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glance. This was a small town. She was alone. And she didn’t do casual sex with tall, handsome SEAL strangers. Did she? And heck, he didn’t look like he did anything casually.
    “Well, well, Major, you can smile and make nice. Very funny, but, if you don’t mind, I was shopping.” She edged around him, deciding that playing it safe was best, but he stopped her with a hand on her arm.
    He bent down and bracketed her between the aisle and him, until all she could see were his grey eyes and the strong angles of his face. He had a shadow-beard, that sexy, rough stubble men got from not shaving. His lips were soft-looking, the bottom a bit fuller than the top one. She swallowed and met his eyes. His had darkened to something that reminded her of storm clouds.
    “Sunshine, I won’t bite. No need to be frightened. I’m harmless.”
    She gave him the look that deserved. Yeah, right. “Why are you calling me Sunshine?”
    “Because your smile reminds me of it.”
    Smooth, real smooth. And this was getting strange, like some movie where she’d missed the first half and was now scrambling to keep up. Had she missed something? Had they known each other in another lifetime?
    She tried to think what to say while he glanced around quickly, as if he was assessing the area. Then, before she could open her mouth, he dipped down and kissed her, hard, fast and skilfully. Heat rushed over her like a brush fire. He cupped her neck and eliminated the inch of space between them until their chests melded together. She held back a sigh at the strong feel of his body along hers. His lips caressed and smoothed over hers before she felt his tongue glide erotically along the seam of her lips. When she gasped and opened he dived in, his flavour minty with a taste of coffee and something else, something she guessed was all Russell. Whatever it was, she was hooked. Just as she raised her arm to touch him, he slowed the kiss and pulled back. His gaze burned into hers when she blinked her eyes open, and she felt weak and fluttery as he brushed a big thumb over her lips, where she could still taste peppermint.
    “What—?”
    He covered her lips with his thumb again, stilling her words.
    “I had to have one taste,” he murmured in a low, husky voice. “Listen, this is how it’s going to be. You’re not going to buy that chainsaw or axe. And Sunshine? You can’t run forever. I’ll see you soon.”
    With that arrogant announcement he sauntered out of the aisle, leaving her breathless and off balance.
    Chainsaw? What chainsaw?
    He tossed her a grin that looked more like sunshine than anything she’d seen in months, and dipped his head before he left her line of sight.
    He’d see her soon? Heck, she might not survive seeing him soon. She glanced around, but no one had seen the sneaky SEAL. Even so, she felt heat flush her face. She’d let him kiss her.
    Oh man, oh man, she probably would let him do anything, wouldn’t she? Suddenly, the little town of nothing in the middle of nowhere held a lot more possibilities than she’d considered.
     

Chapter Four
     
     
     
    Some things took time. Eric Northcutt knew that. He’d lived by that motto for more years than he could count. He’d gained nothing in life by rushing. He’d always taken his time, and look what he had now. Everything.
    Except the one thing he wanted. The perfect family.
    He watched Mara lie where he’d tied her, face down on the bed. She was naked, gagged, hooded, and spread-eagled. This was the third time in less than a month that she’d disappeared. The first time had been merely minutes. The second time the same. The story she’d spun about needing to call her family, he had believed until today. Today, she’d been gone for several hours.
    Didn’t she realise she was his? She belonged to him. Eric considered killing her. The chances of finding someone to replace her were slim, though. Besides, he’d trained her, and in his own way he loved her. That cold,