uched everywhere, shoulders to chest to hip to knee, even our noses met—just before she kissed my lips. I pushed her onto her back and parted them, sweeping my tongue inside for a deeper kiss that earned me another little noise.
My lips moved to her cheek, and I held myself over her. “Stuart wouldn’t be lost if he had this.”
Reaching up, she held my face, lightly tracing her thumbs over my cheeks. “Aren’t you the same age? And he’s never had a serious relationship?”
My brows pulled together as I thought about it. “If so, he’s never told me. I mean, he can get laid whenever he wants, but he never lets it go far. He says women are a distraction.”
Blue eyes narrowed. “How many distractions did you have in the service?”
That made me laugh, and I moved to lie beside her. “None. I was with Allison, and then... I guess I shared his opinion for a while. Until you.”
Those dark years after my first wife died seemed so far away now that I had Melissa and Dex. When the cancer took Allison so cruelly and so fast, I turned to stone, my heart a ball of rage and bitterness. I’d done my duty to God and country and came home planning a long life with my wife, starting a family, building a home. She was gone before we ever even had the chance.
When I met Melissa, everything changed. She was beautiful and kind and strong and so sexy. She soothed the anger in my heart. She healed me with her love, and she gave me a son. I could remember my past, of course, but it made my present so much more precious.
She rolled up beside me. “I love you.”
“I love you more.” I smiled, touching her cheek, and she continued.
“So what does all of this mean for us? What are you thinking?”
My eyes went back to the ceiling. “I might have to leave you for a bit if he needs help.”
“Derek! He’s a grown man.” She fell back on the bed, arms crossed, and it was my turn to prop up beside her.
“He saved my life, Mel. If he’s in trouble, I have to be there for him.”
“Doesn’t he have a family?”
“His dad was killed in the service. It’s just his mom, Patrick, and their little sister Amy.” With a big sigh, I rolled onto both elbows, onto my stomach. “Amy’s a college kid, and he’d rather punch Patrick in the face than take help from him.”
“Sounds like a prick.”
I couldn’t help laughing again. “I know you love Patrick, but I had that initial response to him myself.”
“Patrick is one of the good guys. If you can’t see that—”
“Settle down, I can see that. He might color outside the lines, but he manages to turn it around and come out on top. He’s a good man.”
That satisfied her. She smiled and relaxed her crossed arms, I reached out and pulled her against my side. “It’s more than an obligation. I want to be there for Stuart. You’d feel the same way if it was Elaine.”
She couldn’t argue with that, so we were quiet a moment. A tiny squeal from down the hall broke the silence, and we both grinned. I was out of the bed first, heading down the hall without bothering to grab underwear.
Of course, Mel catcalled after me. “Holy shit! Check out that rear view!”
Dammit again. Stuart had better have a good reason for pulling me away from this.
Chapter 3: Big Sky Country
Patrick
Sunset in Montana is one of the greatest sights in the world. From my window in first-class, I looked out at the golden pinks and oranges just beginning to touch the horizon. The ground was so flat, it made the sky seem to go on forever.
“I’ve got to get Elaine out here,” I said under my breath as Derek and I taxied into the Great Falls airport in the small, private jet. I hadn’t been to Uncle Bill’s place since I graduated high school, and I’d honestly forgotten how much I loved it here.
“We’ve got to take care of your brother first.” Derek’s tone was as irritated as it had been since we’d started our search.
It hadn’t taken long to track down a credit card transaction in Bayville, and Kenny was quick to point us here. Or I guess her friend Mariska was. I only paused a moment to remember the girl’s unexpected interest in Captain Asshat, my not-so-affectionate nickname for the guy who lived to bust my balls. Now he had us running all over the country searching for him.