Page 32 of My Forever Soldier

Over the din of children playing and the stereo blaring kids’ tunes, the doorbell sounded.

“I’ll get it. You keep an eye on the party,” Olivia instructed.

Luke watched her go, then tore his eyes away to focus on Charlie and his little buddies. She looked so lovely—so soft, so feminine, so touchable. And he wanted her. God, did he want her.

But he couldn’t shake off what Kelly had said, no matter how much he didn’t want to believe her. If Olivia’s best friend didn’t think he was good enough for her, was he? Luke hated that he was second-guessing himself, but he couldn’t help it.

“Charlie, look who’s here!”

Olivia’s voice rang through the room, and Charlie jumped to his feet. Luke turned to see who had come.

It took him a moment, but then he realized where he’d seen the face before. Smiling at him from the mantel of the apartment, that day they’d gone to see Olivia at work.

“Luke, come over here. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

Olivia stood next to the man, who was dressed in a black suit, tie neatly hugging the collar of his shirt.Ricardo. Did Luke really have to meet a guy who was interested in his wife?

“Luke?” Olivia called.

He forced his feet to move, refusing to portray any thing other than confidence. But he’d hated him on first sight.

Ricardo smiled. Luke tried to do the same without looking like a wolf baring his teeth.

“Luke, this is Ricardo. My boss.” Olivia beamed. “He just dropped by to give Charlie a gift.”

“Hi,” Luke said, extending his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Luke. Great to finally put a face to the name,” Ricardo replied.

Luke nodded. He couldn’t say he was pleased to be doing the same. Thankfully, Charlie started to rip into the paper on the large present he’d just received.

“Charlie!” Olivia scolded.

Ricardo smiled and placed a hand on Olivia’s arm. Luke bristled, like a hedgehog about to be attacked. What the hell was he doing, touching her?Wasthere something going on between them?

“Let him rip. It’s all part of the fun,” said Ricardo.

Luke tried his best not to punch the guy. Instead, he let his fists curl at his sides. Was this what Kelly had been insinuating? That he should walk away for good and let Olivia move on with Ricardo?

Over his dead body!

“Cool!” Charlie was waving a massive dinosaur toy and a remote control.

Great, Ricardo had even managed to upstage Luke in the gift department.

“Glad you like it.”

Charlie ran off to show his friends and Luke stood his ground. He had an instinctive feeling that he had to be the alpha male and stake out his territory. Show what was his and make sure the other guy knew it.

Olivia looked uncomfortable. She’d moved away from Ricardo to stand between them, but it wasn’t enough. It was clear from the way Ricardo looked at her that he was in love with her. Did she honestly not see it, or was she trying to hide something?

“So what’s it like to be home?”

As Ricardo spoke, Luke moved closer to Olivia. He looped his arm around her waist. “Great. It’s great to be back with my family.”

Olivia squirmed, but Luke held her firmly. He had no intention of letting her go until the jerk had left their home.

“Charlie’s loved having his dad home,” Olivia said, giving him a slightly confused smile. As if she wasn’t exactly sure what he was doing.

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