to bend her rules about being with military men. Not to mention she was too busy trying to slow down her racing heartbeat, cool the heat flowing through her veins as her body responded to Caleb’s touch.
“Stocks are shored up, I’ve got a diversification plan in place, and I’ve promoted three people into key positions to open up communication channels and increase production.”
“Impressive.”
“Necessary.” He held her gaze. “Not just for the thousands of employees we have working for us, but for the future of our family.”
“Your brothers will be grateful that you stepped in, for sure.”
“I didn’t just do this for them,” he said quietly, holding her gaze and tightening his hold. “I did it for us. This is Jason’s legacy as much as it’s mine. I won’t let anyone rob him of his birthright.”
A smidgeon of hope mingled with the flurry of physical sensations pinging through her. Could it be possible that he’d turned a corner? That he might actually want to permanently trade in his Marine uniform for business suits for his family? For her? “What happens when your dad recovers?” she asked, needing to know the answer more than she had ever thought possible.
“I won’t lie,” Caleb said. “A lot depends upon his ability to resume control, but if the government contracts I’ve got in the pipeline come through, I’m committed to guaranteeing their success.”
So there was a chance, albeit small, that he’d stay. For his company. For his family. But he hadn’t outwardly included her in the reasons. However, by the way he looked at her and had opened up about his ambitions, maybe she was already part of the equation.
For now, that glimmer of possibility painted a different picture than she had hoped would happen. Not a fantasy based on schoolgirl wishes and late night dreams. But a reality she could count on.
###
“They sound important,” Hannah said.
Something flickered in her expressive hazel eyes as she contemplated Caleb’s admission. Interest along with a silent beat of unspoken hope. Also a silent question hung between them on a fragile cord. One that would snap if he brought up the new orders he had received this morning from his command post. He wasn’t ready to bring them up now. Not when everything was going so well between them. He’d find a way to make her understand his commitment to the Marines another time. Right now, he only had to prove he wasn’t anything like her ex, and that all military men didn’t end up fucking up their lives after they returned home. He was questioning his next call to duty now that he’d become part of Hannah and Jason’s circle. He loved being with them. They were his family as much as the Marines had become like one to him.
“They are.” Caleb intertwined his fingers with hers. God, her hand felt so right in his. So did the heat that surged through his body. “Gibson Technologies is at the cutting edge of creating new ways to protect our troops—better communications methods, new encryption codes and devices.”
She leaned forward. “How soon will you be able to deliver the product?”
He almost swallowed his tongue. Hannah’s subtle movement exposed a fantastic view of her cleavage and he made out the delicate red lace edging around her bra. He averted his glance, then looked back at her face. Just her face. Nothing more. No way was he going to look... shit. So much for self-restraint. “I wish I could deliver it today,” he managed to say after he calibrated his horny brain to neutral. “If I’d had that stuff out in the field a year ago it would have made a huge difference.”
Now he had to decide if he’d take the opportunity to use his company’s technology out in the battlefield again. Would he answer another call to duty for which he was ideally trained to lead? Risk another drop behind enemy lines with an elite team of warriors? Run another deep cover mission that would mean another two years of zip contact
“Stocks are shored up, I’ve got a diversification plan in place, and I’ve promoted three people into key positions to open up communication channels and increase production.”
“Impressive.”
“Necessary.” He held her gaze. “Not just for the thousands of employees we have working for us, but for the future of our family.”
“Your brothers will be grateful that you stepped in, for sure.”
“I didn’t just do this for them,” he said quietly, holding her gaze and tightening his hold. “I did it for us. This is Jason’s legacy as much as it’s mine. I won’t let anyone rob him of his birthright.”
A smidgeon of hope mingled with the flurry of physical sensations pinging through her. Could it be possible that he’d turned a corner? That he might actually want to permanently trade in his Marine uniform for business suits for his family? For her? “What happens when your dad recovers?” she asked, needing to know the answer more than she had ever thought possible.
“I won’t lie,” Caleb said. “A lot depends upon his ability to resume control, but if the government contracts I’ve got in the pipeline come through, I’m committed to guaranteeing their success.”
So there was a chance, albeit small, that he’d stay. For his company. For his family. But he hadn’t outwardly included her in the reasons. However, by the way he looked at her and had opened up about his ambitions, maybe she was already part of the equation.
For now, that glimmer of possibility painted a different picture than she had hoped would happen. Not a fantasy based on schoolgirl wishes and late night dreams. But a reality she could count on.
###
“They sound important,” Hannah said.
Something flickered in her expressive hazel eyes as she contemplated Caleb’s admission. Interest along with a silent beat of unspoken hope. Also a silent question hung between them on a fragile cord. One that would snap if he brought up the new orders he had received this morning from his command post. He wasn’t ready to bring them up now. Not when everything was going so well between them. He’d find a way to make her understand his commitment to the Marines another time. Right now, he only had to prove he wasn’t anything like her ex, and that all military men didn’t end up fucking up their lives after they returned home. He was questioning his next call to duty now that he’d become part of Hannah and Jason’s circle. He loved being with them. They were his family as much as the Marines had become like one to him.
“They are.” Caleb intertwined his fingers with hers. God, her hand felt so right in his. So did the heat that surged through his body. “Gibson Technologies is at the cutting edge of creating new ways to protect our troops—better communications methods, new encryption codes and devices.”
She leaned forward. “How soon will you be able to deliver the product?”
He almost swallowed his tongue. Hannah’s subtle movement exposed a fantastic view of her cleavage and he made out the delicate red lace edging around her bra. He averted his glance, then looked back at her face. Just her face. Nothing more. No way was he going to look... shit. So much for self-restraint. “I wish I could deliver it today,” he managed to say after he calibrated his horny brain to neutral. “If I’d had that stuff out in the field a year ago it would have made a huge difference.”
Now he had to decide if he’d take the opportunity to use his company’s technology out in the battlefield again. Would he answer another call to duty for which he was ideally trained to lead? Risk another drop behind enemy lines with an elite team of warriors? Run another deep cover mission that would mean another two years of zip contact
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