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 Knightlinger’s 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 can’t be ignored. The nurse works wonders with his mom and his wounded shoulder. Soon Sutter will rejoin his unit in Afghanistan...except he can’t stop thinking about a life with Kinsey. Could it be that his heart doesn’t belong to the corps anymore?
“No, that’s good. I’m glad you’re all mine—”
All his?
“Not all mine,” he said in a hurry, amending it. “I’m glad there isn’t anyone but the colonel on your to-do list because you’ll have your hands full with just her.”
“With her and your shoulder rehab,” Kinsey reminded.
“Yeah, sure...that, too,” 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.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said. “And you, too, Jack,” she told the dog, petting his head and inadvertently brushing Sutter Knightlinger’s 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 she’d set eyes on him just shortly before—that odd sensation that had made her skin tingle.
Another chill? she wondered.
That had to be it.
Certainly it couldn’t 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!
The Marine Makes His Match
Victoria Pade
VICTORIA PADE is a USA TODAY bestselling author of numerous romance novels. She has two beautiful and talented daughters—Cori and Erin—and is a native of Colorado, where she lives and writes. A devoted chocolate lover, she’s in search of the perfect chocolate-chip-cookie recipe.
For information about her latest and upcoming releases, visit Victoria Pade on Facebook—she would love to hear from you.
Contents
“Come on, marine, come home!” 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, “Same old tune.”
But on this November day in Denver, she wasn’t 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, she’d 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 Kinsey’s services as a home–health care nurse. He’d texted that he was delayed at the hospital with his mother but would be there as soon as possible.
She wouldn’t 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.
She’d left Denver and her former job almost a year ago to return to her small Montana hometown. Her own mother’s 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 employer’s fiancée, Livi Camden, had recommended her for another home–health care position.
And just like that, when Kinsey had been fretting about losing what little contact she’d 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 today—parted 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