About ONCE AND
FOR ALL
From debut author
Cheryl Etchison comes the first in a military romance series about
the men of the 75th Ranger Regiment’s 1st Battalion.
Rule #1: Military
and matrimony don't mix
But if there's one person Staff Sergeant Danny MacGregor would break all his rules for, it's Bree-his first friend, first love, first everything. Maybe he likes playing the hero. Maybe he's trying to ease ten years of guilt. Either way, he'll do whatever he can to help her.
Wish #1: A little bit of normal
Bree Dunbar has battled cancer, twice. What she wants most is a fresh start in a new place where people aren't constantly treating her like she's sick.
By some miracle her wish is granted, but it comes with one major string attached- the man who broke her heart ten years before.
The rules for this marriage of convenience are simple: when she's ready to stand on her own two feet, she'll walk away and he'll let her go. But if there's one thing the military has taught Danny, it's that things don't always go according to plan…
But if there's one person Staff Sergeant Danny MacGregor would break all his rules for, it's Bree-his first friend, first love, first everything. Maybe he likes playing the hero. Maybe he's trying to ease ten years of guilt. Either way, he'll do whatever he can to help her.
Wish #1: A little bit of normal
Bree Dunbar has battled cancer, twice. What she wants most is a fresh start in a new place where people aren't constantly treating her like she's sick.
By some miracle her wish is granted, but it comes with one major string attached- the man who broke her heart ten years before.
The rules for this marriage of convenience are simple: when she's ready to stand on her own two feet, she'll walk away and he'll let her go. But if there's one thing the military has taught Danny, it's that things don't always go according to plan…
About CHERYL
ETCHISON
Cheryl Etchison
graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in journalism
and news communications and has worked as a newspaper reporter,
marketing coordinator and in public relations for a MLB and NHL team.
Currently, she lives in Austin, Texas and is a stay at home mom to
three girls. ONCE AND FOR ALL is her first novel.
Where to buy ONCE
AND FOR ALL
Google Play:
https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cheryl_Etchison_Once_and_For_All?id=2B7FCgAAQBAJ
RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Excerpt
Bree Dunbar tugged on her pageboy cap
in hopes of hiding the obvious. Having beaten cancer for the second
time, she’d woken up feeling stronger, more confident than she had
in months. A little rebellious, even. Which is why she’d said
goodbye to the wig and hello to her stylish new cap. Only now that
she was out in public it didn’t seem like the smartest of moves.
People weren’t just noticing her, but
staring. Stopping dead in their tracks with mouths gaping open in an
“I’m not even trying to hide the fact that I’m staring at you”
kind of way. With her earlier confidence now wavering, she felt more
than a little…exposed.
She closed her eyes and took a
steadying breath. “Screw it. Doesn’t matter,” she told herself.
After all, they didn’t know what she’d been through. What she’d
given up. So in her mind, feeling this good was still a milestone
worth celebrating. Worthy of cheesecake, even. Who cared it wasn’t
even noon.
Bree shoved her cart in the direction
of the bakery, where she perused the refrigerated display case.
Turtle. Strawberry swirl. Double chocolate.
She sensed someone hovering and her
earlier irritation reared its ugly head.
“When a woman is stalking the
cheesecake case first thing in the morning it can only mean one
thing,” a man whispered in her ear.
Bree spun around, prepared to kick this
guy in the nuts and tell him exactly what he could do with his one
thing, but her plan of action died the moment she laid eyes on him.
“Oh. My. God.”
It had been years since she’d seen
Michael MacGregor, but he looked just the same as he always did with
his preppy clothes and dark blond hair cut in a traditional military
style.
“Definitely not God,” he said with
a hint of Southern twang. “God complex? Maybe.”
With a wink and a smile, Michael
extended his arms wide and Bree practically leaped into his waiting
embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck. Then, just as he’d done
when they were younger, he lifted her feet several inches from the
ground and spun her in a tight circle. She laughed as they narrowly
avoided a bread rack and towering cupcake display. Then with her feet
firmly planted on the ground, he kissed her forehead and released
her.
“How you doing, kiddo?”
“I’m good. Really good,” she said
with a smile. And for the first time in a very long time, she wasn’t
lying. “What on earth are you doing in town?”
“I’m on leave. Came home to visit
Dad. Play some golf.”
“In February?”
“Got to play when I can.”
Some things never changed. “You’re
still in the army, then?”
Mike scrubbed the palm of his hand over
his crew cut. “Still have twenty months left on my contract.”
For as long as she could remember, he
was the big brother she’d never had. After Lily MacGregor died, it
was Mike’s job to look after his younger brother, Danny, while
their father worked. And since she and Danny were inseparable for
most of their youth, Mike played mother hen to her, as well.
His smile slipped a bit. Bree braced
herself, knowing what was coming.
“You look good. Considering.”
And if that wasn’t a wet blanket on
her morning. So much for going an entire day without talking about
cancer. Bree did her best to shake off the irritation. If anyone
deserved a pass, it was Michael. After all, he was a doctor. And one
of her oldest friends. So for him, she’d let it slide. This time.
“Considering?” Bree held on to her
smile as best she could and took a playful swipe at his chest.
“Thanks so much for qualifying your statement.”
His cheeks and ears tinged pink in
response. At least he had the good graces to blush.
“You know what I mean,” he said.
“All done with treatments?”
“Last one was nine weeks ago. Just
trying to get on with life now.”
“Good girl. That’s the right
attitude.” He smiled and patted her shoulder, probably with the
same bedside manner he was taught in medical school. Then his gaze
drifted from right to left across the back of the store.
“Have you seen Danny? He’s around
here somewhere.”
Of course he was.
At the mention of his name, her heart
stuttered in her chest. Daniel Patrick MacGregor. The boy she’d
loved her entire life. The man she’d hated for a decade. Or at the
very least, tried to.
To know he was in such close proximity
made her want to jump for joy as much as run screaming for the door.
“There you are,” came a voice from
behind her. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
Bree closed her eyes, knowing exactly
who that voice belonged to. And she wasn’t so naive as to think he
was talking to her. But now simply turning and walking away was an
impossibility.
For ten years she’d prepared herself
for this moment, rehearsed what she would say if ever given the
chance to confront Danny face-to-face. Only now the time had arrived
and she couldn’t remember a damn word of any of it. Out of options,
she pasted on a smile and turned to face her demons.
Or more like one devil in particular.
“Hello, Danny.”
If she had any lingering delusions his
words were meant for her and not his brother, they quickly
disappeared. His gaze shifted to her, then to Michael, and back to
her. Confusion gave way to realization then surprise.
“Long time, no see, huh?” She
smiled so hard it was a wonder her face didn’t crack. And before
she realized what she was doing, she leaned in to give him a quick
hug. Although she couldn’t remember the plan, Bree was pretty damn
sure this wasn’t part of it. But she recovered quickly and pulled
away, giving him a little finishing pat on the arm. The kind of
gesture typically reserved for old schoolteachers or distant cousins
you haven’t spoken with in a million years. To be honest, he didn’t
deserve that much affection, but she was trying to be the bigger
person. Let bygones be bygones and all that crap.
Nope, no hard feelings here. No
deep-seated resentment that had been festering in her heart for
years.
Bree took a deep breath and turned her
attention back to Michael. Even heard herself ask a million questions
about who knows what and not really hearing the answers.
Occasionally, she’d glance in Danny’s direction so as not to
appear rude, but she purposely avoided looking at him too long;
otherwise he’d realize the effect he still had on her.
She jammed her shaking hands into her
pockets. Kept her words clipped and short to hide the tremor in her
voice. Although she focused on Michael, her skin prickled under the
weight of Danny’s stare. She could practically feel all the
questions waiting on the tip of his tongue. Things she didn’t want
to talk about with anyone, but especially not with him.
Bree glanced at her wrist only to
realize she didn’t wear a watch. Hopefully neither noticed. “I’d
love to stay and chat but I’ve got to go. It was nice seeing both
of you.”
She smiled and grabbed her cart, ready
to make a hasty exit.
“What about your cheesecake?” Mike
asked.
“I shouldn’t be eating that
anyway.” She waved goodbye as she rushed toward the closest aisle.
As her luck would have it, the bakery
was located in the far back corner of the store. She raced toward the
front door, blazing her way through the maze of shelves and freezer
cases. In the detergent aisle she abandoned her half-full cart due to
a temperamental front wheel that only slowed her down. Her eyes
burned from unshed tears, and Bree could only hope to make it outside
before the inevitable meltdown began. With the front entrance in
sight, a sense of relief washed over her.
Right until a hand captured her elbow.
