Angel Smits - The Marine Finds His Family

His most important mission

US marine DJ Hawkins is on a mission to locate his son’s mother and discover why she abandoned the boy. To DJ’s surprise, Tammie Easton is easy to locate, and it soon becomes clear she has her reasons for staying away. But can he protect her from her past? Determined to ignore the surge of renewed attraction, he vows to help her.

Unraveling her life is intense and DJ respects the woman she’s become…even as he catches glimpses of the girl he fell in love with years ago. Now, DJ will do anything to keep Tammie safe for his son…and himself.

“You—” DJ strolled close “—are going to learn how to hunt.”

“Hunt? Hunt what?”

“The enemy.”

Dom’s face, and all the months of pain and anger, filled Tammie’s mind. It must have shown on her face. DJ nodded and sat at the table. “Oh, yeah. You’re gonna do just fine, mama bear.”

She fought the smile at his unintended compliment. She’d do anything for Tyler, and she liked knowing DJ knew it.

“What’s this? My last meal or fortification?”

“Definitely fortification.” He took a bite of the thick burger, and Tammie stared. “Oh, don’t worry. I remembered you don’t like onions—I left them off.”

A wisp of memory joined them. She didn’t dislike onions, but at the time she’d said that she’d been on the beach with the cutest boy she’d ever met and was hoping he’d kiss her… Her face warmed.

Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CHAPTER EIGHTEEN CHAPTER NINETEEN CHAPTER TWENTY CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Extract Copyright ,

When dreaming up the Hawkins clan, youngest brother DJ stepped out of the mist first. A wild child, and an avowed bachelor, I wondered how this dedicated marine would handle suddenly becoming a father. Living in a military community, I witnessed men and women combine home and duty, so I knew he could do it. But the woman he was destined to love wasn’t someone I understood.

How does a mother abandon her child? I’d fallen in love with Tyler in A Family for Tyler (Mills & Boon Superromance, February 2014) and thought maybe he was better off without her. So I auditioned several women for DJ, but none fit like Tammie. The only way I could imagine leaving my kids would be to protect them. Once I understood that about myself, Tammie’s story unfolded.

The Marine Finds His Family is the second book in this series. I’m having such fun writing about the Hawkins siblings! Readers can contact me at angel@angelsmits.com, or visit me at angelsmits.comfor links to Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Happy reading!

Angel Smits

The Marine Finds His Family

Angel Smits

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ANGEL SMITSlives in Colorado with her husband, daughter and puppy. Winning the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award was the highlight of her writing career, until her first Mills & Boon book hit the shelves. Her social work background inspires her char­acters while improv writing allows her to torture them. It’s a rough job, but someone’s got to do it.

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This is for my editor, Karen Reid, who somehow gets my vision and makes me strive for my very best. The creative process is not always easy, but she makes even the painful parts enjoyable.

Thank you to Paul and Caleb, who lent me Hamlet and Pork Chop.

And as always, Ron.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text His most important mission US marine DJ Hawkins is on a mission to locate his son’s mother and discover why she abandoned the boy. To DJ’s surprise, Tammie Easton is easy to locate, and it soon becomes clear she has her reasons for staying away. But can he protect her from her past? Determined to ignore the surge of renewed attraction, he vows to help her. Unraveling her life is intense and DJ respects the woman she’s become…even as he catches glimpses of the girl he fell in love with years ago. Now, DJ will do anything to keep Tammie safe for his son…and himself.

Introduction “You—” DJ strolled close “—are going to learn how to hunt.” “Hunt? Hunt what?” “The enemy.” Dom’s face, and all the months of pain and anger, filled Tammie’s mind. It must have shown on her face. DJ nodded and sat at the table. “Oh, yeah. You’re gonna do just fine, mama bear.” She fought the smile at his unintended compliment. She’d do anything for Tyler, and she liked knowing DJ knew it. “What’s this? My last meal or fortification?” “Definitely fortification.” He took a bite of the thick burger, and Tammie stared. “Oh, don’t worry. I remembered you don’t like onions—I left them off.” A wisp of memory joined them. She didn’t dislike onions, but at the time she’d said that she’d been on the beach with the cutest boy she’d ever met and was hoping he’d kiss her… Her face warmed.

Dear Reader Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CHAPTER EIGHTEEN CHAPTER NINETEEN CHAPTER TWENTY CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Extract Copyright , When dreaming up the Hawkins clan, youngest brother DJ stepped out of the mist first. A wild child, and an avowed bachelor, I wondered how this dedicated marine would handle suddenly becoming a father. Living in a military community, I witnessed men and women combine home and duty, so I knew he could do it. But the woman he was destined to love wasn’t someone I understood. How does a mother abandon her child? I’d fallen in love with Tyler in A Family for Tyler (Mills & Boon Superromance, February 2014) and thought maybe he was better off without her. So I auditioned several women for DJ, but none fit like Tammie. The only way I could imagine leaving my kids would be to protect them. Once I understood that about myself, Tammie’s story unfolded. The Marine Finds His Family is the second book in this series. I’m having such fun writing about the Hawkins siblings! Readers can contact me at angel@angelsmits.com, or visit me at angelsmits.com for links to Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Happy reading! Angel Smits

Title Page The Marine Finds His Family Angel Smits www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author ANGEL SMITS lives in Colorado with her husband, daughter and puppy. Winning the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award was the highlight of her writing career, until her first Mills & Boon book hit the shelves. Her social work background inspires her char­acters while improv writing allows her to torture them. It’s a rough job, but someone’s got to do it.

Dedication This is for my editor, Karen Reid, who somehow gets my vision and makes me strive for my very best. The creative process is not always easy, but she makes even the painful parts enjoyable. Thank you to Paul and Caleb, who lent me Hamlet and Pork Chop. And as always, Ron.