A Curvy Girl for the Cadet: A Perfect Fit Novella by Sugar Jamison Read Free Book Online Page B

lieutenant in the United States Army and almost died in trying to save some kids from a fucking bomb. Your kid reminds me of my little sister. I was just trying to be nice. So pull your head out of your ass and get the hell out of my house!”
    Daisy stood there in silence for a moment as everything he had said banged around in her head. She knew Maggie well because she shopped at her store. She knew that she had a big brother she adored who had come back from war a changed man. She knew because they had talked about Danny who came back home after being injured and he was more mentally wounded than anything else.
    She burst into tears. She had been holding it in all day. She didn’t want to cry in front of Aubrey. In front of Danny’s mother. She hadn’t wanted to cry at all, because it seemed like a waste to cry over someone who got in a car drunk and took his own life.
    “No, no, no, no, no.” Clayton awkwardly patted her arm. “Stop crying. I-I shouldn’t have yelled at you. You’re right. You shouldn’t trust me or anybody. I could see why you wouldn’t. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Just stop crying.”
    But she couldn’t. She couldn’t control herself and her cries turned into sobs. Clayton shut the door behind them and pulled her further inside. “Please stop crying. Somebody is going to think I’m hurting you.”
    “I’m sorry,” she managed to choke out. “My husband was a marine and almost died when his helicopter was shot down. He was medically discharged, but he wasn’t the same man and he died two years ago when he smashed his car into a telephone pole. Today is our anniversary.”
    “Shit,” he cursed as he pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry, Daisy.” He smoothed his hand over her hair in a touch so comforting it caused a fresh wave of tears to fall.
    “I’ve been trying not to cry all day and now I can’t seem to stop.”
    “You can cry.” He wrapped his arms around her a little tighter. “You need to.”
    And she did. She cried into his warm bare chest as he whispered comforting words into her ear until she ran out of tears.
    “I’m sorry, Clayton,” she said when she felt steady enough to lift her head. “I shouldn’t have accused you of being a creepy perv.”
    “You have to look out for your little girl. You had every right to.”
    “And you had every right to blow up at me.”
    “I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and it was then she realized how close they were. That he was shirtless and her arms were wrapped around his warm hard body. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been that close to anybody, even her own husband. They had stopped sharing a bed long before he died. But she felt safe with Clayton. Safe with a man who she barely knew and looked like an angry lumberjack. She didn’t want to let him go, but she had to. She knew she had to step away.
    “I’m going to be horribly embarrassed the next time I see you,” she said as she let him go. “I swear I usually don’t accuse people of terrible things and cry all over them afterward. I know Maggie. I should have realized that you were her brother. I’m sorry. I won’t be offended if you avoid me for the rest of your life.”
    “I should apologize to you. I didn’t realize that I had overstepped. I’m sorry. I won’t give her anything else.”
    “Her name is Aubrey,” she told him. “She’s a sweet girl. But she’s my niece. Her mother died when she was two and we lost Danny. I just get a little crazy when it comes to her. Please continue to wave to her. She likes you. She thinks you’re nice. It would hurt her feelings if you stopped because of me.”
    “Okay.” Her grasped her chin and set his lips on hers. It was the last thing she had expected, but it was exactly what she needed. His lips were warm and smooth and they had something special about them that made her want to close her eyes and just be kissed. His breath was warm. His beard was