Page 100 of Sheltered By Love

Any other time this might have been amusing, but I still have to call Riley Jones, and I’m still reeling from how sweet Garrett was, and that Zane is now a cop.

“What the hell is this about?” I snap.

He cringes. “Should have given you context first. It’s an idea Levi and I came up with. We think we’ve found a new way to raise money each year. I’m January’s Catch of the Month,” he says.

He flips the screen and starts scrolling through shirtless shots of some very attractive men.

As I’m still fighting to comprehend he keeps talking almost as fast as Nicki does. He seems genuinely enthused about this.

“Jax has agreed as long as he can choose the shot. Garrett’s asking the higher-ups, so we’ll need a sub just in case they think it’s inappropriate or whatever.”

The penny finally drops. “A calendar? Of the Boys of the Bay?”

He nods his approval. “That’s good. I’ll tell Levi we should call it that.”

I shake my head that this is what he’s been doing while I’ve been worrying.

“How did you get all this done in such a hurry?”

“A lot of guys took exception to that article, and we called in a few favors. Asked them to send Levi a shirtless photo and then we asked Viola to choose next year’s so no one would get their noses out of joint.”

I groan. “You asked Viola? She knows about the video?”

He eyes me and looks irritated for a second. “She said you were a beautiful girl with tremendous breasts. Didn’t see why you were embarrassed about getting them out.”

A squeaking sound escapes my throat. “Tremendous?”

His face softens. “Well, they are but that’s not the point. I’m telling you about the calendar. With this many of us in the buff, no one is going to be talking about you. But they will be talking about the Bay again.”

I choke out a sob. And another. Then don’t seem to be able to stop crying.

“Are you okay?”

I scrunch up my face, blubbering so much he’s looking increasingly alarmed.

“I’m, this, is, I,” I blurt.

Words have failed me. My body is failing me. I want to speak but I can’t phrase what this means to me.

He hands me a tissue and leans back as if I’m going to hit him. “I was trying to fix this. And trying to make you happy,” he says.

I blow my nose loudly, take a shuddering breath and manage to answer him. “This is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me. Of course, I’m happy!”

His shoulders relax. “Thought I’d screwed up there. I was ready to blame Levi.”

Tears are streaming down my face, my nose is running, and I’m so stunned, I’m sure I must have stepped into an alternate reality where grumpy Marines are sweethearts and people are kindhearted, generous, and forgiving.

“I just can’t believe your family is going to do this just for me,” I splutter.

An odd look crosses his face, then a tentative smile, before he steps closer as if about to impart something of great importance.

He cups my chin and gives me the widest smile I’ve ever seen him wear.

“Why wouldn’t they do it? My family knew I was in love with you before I did,” he says before his mouth claims mine.

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