Explosive Reunion. Karen Kirst

I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

      —Isaiah 41:10

      To the men and women of our armed forces who serve our country, and to their families who love and support them. Thank you for your service, dedication and sacrifice.

      A huge thank-you to my own marine, Marek. I’m proud to be your wife.

      Thank you to my editor, Emily Rodmell, and to Love Inspired executive editor Tina James for giving me the opportunity to switch gears from historical romance to romantic suspense. It’s been a blast!

      Thank you to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who walked with me during the writing of this book and gave me the confidence and ability to complete it.

       Acknowledgments

      Thank you to Sergeant Dan Morton for patiently answering my law enforcement questions. And thanks to Jessica Felker, RN, BSN, my niece and a wonderful nurse, for assisting me with medical information. Any mistakes are purely my own.

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       About the Author

       Booklist

       Title Page

       Copyright

       Introduction

       Dear Reader

       Bible Verse

       Dedication

       Acknowledgments

       ONE

       TWO

       THREE

       FOUR

       FIVE

       SIX

       SEVEN

       EIGHT

       NINE

       TEN

       ELEVEN

       TWELVE

       THIRTEEN

       FOURTEEN

       FIFTEEN

       SIXTEEN

       SEVENTEEN

       EIGHTEEN

       NINETEEN

       TWENTY

       EPILOGUE

       Extract

       About the Publisher

       ONE

      Sneads Ferry, North Carolina

      Marines didn’t tuck tail and run at the first hint of trouble. They didn’t panic. They assessed problems and devised practical solutions. Ten years of service had honed Staff Sergeant Cade McMann’s skills and cemented his confidence. He should be able to have a simple conversation with his ex-fiancée without trembling in his boots.

      When he’d learned Tori James was moving back to their small fishing community, he’d known there’d be adjustments. But she’d been home a month, and pretending they didn’t share a painful history—and attempting to avoid each other despite their families’ close ties—had become a problem. Time to deal with it.

      As he approached her place, a gray-and-white Queen Anne home set in a narrow lot, house flags whipped in the wind and chimes clattered a discordant alarm. The sign advertising Tori’s pet-supply shop swayed on creaking chains. The Canine Companion occupied the first floor. The second had been converted into an apartment years ago. A tinkling bell heralded the exit of a customer and her four-legged pet. She was chatting and laughing with a petite blonde woman.

      Tori. His gut tightened.

      A humid breeze teased the hem of her flirty summer dress, drawing his eyes to her shapely legs and round-toed flats.

      The pair continued across the generous covered porch and into the stamp-sized flower garden surrounded by a low brick wall, the dog trotting between them. She hadn’t noticed him yet. Contentment curved her lips as she bent to give the pooch a proper goodbye.

      The back of his neck grew hot. The last time he’d been face-to-face with her, she’d ripped his heart from his chest and stomped on it.

      It’s now or never. “Hello, Tori.”

      Tori popped up, a strangled cry of surprise catching in her throat. “Cade.” Taking in his camouflage uniform and heavy lace-up boots, her brows slammed together. “What are you doing here?”

      The other woman’s gaze bouncing between them, she guided her dog toward the exit. Cade