matter.”
    “Could you sit down so I don’t have to look up? It’s making me kind of sick.”
    She sat on the ottoman in front of the couch.
    “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome. Now, tell me why I should take him back?”
    “He talked a lot last night. About you. About the baby.”
    “Deke? Talked?”
    “Yeah, he adores you, you know? I have never seen a man who wanted a woman more than he does.”
    “He left.”
    “Before. Not now.”
    “He always leaves when it gets hard.”
    “I am sure he