Extreme devotion, p.13
Extreme Devotion, page 13
“No, don’t threaten awful things like that.”
Pearl sensed movement above and below them. Looking up, she saw a man slowly releasing their cable, and then they eased to the forest floor. Looking down, she saw Jex’s entire family and her mom, her brother, and Tracy congregating below them. Even Gunner and Lily were here. She knew they were involved in the anti-trafficking battle in South America and spent time on other security jobs throughout the world, but they rarely took a break. It meant a lot to see all the people they both loved, and the sight made her excitement and nerves rise. What was Jex planning now?
“It’s time, Jex!” Lottie yelled up at them, clapping her hands and then happily waving them at her forehead.
Mae was wearing a T-shirt that said, It’s not a food baby. Pearl wanted to hug her and congratulate her and Slade on the baby, but it wasn’t time for that right now. According to Lottie, it was time for something else.
“Time?” Pearl asked.
“You agreed to marry me, right?” Jex asked, holding her tight against him.
“Well, sort of. I think I may have agreed to change my last name.”
“Good enough.”
“Really?” she challenged him. They hit the ground, and she still clung to him.
Jex grinned. “Pearl Jacobsen-Davenport, will you marry me and finally ditch that awful last name?”
Pearl kissed him and whispered against his lips, “Yes.”
Jex pulled a ring out of his shorts pocket. No box, just a huge round diamond glittering in a thick white-gold band.
“You took me serious when I said a big ring.” She grinned.
“Yes, ma’am, I did.” He slowly slid the ring on her finger, and she trembled from the tenderness and promise in his gaze.
Then he lowered his head and proceeded to kiss her, making her entire body tingle until Lottie yelled, “Stop it, you tater tot!”
Everyone laughed. Pearl released her tight grip on Jex and stood on her own two feet. A worker came and took off their harnesses, and then Jex wrapped his arm around her and turned them toward their families. “Thanks, everybody, for traveling down here. I finally convinced the beautiful Pearl Jacobsen-Davenport to change her too-long last name.” He winked at her. Pearl’s heart raced faster than it had on their crazy swing. “No offense, Mama Jacobsen-Davenport.”
Pearl’s mom waved her hand. “None taken, future son-in-law.”
“Today is Sunday, so the camp attendees aren’t here. If it’s okay with Pearl, we’ll have a quiet ceremony next to the river with only our families, and my mama’s planned some fancy dinner.” He smiled lovingly at his mom. “Then we’re ditching all of you to go on a honeymoon.” He lowered his voice and whispered in Pearl’s ear, “To Bali for at least a few weeks, then maybe visit some of the countries in Europe that we’ve missed. I know about your secret dream of those castles in Wales.”
Pearl beamed up at him.
“Is this all okay?”
“Do I get to wear a white dress and heels, or am I getting married in a T-shirt and shorts?”
“You and your heels.” His voice lowered. “I love you in them.”
Her body heated up at the smoldering look in his eyes and the anticipation of being married to this man.
“Don’t worry,” Jex said. “Lottie’s picked out the most beautiful dress and shoes you can imagine.”
“Yes!” Lottie hollered. “We love you, Pearl!”
“I love you too, Lottie.” She turned to Jex. “It’s better than okay. I love you.”
He kissed her soundly, and Pearl enjoyed the cheers from their family members as they enjoyed their first kiss as an engaged couple. It would be a short engagement, and that was perfect for her. Jex Steele and helping children throughout the world was her future. She was more than ready to change her last name and make him hers.
Don’t miss any of the Steele Family Romances:
1. Her Dream Date Boss
2. The Stranded Patriot
3. The Committed Warrior
4. Extreme Devotion
About the Author
Cami is a part-time author, part-time exercise consultant, part-time housekeeper, full-time wife, and overtime mother of four adorable boys. Sleep and relaxation are fond memories. She’s never been happier.
Sign up for Cami’s newsletter to receive a free ebook copy of The Resilient One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance and information about new releases, discounts, and promotions on her website - www.camichecketts.com.
Keep reading for a brief excerpt of Cami’s latest release: The Committed Warrior: A Steele Family Romance.
Don’t miss any of the Steele Family Romances:
1. Her Dream Date Boss
2. The Stranded Patriot
3. The Committed Warrior
4. Extreme Devotion
www.camichecketts.com
cami@camichecketts.com
The Committed Warrior
Lily Bella Jewel rushed through the restaurant’s kitchen, picking up the plated pork mac ‘n cheese that was ready to serve. “This smells delectable,” she sang to the cook.
“Thank you, sweetheart,” James returned with a grin. The fifty-something guy reminded her of her dad, very laidback and well-liked by everyone, but James was twice as thick and muscular as her tall, thin father. James also seemed concerned about her, something her father had never revealed in her lifetime. “Aren’t you done for the night? I don’t like you riding that bike in the dark.”
“Don’t worry about me, my friend. I’ve been riding that bike throughout the good old US of A, and small-town Idaho is the safest I’ve ever been.”
He rolled his eyes. “Just finish that order and get your skinny behind back to your trailer, or I’ll make you wait until I’m plum done and drive your keister home.”
She smiled. “Oh, the threats.” Bustling through the door, she ignored his growl of a reply. It was adorable how her fellow employees and the owners of this cute restaurant took responsibility for her well-being, especially as she’d never asked them to. She loved real people, but she’d worked hard to learn how to protect herself.
Hurrying to the closest table in the small restaurant, she set down the dinner. “Now if you don’t love this bit of heaven, I don’t know what to tell you, but you may have flawed taste buds.”
The lady smiled, winking at her husband who was maneuvering his mouth around the thick bacon cheeseburger Lily had delivered to him a few minutes ago.
“Sorry,” he mumbled with a mouthful, “I shoulda waited.”
“Don’t worry, darlin’, you’ll be waitin’ on me to eat this.” She looked to Lily. “It smells delicious. Thank you, sweet girl.”
“Do you need anything else right now?” Lily asked.
“We should be happy and busy for a while,” the lady answered.
“Y’all enjoy it.”
They both smiled at her put-on Southern accent. She wasn’t from the South but had loved her stay of a few months last fall on Hilton Head Island working for Shar Heathrow’s Beach Cottage restaurant. Waitressing was not only the easiest job to come by, Lily enjoyed meeting people and fully appreciated free food. Free food had helped her survive on her own since she’d turned eighteen, dropped the Jolie part of her last name, and told her mother she was going to live her life without any help or any contact from her.
She checked in with her dad once in a while. He sometimes responded to her emails and didn’t seem to be disappointed in her. But the famous Jamison Jewel didn’t get riled about much of anything, least of all that his daughter was going to amount to nothing, as her mother used to remind her. Thankfully, she hadn’t seen Bella Jolie in six years now. Blissful. That’s what an existence without her mother was. Sometimes, throughout the years, she’d felt as if someone were watching her, maybe someone who guessed the connection to one of her famous parents. When that happened, she simply upped her self-defense training and relocated.
Glancing around the quiet restaurant, she startled as she saw a man sitting in the corner booth. He was incredibly handsome with dark coloring, a well-trimmed beard, and a muscular frame, but he was also watching her intently. It wasn’t a creepy look, more of a gaze of either interest in her, or possibly recognition. Aw, shoot. She hated when someone put together whose daughter she was, even worse when it was a man that good-looking, because she wouldn’t let herself flirt with someone who knew who she was. No, strike that; she wouldn’t flirt with anyone who wanted a claim to fame because they’d figured out her lineage.
It was the one luxury she allowed herself—flirting with handsome men. She rarely dated, as safety was her highest priority, and though she’d won every fight she’d been in, she never underestimated anyone or put herself in stupid positions; but flirting she liked, a lot. Tugging at her long braid, she hoped she looked presentable after rushing around a hot kitchen for hours. She’d given up on makeup, fancy haircuts, and manicures years ago, one more way to spite her mother, but she liked to be clean and presentable.
Lily gave him a forced smile that he barely returned. That worried her even more. If he was interested in dating her he’d smile or wink or something. This man appeared much too tough and serious. It was unsettling. She turned and hurried back into the kitchen.
Hanging up her apron, she called to the owners Kristen and James, “I’m out. See you tomorrow for lunch.”
“Be safe,” they both returned.
She smiled. They had no clue how many different places she’d lived over the past six years, some of them very un-safe, or the fact that she’d been trained by her bodybuilder of a nanny behind her mother’s back and taken a variety of self-defense classes throughout the past six years. She was capable of protecting herself.
“I always am.” She hurried back out into the restaurant before they could fuss about her anymore. The man in the corner booth caught her eye again. Sarah the waitress closing tonight should come wait on him, he’d be fine, but when their gazes caught she felt an unfamiliar connection to him. Maybe it was because he seemed to know her, but it might be something much more intriguing. His very build shouted safety and protection, unless he wasn’t on your team, and his dark eyes tugged at her. She could see herself becoming a fan of this man.
Forcing herself to walk through the restaurant and past the deli counter, she exchanged goodbyes with the girls manning the counter and burst through the front door into the dry Idaho summer heat. It was after seven-thirty, but it stayed light until close to nine in late August. She’d be fine with daylight on the thirteen-mile ride to her lakeside home. Well, home was a loose word, but she loved her little camp trailer.
Walking around the side of the building, she found her commuter bike propped right where she’d left it and undid the lock. The lock was pretty superfluous in this little town, but habits were hard to break, and she didn’t want to risk losing this bike. It was a good one and had taken her months to save up for, costing almost a thousand dollars.
As she pushed it toward the road, the front door of the deli opened, and the man from the corner booth strode out. The air suddenly became oppressively hot as she couldn’t tear her eyes from him. The way he walked was like he was the world, so confident and appealing, yet not posturing or trying to put on airs. His very presence made her heart race. His dark gaze focused in on her, and he didn’t play any games. He walked right up to her, stopped a foot away and said, “Hey.”
Lily clung to her bike, so she didn’t tip over. His sculpted muscles were semi-hidden by a soft t-shirt but nothing could fully disguise a build like that. His face was smooth and tanned with just enough facial hair to make her want to touch it and see if it was soft or rough. How would it feel if she simply brushed her cheek against it?
Instead of asking him if she could touch his cheek with her own, she sputtered out. “Are you just in charge of the whole world, military boy?” He was many maturity levels above a boy but teasing was imperative right now.
His eyes registered surprise, but he gave her a slight smile. “If I was, I’d ask you to dinner.”
Lily’s breath rushed out in a half-laugh, half-longing sigh. “Oh, you would, would you?” She flipped her long hair and pushed a hip out. “And where would you take me on said dinner, oh, hot and mighty one?”
His smile only grew slightly, but she could sense she amused him; he was simply a serious one. Ooh, he’d be fun to break.
He pointed back at the restaurant. “This place had fabulous reviews on Trip Advisor.”
“Hmm. But I get food for free there so that’s a pretty lame date.”
His chin lifted, and his smile became a fraction more generous. She was going to have to work for a grin. Work, she could do. He was so tough and almost solemn, reinforcing her suspicions of a military background. He tilted his head across the street. “Should we try Big J’s instead?” It was obvious from the sound of his voice he wasn’t too impressed with what looked like an ordinary fast-food restaurant.
“Oh, I think I’ve got your number. You’ve traveled the world and think a simple fast-food dive is below you?” She arched an eyebrow and dared him to challenge her. He simply lifted a shoulder. “You’ll have to be schooled then. It is completely unacceptable to use that tone of voice with Big J’s. Their bacon cheeseburger could make you sing, and they have a pizza bomb that I’m salivating about just saying the words.” He was making her salivate, but she didn’t want to let on. What was a man like this doing showing up in her small town? She didn’t know everybody in the valley, but she would bet all twenty-seven of the hundred-dollar bills she’d worked so hard to stash in her trailer that he wasn’t a local.
“Salivate?” His gaze traveled over her face and truly made her salivate for more. “I’ll have to try both of them then. You in?”
She was incredibly tempted, but it was a long bike ride in the late summer heat, and she didn’t prefer doing it in the dark. There was no way she’d let this man take her home, and she hated to put James out as he lived the other direction of where she needed to go, up a beautiful canyon called Cub River.
“Not tonight, but thanks for the offer.” She smiled and pushed her bike away, hating to walk away from such appeal.
“Are you working tomorrow?” he said to her back.
She glanced over her shoulder. “I’ve got the lunch shift.” Yes! He wanted to see her again.
“When do you get off?”
She wanted him to smile fully. He was much too serious, no matter how much she teased. Still she saw no harm in getting to know him a little bit, maybe a date or two, maybe a kiss or two. His lips were a firm, manly line that she wouldn’t mind a taste of.
“Four,” she admitted.
“I’ll be waiting for you right here. Then I can salivate …” He actually gave her a larger smile. “Over the pizza bomb.”
“What if I’m not ready to salivate?” she asked, winking sassily at him.
He shrugged. “Then I’ll be waiting the next day, and the next day … until you decide you are ready.”
“Persistent, aren’t you?”
He actually chuckled and grinned. The combination robbed the oxygen from her body. “Handsome” didn’t do justice to this man when he grinned.
“You have no idea,” he said.
“I guess we’ll see if tomorrow’s your lucky day.”
He sobered and stared deeply into her eyes. “I guess we will.”
The moment seemed to draw out between them, and Lily was lost in the depths of his dark gaze. This man had seen the world and the pain that was in it. Lily wanted to hold his hand and help him to see the happiness that was in it too.
Find The Committed Warrior here.
Also by Cami Checketts
Steele Family Romance
Her Dream Date Boss
The Stranded Patriot
The Committed Warrior
Billionaire Boss Romance
Her Dream Date Boss
Her Prince Charming Boss
Georgia Patriots Romance
The Loyal Patriot
The Gentle Patriot
The Stranded Patriot
Quinn Family Romance
The Devoted Groom
The Conflicted Warrior
The Gentle Patriot
The Tough Warrior
Her Too-Perfect Boss
Her Forbidden Bodyguard
Hawk Brothers Romance
The Determined Groom
The Stealth Warrior
Her Billionaire Boss Fake Fiance
Risking it All
Navy Seal Romance
The Protective Warrior
The Captivating Warrior
The Stealth Warrior
The Tough Warrior
Texas Titan Romance
The Fearless Groom
The Trustworthy Groom
The Beastly Groom
The Irresistible Groom
The Determined Groom
The Devoted Groom
Billionaire Beach Romance
Caribbean Rescue
Cozumel Escape
Cancun Getaway
Trusting the Billionaire
How to Kiss a Billionaire
Onboard for Love
Shadows in the Curtain
Billionaire Bride Pact Romance
The Resilient One
The Feisty One
The Independent One
The Protective One
The Faithful One
The Daring One
Park City Firefighter Romance
Rescued by Love
Reluctant Rescue
Stone Cold Sparks
Snowed-In for Christmas
Echo Ridge Romance
Christmas Makeover
Last of the Gentlemen
My Best Man’s Wedding
Change of Plans
Counterfeit Date
Snow Valley
Full Court Devotion: Christmas in Snow Valley
A Touch of Love: Summer in Snow Valley
Running from the Cowboy: Spring in Snow Valley
