I wasn't even sure if Ishould.
There was a big hill on the west side of town, right where O'Leary turned into Rushton, that some creative genius had named Town-Line Hill. On one side, it was generally covered in snow all winter long, making for kick-ass sledding. But to get there, you had to drive up the back side of the hill - the long, steep, icy road that ran from Route 40 below to the parking lot at the top. Driving up was dicey, but driving down was worse - the lightest touch of the brake, and you'd spin out and wind up in a ditch. The safest way down was completely counterintuitive: keep your eyes open, your hands on the wheel, and let the road take you as fast as it wantedto.
I really fucking hated driving thatroad.
Butthis? With Ash?Thismade my heart race with something that was less like fear and more like...anticipation.
I cast around for a neutral topic and spied the menu he'd been poring over when I walked in. I picked it up and glanced at the familiar burger types. I was pretty sure I'd tried themall.
"Did you, uh, see anything that lookedgood?"
Ash pushed his lips together and raised one eyebrow. The look he gave me was blatantly flirtatious - way more than anything he'd thrown at meyesterday.
I felt myself blush and rolled my eyes. "I meant on themenu."
He looked down. "Ah. About that." He ran his tongue over his teeth. "See, I'm used to living inCalifornia."
"California?" Iblinked.
"Yeah." He scratched the back of his neck. "Coronado Naval Base. Near San Diego. As a Navy SEAL. You know, afrogman."
"Holy shit." The sum total of what I knew about SEALs came from movies and popular fiction, but I knew they were elite and seriously dedicated. My respect for this man was rising to keep pace with myattraction.
But... "How the hell did the app match me with someone who lives inCalifornia?"
"Well, I knew I was going to be in town for Mackie's wedding, and their free-dinner deal was too good to pass up. So, I put myself down as interested in ahookup."
"A hookup?" My heart sank. "Damn. I think there was a mistake." And I'd damn well be letting Heart2Heart know about it. "I specifically said that I'mnotintohookups."
He blinked once, then again, and I cursed my mouth for never keeping pace with my brain. I liked this guy. Really, really liked him. The last thing I wanted was for him to get spooked andleave.
"Listen, it's fine! I mean, we..." Can totally have sex tonight, and then I can move to California and have babies with you, because maybe Maura was right? I flailed mentally for a decent solution to this problem, which threw me. I always had asolution.
"That's fine," heinterrupted.
"It... What?" Witness me attempting not to jump to conclusions again, and listening without speaking! Seemed I could learn new things, afterall.
He smiled slightly. "It's fine that you're not into hookups. I don't necessarily... I mean..." He blew out a breath. "I chose that option because my life is a cluster fuck right now. I separated from the Navy this week. I've moved back here, as of yesterday, and I'm staying in Camden at my mom's place, with her and my younger brother. Not Mackie," he explained. "The youngest, Rhett. He’s still in high school. Now I need to find a job and a place to live. I need to help my mom and I didn't want another responsibility to factor in." He looked lost for a second. Tired, like he hadyesterday.
I stretched my hand across the table, palm-up, and he laid his fingers on mine withouthesitation.
"I would never want to be your responsibility," I told him. I couldn't imagine that. If anything, I wanted to make sure he never wore that tired, lost expression ever again. I could happily devote my life to something likethat.
Okay. Wow. I wasn't just avoiding the brake now, I was pressing the gas pedal right to the floor. But the way his eyes were staring into mine - dark and deep and filled with want - he didn't seem scared in theslightest.
Someone stopped next to our table and I looked up to see Mariely's teenaged sister Crystal standing there, paper and pen in hand and a supremely bored look on herface.
"Hey. Know what you wantyet?"
I snorted. "Mari let you out to deal with thecustomers?"
"More like she drafted me." Crys rolled her eyes. "She starts a restaurant and nowmyValentine's Day is spent serving burgers to happy couples." She gave a scathing look at a teenaged couple sitting nearby. Then she looked pointedly at Ash's hand, still clasped in mine on the table. "Speaking ofwhich..."
Ash tried to move his hand away, but I held on and he immediately relaxed. "Speaking of which, maybe you can take our order," Iprompted.
But Crystal was busy staring at Ash's face. "Do I knowyou?"
Ash shook hishead.
