A military man? Swipe left!
When it comes to relationships, Kinsey Madison has one rule: no military men. So when she starts a new job nursing Sutter Knightlingerâs mother, the health-care worker must remind herself that she wants life with a man who comes home at the end of every day. And that means every delicious inch of the hunky marine is off-limits...right?
Sutter is a career marine. And for him, that comes with a strict no-marriage policy. But pretty Kinsey canât be ignored. The nurse works wonders with his mom and his wounded shoulder. Soon Sutter will rejoin his unit in Afghanistan...except he canât stop thinking about a life with Kinsey. Could it be that his heart doesnât belong to the corps anymore?
âNo, thatâs good. Iâm glad youâre all mineââ
All his?
âNot all mine,â he said in a hurry, amending it. âIâm glad there isnât anyone but the colonel on your to-do list because youâll have your hands full with just her.â
âWith her and your shoulder rehab,â Kinsey reminded.
âYeah, sure...that, too,â he conceded.
Was he just the slightest bit flustered?
It amused Kinsey to think so but she tried not to let it show.
He opened the door and went out with her when she stepped onto the landing.
âIâll see you tomorrow,â she said. âAnd you, too, Jack,â she told the dog, petting his head and inadvertently brushing Sutter Knightlingerâs arm when she did.
Then she headed for her car, wondering why that bare hint of contact had had the same effect as the first time sheâd set eyes on him just shortly beforeâthat odd sensation that had made her skin tingle.
Another chill? she wondered.
That had to be it.
Certainly it couldnât have been Sutter Knightlinger.
Because no matter how attractive he was, a marine was still a marine to her.
And towering and muscular and handsome as all get-out or not, there was no place in her life for another one of those.
* * *
Camden Family Secrets: Finding family and love in Colorado!
VICTORIA PADE is a USA TODAY bestselling author of numerous romance novels. She has two beautiful and talented daughtersâCori and Erinâand is a native of Colorado, where she lives and writes. A devoted chocolate lover, sheâs in search of the perfect chocolate-chip-cookie recipe.
For information about her latest and upcoming releases, visit Victoria Pade on Facebookâshe would love to hear from you.
Chapter One
âCome on, marine, come home!â Kinsey Madison said as she glanced down the street hoping for an approaching car. Then, hearing her own words, she laughed a small, wry laugh and said, âSame old tune.â
But on this November day in Denver, she wasnât waiting for her brothers to come home. Instead, she was waiting for the man who was scheduled to interview her for a job.
Dignified old homes lined both sides of the street, shaded by enormous trees all bursting with red and gold leaves. But scenic or not, sheâd been sitting there for over half an hour.
She was slated to meet Sutter Knightlinger, son of retired marine colonel Geraldine Knightlinger, who was in need of Kinseyâs services as a homeâhealth care nurse. Heâd texted that he was delayed at the hospital with his mother but would be there as soon as possible.
She wouldnât have stayed, but this was a job she really wanted. It came with a particular opportunity she hoped to mine. An opportunity that fit into her own secret agenda.
Sheâd left Denver and her former job almost a year ago to return to her small Montana hometown. Her own motherâs health had been failing and with all three of her brothers deployed overseas, she was the only choice to take care of her mom.
Alice Madison had passed away a month ago. A short-term job as a private duty nurse had helped Kinsey transition from Northbridge back to Denver. When that job ended, her employerâs fiancée, Livi Camden, had recommended her for another homeâhealth care position.
And just like that, when Kinsey had been fretting about losing what little contact sheâd gained with the Camdens through Livi, another way had fallen into her lap via the Knightlingers.
Filling time, she pulled down the sun visor in front of her to look in the mirror that was hidden on the underside. She wanted to make sure she remained interview ready.
Her dark brown hair was long. It fell to the middle of her back when she wore it down, like she had todayâparted just off-center and swept somewhat away from her oval face.
Makeup was something she kept to a minimum but she did use a little mascara to darken the lashes around her cobalt blue eyes, and blush to highlight her high cheekbones.
A barely-colored lip gloss moistened lips she pressed together before checking straight teeth to make sure nothing was stuck in them.