A Major Seduction Read online

  “Hey there. My favorite girl. Maria.” Brad opened his arms, and she flew into them. He swung her around with ease. “Do you even weigh a hundred pounds? It’s like holding a feather.”

  “Bradley. You know better than to ask a girl her weight.” Elizabeth Cava chided her son as he set Maria down. “Hey, sweetie. Grab a pitcher of tea for me, would you?”

  Always glad to help, Maria accepted the kiss on the cheek Elizabeth gave her and moved into the kitchen to fetch the tea. The heavenly scents of good old Southern home cooking filled the room. Fried chicken, corn on the cob, a nice salad, and there, her favorite. Elizabeth’s homemade slaw. She moved to grab the pitcher of tea and was nearly run over by a Mac truck.

  “Whoa, sorry, honey.” Large, rough hands steadied her. “And who are—Maria Thompson?” Mike Cava—her crush/true love/adversary all balled up into one huge hunk of amazing.

  Maria steadied her breath and pasted on a bland smile, giving lie to the racing of her pulse. “Oh, hey, Mike. Welcome back.” She grabbed the tea, winked, and left the kitchen.

  Her heart refused to stop hammering. Well, shit. I’m not over him yet. Time to see Bobby, stat.

  Chapter Two

  Major Mike Cava stared at the blur of blonde that had come and gone in a heartbeat. What the hell?

  He turned to confront the woman who’d pushed him into said blonde. “Who was that?” He knew; he just had to hear his suspicions confirmed.

  “Who do you think, dorko? Maria. My best friend. Hello?” His younger sister smirked at him. “Apparently your time in California has killed more than a few brain cells. Been smoking anything funny out there?”

  “Ha ha. Aren’t you a comedian?” He grunted and grabbed the chicken his mother had ordered him to fetch. “I can’t believe that was the same girl who’s been dogging me for years.” No hug or kiss? No squeals of delight to see him again? She hadn’t done more than look sexy and wink at him before ducking out. Even more baffling, the words sexy and Maria had never gone hand in hand. Well, not that he’d ever admit without being considered one major perv. Nope. Just the best friend of his little sister. So what the hell was with her physical transformation into a Playmate of the Year? Stunning didn’t come close to describing her.

  He entered the dining room to see his brother hanging all over the woman—girl—and his parents laughing at something she said. Fuck me. In the two years since he’d been back, Maria had seriously changed. The sly grin and mischievous blue eyes remained. But the blonde hair looked longer and lighter, glints of gold shining when she moved under the overhead chandelier. She still had a slender figure, not softly rounded like the women he usually dated. But she’d never seemed so attractive before.

  Now… Her peach sundress showed off toned shoulders and arms, a good bit of her shapely legs, and an impressive figure the fashion magazines would have called svelte. What he’d describe as amazingly sexy. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and the fabric of her dress floated over her breasts like silken fingers stimulating her nipples into points.

  Jesus, I’m staring at Maria’s breasts…

  Then she glanced at him through a blonde fringe of bangs and he saw his sister’s best friend again. The same little girl who’d begged him to save her from spiders at a sleepover when she’d been eight. The girl who’d dared him to climb higher and run faster to prove to everyone he really was her favorite superhero. He’d done it, of course, because he’d loved the small girl like a second little sister.

  Sister…Breasts… Gross. He hurried to clear his weird thoughts and settled down to eat with his family.

  “Nice to be back,” he said when his father smacked him on the shoulder.

  “How’s 6th Battalion treating you?” his dad asked.

  Colonel Michael J. Cava had recently retired, but Mike worried his father missed work more than he’d let on.

  “How’s golf treating you?” Mike countered, seeking signs of discontent.

  His father laughed, looking relaxed and happy. “In no time I’ll be able to kick your ass on the course. Brad’s too.”

  “What about me?” Olivia asked, irked.

  Mike saw Maria smother a grin.

  “Honey,” his father said, “the minute you want to play, I’m sure you’ll outdo me.”

  “Hmmph.”

  Brad leaned closer to Maria—too close, in Mike’s opinion—and said, “She always has been a spoiled brat. So competitive.”

  “Don’t get me started, Bradley,” Olivia sneered. “And stop looking down Maria’s dress.”

  Maria started. Brad leaned back and grinned. His father laughed outright while his mother admonished Brad to behave.

  Mike didn’t see anything funny about the situation. “Dude, that’s like ogling your sister. Not cool.”

  He saw a strange glance pass between Maria and Olivia. Probably the start of another plan to encourage Mike’s interest. He found it flattering now, when for years he’d thought it annoying.

  “She is most definitely not my sister.” Brad put an arm around Maria’s shoulders. “Are you, sweetness?”

  She laughed. “Nope. Not at all.”

  “She’s taken, anyway.” Olivia shrugged. “She’s going out with Bobby after dinner.”

  “Bobby who?” Mike wanted to know.

  Maria rolled her eyes. “Pass the rolls, please.”

  The conversation continued about his father’s golf game, the craft shop where Maria worked, and Olivia’s classes at the local community college. His parents peppered him with questions about Camp Pendleton, his last duty station in California. And he filled them in on yet another one of his friends who’d gotten divorced and/or separated. Just one more reason never to get attached. He cringed at the thought of his last ex-girlfriend.

  Conversation continued around him, yet he noticed no one had answered his question about this Bobby guy. Had he heard of him before? Olivia had never mentioned him in any letter or phone call, and she normally kept him up to date on everyone at home.

  Once dinner finished, they all stood to clear the table. Before Mike could ask again about Bobby, Maria hugged his mother.

  “I’m sorry to duck out, Elizabeth. But I have a date.”

  “Enjoy yourself, honey. See you later.” His mother smiled and waved.

  Mike watched Maria hug everyone but him—to whom she waved—before she left.

  He turned to see his sister watching him. “What?”

  Olivia smirked. “Nothing.” She turned and challenged Brad to a game of rummy. His parents wanted in and dragged him in as well.

  It was like he’d never left. Family game night with Brad, Olivia, and their parents. It might seem hokey to some, but not to Mike. Smiles, good times, and a closeness he’d never felt with anyone not family. His time spent with his fellow Marines in the field and in combat had shown him what real camaraderie meant. Those guys he’d kill for, and he loved them like brothers. But he’d never felt that soft, warm emotion the way he did for the Cava brood.

  But the more he played, the more he wondered why tonight felt so…off.

  “Seriously. Are you playing the game to win or to make us feel better for being so much smarter than you?” Brad asked.

  “Fu—screw off,” he corrected at a glance from his mother. “Anyone got any threes?”

  Brad snickered. “It’s not Go Fish.”

  They played for a while more until he couldn’t stand it. “Who is this Bobby Maria’s dating? Have you met him?”

  “Why all the concern?” Brad asked.

  “Maybe he’s upset because Maria’s over him.” Olivia smiled, seeming pleased with herself for some reason. Such a little sister.

  “Over Mike?” his mother scoffed. “Oh, you mean that innocent crush she used to have? That was puppy love.”

  “Felt real enough to me,” Mike muttered, annoyed everyone seemed to discount her feelings. Sure, it had been annoying when she’d been in high school and he’d been trying to score with the ladies. But she’d been s
o cute he hadn’t had the heart to truly discourage her. Pretending he had no idea she liked him had solved all their problems. Especially when she’d started blossoming into a beautiful young woman he’d had no right even thinking about.

  “Please.” Brad laughed at him. “You’re just upset she prefers me over you.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah. She’s cute, she’s nice, and we get along.” Brad shared a smile with Olivia. “I like her. And I know she’s not my sister. Thank God. Because then I’d be having some pretty inappropriate thoughts.”

  “You’re so gross.” Yet Olivia laughed at him.

  Their father chuckled. “Just like me, eh, Lizzie?”

  Their mother blushed. “Too much so.”

  “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m happily single for the time being,” Brad added.

  Their mother sighed. “Too bad, because Maria would have been a nice change of pace for you. I will say I’m glad you’re no longer dating Dana. She wasn’t very nice.”

  “I know.” Brad sighed. “But she wasn’t nice in all the ways that matter.”

  His father guffawed, but his mother didn’t seem to find Brad amusing. The colonel turned to Mike. “Found a place to stay yet?”

  He’d been looking into properties before he’d left California. “I looked up a few places Mom emailed me about. A few seem decent. I’ll check them out this weekend.”

  “No rush. It’s nice to have the family together.” His father smiled. “For once none of us are deployed. We’re actually sitting around the table, together. A perfect ending to a perfect day.”

  “Gotta say, Dad. Retirement looks good on you.” Mike felt relieved. He’d been anxious his dad might not take to a stress-free life, too used to barking orders for a living.

  “Most of that’s thanks to your mother. I’ve missed her for too long. We’re going to Cabo next week. Staying for two weeks and loving the sand.”

  “Like you can’t get enough of that here.” Brad snorted.

  Their father frowned. “Boy, you’re not too big for me to spank.”

  “Yes, sir.” Brad bit his lip, trying not to laugh.

  The colonel turned back to Mike. “Anyhow, you might as well take your time house hunting is all I’m saying. Stay here while we’re gone and save your money.”

  “Will do.” That eased his mind. He didn’t know whether to look in Emerald Isle, near his folks, or more toward the base in Hubert, Swansboro, or Jacksonville. He preferred the ocean but not the drive. He’d have to think on where to go. He turned to Olivia. “You’re still living in Swansboro?” With Maria?

  “Yep. We’re still renting the same house, though our lease runs out in September.” She sighed. “The owners are coming back, so we’ll have to find some other place to live. Man, I hate moving.”

  “Me too.” Mike felt her pain. And speaking of pain… He stood and stretched. “I’m beat. Think I’ll turn in.”

  “Lightweight.” Brad flipped him off when their parents turned away. “So you want to ride together to work tomorrow?”

  “I have my car.”

  “Er, well, mine’s in the shop. That was my way of asking for a lift.”

  “So why didn’t you just say that?”

  Brad sighed and said to Olivia, “It’s like we’re speaking different languages.” He shook his head. “Grunts.”

  “Again with this?” Mike growled. His brother loved making fun of Mike’s MOS—his military occupational specialty. As if the Marine Corps could exist without its infantry. “At least my office has windows. I hate to break it to you, but James Bond you ain’t.” Typical intelligence guys thought they were heads and tails smarter than everyone else.

  “You’re not that special, Gomer. Without me, you’d get your head shot off before you could ever gather intelligence from anywhere.”

  “Please. My people use your people for cannon fodder.”

  “Asshole.”

  “Ground-pounder.” Brad’s eyes twinkled. The dickhead got off on antagonizing Mike.

  “Not this again.” Their father sighed. “Honey, put on the coffee. We’re about to have a knockdown, drag-out bout between the intellectually superior Signals Intelligence branch and our favored Infantrymen.”

  “Exactly. Dad knows what I’m talking about.” Hell, their father had spent his entire career in the infantry.

  Olivia groaned. “I’m already bored. Mom? Got a minute to talk recipes? I was thinking of expanding the baked goods section in Cava’s Java.” Her future coffee shop.

  “Sure, honey.” Elizabeth grinned at her husband. “Now this girl has all the intelligence you idiots need.”

  They watched Olivia and their mother head into the kitchen. Then their father tapped his beer glass with a spoon. “Been missing this. Okay, boys. Time for the Master of the Insults to commence. I’m the scorekeeper. First one to ten gets to drive the Mercedes when we’re gone. And…go.”

  Maria smiled at Bobby. The movie had been fun, but the walk on the beach afterward was just what she needed. Added to that, she’d been friends with Bobby for years. He could provide a perfect sounding board. Sometimes Olivia was too close to the topic to do any good.

  “You’re over him? Really?” Bobby asked.

  They held hands as they walked down the beach. Unfortunately, he felt more like a big brother than a boyfriend anymore. Unlike stupid Mike, who’d never seemed sibling-like to her at all.

  “I don’t know. I thought I was at dinner. He’s still hot as hell, and I wouldn’t mind jumping his bones, but I don’t feel the need to trip all over myself to impress him.”

  “Well, you shouldn’t.” Bobby gripped her hand tighter. “You’re sexy, amazing in bed, smart, and funny. If he can’t see the real you, why the fuck does he even deserve you?”

  Bobby loved to drop F-bombs, and usually at the most inappropriate moments, like he had at the theater in front of a family with kids. But other than that, he’d be a keeper for some woman some day. Someone who could appreciate his kind heart, fine-as-hell body, and beautiful blue eyes. Man, why couldn’t she have fallen for him?

  “You’re so sweet.” She squeezed his hand.

  He smiled and picked her up, swirling her around until she felt dizzy. “I love doing that. Makes me feel all manly.”

  She wavered on her feet as they continued down the beach, and to her surprise, she realized they neared Olivia’s parents’ house. Where Mike was supposedly staying. Once again, she felt an odd fluttery sensation. Excitement and dismay coiled together.

  “You know, it’s just so weird. I’ve had a crush on him for most of my life. But now… You’re right. I deserve better.”

  “Good. Come home with me tonight. I’m dying to go down on you again.”

  She blushed and hid behind her hair. “Jeez, Bobby. What do you really want to do?”

  He laughed and pulled her in for a kiss. It grew more intense, and she could feel how much he wanted her as he ground against her.

  Confused about what she wanted, she ended the kiss and pulled away. “You are such a great kisser.”

  “I know.” He wiggled his brows.

  She laughed.

  “Well, well. Young love.”

  She tensed. She knew that voice. Slowly turning around, she noticed Mike standing away from the water, his hands in his pockets as he studied them with derision.

  “Who the fuck are you?” Bobby asked, putting her behind him. She appreciated his protective stance, but she sure didn’t want to get him involved with Mike. Besides not wanting Bobby to get his ass handed to him because of her, she also didn’t want him getting in trouble at work. Mike, a major, definitely outranked Bobby, a sergeant.

  She angled herself between Bobby and Mike and put a hand on Bobby’s chest. “Bobby, this is my friend, Mike.”

  Bobby blinked then gave a slow smile.

  Hell.

  “Well, shoot. I’m sorry.” Bobby walked to Mike and stuck out his hand. “Any friend of Maria’s is a friend of mine.”r />
  Mike seemed reluctant to take the hand, but he did anyway. “Mike Cava.”

  “Nice to meet you.”

  The men seemed to hold hands a second longer than was polite before disengaging. Then Mike turned an angry gaze on her. What the heck did he have to be so mad about?

  “Maria.”

  “Mike.” She nodded and reached for Bobby’s hand. “See you. Have a nice night.”

  “You too.” Another low growl.

  Bobby let her pull him a short distance ahead then leaned down to whisper, “Let’s give him something to think about, hmm?”

  Before she could ask what he meant, Bobby stopped them in their tracks and kissed her, pressing his body into hers. He might have been putting on a show to tease Mike, but that pole in his pants was no joke.

  Unfortunately, the knowledge Mike watched turned her on. For him, not for Bobby. She withdrew from Bobby’s embrace before they walked again. A few moments later, a glance over her shoulder showed Mike had gone.

  “Oh yeah. He hated me on sight.” Bobby laughed. “Bastard was jealous, Maria. What do you make of that?”

  “What? No.”

  “Yeah. Jealous. Honey, if I liked you any less, I’d seduce you into some amazing sixty-nine action back at my place. But this is the guy you’ve been crushing on forever.”

  “Who, Mike? Nah, not anymore.”

  “Please. You’re lying.” Bobby tugged her to a stop and leaned his forehead against hers. “This guy who can’t see what a great gal you are is seeing now. He about pulverized my hand back there.”

  “He did?”

  “Yep.” Bobby pulled back to watch her. “So what are you gonna do about it? You over him? Want to come home with me and fuck like rabbits or make the man jump through some hoops to grab on to you with both hands?”

  “That jumping through hoops option sounds nice.” Oh my God. Mike is jealous?

  Bobby sighed. “Thought so. How about one more romp, for old time’s sake?” At her look, he groaned. “Hell. Well, let’s take you back so I can get home to masturbating.”

  “TMI.” She laughed. “Bobby, you are such a perv.”