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  He was dressed in his Marine uniform, looking oh so beautiful and handsome. Much like she had pictured him during the fantasy on her long train ride home.

  He’d taken off his white dress hat and it was tucked under one arm, exposing his sandy blond hair. In the summer months, the sun would streak those strands with brightness, giving him that perfect surfer look. Especially when combined with those wide shoulders that tapered down into lean hips.

  His amazing eyes, looking a little more blue than green thanks to the color of his dress uniform, were alert and focused on the man before him. At something the man said, Jase smiled, displaying that boyish dimple on one side of his all too tempting mouth.

  All she had to do was walk down the stairs and over to him. It was such a short distance away physically, but despite her earlier thoughts and bravado, it occurred to her that Jase was untouchable for way too many reasons.

  He was her younger brother's best friend.

  He would soon be gone and risking his life.

  He would never ever never be interested in a woman like her. A woman who couldn’t seem to make up her mind about what to do about him. A woman who lacked the strength to reach for what she wanted most.

  Jase needed a strong woman by his side. One who could man the home front while he was off to war. One who wouldn't be indecisive or wimpy.

  You only have one night left. Take a chance, said the voice of the dreamer that she repressed way too often.

  With those conflicting thoughts rattling through her head, she sucked in a deep breath, tossed her shoulders back, and walked down the stairs.

  * * *

  Jason caught sight of Nicole de Silva as she glided down the sweeping staircase in an eye-catching red dress that hugged every enticing curve of her body. The color set off the creamy color of her skin and dark as midnight hair that spilled down across her bare shoulders, thick and with a life of its own as she moved.

  More than once he had imagined tunneling his hands into that hair and pulling her close. Kissing her until she was clinging to him and he could take her to bed and do what he'd wanted to do to her for way too long. As his gaze drifted down her long lean legs and to the enticing red stiletto heels, he imagined dragging them off her feet as he kissed his way up her body.

  “So where did you say you were deploying?” the man beside him repeated, pulling him away from thoughts of Nickie.

  Nickie was off limits, he reminded himself. The Bro Code demanded that he had to keep his hands off even though he itched to run them all along that fabulous body and have those incredible legs wrapped around him as he made love to her.

  “Afghanistan,” he finally answered, but then his attention to the man fled as he realized Nickie was walking his way. “Would you excuse me for a moment?” he said, sidestepped the man and hurried toward her.

  He met her halfway across the crowded great room in her family's home.

  They stood there awkwardly for several hesitant heartbeats, staring at each other. With the high heels, she was almost eye level with him and her mouth was just inches away. Her luscious mouth done in an enticing red that dared him to lean in and kiss her.

  But instead he just stood there, not really sure where to begin. Anxious about what to say and where it might lead. Feeling like a total fool for being so indecisive. The only thing that offered him any relief was that she was obviously as unsure of what to do as he was.

  She nervously played with the small black clutch in her hand before hesitantly saying, “Congratulations, Jase. It must be very exciting to be done with school and earn your commission.”

  “Thank you, Nickie. I hear you're doing well. How's medical school?” He dragged his gaze away from her hands and to the soft swell of her breasts visible above the neckline of the body-hugging dress before meeting her gaze. Her eyes were a gorgeous light hazel color with flecks of chocolate brown and hints of gold.

  “Good, thanks. I'm enjoying the challenge,” she replied, looked away from him and glanced around uneasily. “I really should mingle, you know. I've already missed too much of the party because I had that interview in New York.”

  Disappointment slammed into him, but he hid it. He was a fuckin' Marine for God's sake and he wasn't going to let her see just how much he wanted that she spend some time with him before he left.

  “Sure, Nickie. I guess I'll see you later,” he replied.

  She turned and started to walk away, but then she stopped and faced him again.

  “I’m going to miss you, Jase,” she said and then rushed off.

  I'm going to miss you , too. A lot, he thought.

  Feeling the need for something stronger to wash away the sense of defeat that had filled him, he marched to the bar and ordered a bourbon. The bartender poured him the drink and he was about to step away when Tommy sauntered up and clapped him on the back.

  “What's your poison, dude?” Tommy asked and shot a quick look at his glass.

  “Bourbon,” he answered and his friend jerked his chin in the bartender's direction.

  “Can you pour me one as well? Thanks,” he said and the man quickly placed the drink in front of him.

  Tommy snared the tumbler and clinked it against his. “To the blue and white,” Tommy said, referring to their alma mater’s colors.

  He smiled and raised his glass, “To the blue and white.” After a bracing sip, he stayed beside his best friend, but his mind was on Nickie as she stood across the room, chatting with an older couple. She shot a quick look his way, smiled hesitantly, but then turned her attention back to the guests.

  “How long have we known each other, Jase?” Tommy asked as he jammed one hand in his suit pocket and took a sip of the drink in his other hand.

  He shrugged and said, “Since kindergarten when we were on the same T-ball team.”

  “That’s a long time to be friends,” Tommy said thoughtfully, but then plowed on. “In all that time, I’ve never seen you be afraid of anything. Well, maybe one thing.”

  He peered at his friend and searched out his features, puzzled by his statement. “Where are you going with this, Tommy?”

  His friend raised his index finger off the glass he held. “You’ve got one night, Jase. One night before you head to North Carolina with your parents and then ship out to that fuckin’ desert.”

  “It’s actually not a desert, Tommy,” he said, trying to avoid the discussion he sensed was coming, but Tommy was apparently not going to stop.

  “Dude, don’t be a fucktard. Don’t you think it’s time you did something about my sister?” he said.

  Jase nearly choked on the bourbon he had been sipping and stared hard at his friend. “You’re fucking crazy.”

  “No, I’m not. But you are if you don’t do something about it.”

  “It” being Nickie. “You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?”

  “I am, Jase. I know you care for her. I’ve known for a while. I also know you’ve never let anything stop you before. What’s stopping you now, bro?”

  Tommy’s gaze was so intense, that he had to look away, not wanting his friend to see what he was really feeling. He shook his head hesitantly. “I’m the last thing she wants. We’re nothing alike. She’s so serious and a bookworm. And I’m – ”

  “All action guy. Not as wealthy as us. Those are lame excuses, dude. I guess you feel guilty because she’s my sister, too. But you know what, Jase? It’s time to do something about what you feel for Nickie. It’s time to go big or go home. Just don't hurt her,” Tommy pleaded and before Jason could say another word, his friend clapped him on the back again and hurried off to where his parents stood with some friends.

  Go big or go home.

  How many times had they said that to each other on the playing field? Too many times to count.

  But Nickie wasn’t a game to be played. Nickie was special to him and had been for some time. Nickie was everything he could ever want in a woman. She was bright and beautiful. Caring and honorable. Incred
ibly sexy, not that she seemed to know that.

  And he’d just gotten the green light to go for it from his best friend. From a man he thought of as a brother. Her brother.

  Slugging back the last sips of his bourbon, he took a deep breath and rushed toward her. He had only this one night to make it happen.

  He wasn’t going to waste another minute. After all, a Marine never backed down from even an impossible task.

  Not even an incredible and seemingly unattainable challenge like Nickie.

  Chapter 3

  From the corner of her eye, Nickie caught a glimpse of her brother stalking from the bar at the far edge of the great room and of Jase who stayed rooted there, looking her way. His square-cut jaw was tense and his lips were in a firm line. Dimple-less. His gaze was so . . . intense.

  A second later, Jase was marching in her direction, purpose in every long and powerful stride.

  He was clearly a man on a mission and her heart sped up at the thought that she might be his intended target.

  “You must be very proud of your brother,” said the older gentleman across from her. He was a business associate of her father's and she forced her attention back to him, smiled and nodded.

  “We are proud of him and I know Dad is very excited that Tommy will be joining him in the family business.”

  “He's going for an MBA, isn't he?” the man's wife asked just as Jase reached them.

  “Yes, yes he is,” she said, but stumbled with her next words as Jase laid a possessive hand at the small of her back. “H-h-a-ave you met Lieutenant Hart? He's an old family friend.”

  “Thank you for your service, Lieutenant Hart,” the man said and Jason dipped his head gratefully.

  “Thank you, sir. I hope you don't mind if I steal Nicole away for a little bit.”

  Before she could protest, he exerted gentle pressure at her back and urged her away from the couple and toward the French doors leading outside.

  “What do you think you're doing?” she hissed beneath her breath and plastered a smile on her face, trying not to attract too much attention as he hurried them out the doors and to the large flagstone terrace that ran along the back of the house.

  It was a beautiful early summer night and many of their guests were gathered outside to enjoy the weather. Various tables and chairs had been laid out on the terrace and at the far end, a second bar had been set up to serve drinks to the party-goers. Luckily most people were gathered in that area as Jase led them toward the edge of the terrace.

  “You and I need to talk,” he said and urged her to the lawn beyond the flagstone, but she dug in her three inch heels and skidded to a stop.

  He faced her, a determined look on his features. He shifted his hand to her waist and held her possessively. His touch punched the air from her lungs and awakened sharp need as she imagined him urging her closer and closer until . . .

  “What do you think you're doing?” she repeated to stop those too sexy thoughts.

  He glanced all around the terrace and his lips thinned into a grim line again. He leaned near and whispered in her ear, “Not here, Nickie. Please come with me somewhere private.”

  He moved his hand away from her waist and slipped it into hers, twining his fingers with hers as if afraid she'd pull away. He tugged gently, prodding her to follow him as he turned and strode toward the beachfront.

  It was crazy to go, she thought, but it was just as crazy not to explore where this night might take them.

  * * *

  Jase breathed a sigh of relief as Nickie relented and followed him down the steps of the terrace and onto the lawn. He waited for her as she slipped off her incredibly high crimson-colored heels and they hurried from the lush manicured lawn to the wooden boardwalk that took them through the protective shelter of the dunes and down to the beach.

  There wasn't a soul along the sand and for that he was eternally grateful.

  As they walked down the stairs at the end of the boardwalk and back around beneath it, he grabbed her shoes and placed them on the edge of the wooden boards along with his hat.

  “What's up, Jase? Why did you almost drag me out of the party?” she asked and leaned against one of the thick pilings for the boardwalk.

  He braced his forearm just above her head on the support and shifted until her warm breath spilled against his face. She smelled of something flowery and of Nicole and he inhaled deeply to memorize that aroma.

  With his free hand, he brushed away a windblown lock of her hair and then skimmed his fingers down her smooth cheek. She trembled beneath his touch and he hardened as he imagined how smooth the rest of her skin would be and how she would shiver against him while they made love.

  “I want you, Nickie.”

  Her eyes widened in surprise and the words rushed from her. “Hell no. I don't believe you.”

  “Believe it, Nickie. I’ve wanted you for a long time,” he said and moved ever closer until his body was pressed to hers.

  At that touch, she sucked in a shaky breath and closed her eyes. In a husky voice she said, “Don't play with me, Jase.”

  He chuckled and her eyes snapped open to meet his gaze. “Babe, I am so not playing with you. At least not yet,” he said and dropped his hand to trace the rounded swells of her breasts visible above the bodice of her killer dress. It was the kind of dress that invited him to touch and to see. The fabric was fine enough that even in the dusky night, the pebbled tips of her nipples were visible.

  “There's no sense in starting this. You're leaving tomorrow.” She dragged in another irregular breath as he continued his caress across the sensitive skin beneath his fingers. Despite her words, as her gaze locked with his, he detected her hesitation, but also her need.

  He decided to press on with his campaign to convince her that the two of them together was a good idea.

  “Does everything have to be sensible with you, Nickie? Can't you just let go? Even if only for this one night? It would be good between us. I promise.” To prove his point, he dipped his hand down and cupped her breast. He tweaked the tight tip between his thumb and forefinger as he pressed his body to hers and nuzzled the side of her face.

  “Jase,” she said on a long exhalation, but didn't move away.

  His cock jumped to attention at the sound of his name on her lips. He lazily rubbed his erection across her belly and whispered into her ear, “I love the way you say my name, Nickie. Say it again. Please.”

  “Jase, this is crazy,” she said, but she cupped his head with one hand and stroked her fingers across the short buzz of hair. She wrapped her other arm around his waist and dug her fingers into the fabric of his uniform.

  “What's crazy is how long it's taken for this to happen,” he said and trailed a line of kisses down her neck and across the tops of her breasts, but it wasn't enough. Not after so long.

  He eased the fabric of the strapless dress down to expose her breasts and cradled them in his hands. Tenderly he teased the taut points of her nipples as he met her darkened gaze. Her hazel eyes were nearly chocolate brown with desire and she licked her lips and shot a quick glance down at his hands.

  “Jase – ”

  “Tell me what you want, Nickie. I'll do whatever you ask . . . except stopping, that is,” he teased and smiled.

  * * *

  Damn that boyish grin that was always my undoing, Nickie thought barely a second before she said, “Kiss me there, Jase. Please kiss me there.”

  With a rough groan, he dipped his head and dropped a quick kiss on the tip of each breast before alternately sucking and caressing her nipples with his mouth. Each wet tug sent a corresponding pull to between her legs where her clit pulsed and pleaded for more. She was already wet for him and every suck or bite or lick brought another wave of dampness between her thighs.

  Her body shook as she held him to her and urged him on with soft cries until the sound of someone coming down the boardwalk made him pause.

  He met her gaze, but instead of stopping, he inched his
hand beneath the hem of her dress and continued upward, dancing his fingers along the sensitive inner skin of her thighs. When he reached her panties, he dipped his fingers inside and found the swollen bundle of nerves at her center.

  “Jase,” she whispered urgently and grabbed hold of his wrist as from a few feet away on the boardwalk came the murmured conversation of others.

  “They can't see us. Or hear us if you're quiet. Can you be quiet, Nickie?” he asked and stroked a finger across her responsive nub, dragging a strangled moan from her.

  “Or are you a screamer?” he continued and kept up his caresses, drawing her ever closer to a release.

  Nickie grabbed hold of his shoulders because she needed something to keep her upright. Each shift of his fingers raised her higher and higher and weakened her knees. Her heart pounded with both excitement from his touch and fear at the thought of being discovered by whoever was still nearby on the boardwalk above them.

  “Jase, please,” she keened in a whisper and shot a worried look above them as the footsteps came ever closer.

  He whispered against her ear, “Come for me, Nickie.” He pressed against her clit and slipped a finger inside her. Stroked her urgently as he bent his head and suckled her breasts. Gently teethed the hard tips and tugged on them.

  Oh God, she thought, biting her lower lip to keep from crying out as he stroked and enticed with his lips and fingers. As the juices of her release spilled over his hand and down her thighs, she wanted to scream and rip off her clothes and his and fuck him right there and then on the sand like she had in her fantasy. Even if there was someone right there watching.

  From above them came another footstep and then a laugh, chilling her passion for only the short moment it took for whoever it was to head back up the boardwalk toward the house.

  “They're gone, Nickie. Come for me, babe. Scream if you want,” he said and shoved a second finger into her while pressing his thumb against her clit and circling it possessively.

  “God, Jase. I want you inside me.” She reached down and covered the long hard ridge of his erection with her hand. He groaned and laid his forehead against hers.