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In spite of his imposing size and gruff exterior, I felt completely comfortable with Duke. No,comfortablewasn’t the right word, maybeexcitedwas better. We all had a first crush, and most of us made a fool of ourselves with them. I certainly had with Duke. But how many of us got a second chance?
We parked on the street two doors down from my house. As we walked up to the door, Duke pointed at the enormous pile of bark in my driveway. “We need to get rid of all that so you can park in your garage. It’s safer.”
“The gardener is supposed to spread it next week.” The pile was the reason I’d been parking on the street for several days, and why I’d thought the note I found was meant for a neighbor and not me.
“Move that up,” he commanded.
When we reached the porch, I unlocked the door, disabled the alarm, and stood aside to let Duke enter.
“Stay behind me until we finish the first floor.”
I gave him a mocking salute and followed several steps behind as he silently moved through the rooms. Reaching the family room, which faced the backyard, he suddenly halted and raised a fist. Being the avid movie watcher I was, I knew that as the military hand gesture to stop, and I did.
Then he continued, and we ended in the kitchen. He tapped the countertop. “First things first. You wait right here while I finish clearing the house.”
“I have an alarm.”
“Your system is shit.” He didn’t say this as a joke. “It would be child’s play for anybody who knows what they’re doing to get in and hide in a closet upstairs.”
I wrapped my arms around myself. That was straight out of a horror movie, complete with big knives, chainsaws, and horrific outcomes. I’d had enough personal horror in my life. Still, asI expected, he returned from upstairs, having found nothing. “Princess, hop up on this island so I can change your bandage.”
“I’ll change it myself.”
“Taking care of you is my job. Now stop arguing.”
Just like that, Mr. Bossypants was back.
When I reached the island, my lack of a bra loomed large. “You’re just trying to undress me. Won’t your girlfriend be jealous?”
His jaw clenched. “I don’t do girlfriends.” There was a definite story in those four words. He didn’t elaborate, merely glared at me. “The damn bandage needs to be changed.”
“You want me to undress, then you undress too,” I teased, thinking that might get me off the hook. I should have known better.
“If you insist.” With one swift motion, he yanked his shirt over his head. It landed on the counter.
“Damn you. My shoulder is sore. I’ll need help?—”
He took my hips and boosted me up. “Lean forward and put your arms out as much as you can.”
When I did, he gently pulled the top over my head. I should have chosen a button down.
I folded my arms to cover up and admired the view before me. Duke wasn’t just big and muscled, he was a chiseled-from-granite god with barely an ounce of fat on him, the complete opposite of soft men like George. Glorious tattoos covered his chest and one shoulder. A snake coiled up the arm that didn’t have his SEAL Creed tattoo.
“You’re staring.”
Busted.An instant blush ran up my chest and cheeks. “I like your tattoos.” I didn’t mention that I also liked his broad shoulders, strong arms, and…
“I like yours too.” He’d noticed the words imprinted on my other side. “That’s a good motto to live by. Now turn. We better get to this bandage before the guys arrive.”
As I adjusted, I noticed a bulge had appeared in his pants. But that probably happened anytime a girl had her boobs covered only by a hand-bra. “Ouch. That hurts.” While my eyes had focused where they shouldn’t have, he’d ripped the bandage off.
“Trust me, quick is better than slow,” he said.
“Typical man. Any girl who agrees with that is a liar,” I shot back.
The laugh he gave me was wonderfully full. “Trust me, Princess, if a woman can’t find enjoyment in both, she hasn’t been with the right man.”
“I amnota princess, and I thought you were going to re-bandage me instead of brag.”
