Shelby's Secret (Once a Marine, Always a Marine Book 4) by Kori David Page B

weeks before she gets deployed again. Damon could easily run up to Nashville and take a look around.”
    Zach leaned back against the rail of the back porch. “I was thinking the same thing. From what Mike said, he doesn’t think these murders and Shelby’s friend going missing are related, but I’d like to know for sure.”
    “So would I. And Damon can get answers out of anyone.”
    “I haven’t told the wives yet, but they’re coming out for the concert.”
    Jesse smiled. “That’s great. I want to give him shit about the dopey grin he always has in their pictures.”
    “We’ve all come a long way from where we used to be,” Zach said.
    “You mean pathetic men who couldn’t dress themselves?”
    “At least we don’t have to go shopping anymore.” Zach couldn’t be happier, and he knew Jesse was just as content with his life. They were better men because of their wives and children, and Zach wouldn’t trade his family for anything.
    He knew about Mike and Shelby’s past together. And he wondered if maybe this was Mike’s second chance at love. Zach, Jesse, and Damon had found the right woman at the wrong time, but then they all got a second chance. And so far, they were three for three in the love-conquers-all arena. He hoped he could add ‘Little’ Mike to that equation.
    Mike deserved some happiness.

    ***

    “You can both sit up now.”
    Mike’s voice from the front seat floated down to Shelby who was flat on her back with Rebecca lying in her arms. Mike had the foresight to pad the seat with a few blankets and a couple of pillows, so she was quite comfortable in her hiding spot. He had allowed them a single bag of clothes each, which he stowed on the floorboard of the back seat. He didn’t want to chance them being seen in the bed of the truck.
    Rebecca sat up, still sleepy from the swim.
    So Shelby climbed into the front seat and let her little girl lay back down.
    She’d been playing a game on her tablet but for the last thirty minutes her eyes had started to droop. Before long she’d be out cold.
    “You’re sure we weren’t followed?” Shelby asked.
    “Positive.” Mike’s thumb tapped the steering wheel in time with the song playing on the radio as he drove.
    “I thought you didn’t listen to country music.” She was surprised he put it on that station while negotiating traffic to get them out of town.
    “I developed a taste for it some years back.” He stared at the road.
    But Shelby thought she heard a bit of humor in his voice. She bit back a smile. “I’m shocked. You actually like that twangy crap now?” Recalling his words to her years before got a tug of his lips, but not an actual grin.
    “I’ve mellowed with age. Plus, seems country is the preferred music of the armed forces, so I was inundated with it during my tours.”
    “How many did you do?”
    He glanced at her. “Two in the field, one at a desk.”
    “You don’t seem like a desk kind of guy. I’m surprised.”
    “Not my choice, but I received an injury that prevented another active tour of duty.”
    “What kind of injury?” Shelby thought he looked as perfect as she’d ever seen a man. He didn’t move with difficulty, but maybe the injury was something that couldn’t be seen. She hoped it wasn’t something that still caused him pain.
    “I took a shot in the leg, but the problem was the bomb that went off at the same time. The shrapnel messed me up pretty good.”
    Shelby sucked in a breath and started to reach for him, but stopped short. “Dear God. Are you okay now?”
    “I was okay then, just took too much time healing. They knew I had a knack for figuring out stuff, so I ended up in Intelligence as my punishment.”
    “I don’t imagine that just anyone ends up in Intelligence, punishment or otherwise.”
    Mike shrugged and his hands tightened on the wheel.  
    He didn’t like talking about it, but he was. Shelby hoped it was a good sign that he was willing to share his past with her. But