For today’s post, I’m posting a snippet with my Army Ranger, a soldier-cowboy from the Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight – Of the Cowboy’s Own Accord.
Dane Carlson gave up ranching to serve his country. He swore he’d never get involved with a woman until he retired from the military. Then he met Gracelyn Clark while waiting for his flight back to Ft. Benning. From there he’d be deployed for nine months. Gracelyn’s flight had been delayed too. We’ll say they had an enjoyable night together. This snippet picks up two weeks later. Gracelyn is arriving for his deployment.
Snippet
Slightly modified.
Dane gulped, still not sure how it happened. If the weekend worked out, he’d mention her to his mom. He hoped his mom wouldn’t break a leg dancing on the dining room table. Everything about this woman said forever…if she was real. He shuddered.
Then, her picture appeared on the screen when the phone vibrated, telling him the shudder was for the right reason. She was real. He put it into gear and drove to her gate. There she stood. “Criminy almighty.” Hotness times ten or fifty. Gracelyn wore a body-hugging, blush colored dress with piping in a darker shade that ran across the front and above the waist. Holy… High heels made her at least three inches taller. “Whoa-oh, baby.”
Her hair waved down her back with a few locks falling over her shoulder. His heart raced at first sight. He wanted to run his hands over the smooth material of her dress and over her curves. Three privates stood to the side, and he had a good idea of their thoughts. He’d be thinking the same thing. Hell, he already was. They’d think differently as soon as he stepped out of the vehicle. His new rank of Master Sergeant garnered even more respect than he previously had as Sergeant First Class.
He opened the door and hopped out, taking a minute to salute the guys back. With her arms held open, he went into them like a little boy seeking comfort. “Gracelyn,” he murmured. “You’re real. Thank the gods I didn’t imagine you.” The little boy rapidly turned into a man. Holding her this way, he felt protective. Her supple, petite body fit nicely into his arms. He leaned his cheek against the top of her head, his arms tightening so his body could sink into her.
“I’m real, baby.” She held him close. “You feel fantabulous in my arms. ACUs look great on you.”
“Fantabulous, eh. That’s a big deal.” Dane gave an extra tight squeeze. His fingers moved up and down her back, taking note of the zipper. The dress held the smoothness he imagined. He held her an arm’s length away. Her eyes were as striking as he remembered. “You look great. Wow, as stunning and sexy as you were in my dreams.”
She smelled heavenly—feminine and floral but with enough spice to make it sexy. Pushing her hair back, he stared at her eye-catching features. “You’re so beautiful.” His lips parted to kiss hers. “Mmm,” he mumbled before their mouths connected.
She rested her palms against his chest, her gaze following as she clenched the material. “Your muscles are bigger.”
“They’re the same, honey. I’ve been working day and night for two weeks. Got to.” He took one hand from his chest. “Come on.”
Dane opened the passenger side door, and she took his arm. “I’m glad I came. I have an apartment lined up to look at in Phoenix when I fly back. Timing is perfect.”
“Check out the other areas closer to work. Avoid that Phoenix traffic.”
“All right.” She peered up at him. “Thank you for asking me to come.”
“My pleasure. Get on in there. I got you a room close to the base.” It was one of the best in the area and a lot of families stayed there when there was a reason to come.
She slid inside but caught the door. “Room for me? What about you? No leave time?”
“Let me get in.” He closed the door. What about me? He couldn’t assume she’d want him staying with her, so to be safe, he hadn’t planned it. It wasn’t far from the base, so it wouldn’t take anything to run back and forth.
Inside before shifting, she reached over for his hand. “Aren’t you staying with me?”
Dane pulled out and headed down the highway. Yes, he wanted to stay with her. He wanted to learn what he hadn’t known yet. Touch her. Feel her in his heart. Dammit, what happened to me? This would be a difficult weekend. He should’ve said good-bye over the phone. Everything he didn’t want had happened. But he hadn’t known he’d want her.
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END
Believe it or not, it took me most of the day to post this. It was fun looking for a snippet, though. Again, I might as well show my old stuff since I have nothing new to show. Unfortunately, this holds true for the rest of the year.
I’ve been “under the weather” all week. It could be from my booster shot, or I picked something up before or after. I did get to see my youngest son for a short visit when he and my DIL were in town. He worked virtually while my daughter in law worked at another of her company buildings here. It’s sad when they leave, but they’re happy where they are. I want them to be happy.
I hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend. Thanks for visiting.
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel 
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