Ranger's Baby Surprise (Special Forces Elite 2)

The rain had let up to a drizzle.

“Why do you live all the way out here by yourself?” I asked. I knew I hadn’t seen another house since we pulled out of the driveway.

“I don’t. I’m just getting it ready to sell.” She paused. “It was a family summer home. Elliot and I inherited it. But now that he’s gone, I know it’s too much for me to keep on my own. You’ve seen the place.”

“But do you want to sell it?” I turned when Olivia pointed to the next street.

“No. I love it. But it’s too much house. And the barn. And I’m…” She trailed off.

“You’re what?”

“Single.” She huffed. “At least with Elliot he could help, but he’s been wherever you’ve been for two years. And now he’s not coming back.” She fidgeted with the seatbelt. “I kept thinking he’d come back and fix everything.”

There were a hundred things running through my head. I wanted to tell her I could put the house back together for her. She could keep it with my help. She wouldn’t have to worry anymore. But I realized how fucking absurd it sounded.

“It’s right over there.” She directed me to a hardware store on the side of the road.

“This place?” It looked like a warehouse.

“Yep. Lumber. Pipes. And I think they have vegetables in the back.” She laughed, jumping from the Jeep. “Come on.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I never noticed a woman fitting into a pair of jeans like that before. Her hips were round and her thighs were poured into that denim like nothing I’d ever seen. I bit my lip, and followed her into the hardware store.

6

Olivia

I could feel his eyes on my ass, just as they had been when I was climbing into his Jeep. I knew he was watching me, stealing glimpses when I turned, observing my movements like one of his targets. The problem was it made my pulse race. My core tighten in quick snaps. And my skin heat with an invisible fever. God, I hoped it was invisible.

I knew what he was. He was just like Elliot. A risk taker. A loner. He was a Military Man, a Ranger no less. He was the kind of man I needed to stay far away from.

He scowled at the stacks of lumber.

“They don’t have the length I need. I’ll just get a bigger piece and cut it dow

n.” He lifted one of the boards as if it weighed less than a Popsicle stick and threw it on his shoulder.

I had to keep from dropping my jaw.

“What else is on your list?” he asked.

I tried to think about all the projects, but I couldn’t stop staring at the way his muscles tightened where his arm met his shoulder. Good lord the man was ripped.

“The gate latch,” I suggested.

“Oh right.” He walked over to the hardware section.

The board balanced on the ridge of his shoulder while he stooped to select a latch for the gate.

“I think this will work.” He held one up for me to inspect.

I nodded, realizing I would probably agree to anything he suggested. I thought it was because I had been cooped up too long in the house by myself. Maybe it was because his voice got under my skin. It was low and firm. Rough and seductive.

“Let’s get these and then I can come back tomorrow for the rest of the things you need.”

“Tomorrow?” I looked at him. I didn’t know how long he was going to stay. And when he mentioned staying in the barn apartment I just went with it.

“I told you. I’m going to get the house fixed for you.” He looked at me over his shoulder. “And anything else you need.”