Her Temporary Hero (a Once a Marine Series book) (Entangled Indulgence) by Jennifer Apodaca Read Free Book Online

Sometimes, that’s all we have left.”
    Becky had never heard anything as sad as that. She could see a barren desolation in his eyes. Unable to resist, she covered his hands with hers. “You’ve seen bad stuff.” And suffered for it. If he was building a camp to help PTSD vets, then it was a safe guess that he dealt with it himself.
    He went rigid. “Ten years in the Marines. I’ve seen and done things that I don’t want you or any civilian I know to see.” He looked away, his eyes losing focus. “Friends of mine died to make damn sure you never will.”
    Without thinking, she touched his tattoo. Its simplicity was heartbreaking—a majestic horse going to a knee before the cross with the dog tags. “This is for them? Your friends who died?”
    “Yes.”
    “You don’t force a horse like that to his knee.” She stroked over the ink, as if she could soothe that horse, and Logan’s wounded soul. “He gives that honor freely to one who died for his country. I can’t think of a more fitting tribute from you.” She forced herself to stop touching those haunting markings. “I’m sorry.”
    He nodded. “I chose to go in the Marines, and I’d do it again knowing full well what I’d face. I’d just do some things better if I had the chance.”
    His bravery and commitment touched her so deeply, her arms ached to hold him. Instead, she squeezed his hands.
    Logan honed in on her fingers. He eased a thumb over the rings she wore on her right hand. “Wedding rings?” His eyes lifted to hers.
    “My mother’s. I need to sell them.” Even the words felt like a betrayal.
    “Luce said your mother just passed?”
    “A little over a month ago. I don’t want to sell them.” She bit her lip against a fresh wave of grief.
    “Then why are you?”
    She leaned past him and picked up the envelope. “I was served this tonight. It’s a court order compelling a DNA test to establish that Dylan is Sophie’s father.”
    “He’s going after custody.”
    “I can’t let him win. My loan hasn’t come through yet, and I need to come up with a retainer for my lawyer. I should get enough from the rings.” She swallowed a lump. Crying wouldn’t help; she had to be strong.
    He eased back from her. “Your ex is Dylan Ridgemont, his family owns Ridgemont Communications. They are wealthy and powerful.”
    The change in him threw her off balance. “Yes.” Wait… “Did I tell you his last name?”
    “No. I reviewed the background check Once a Marine Security Agency did on you when Luce hired you.”
    Uneasiness stiffened her spine. “Lucinda gave you that? I thought it was confidential.”
    “I work for Once a Marine. I also own part of Luce’s business, so I have the right to see it.”
    What was going on here? The earlier warmth in him had cooled. “Is there a problem?”
    He relaxed marginally. “You’re smart enough to know there’s a big problem with you going up against the Ridgemonts.”
    She took a breath. “I have to fight. Dylan didn’t want Sophie, he told me to get rid of her.” She closed her eyes as those awful moments in the truck screamed in her head. But this wasn’t about her anymore. “I’m going to fight. She’s my daughter and I’m not giving her up. She doesn’t deserve to pay for my mistake of saddling her with Dylan as a father.”
    “Did you get the restraining order?”
    Becky twisted the rings. “No. I filled out the paperwork, but I worried I’d just provoke him if I had him served with a restraining order.”
    Logan regarded her for a few seconds. “I pulled your background to find out more about you before I decided to approach you with a deal.”
    It took her a second to absorb the meaning of his words. “A deal for what?”
    “A way for us to help each other out, and you won’t have to sell your mom’s rings.”
    “How?” She had no idea what Logan was worth, but she couldn’t have anything he wanted.
    “I need a temporary wife. Marry me for a few months, and