Topher scratched at his chest. The raised bumps he found there irritated him more than the fading bruise below his eye did. He"d had his nose broken many a time in his life. At times because he opened his mouth. At other times because his gaze had strayed to a woman who wasn"t as free as her flirtatious gaze let on. But mostly he"d gotten his nose broken in the heat of battle.
Topher had been a fighter all his life. Even before joining the armed forces. He loved as hard as he fought.
Though love was a strong word. The raised skin over his heart agreed with him. He peered in the mirror at the angry scar. Thinking about how it got there had his heart skipping a beat.
"You all right there, son?"
Topher snatched the edges of his shirt together, fastening the buttons with quick fingers as
