Jump Start (Texas Hotzone 1)

She yanked the door open, to find him clean-shaven and showered, the spicy scent uniquely him, making her wonder how she ever thought chocolate held a candle to sex—at least, sex with Bobby. The rain had stopped and he was dry, but his eyes were weary, heavy-lidded. Even the macho hot soldier couldn’t hide his exhaustion.

“Come in,” she urged for the second time in a night.

He took a step forward and passed her and, to Jennifer’s surprise, Mark followed. “Mark!” Marcie yelled and charged forward into his arms, all but knocking Jennifer and Bobby into the wall.

Mark kissed Marcie, long and hard, and then they disappeared into the bedroom. Jennifer’s bedroom. “That went better than expected,” Bobby said, chuckling as he pulled her off the wall where she’d leaned to avoid collision. He directed her toward the living room.

“At least until the chocolate and sex wears off,”

Jennifer said skeptically.

Bobby sat down on the couch and took her with him. “Why did you say that like chocolate and sex were bad things? I think we’ve proven otherwise.” He tugged off his boots.

“The chocolate and sex are great,” she agreed. “But when they’re done, when it’s over—then what?”

“They’ll figure it out,” he said, and then pulled Jennifer and the blanket down on top of him as he lay on his back, head on the pillow cushion. “Just like we will.”

He molded her close and she settled against him. The effect was warm and intimate. “Until you leave again.”

“Why would I leave, Jen?” he asked softly. “I finally came home.”

She lifted her head at that, opening her mouth to ask what that meant but his eyes were shut, his lips hinting at a satisfied smile. Slowly, she slid back down, resting her head on his chest, letting his heartbeat thrum beneath her palm. His strong shoulder cradled her head. Her lashes lowered, and she, too, felt the hint of a smile on her lips as she drifted off to sleep.

***

BOBBY WOKE TO THE SOUND OF whispers, male and female. He blinked awake, sunlight piercing a line through the curtains, the clock reading nine o’clock. Awareness rushed through him as he felt the sweet warmth of Jennifer resting in his arms, a smile touching his lips as he realized her cat, Julie, was on top of his legs. They’d left Mark and Marcie in the bedroom to talk things out and fallen asleep on the couch. This was a little slice of heaven. This was how he wanted to wake up every day of his life for the rest of his life. He wasn’t sure what that meant—he only knew that this was why’d held off on reenlistment. He needed more than duty in his life.

Jennifer lifted her head and turned to look over the edge of the couch. Marcie and Mark were tiptoeing toward the door. “Does this mean I still have to wear the lime dress?” Jennifer asked.

Marcie huffed, no longer whispering, “It’s yellow—”

“Green,” Jennifer finished. “I know. Which isn’t a real color by the way—but are you two happy now and I get to wear the yellow-green dress?”

“Yes,” Mark said, wrapping his arms around Marcie from behind. “You are most definitely wearing the dress. And if you’ll excuse us, I’m taking my soon-to-be wife home. Oh, and no skydiving for me. You two are on your own today.”

Marcie smiled and turned to Mark, planting a kiss on him before they left. The door shut and Jennifer settled down on the couch, resting on one elbow, her hand on Bobby’s cheek. “Whatever you said to Mark seemed to work. I just hope the baby thing doesn’t become an issue in the future.”

Julie stretched and walked over the top of Bobby before plopping down on his stomach.

Jennifer laughed and picked her up, cuddling her and then setting her on the ground. “She likes you.”

“I like her, too,” he said, reaching down and stroking Julie’s back a moment before leaving the cat to its own entertainment as an idea came to him. He slid his hand behind his head and propped it up. “I know how to solve the baby problem for Marcie and Mark.”

Jennifer’s brows dipped. “How in the world would we do that?”

“We’ll get them a Julie.”

She laughed. “You want to get Mark and Marcie a cat?”

“Or a pet,” he agreed. “Whatever kind you think will make them happy.”

“Well,” Jennifer said thoughtfully, “Marcie does love Julie and Oriental cats are very loving. They tend to become the babies of the house.”

“So a ‘Julie’ would be perfect,” he said. “We’ll go get one today.”

“It’s not that easy,” she said. “You don’t just go get an Oriental shorthair. There’s likely a waiting list and down payments on new litters.”

“You’re a vet,” he said. “Surely you can pull strings.”

She sighed. “I don’t know. I could make some calls, but we might have to drive several hours.”