Faithful to a Fault Read Online Free

spilled, and you often had to shout to be heard if you weren’t speaking to the person right next to you.
    It was his childhood dream come true.
    Growing up in foster homes meant you grabbed food when you could and hoarded it for when you couldn’t. Sure, there were good foster families, but they were few and far between in his experience. Often they were only in it for the short haul. He’d never been a problem kid, never saw the point in acting out for attention. The way he saw it, the less attention, the better. He became quick at adapting, becoming a chameleon, at knowing how to use humor to diffuse almost any situation, from awkward to dangerous.
    The Corps was his family now. And he would die for anyone in his family.
    But it was nice to pretend with the Millers. That he was their pseudo-son, and this was just another dinner in a long line of family meals. That he could take for granted the security and warmth.
    Pete heard the door open and shut, but either nobody else heard, or they didn’t think it was something to note. A moment later, Sarah rounded the corner.
    “Hey, Millers.”
    Her face was rosy from the cold, her dark blonde hair was a complete tangle. But it was the grin on her face that had him struggling to breathe.
    Unlike yesterday at the bar, tonight she seemed… Glowing. She radiated happiness. As she shed her coat, scarf and mittens, he watched her generous breasts press against the front of her sweater. The thick material hid any evidence of cold, but he could easily guess her nipples were solid pebbles from the winter air. He could almost feel them pushing into the palm of his hands, warming her skin with his own.
    Hands clenched into fists under the table, he willed his cock to settle down, or else he’d have a permanent indent from the zipper of his jeans.
    “Mom, I invited Sarah for dessert. I hope you don’t mind, but we always have so many leftovers,” Maria said as she popped up to grab another plate from the kitchen.
    “Of course I don’t,” Laura said. “Sarah’s always welcome. Grab a seat, sweetie. The one by Pete is free.”
    Sarah’s smile dimmed a fraction, then picked back up.
    Was he really that bad? Had he scared her at some point? The intensity from the day before in her apartment had concerned him, but it was nothing to freak out about. At least, he didn’t think so.
    As conversation around them resumed its typical level of insanity, she seemed to relax a bit. And when he knocked his hand against hers reaching for another slice of pie, she didn’t react one way or another.
    He felt compelled to try again, see if she would give him another shot.
    “How long have you worked at Buffalo’s?”
    “Four years,” she answered easily. “Started as a hostess, worked my way up to bartender. I’ve loved every minute of it.”
    “She could be manager by now,” Maria put in.
    “I could,” Sarah conceded. “But then I wouldn’t be around to bust your chops all the time. I’d be upstairs doing paperwork.” She gave a mock shudder.
    “No aspirations in restaurant management?” Tony asked.
    “Nope. Didn’t even have aspirations as a restaurant bartender. Just fell into it.”
    “Did you grow up in the area?”
    Her lips tightened into a thin line. “Nope. Can you pass the cobbler?” she asked firmly.
    Okay. Was it his imagination or did he just hear a door slam shut? He could take a hint when someone clobbered him over the head with it. Determined to keep up the positive direction they’d been moving, he asked how her day had been.
    She launched into an amusing story about one of their regulars and a pickle he’d gotten himself into over a forgotten anniversary. And with each change of topic, her posture loosened, her eyes moved from wary to inviting. For some unknown reason, knowing she was at ease made him more comfortable as well.
    Eventually Mr. Miller leaned away from the table and rubbed his stomach. “Stuffed doesn’t begin to describe it. Good meal,