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analyze it, just enjoyed it.
    “Now I am starving.” Julia gave him a final kiss
before she wiggled away. “You need to get dressed and quit distracting me with
your awesomeness. I’m going to fix breakfast.”
    “Be there to help in a few.” Jim gave her backside a pat as
she walked away.
    Julia glanced over her shoulder. “Be careful what you’re
starting there, big guy.”
    It took a second or two for her meaning to creep in. Damn if
the thought of having her over his knee didn’t stir his penis back to life.
    “I have a washer and dryer at my place. Gather your laundry.
You can do it there.”
    A little bossy but it worked for Jim. In fact, he rather
liked it. “Thanks. It’ll save me a lot of time.” Time he could spend with her.
“I’ll pack a few things and we’ll stay at your place tonight.” He could do
bossy too.
    Unfortunately, it might have backfired on him. Her
hesitation, the stiffness in her spine as she unpacked grocery bags, would have
gone unnoticed if he hadn’t been watching her. Julia kept working as if nothing
had happened. He recognized avoidance tactics when he saw them.
    “I can’t stay there without the girls. Daytime, yes. Night,
when they are normally surrounding me…” She shook her head.
    At least she was honest. More kudos to her. “Then let’s get
the girls and take them home.” The words were out before Jim could stop them.
He didn’t regret a one. He was in deep and hard and wanted to stay there.
    Julia whipped around, carton of eggs clutched in her grip.
“What? Have you lost your mind?”
    And his heart too. Damn. “There’s no sense not
spending as much time with them as you can, while you can.”
    “I just said goodbye. I can’t… I don’t have a departure
date. I might not have time to get them settled.”
    “I’ll see they get where they need to go when the time
comes.” He stepped into her space. “I promise.”
    Deep-green eyes stared up at him. He knew she debated her
options. These were her babies.
    “No one should be without the ones they love unless there’s
no other choice. I’m giving you a choice, Julia.”
    Her eyes widened a little at his use of her name, then
narrowed a smidge. “Because that’s what Marines do for one another.”
    “No. It’s what decent human beings do.” Jim slipped the eggs
from her hand. “Come on. We’ll have breakfast at your house.”
    “I’ll get the girls and meet you there.” Julia started to
walk by, then stood on tiptoe and kissed him. “Thank you.” She blinked away a
rush of tears and left so fast she’d forgotten her panties on the floor by the
table.
    He picked them up and rubbed the material between his
fingers. Soft and smooth, just like her skin. Jim praised his cleverness in
going for the gold with her…then cursed his stupidity. He still didn’t have her
phone number and address. He was halfway to the door when he realized he’d yet
to dress. Besides, she was long gone.
    Jim hauled on cargo shorts and a t-shirt, then paced the
floor, racking his brain for what to do next. He had little choice but to hope
she’d call. He smacked his head. If he’d had the sense to give her his
number.
    But she knew where he lived. She’d come back at the very
least if any of this meant anything, and if it didn’t weren’t they both better
off? The logic didn’t help. His gut refused to unknot.
    “Damn it.” He couldn’t keep moping. He had to do something
to take his mind off this.
    Like gather my laundry.
    Grumbling every step of the way, Jim snagged the baskets
from his bedroom closet and started loading them up. He emptied the field pack
he’d dropped near the front door. The smell nearly knocked him out when he
opened it. He was glad to put some distance between himself and the contents
when he went to the bathroom hamper to gather the rest of his crap.
    He was headfirst in the thing when his cell phone rang. Jim
came up so quick he whacked his head on the towel bar. His hand shook as