On His Honor by Jean Brashear Read Free Book Online

wasn’t the only one who felt Cade deserved every bit of happiness he could get. Same went for Sophie.
    JD glanced at the others, Jesse and Diego. “All of you dads now. And husbands. Wow.”
    “Your turn,” Grace noted. “You’re not getting any younger, JD.”
    He ignored the smirks and turned his attention to her. “If I can’t have you, Grace…” A gusty sigh and a dramatic clasp of his chest. “I’m a broken man.”
    “Are you hitting on my mother again?” Jenna asked as she walked up.
    “Hey, Sunshine.” He swept her up in a hug, then twirled her around before setting her on her feet again. “How’s it feel to be old?” He tugged at a lock of her strawberry blond page boy.
    “Shut up and give me my present.” Like it or not—and she often didn’t—Jenna was everyone’s kid sister, and she looked the part, her nickname reflecting her personality, a pretty, sunny girl who was the eternal optimist, the person who always brightened the day.
    She was also every bit a worthy successor to her mother. She might not have children, but she was always taking one sad case or another under her wing, relentless about doing what it took to solve her charges’ problems or make their lives better. Like her mother, she was slender and lovely, and pure steel ran through her spine.
    “Don’t you have to wait to open gifts until after we have cake?”
    “I’m the birthday girl. I can do whatever I want.”
    He glanced toward a table piled with packages. An adjoining one was currently being stocked with steaming platters of food by Sophie and her chef. “That doesn’t seem to be Sophie’s game plan.” He held his package high, far past her reach. “And I’m hungry.”
    “Then I won’t introduce you to Violet.”
    “Violet who?”
    She nudged an elbow into his side. “Yeah, right. You know you’re dying to meet her. Who wouldn’t be?”
    “Well, yeah. Since I’m not stupid.”
    “Give me my gift, then.” She waggled her fingers.
    Instead, he dangled the gift bag in his hand and began to back away. “If you’re so impatient, birthday girl, come and get it.” He picked up his pace, his eyes on Jenna as she squealed and started after him.
    “This better be a great gift, smarty-pants.”
    “Maybe there’s nothing in here.” He grinned at her, then feinted to the side as she grabbed for the bag.
    “Oof!”
    He smashed into someone and whipped around, using his quick reflexes to grab the falling person—
    Then he realized he was holding America’s Sweetheart in his arms.
    And Delilah was right.
    Violet James was even more beautiful up close.
    * * *
    “I’ M SORRY . D ID I HURT YOU ?” said the new arrival at the party. “I was—”
    “Being a brat and not letting me have my birthday present,” said Jenna, approaching from behind him.
    He didn’t respond to Jenna. Instead, he quickly set Violet on her feet and steadied her. “Seriously, are you hurt?”
    “I’m fine,” Violet managed to answer, looking up into worried gray eyes. Six feet, she guessed, lean and athletic, tousled tawny hair.
    “Well, don’t I feel like a moron? Plowing right over a woman isn’t the usual ploy for making a good impression, or at least not one I’ve tried before.” Then he grinned, and strikingly handsome became breathtaking. He stuck out a hand. “JD Cameron. How am I doing so far? Wowed yet?”
    Charming, too. Her first instinct after everything she’d been through was to go icy, but that would be giving Barry’s betrayal too much power. Plus, Sophie said he was the next thing to family and she could trust him. She would try. “Let’s just say I won’t forget our meeting.” She slid her hand into his and smiled.
    “Ouch. So I need another ploy. Hmm, let’s see…I’m guessing people tell you all the time how beautiful you are, so I won’t bother with that. And I already know what you do for a living, so strike that one. Then there’s what’s your sign but I could find that out pretty