Page 16 of Wyatt the Military Veteran

“And you were left unnoticed? What a shame. They missed out on an amazing woman,” I murmur, shuffling closer.

I don’t like the resigned shadow on Kennedy’s face. Like she somehow failed to measure up to everyone’s standards.

Because that’s a bunch of bullshit.

Our faces near each other—a chance to steal the kiss I’ve been craving, an opportunity to erase that disheartened expression from her beautiful face.

Slowly, my lips press softly to hers then retreat. “Is this okay?” I ask, caressing her bottom lip with my thumb.

“Yes…” Her fingers sink into my shirt as she sighs into my mouth, giving me access to the sweetness within. The coy strokes of her tongue against mine tease and entice, and I groan with each tentative exploration.

I squeeze her lush thigh and hike her leg over my lap, so she’s half-straddling me, and use my other hand to angle her head for deeper penetration. This woman is mine. All of her soft curves, and unique quirks—they belong to me.

For as long as she'll have me.

CHAPTER TEN

KENNEDY

The Ole Aces has had a glow-up since Austin took ownership. He replaced the scuffed bartop with a gleaming new one that accentuates the rustic wood and metal light fixtures made by Suitor’s Crossing’s local blacksmith, Rhys.

Since Austin’s upgrades, the bar is constantly crowded—a local hotspot for friends and family to hang out.

My brothers commandeer two tables and shove them together to form a mega section big enough for the four behemoths, Wyatt—a giant in his own right—and myself. Ezra and Beckett still look disgruntled after the afternoon’s ambush, but now Soren and Griffen have joined them to voice their displeasure at my secret relationship.

Is it any wonder I kept it under wraps with these theatrics?

“When were you planning on telling us about him, Ken?” Soren asks, crossing his arms over his chest. He dropped his daughter off at Grandpa’s before he and Griffen made the drive here to interrogate me, and I wish my niece were here as a buffer. At eleven years old, Sara Beth can hold her own against my brothers—they’re firmly wrapped around her finger—and they’d temper their sour dispositions with a kid around.

“When I had something concrete to share, Sor,” I mimic his grumpy demeanor with a raised brow.

Wyatt shields a cough of amusement then covers my hand with his, causing my brothers to stare at the gesture with varying degrees of suspicion. God, why do they have to be so distrustful? Is it so crazy to believe that an attractive military veteran like Wyatt could be interested in me?

“We weren’t hiding our relationship,” he says. “I’m not ashamed to admit my feelings for your sister.” Wyatt’s firm announcement elicits a rush of butterflies in my belly. “But this is the first time we’ve met in person. You’ll forgive us if we want some privacy to figure things out before opening ourselves up to the opinions of others.”

Ezra harrumphs, slouching back in his seat as two waitresses dole out our meals. With plates of steaming food in front of us, the next few minutes are blissfully quiet except for the occasional grunt of approval for The Ole Aces’s simple but delicious fare.

As our dinners slowly disappear, another round of questioning begins, but this time I let Wyatt field the inquiries and revel in his patient but stout defense of me and my decision to keep my brothers out of our relationship for the time being.

Soren, Ezra, Beckett, and Griffen have always had my back.

Growing up as the youngest child and the only girl, I had my own company of knights in shining armor to fight my battles—whether it was Harry Gaston in the third grade after he stole my Power Rangers lunch box or the slick car salesman when I went to buy my first car at eighteen.

They’ve always formed a staunch protective line, but having Wyatt pick up the mantle and stand between me and my brothers’ wrath is something altogether different.

Maybe it’s because he’schoosingto protect me.

He’s not obligated by family ties.

Instead, Wyatt wants to step into the fray that is the Caldwell siblings because he cares. Hedesiresme. The memory of ourearlier kiss swoops in, and I chug my water to cool off.The rough texture of his beard, the spearmint on his tongue…I’d rather be back in that moment than placating my overbearing brothers.

He wants to protect me, not because he views me as his weak little sister, but because I’m his woman.

Or at least, I hope that’s where this is all leading.

Because I want to be his. Not just for the holidays.

For forever.

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