Enjoy!

David “Boomer” Jameson knows heartbreak all too well. As a child, his sun had risen and set with Sabrina Duncan. But fifteen years ago, she broke his heart after a single date.

A chance meeting sets off fireworks between them and now it’s Sabrina chasing him. She’ll do whatever it takes to earn a second chance.

There’s no way he’s letting her break his heart a second time. But that doesn’t mean he won’t claim her delicious body for his ultimate satisfaction.

Chapter 1

 

This was not how Sabrina Duncan had planned for her night to go. She’d left her temporary apartment in Lawrenceville filled with anticipation at attending a Halloween party. Ghosts, goblins, witches, you name it and she’d dressed up as it at some point in her life. Halloween wasn’t just her favorite holiday, it was her favorite season.

Now that she’d left California and all those painful memories behind, she felt settled enough to start dating again. Operation Find Mr. Right was officially underway. Too bad the cutie Jillian Moore had promised to introduce her to was currently walking out the door with his arm draped over his ex’s shoulders.

Jillian, owner of Jill’s Java Hut and hostess of tonight’s costume party, obviously saw what had happened because she weaved her way through the thick crowd, making a bee-line for Sabrina.

From the moment they’d met, Sabrina had thought the vintage loving, fire-engine-red lipstick wearing barista reminded her of an animated movie character. Jill had gorgeous, expressive eyes and right now those eyes were darting from the front door to Sabrina and back.

“What happened?”

“His ex.” Sabrina shrugged and finished her Vampire’s Kiss cocktail. The purple concoction gave her a delightful buzz. “He couldn’t stop looking at her, so I told him to go get her.”

And while Sabrina’s hopes were dashed for the moment, excitement continued to fizz through her veins. So, he hadn’t worked out, but there were dozens of men here. Surely some of them were unattached.

“He never said… I’m so sorry, Sabrina—”

Sabrina shook her head. “No worries.”

“If I’d know he wasn’t over his ex…”

“Wasn’t meant to be. He was really nice though. If you think of anyone else, you’ve got my number.” Sabrina smiled, hoping to settle Jill’s ruffled feathers. She had a good feeling about tonight, about this town, about the changes she’d made in her life in the last six months.

While Sabrina wasn’t sure a perfect guy actually existed, she was certain that somewhere out there was a man who was perfect for her. She had to believe that. Otherwise, life didn’t make any sense.

“I’ll think about it,” Jill said, surveying her guests.

“Thanks. I’m going to hit the ladies room.” Sabrina made a Lord-help-me face and Jill laughed. “I had a giant sweet tea on my way here. It’s good to be back in the south where you can stand a spoon up in your glass.”

Jill’s laugh followed her to the ladies’ room.

Sabrina’s bladder obviously didn’t care about things like costumes and good timing.

The second Sabrina locked herself in the bathroom stall and backed up to assume the position, there was a heart-stopping splash. She was afraid to look, knowing full well that she’d stuffed her phone into the ridiculously small back pocket of the tight black pants.

Cursing her wardrobe choice, she slapped at her pockets as she spun toward the toilet. Her phone was right where she’d put it but the safety pin on her Sassy Kitty tail had given out.

Luckily, or unluckily – depending on how you looked at it, the black strip of fur now mocked her from the porcelain toilet bowl.

Letting out a long sigh, she debated hitting the flusher. It was either that or fish out the soggy fabric.

The main bathroom door opened, and Halloween music filled the room along with the dull roar of the party goers. But before she rejoined the fray, she had a decision to make. Fish or flush?

Fish or flush?

The bolt on the next stall slid home with a thud, the universal signal for drop your draw’rs. Her bladder sent an urgent cry to her brain.

Fish, flush or walk out the door after peeing her pants. Those were her options.

Three was out. One would be too much like flushing a kitten. And what if the tail clogged the toilet? She might ruin Jill’s ladies room.

No, there really was only one option here. She unbolted her door, dashed to the paper towel dispenser and yanked out a wad. She’d grown too fond of Jill’s Java Hut over the last four months to let it be destroyed by a catastrophe of her own making.

Wrapping her left hand until it looked like a catcher’s mitt, she held her breath and plunged into the abyss.

As soon as she snagged her quarry, she flipped the lid on the small trash can and dumped the whole lot at once. No matter how recently this bathroom had been cleaned, there was no saving that piece of her costume.

Another quick dash out to the sink, where she squeezed her thighs together as she washed her hands and she was back in the stall for a second try. But not before a witch holding a purple broomstick emerged from the other stall and gave Sabrina a curious look.

“Wardrobe malfunction,” Sabrina said.

“Ahh…”

That was the exact sound Sabrina made twenty seconds later after she’d dropped her pants, clutched her phone, and assumed the position.

***

David Jameson, Boomer to his friends, shut the driver’s side door of his truck and scanned the street for his friends. A crowd was gathered outside Jill’s Java Hut. In an earlier text message, Dylan had said his costume was distinctive.

Dylan had obviously underestimated Roseville’s enthusiasm for Halloween. Or their creativity and diversity in costume selection.

Making his way across the tree lined street, he headed down the brick sidewalk to join the party. He had to give the town credit, they went all out with their window displays. Pumpkins and hay bales dotted the street corners; corn stalks and potted flowers flanked the doorways.

He’d never lived in a place so picturesque.

But before he could dwell on that fact, Dylan spotted him and waved him over. They made small talk with a cop who, turns out, wasn’t in costume but was keeping an eye on things. Watching Dylan, with his pointy eared mask, shoot the shit with the locals was a revelation. He really fit in here, was obviously making an effort to become part of the community.

Boomer hadn’t fit in since he’d left the SEALs. That was by design, of course. The more he moved around, the less he got involved, the fewer strings he had to unravel.

He smacked Dylan on the shoulder. “Let’s go get something to drink.”

Inside, Halloween music bounced off the old brick walls. A quick survey of the dimly lit space revealed several familiar faces. They spotted their longtime friend and former SEAL, Teo Canales, and gave him a nod before squeezing their way toward the back of the room.

The place was packed. Teo wore a cream-colored toga that showed off his legs and chest.

“I hope you’re wearing something underneath that, Canales,” Boomer teased.

“Free as a bird my friend,” Teo shot back with a shit eating grin.

“Gag,” Dylan added, plucking at the hard rubber breast-plate that covered his chest. “This thing chafes.”

“Who are you supposed to be?” Boomer asked Teo.

“Supposedly a Greek God.”

The answer sent Dylan into a fit of laughter and Boomer’s lips twitched. He kept his back to the wall and avoided touching anything lest his green body makeup rub off.

“I didn’t know Roseville had this many people.”

“Trust Jill to know half the state,” Teo said dryly, but Boomer saw the pride in his friend’s eyes.

“How come he didn’t have to dress up?” Dylan asked, glaring across the room like he’d just seen Bin Laden’s ghost.

Boomer followed his friend’s gaze. The target of Dylan’s ire was Joe Catrell who stood next to a grinning blonde she-devil. Glittering red horns peaked from beneath Baby Campbell’s shiny curls. Those two had been glued at the hip since Boomer met them.

Teo, who’d let his fiancée Jill come up for air long enough to host the Halloween party, laughed at Dylan’s annoyance. Jill and her staff, along with Teo’s sister Reya and some other friends had been party planning and decorating for weeks.

“Because he’s already a bodyguard and Baby finds that ‘sexy’,” Teo said, making air quotes while rolling his eyes.

Sure enough, Joe was dressed as he always was but tonight he wore pitch black sunglasses for an added bad ass effect.

“Chaffage,” Dylan complained again, trying to pry the Batman costume away from his skin.

“So, you’ve said,” Teo said, but didn’t sound terribly sympathetic.

Somehow the three of them had been roped into dressing up for Jill’s party. While Boomer loved Halloween, he hadn’t dressed up in years. Technically, he hadn’t celebrated the holiday since—

Don’t go there.

He forced his mind back to the conversation at hand. “That’s what you get for waiting till the last minute. I’m sure Reya will help you out of it later, so quit yer bitchin’,” he said.

“What he said,” Teo agreed, jerking a thumb in Boomer’s direction.

A woman dressed like a purple fairy strolled by, smiling at them with obvious interest. Teo and Dylan both glanced Boomer’s way and he raised a brow. When the woman got the hint and continued on her way, Dylan frowned.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Boomer shrugged. “Not interested.”

“In a sure thing?” Dylan sounded incredulous.

“Not tonight.”

Not most nights, to tell the truth, but they didn’t need to know that. What sane, red-blooded, thirty-something heterosexual male turns down pussy? That’s what they’d ask right before hauling him off to the loony bin.

Jill stopped by and handed them each a glass of purple liquid, said something about a Vampire Kiss and continued to her next guest. He tested the drink. Not bad but he still preferred a beer.

A woman dressed as a mermaid sidled up next to Dylan and plucked the glass from his hands. Boomer’s jaw dropped as she sent his friend a seductive smile and drained his glass.

Teo looked equally shocked and uncertain what to do.

The woman glanced their way and laughed. Her blue eyes sparkled beneath red bangs. “You don’t recognize your own sister?”

“Reya?” Teo cocked his head to the side.

“Who’d you think she was?” Dylan growled.

“But—I—You’re wearing contacts.”

And a wig. And a ton of makeup.

She laughed again and pulled Dylan down for a kiss.

Dylan wasn’t the only one who felt out of his element. Boomer was a little itchy himself and it wasn’t because of the body makeup.

By and large, most everyone in attendance, and it was standing room only, were couples. Teo and Jill, Dylan and Reya, Joe and Baby. Trevor Wyatt was here with his wife and several friends…all of whom were coupled up. The list went on and on.

All the coupledom made his single status that much more glaring. And Boomer wasn’t on the hunt for a woman. Not at all. But spending time with so many happy duos for the last ten months was taking its toll. It was harder and harder to ignore all the secret little looks the women gave their men and the way his pals seemed so damned happy. Ridiculously, ushy-gushy happy.

Reya giggled and Teo told them to get a room.

“Fine. I’ll go see if Jill needs anything.”

“I can tell you what she needs,” Teo said, puffing up his chest.

“Keep it in your toga, brother,” Reya said with a smirk and sauntered off.

Boomer gratefully accepted and took a long swig of the rot-gut whiskey Teo had smuggled into the party. Girly cocktails were nice and all, but not their style, no matter how much Teo might want to please his woman.

When he drained the glass, the other two were staring at him. Teo, the good man that he was, didn’t ask questions, simply pulled out a flask and poured Boomer a few more fingers worth.

“Supervisor still playing fast and loose?” Dylan asked.

Boomer nodded. “Long ass week.” He’d had an abnormal amount of anxiety as the Halloween party had loomed, not that he was going to analyze it. Combine that with a “boss” who wasn’t nearly careful enough for Boomer’s liking and yeah…long assed week.

“Good news is the movie’s almost over, right?” Teo asked.

Boomer nodded again, hoping the heartburn and frustration would dissipate next week. If they stayed on schedule.

It was past time for him to relax. He was a laid-back guy and he liked things that way, which was why he was counting down the days. He enjoyed working on a special effects team, bringing movies to life. But Toby had to have gotten his job via blackmail. Or nepotism. Explosions, no matter how controlled, could go awry. And Toby was lax on the controlled part.

For now, maybe the whiskey would take off the edge. However, it took a lot to get Boomer buzzed thanks to his height and breadth. And unfortunately, he had a three-drink rule.

The only thing worse than going down memory lane was tripping down it with a hangover. Booze had been his friend in some of his darkest hours, but every soldier knew, some of your best friends were your worst enemies.

“Be right back,” he muttered and turned toward the bathroom, sidestepping yet another cozy couple. He tossed back the whiskey and then threw his empty cup into a trash can. Head turned to follow the trajectory of his cup, he careened into someone. Instinctively, his hands shot out, grabbing and steadying the unfortunate soul he’d bowled over. This wasn’t the first time and it wouldn’t be the last.

“Sorry,” came the female murmur.

Boomer zeroed in on the woman beneath his nose. Average height, her skin tight black outfit revealed killer curves and gorgeous brown skin.

“My fault.” He took half a step back, not to get away from her but, so he could take more of her in. Wide aqua eyes, the color of the waters off the coast of Key West, flicked up to meet his and he felt his world tip, tilt, and then, free fall.

Sabrina Duncan.

He’d know those eyes, that face, anywhere. Suddenly he was 18 again and crazy about his best friend. His heart knocked against his ribs, jolting him as surely as if he’d grabbed a hold of a set of jumper cables.

The girl he’d known since kindergarten, the one person he’d always been able to talk to, the sometimes shy but always funny girl-turned-woman who’d broken his heart, blinked up at him.

It didn’t matter that over fifteen years had passed. Those days, weeks, months, years, his service, everything disappeared as if they’d never existed. Her aqua eyes were so unique, so vibrant with her complexion. The black lines radiating from the painted triangle at the tip of her nose gave her a youthful, cute appearance. Pointed, fuzzy black ears completed the look but the costume didn’t diminish or hide her beauty. Somewhere in the last dozen years Sabrina had become a stunner. The kind of woman who took your breath away and never gave it back.

Boomer sucked in a deep breath. When had he forgotten how to breathe?

He’d never been back to Brunswick, their hometown, so he’d honestly never expected to see her again. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask what in the world she was doing here.

“Either I’m more drunk than I thought, or you’re very green,” she said, and her impish smile wiped away some of the shock flooding his system.

His lips twitched, and he fought to keep a placid expression. Of all the women he could have steamrolled today, she was the very last one he should smile at. And he sure as hell shouldn’t have glanced at an important finger on her left hand.

Why was it bare? Surely, she was married with three kids and a few dogs.

But the more important question was, why was she staring up at him like they’d never met before?

She didn’t seem to recognize him. Hell, he hadn’t recognized himself either after a makeup artist friend had finished with him. Even his eye color was different for the evening and after seeing Reya’s transformation, he understood just how much a costume could change a person.

But it hadn’t changed Sabrina.

“Don’t tell me,” she continued, her ringless fingers wiggling between them. “Jolly Green Giant?”

Damn if his lips didn’t twitch again.

“Nope.”

“Hmm.” Her luscious mouth turned into a thoughtful frown. As her gaze raked up his left arm, across his face and then continued the lap all the way around again, his blood began to heat and parts he was usually able to ignore sat up and took a keen notice of the black-haired beauty.

“Do that again.”

“What?”

“Clench your fists.”

Boomer hadn’t realized he’d done it the first time, but he obliged her. After all, she was the girl who’d let him cry on her shoulder after his grandfather had passed away and to her credit, she’d never told a soul about his waterworks.

“That’s it,” she exclaimed, snapping her fingers. “Hulk!”

Damn she looked happy and supremely pleased with herself. And heaven help him, when had she gotten so…gorgeous?

He swallowed past the lump in his throat and forced words past dry lips.

“In the flesh. And you are?”

He held his breath, hoping she’d give him a name that proved she wasn’t who he thought she was. Who he knew in his heart, she was.

She held up her hands in a kitty cat gesture. “Meow.”

Meow indeed.

Cool it, Jameson. Hundred bucks says she’s spoken for, ring or not. And she didn’t want you, remember?

His bladder did what the self-lecture hadn’t, and he glanced over her head toward the restrooms.

Her soft gasp snagged his attention. “Sorry. You were headed somewhere important and here I am talking your ear off. It was nice meeting you, Hulk.” She held out a hand.

A voice somewhere deep in his mind told him to duck past and continue with his business. The goal was to forget his work frustrations for a few hours at least, not dredge up a past he’d never forgotten. Or gotten over.

Don’t touch her.

In two minutes he was already more attracted to her than any other woman he’d ever met. Two minutes…

Don’t shake her hand.

Don’t be rude, his conscience warred.

Evidently, he’d left his self-preservation at home because he closed his hand around hers, shook it once, but didn’t let go.

He couldn’t. Not with the way her blue eyes widened, and his gut clenched. She felt it, the live wire connection. The room seemed to darken, and the world fell away until she was everything, his entire universe.

Her jaw dropped slightly, and he could almost hear her sharp intake of air. Her thumb brushed over his skin, charging every nerve ending in its wake.

What the hell?

Stop touching her. For God’s sake, stop touching her.

Where Sabrina was concerned, he’d never been good at following his own orders.

He’d had chemistry before. Never with her. No, she’d been safe and sweet, firmly in the friend zone, despite his best efforts.

But this…this was something else. Until her grip loosened, and she pulled her hand back. The happiness bursting from her only a moment ago had been replaced by something far more subdued. Wariness, maybe.

Once the connection was severed, he realized she was waiting for him to reply.

“Likewise.”

Her smile gone, she nodded and stepped around him. Had he imagined the sparks between them?

He watched her disappear into the crowd and told himself to leave her alone.

What were the chances that he’d listen to himself this time?

 

 

Chapter 2

 

Sabrina was so rattled by the awareness sizzling through her that she gulped another Vampire’s Kiss Cocktail and hoped that the magical mix would sooth her nerves.

No. Not nerves. Hyper-awareness, that’s what was singing through her veins.

Mentally, she calculated the calories and how many extra miles she’d need to run in the morning. Every step would be worth it because the delicious, deep purple concoction delighted her taste-buds.

Stopping next to the front windows, she watched the party goers on the sidewalk. Layla was around her somewhere, with her new beau. Unless, and there was a good chance, they’d decided to head home for a private party of their own.

Not seeing her partner, Sabrina turned back to the crowded room. There was no denying that every fiber of her being was searching for the man in green. Who was he and why did he seem so familiar?

She was positive she’d remember a man of his height. Not to mention, those broad shoulders were extraordinary. The man was built like a tank. How could she forget someone so… unforgettable?

Not only was his size memorable, he had the most unique and dreamy voice. Rich, deep, completely masculine. She’d detected the tiniest drawl, almost as if he’d tried to train it out of himself.

Then there was the way his hands, big, strong hands, had rushed to steady her…except his touch had left her quivering and shaky on her feet.

Her gaze raked over the cafe, hoping for a glimpse of him. And his lips. Gracious, the way they twitched into an almost-smile did crazy things to her brain.

Where had she seen those lips before?

Someone bumped her on the way to the door and uttered an apology.

“No worries,” she murmured, never taking her gaze off the bathroom door at the back of the shop.

Surely, she’d be able to see him. He stood head and shoulders above everyone she’d ever met. Which once again made her wonder…if she’d never met the man before, why did she get the strongest sense of de ja vu?

Sabrina shivered, her skin still tingling where he’d touched her. Heaven help her, she wanted more…needed to feel his touch again. Over and over, until she couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t touched her.

But that was crazy. The heat sizzling through her was just…nuts. Wasn’t it?

“Looking for someone?”

Sabrina startled at the voice in her ear. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the deep, velvety voice she desired.

“What makes you say that?” she asked, certain she looked guilty as a cat with a canary in its mouth.

Jill circled Sabrina and made a disbelieving sound. She offered a tray of Halloween cookies and Sabrina snagged one while mentally added another mile to her tally.

The truth was, she had a serious case of lust going on.

Four alarm, panty melting l-u-s-t.

It had to be the cocktails going to her head. But even as she had the thought and glanced down at the remnant of purple liquid in her cup, she knew that wasn’t true. Sure, the drink was delicious, and she had a blissful buzz going on, but that wasn’t the whole reason she felt alive like never before.

The energy coursing through her was almost scary. But that trickle of unease was laced with excitement. Possibilities gnawed at her.

Was this how Jill felt with Teo? Palms sweaty, heart racing as if she’d just jogged a lap around the block, painfully curious?

“You’ve been staring at the same spot for the last minute.”

There wasn’t any use in denying it.

“Guilty.”

“Well…”

“What?”

“Which one do you have your eye on?”

Fully aware that alcohol loosened her tongue, she tried to rein in the desire to gush and/or squeal like a teenaged girl who’d just met a heartthrob.

“He’s in the bathroom.”

“Ahh.”

Anticipation made her stomach flutter and her knees weak. She wracked her memory and couldn’t think of any time she’d been so…affected.

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and told herself that it’d all work out. It’d be okay. It’d—

“Are you okay, Sabrina?”

She nodded. Why on earth did she feel nervous? As if the rest of her life, her happiness hinged on the rest of the evening?

Good gracious, girl. Get a grip.

The bathroom door opened. The air paused halfway up her throat. A broad, green shoulder appeared.

“Him?” Jill squeaked.

“What’s wrong?”

Sabrina’s gaze swerved to her petite friend.

If he was gay or married, Sabrina might just finish off the punchbowl. Except, that wasn’t really her style. She liked to be in control of her faculties too much to get plastered. And she was optimistic to a fault and therefore knew there were plenty of fish in the sea.

But I want that fish.

“Nothing,” Jill murmured, a slight smile curving her ruby red lips. “Not a thing.”

When it came to matters of the heart, Jill was overflowing with happiness. And it was easy to see why. Teo Canalas had barely taken his eyes off the buxom brunette all night.

Jill latched on to Sabrina’s arm and gave a happy bounce on the balls of her feet.

“What’s got her so excited?” Tracy, Jill’s assistant, asked as she squeezed through the crowd, cocktail in one hand, a plate of hors d’oeuvres in the other.

“Sabrina’s going to let me set her up,” Jill exclaimed. Then pivoted back to Sabrina. “Aren’t you?”

“What about me?” Tracy asked good naturedly. Ever since Sabrina had first stepped foot in Jill’s Java Hut, the ongoing joke had been how hard it was to find Tracy a guy. Girl had high standards, which Sabrina could appreciate.

“I gave you one and you said he was too tall,” Jill scoffed.

“I could see straight up his enormous schnooze.” Tracy sent a finger up toward her nostrils and Jilly laughed.

Sabrina watched the exchange over the rim of her glass. Despite her best efforts to not be obvious about it, couldn’t keep from scanning the room. As if he was a magnet and she a piece of metal, her eyes found him easily. Almost immediately. But then he was huge and smeared from head to toe in green…was that paint? Makeup maybe.

Whatever it was, it hadn’t rubbed off on her when she’d collided with him. Gracious. She closed her eyes as she relived that spectacular moment. It’d been so nice to feel attraction again. And to experience the possibility of something new. To have a man’s undivided attention.

But it was more than that.

She’d never felt such a fast, explosive connection with anyone.

Flutters took up residence in her stomach and when her glass turned up empty, she redirected her attention back to the two women in her circle. It was so nice to have a circle again. Wonderful to have friends of her own, not divided among a couple. Picking sides after things went bad.

She wanted a group. Friends. Friendship.

“You love playing matchmaker more than anyone I know,” Sabrina said. Which was saying something because she, herself, loved fixing up her friends. She loved love.

Hearts and marriage were her business.

“Can I help it if I want everyone to be as happy as I am?”

“No. And you shouldn’t try to stifle that either.” Once upon a time Sabrina had been that happy, or so she’d thought. The world had been at her feet and she’d had the hottest script writer in Hollywood dragging her into his bed. But that had all been a carefully crafted illusion. Sabrina knew now, illusions were a dangerous thing.

Cagey. Elusive. Vapor, really. And everything you thought was real could vanish in an instant.

Without meaning to, her eyes sought him again. He was staring back.

He was real, solid, definitely not a figment of her imagination.  And the way his gaze lingered on her brought a fresh round of hope to her chest. And a tingling sensation to her breasts.

What would he look like without the costume? If he looked that yummy covered in green… Mentally she pictured him in nothing but a towel.

Sabrina licked her lips.

“I think she’s already got her eye on someone.” Tracy’s voice cut through the mental undressing and Sabrina’s cheeks heated.

Jill made a sound of approval and the two women turned toward her man in green.

“Stop staring,” Sabrina pleaded. “He’ll think we’re talking about him.”

Jill laughed. “We are talking about him.”

Why did it feel like she was in high school all over again? Whispers in the cafeteria, long glances in the hallway. Wait. She’d never experienced any of that. Except in her dreams…

But boy had she longed too. But at forty-five pounds overweight, mixed race, and shy, there’d been no whispers, no glances, not that many true friends.

Except for David. God, how she missed him.

 

 

Chapter 3

 

Sabrina tugged her lower lip between her teeth. How was it that David was the only person in her high school class not on Facebook? Of course, he was the only person she wished to reconnect with.

Jill didn’t give her a moment to travel the regret express. She was too busy nodding her head up and down like a bobble head doll.

“I approve,” she gushed, squeezing Sabrina’s forearm. “But I have to warn you, Boomer’s had a really rough past where women are concerned. And he’s pretty much a nomad, but he’s one of Teo’s closest friends. You couldn’t pick a nicer guy—”

“Or hot,” Tracy added, fanning herself.

“Come on.” Without giving Sabrina time to digest all that information, Jill tugged her arm.

“I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you,” Tracy said as Jill pulled Sabrina through the crowd.

Her eyes locked with his and the connection was so tangible she felt like she was being reeled in. As it had before, the world melted away until the only thing in her focus, in her universe, was him. In all his green glory.

She caught a flash of purple in the corner of her eye. His gaze swerved, severing the connection. Her focus widened as a purple haired woman stopped in front of Hunky Hulk. Sabrina’s steps faltered as he bent his head to hear whatever the woman had to say. Irrational jealousy stabbed Sabrina and her breath stalled in her lungs.

He nodded and turned toward Jill’s boyfriend, Teo. She couldn’t tell what the two said but the slap on the Hulk’s back was a sure sign that he was heading out.

With her.

Why, of all the guys, of all the times did her libido have to perk up right now?

Had he been waiting for the purple haired woman? Was she his date? They seemed very familiar.

The purple haired woman flashed Teo and Dylan a smile, waved good-bye and turned toward the door.

Hunky Hulk’s gaze found Jill. “Thanks for a great party.”

He pegged Sabrina with a long, indecipherable look. Time stood still. So did she. What was he thinking?

Jill called out her goodbyes and he blinked. The spell was broken. He turned toward the door, squeezing between two women dressed as mermaids.

Sabrina stayed rooted to the spot, strangely numb. Acutely disappointed.

But then the drive that had made her a successful business woman kicked in and she stepped forward. She should go after him. After all, a connection like this didn’t come around every day. Maybe once in a lifetime, if you were lucky.

Then what? Give him her number?

She didn’t even know his name.

But she didn’t need to.

An image flashed through her head, so real she could feel the heat racing over her skin. Except it was more than an image. A tantalizing video played in her mind, full of passion and steam as she pushed through the crowd, caught his arm.

He turned back to her, those gorgeous eyes widened with surprise. She reached for him and he regarded her only a moment before he reached for her too. Stretching way up on her tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

His skin felt like a furnace beneath her fingertips. He didn’t utter a word, and he didn’t need to. Everything she needed to know was right there in his eyes.

Attraction.

The heavy, thick, undeniable kind that took your breath away and threatened to never give it back.

Need.

Desire.

Her body responded in kind; tingling, tightening, warming. There was a moment of breathless anticipation as his palms slid around her waist. Every nerve ending was alive and focused on him, his touch, his lips.

He stared back and forth into her eyes, almost like he was memorizing every eyelash. She dropped her gaze to his lips. Such a delicious, masculine mouth. Completely kissable.

Shivers raced over her skin as his right hand skimmed up her side, over the curve of her breast, across her shoulder, beneath her hair to cup her neck.

She’d never felt so small or delicate before. Everything feminine in her was put on notice as his thumb trailed over her jaw. Her eyelashes fluttered down to meet her cheeks.

She never wanted a kiss more in her life. 

And just like that, the daydream was over, leaving her bereft and hungry. But as her vision cleared and her focus returned, she saw his broad back headed for the door.

The butterflies in her stomach shriveled and died.

Did she really want to be with a guy who passed her over for someone else? Then again, how many men had she found a spark with?

None like him, none like this. That all-consuming awareness that left a tingle in some important, recently dormant, places.

It was silly to feel dejected. She was a grown woman, she’d traveled the world, and most days she liked to think she had her shit together. Which was why moments like this threw her for a loop.

Only, now it was worse. She glanced over her shoulder at the happy pairings.

Jill, lips pursed, and Teo. Reya and Dylan. Baby and Joe.

Couples. Coupledom. Once again, she was alone while all her friends partnered up. It almost felt like the story of her life.

Just as depression nipped at her heart, a booming laugh carried across the room, rich, loud, so unique.

Her head swiveled back around, and she saw Hunky Hulk, head thrown back, laughing with so much joy and mirth she got chills.

She’d know that laugh anywhere.

***

 

“David Lee Jameson!”

David heard Sabrina’s voice over the din of conversation and music. His laughter died at her shocked tone.

Fifteen years had passed since he’d heard his name on her lips. Back before he’d joined the Navy, before BUD/S, before Vanessa, before Samuel, before he’d become Boomer – the laid back, affable, dependable SEAL.

Back then he’d been D, Sabrina’s best friend, her confidant, the guy who’d secretly been crazy about her and tried his darnedest to make her his without ruining everything.

Bang up job, there, Jameson. Bang up job.

What he’d never been able to figure out was how the most magical night of his life had sent her running in the other direction.

And now, somehow, she’d figured out the man under all the green paint was her long-lost friend. She pressed through the crowd, headed right for him. Those aqua eyes pinned him in place and he couldn’t have moved if he’d wanted to.

Despite years of training, which had helped him conquer fear and move his ass in dangerous situations, knowing that he needed to stay away from this woman, he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t move and the masochistic part of him needed to know what she was going to say. What would her next words be?

Didn’t matter.

He’d made his peace a long time ago and moved on.

Except…

“Is it really you?” she asked when she’d almost closed the distance between them.

Aww fuck. Did she have to look so happy? So utterly pleased to find out the guy she’d been ogling was her childhood friend? The same friend she’d gone on one date with and then barely spoken to ever again?

Forget it, Jameson. Once it’s in the past, we move on.

He took a deep breath, knowing there was no way out of this. “Hello Mouse.”

She rocked back slightly, and her perfect mouth dropped open, stretching the painted-on whiskers. Her brows lifted, emphasizing those melt-a-man-in-his-tracks eyes.

Damn, she was too pretty to be real.

“So, you do recognize me.” The shock on her face turned to inquisitiveness.

“I’d know your eyes anywhere,” he admitted.

Behind her, Jill and Tracy disappeared into the crowd.

Curiosity gnawed at him.

“I’d know your laugh anywhere.” She paused, and the world seemed to disappear until they were the only beings left. Then she launched herself against him and hugged him tighter than he would have thought possible. “I’ve missed you.”

Those three little words came out on a shaky sigh.

They slayed him.

Against his better judgement, he hugged her back, hands sliding around her back and pulling her close. Holy hell she felt amazing, toned and yet soft in all the right places. And she smelled like a coconut and vanilla dream.

Holy hell.

She pulled back, arms still around his neck and stared up at him as if she couldn’t believe her eyes. Chuckling, she hugged him again.

Damn, if it wasn’t the most infectious sound, bringing a resounding rumble from his own chest.

“It really is you,” she said, her voice full of awe. “Where have you been? Do you know you’re the only person in our class not on Facebook? Why does Jill call you Boomer?”

His lips twitched. She was still something else. And she’d overcome that painful shyness that’d held her back and made her feel removed from everyone.

How had that happened?

Dammit, he didn’t need to know that.

“I’ve wondered that myself,” a voice inserted.

He glanced to his left and saw Celita staring back with the same curiosity that was mirrored on Sabrina’s beautiful face.

“Oh…ugh…”

Teo, the saint, saved him. “Boomer, need a refill?”

Boomer shook his head. “Three’s my limit.” Teo knew that.

“Right. Dylan and I are gonna get some air. Let us know if you need help changing that tire.” The barb was tossed over Teo’s shoulder with a teasing smirk.

“Bite me,” Boomer shot at his friend’s retreating back.

“Tire?” Sabrina quipped.

“Celita, meet Sabrina Duncan. Is it still Duncan?” His brows lifted in question and he held his breath as he awaited her answer. God, why did it matter?

It didn’t. She didn’t matter.

She’d made it clear all those years ago and he was happy alone.

“Still Duncan,” she said with a laugh. “Nice to meet you, Celita.”

The two women shook hands and Boomer noticed Celita giving Sabrina a thorough once over. The feisty makeup artist seemed as taken with Sabrina as he felt.

“Celita is the makeup artist responsible for my, ugh, costume,” he said waving inanely at his chest. He glanced down and found the green body paint still in place and he was a little disappointed that Sabrina’s bear hug hadn’t rubbed it off.

“Oh—” Sabrina’s jaw dropped again and her chin wobbled once before she snapped it shut and pasted on a smile that would have fooled someone who hadn’t spent so much time with her. As it was, the grin didn’t make her eyes crinkle. “You’re very thorough. Was it hard to get him to hold still?”

The eye crinkle appeared, and she turned her focus to Celita.

“Yup. You know how SEALs are.”

“SEALs?” Sabrina’s brows met her hairline.

“Former SEAL,” he murmured. He hated spreading that around. He was damned proud of the work he and his Team had done but he couldn’t stand the groupies. Fucking BUD/S bunnies hanging out, hoping to score Uncle Sam’s best of the best. “You ready to tackle that tire?” he asked Celita, hoping she’d drop the conversation.

Unfortunately, she waved him off.

“He’s too modest,” Celita said. “I hear they can sit still on the battlefield for hours at a time and yet you get them in the make-up chair and they’re totally twitchy.”

“Gimme your keys and I’ll go fix it.” At this point, he’d do pretty much anything to get out of the stifling room that smelled like coffee and cheap rubber costumes.

Celita linked her arm through Sabrina’s and whatever she said in that quiet tone made Sabrina laugh.

Maybe leaving them alone together wasn’t a good idea.

But then again, what the hell did it matter? He’d be done with the job soon and he was never going to see Sabrina again. Right?

Right.

Chance meeting. That was all.

Celita dug into the pocket of her form fitting jeans and then dropped her keyring into his hand. His heart and libido were firmly divided.

Heart said to keep moving. Women were nothing but trouble. Libido was having none of it. Sabrina’d disappeared from his life, leaving a giant hole, and she’d come back a Phoenix. He wanted to bask in her radiance a while longer. All night long.

Down boy.

His brain was on the fence, curious and yet unwilling to rehash the past. He’d learned his lesson, hadn’t he?

Boomer pulled open the door and the bells jingled. Celita, the trouble maker, said a quick “thanks” before she and Sabrina stepped outside in front of him. The two women started off down the sidewalk, still arm and arm. When had they gotten so damned chummy? And why did he feel like his worlds were colliding? Old and new. Temporary and forgotten.

“Are you coming?” Celita asked over her shoulder when she was a good thirty feet away. His feet felt glued to the concrete.

What the hell was happening?

He nodded and forced himself to follow them through the crowd of party goers. Sabrina’s laughter bounced off the old brick buildings and they made a right turn down a cross street.

They stopped half a dozen spaces down in front of Celita’s old Pathfinder. Dozens of bumper stickers clung to the paint job, making the vehicle as colorful as its owner’s personality.

“What was he like as a five-year-old?” Celita was asking.

Sabrina shot him a mirthful smile and turned back to her new pal.

“Shorter. A lot less…green.”

The comment sent Celita into a fit of laughter.

Boomer stared between the two women. One he’d known forever it seemed and yet, he didn’t know her at all. And the other, a more recent acquaintance who’d worked her way into his life with the precision of a surgeon’s scalpel.

But Sabrina…when had she lost her shy nature? How was she able to make a friend so easily when as a child he could have counted her friends on one hand and not used a single finger?

Doesn’t matter.

He used the keys to get the jack out of the SUV and tried to ignore the two women on the sidewalk. Rather, he tried to ignore one of them, but he could see her out of the corner of his eye and damn if he hadn’t already committed her curves to memory. Did that turtleneck have to cling in all the right spots?

So much for staying away from her.

The sooner he got this tire changed, the sooner he could get out of here and forget all about Sabrina and her mouth-watering ass.

He doubled his effort to loosen the second nut. Doggone machines, tightening the lug nuts too tight. Didn’t anyone hand-torque anymore?

“Need any help?” Sabrina called.

The nut gave, and his hand smashed into the asphalt.

 

 

Chapter 4

 

Pain exploded through his knuckles.

“Shit.”

“Oh—” Sabrina was next to him in a heartbeat, reaching for his hand.

David shrugged her off. “I’m okay.”

God knew he’d suffered worse. He had plenty of old wounds to show for it and those were only the physical injuries that left scars on the outside.

From the corner of his eye, he saw her sit back on her heels.

Feeling like an ass, he continued his task and made short work of the job. His training allowed him to become laser focused but then again, he’d never had Sabrina Duncan tagging along through Afghanistan. He’d never had her delicious scent teasing him as he tried to defuse a land mine.

Luckily, he was working with a tire and a handful of lug nuts.  A breeze sent a tiny tornado of leaves swirling between them. He let the vehicle down and picked up the jack.

“Thanks, Boomer. I really appreciate it.” Celita stepped forward as he stood.

“No problem.” He stowed the gear in the back and shut the tailgate, feeling the women watching him. It wasn’t the makeup artist who held his attention though. No. It was the woman who’d stolen his heart and crushed it. “Drive safe.”

He handed over the keys but Celita turned back to Sabrina.

Once again, he was awestruck at how outgoing his former best friend was. In fact, if she hadn’t confirmed it, he’d have a really hard time believing the vivacious bombshell currently typing her phone number into Celita’s phone was the same Sabrina Duncan who used to hang upside down next to him on the monkey bars.

Back then she’d been so shy, with everyone but him.

“Let’s get together before you head back to Hollywood,” Sabrina said as Celita circled the hood. She waved a few fingers and Boomer stepped onto the sidewalk.

When the headlights flicked on, he got his first good look at his hand. Yep. He’d given himself a good scrape to the knuckle. Blood had trickled down the side of his palm and dried.

“I have a first aid kit in my car,” Sabrina said as Celita backed out onto the street.

“I’ll take care of it when I get home.”

Maybe he was seeing things, but he’d bet money that disappointment flashed across her features. And that made him feel like a jerk.

“Are you sure? I’m two spaces down. You don’t want an infection.”

No. He didn’t. But he really didn’t want her hands on him. With her so damn close he could almost feel the heat of her body. He was having a hell of a time reminding himself that he’d vowed to stay away from her.

He took a deep, steadying breath. “I’m gonna head out. I need a shower.”

Truth be told, the makeup was getting to him and he hated being sucked down memory lane.

“Oh.” The single word held mountains of disappointment and made him meet her gaze head on.

Damn.

Did she have to look up at him so…bewildered? The faint lines of confusion wrinkling her brow made him feel like an even bigger jerk.

“But if you’ve got a wipe or something to clean this—”

“Sure thing.” As if needing to move or do something with her hands, she started forward, hitting a button on her key fob in the same instant.

Where the hell had she been hiding those keys in such a skin-tight outfit? Would she let him do a thorough search?

Knock it off, Jameson.

She hit a button on the passenger door, popped open the glove compartment and returned with a small container of supplies. The fact that she was so organized shouldn’t have been a turn on, but fuck. He was a sucker for a well labeled system.

Cracking open the lid, she placed everything on the hood of the car. The very red car. He glanced right, then left, taking in the smooth, sleek lines.

The Sabrina he remembered had been way too shy to drive such a flashy car.

“Convertible, huh?”

“Mmm huh.” She held up a little packet like it was the Stanley cup. “I just moved here from California and it’s practically a requirement out there to own a convertible.”

Taking the foil between her teeth, she gave it a hard yank. His gaze zeroed on her lips. Were they as soft as they looked?

“You lived in California?” He asked, aware of how lame he sounded but he had to do something to distract himself from her mouth.

She reached for his hand and awareness traveled across his skin like wildfire. Despite her gentle touch, he wanted to snatch his hand back, but he got the impression that he had hurt her feelings earlier, and while he didn’t want to rehash the past, hell, he didn’t want a future with her either, he didn’t want to hurt her. No matter how badly she’d hurt him.

“Yep. Almost ten years.”

“No kidding.” Small world.

“Where do you live?”

“Wherever work takes—” he hissed as the cleaning pad hit abraded skin. Gritting his teeth, he finished, “me. Right now, I’m here. By December, I should be back in California.”

Her perfectly plucked brows lifted and cinched together and she glanced up at him briefly before turning her attention back to his wound.

“You would have made a good nurse,” he murmured as she carefully applied an antibacterial gel. At one point she’d wanted to be a librarian. Then there was the summer she’d talked about becoming a veterinarian.

“Maybe.”

A comfortable silence reigned as she fought with a bandage wrapper.

“Good thing you’re not bleeding out,” she murmured. “You’d be dead before I could get this stupid thing on you.”

His lips twitched. Standing there next to her sporty car, on a warm October night in Georgia, Boomer remembered why they’d been such good friends all those years ago. Shy or not, she’d always had a smile for him and she’d always been able to make him happy. One smile, one laugh, one day at a time she’d been sunshine in an often-dark world.

“What do you do?” Curiosity got the better of him.

“I’m a wedding stationer.”

“Oh-kay.”

She laughed as she applied the bandage. Somehow the sweet, melodic sound did as much for his mind as the dressing did for his wound. How was it that she could lift his mood in just a few minutes?

“You sound skeptical.”

“I just have no idea what a wedding stationer does.”

“I design invitations, table cards, things like that for brides. Then I print them or have them printed. Then I stuff and address them. Ship them. It’s a full-service business.”

“Hmm…” Sounded expensive. Which explained the car. “People pay for that?”

“Brides who want custom paper goods pay for that, yes.”

Sometimes he had a rough time accepting what civilians considered normal. He’d spent so long far removed from society. Most of the guys he knew, Teo, Dylan and Joe included, found acclimating to the stresses that sent normal folks over the edge difficult.

Like Toby. Boomer’s supervisor had a flair for the dramatic, not to mention he was unorganized. Try as he might, Boomer just couldn’t get on the same page with the guy. Or respect him, most days.

“What are you thinking about right this second?” She asked, staring up at him wide eyed and curious as she clutched the first aid kit to her chest.

Opening up to her was as natural as breathing. He braced a hand against the side of her car as she leaned against the hood.

“My boss had a flat tire earlier in the week, made a big stink of it. Like it was the worst catastrophe ever. No exaggeration.”

As if on cue, the phone in his pants pocket vibrated. Boomer would bet a thousand dollars that Toby was texting him about some problem that Boomer had no intention of addressing until next week. He’d more than earned his days off.

“Okay.” She sounded confused.

“Sometimes, well, most of the time, I have trouble relating to people. It’s interesting, maybe a little curious, what people consider important or stress over. A flat tire isn’t a big deal, really, unless it causes an accident. Or you’re stuck in a fire-fight in the middle of nowhere.”

“What is a big deal to you?”

He grunted and stared up at the night sky. Despite the old-fashioned street lights dotting the sidewalks of downtown Roseville, he could make out a few of the brighter stars. “IEDs are a pretty big damn deal. Ambush. Losing friends.”

Her gasp brought his head down and around. The sweet O of her lips was the ultimate invitation. Did she know how attractive she was? She had to. She obviously worked hard if her perfect manicure, killer figure, and carefully applied makeup were any indication.

“You’re right.” She stared at him for a long moment before dropping her gaze to the pavement and leaning against the hood. “Were you—I mean—how long—”

She paused and then licked her lips. The quiver in her voice told him so much. His words had affected her, and she wasn’t quite sure how to absorb them or react to them.

“How do you find your clients?” he asked, directing them back to a safer discussion.

He didn’t particularly like rehashing his past. There were obviously areas that were too damned hard to think about much less talk about. But he’d always been proud of his service, the job he’d done for his country and most especially of the lasting friendships he’d made.

“Referrals. Instagram. Magazine shoots. Why did you join the SEALs?”

“Sounded like a good idea at the time.”

In less time than it took him to blink, she was off the car and standing in front of him, vibrating with intensity.

“Getting shot at sounded like a good idea? You knew how dangerous it was, didn’t you? Beforehand?”

Damn she was gorgeous when she was feisty. That was new too. What would it take to get her really flustered? Or mad as a momma gator? He’d bet his favorite scope that her eyes would sparkle and her whole body would quake with annoyance.

“I made it home in once piece. That’s luckier than most.”

She cut her gaze to the street corner. The party was filtering down their way.

Gnawing her lower lip, she closed her eyes. A second passed, then another. A solid ten seconds later, her chest rose as she took a deep breath. He’d have had to be dead or blind not to notice the way her breasts stretched the black material.

He snatched his gaze away and focused on her face. He liked to look as much as the next guy, but he was happy alone, so it didn’t pay to look too long.

“Of all the regrets in my life, you’re the only one that makes me wish I had a time machine, so I could go back.”

Her words as much as the sheen of tears in her eyes shocked him. His blood ran icy cold as his brain screamed mayday.

Mayday. Danger. Back away.

They were heading into unsteady territory. Like, behind enemy lines territory.

And fuck if there wasn’t a single response that he could think of that didn’t make him sound like a complete asshole or take the conversation directly into the territory he’d do anything to stay away from.

She’d broken his heart. He’d grown up, moved on. He was happy. Well, happy enough. Content, all right?

His phone buzzed again. Biting out a sigh, he plucked the hideous device from his pocket and glanced at the screen just to make sure the world wasn’t ending.

It wasn’t.

Not tonight anyway. He tucked the phone back in his pocket and gave her his attention.

“You shouldn’t regret anything. Your past brought you to where you are right now.”

The words flowed from his lips as if plucked from the divine.

Sabrina nodded slightly and then took an obviously shaky breath. “You’re right. I just—”

Damn. How did she peg him with a glance that had the same power as lead weights? It was as if twin aqua lasers had melted his boots to the pavement.

“Hearing what you said…about the ambush and losing friends. I’ve thought about you so many times over the years, wondering what you were doing. If you’d left Brunswick, if you’d gotten married and had kids.”

Somehow her words unlocked memories he’d thought were long locked away. The sound of Holden’s laughter as he’d run around the yard, dashing through the sprinkler on a scorching summer’s day. Just being a kid. His little boy had been so good at that. Living in the moment, finding joy in the smallest things. And that giggle of his.

David rubbed his chest as if that could soothe an ache that was so deep it went far past the physical.

Sabrina had no idea how she affected him. No, she continued as if his heart wasn’t being ripped into a thousand more pieces. When would he learn? His heart wasn’t meant to be whole.

He could laugh, shoot the shit, hang out with the guys and be the epitome of laid back. Fancy free, Dylan had called it not long after he and Reya hooked up. But it was all a charade.

Boomer didn’t feel whole. Not since that terrible spring day. And truth be told, the first chisel strike to his heart had come fifteen years ago.

And the woman in front of him had been wielding her sledge hammer with deadly aim.

“What happened?”

The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. They tasted like dry sawdust across his tongue, but he needed to know what had happened all those years ago to drive her away from him.

It was as if she could read his mind, knew exactly what he was asking.

But hadn’t they always had that kind of connection as kids? Finishing each other’s sentences? Reading each other’s minds?

Which was why he just couldn’t figure out what had shut her down, turned her off. What had severed their friendship.

Sabrina licked her lips, staring at the ground. Then she slowly raised her gaze to meet his. The aqua of her eyes had never seemed brighter. Her shoulders pulled back and down and she took another deep breath that once again lifted her breasts.

“I’ve thought about this so many times…what I’d say if I ever met you again.” She glanced around at the dozens of parked cars and party goers. “I’m not sure this is the setting I had in mind.”

She gave him a slight smile.

Aww, fuck. He couldn’t retract his question, without letting her know just how much she’d affected him. And knowing her now, seeing how she’d bitten her lower lip as she concentrated on tending his wound, the gentle wrinkle between her brows, the graceful column of her neck… It was like seeing her for the first time, and yet, somehow, she was achingly familiar.

It struck him right in the chest.

He’d missed her too. All the moments from their childhood. He’d thought they’d go on forever. Even as they’d drifted apart in high school, he’d never expected to drift completely.

And then when she’d walked away from their date and never looked back, when she’d severed all the ties, he’d ached. Not just because he’d been a rebuffed teenage boy, not just because he hadn’t gotten his way, but because he’d lost his very best friend.

Thinking about it now, thinking of the loss, the miles and years between them, he swallowed past a lump in his throat. So damn long. So many years. So much history.

For both of them surely.

God knew he had plenty of baggage.

Which was why he should thank her for her bandaging his wounds and say, “it was nice seeing you.”

But when her incredible aqua gaze locked with his, those weren’t the words that left his lips.