In Zach's Arms (Once a Marine, Always a Marine Book 1) Read Online Free

no way she’d get to the door before he overtook her. Screaming was still an option, however.
    “He’s the ugliest, clumsiest son of a bitch to ever grace the Corps,” Zach said, and Elizabeth released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
    His warm breath tickled her neck a half-second before his arm snaked around her shoulders. As he pulled her back against his broad chest, she instantly relaxed, feeling safe.
    “I’ll have you know that the ladies like me just fine and, given half a chance, I’ll bet I could get this little lady to like me better than you.” The giant winked at her. “This idiot doesn’t need to come between us – you come sit with me while I finish cooking up the best steak you’ve ever tasted.”
    At six foot five, Zach’s friend was wide across the shoulders, narrow in the hips, and covered in muscle. His sandy blond hair looked to be naturally curly and kept ruthlessly short. Good looking and easy with the compliments, he probably had women eating out of his hand. His gray tee was tucked into faded jeans that molded a nice butt and encased long legs ending in scuffed cowboy boots.
    “Well, I don’t think I can accept a steak from someone I haven’t been properly introduced to. I was taught never to talk to strangers.” Elizabeth sounded solemn, but only managed it because she was safely anchored by Zach’s arm.
    “Zach, I’m hurt that you didn’t tell her about me.” He shot a mock glare at his friend. “I’m Jesse Calhoun. Call me Jesse or J.J., but make sure you call me.”
    Wiping off his hands with a towel, he reached out and enveloped hers in a handshake, giving her a slow exaggerated wink.
    “What’s the other J stand for?” she asked, ignoring his playfulness.
    “His mother is inordinately proud of their family’s cattle-thieving past, so she decided to name her only son Jesse James.”
    Zach reached over and pulled her hand out of Jesse’s.
    Jesse merely cocked an eyebrow at Zach before he moved back toward the counter and continued trimming the steaks. Elizabeth saw the amused look on his face and wondered what he found so funny.  
    “Was your family related to Jesse James, then?” she asked.
    She was curious about Jesse. Zach didn’t let people close and she wanted to know more about him.
    “Most of my family was quite divided after the Civil War. The side that lost went into cattle-thieving and bank robbing and the other half became Texas Rangers. My mama’s family came mostly from the thieving side, so she’s got a fondness for outlaws. Our family’s reunions usually made the papers back then, between the fist fights and the occasional hangings.”
    His hearty laughter boomed throughout the kitchen, making Elizabeth smile. She could absolutely picture an all-out brawl between the different relatives of the Calhoun clan. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Zach smiling as well.
    He let go of her once she was fully relaxed and moved into the kitchen. “What can I do to help?” she asked.
      Zach pointed at a stool. “Sit.”
    “Okay,” she said. She was a nightmare in the kitchen and had unintentionally used the smoke detectors in her apartment as timers in the past.
    “Plus, I’m nearly done,” Jessie said, grabbing some clean plates from the dishwasher.
    Elizabeth asked, “Why do you live so far away from your family?”
    “It’s a long, tortured tale.”
    “He’s the baby. And between his mother and six older, married, match-making sisters, he needed a place to hide.”
    Elizabeth shook her head a little. Zach still had the ability to cut right to the heart of the matter, tact be damned.
    “I like my version better.” Jesse clutched his heart and sighed.
    “I think you’re lucky to have family that cares.” Elizabeth missed her mother more than she could say. And her father – she shied away from thinking about him. “What kind of business are you in? Zach doesn’t tell me anything.”
    “You’ve been here all of