Page 144 of Lethal Game

He speared her in place with a hot look. “If I touch you now, even for a hug, I’ll lose it.” He lowered his voice until it was only a growl. “God, I’ve missed you.”

She sniffed back the tears and managed to say, “I’ve missed you too.”

***

Two hours later, Sophiaarrived at her apartment outside the base at Fort Bragg, NC, kicked off her shoes and hoped Con would arrive before she hyperventilated.

He’d be here soon. Would he be hungry? Thirsty?

Before she could decide what to do her cell phone rang. She answered it, “Yes?”

“It’s Con. Buzz me in.” It wasn’t a request, and that didn’t bother her in the slightest.

She let him in, then paced in front of her apartment door until the heavy knock announced his arrival.

She yanked open the door.

He seemed to fill up the entire space between doorjambs.

He stared at her, and if she thought he looked hot under the collar before, it was nothing compared to how he looked now. There should be steam coming off him.

“Hi,” she said, suddenly nervous. “C...come in.”

He took two steps inside, dropped his duffel bag on the floor, then closed and locked the door.

She bounced on her feet and smiled, but she was afraid it was as unsteady as the rest of her. “Um.” Wow, he looked so good. “Take your boots off.”

He shook his head no.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

A slow grin lit up his face. “I love how focused you are, sweetheart, but we need to have a conversation before I remove any of my clothing, or we won’t get any talking done.”

“Even your boots?”

He laughed and the sound brought her to the brink of tears. She’d never heard him laugh like that before. Happy. Completely happy, without a ghost or regret in it.

His boots hit the floor with two loud thumps.

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