“It’s hardly your fault.”
“It is.I should have come to pick you up – I was going to, but when you talked about driving the Camaro over, I didn’t offer.”
“It’s okay, honestly.”
“Next time I’m coming to pick you up.”
He was relieved when she said, “That works.”But it was short-lived when she added, “That way I can walk home afterward, and we can both have a drink.”
“No way.I don’t want you to have to walk home – I mean, I’ll come and get you and take you back again.”
“But I…”
He gave her a stern look.“I know I’m laid back most of the time, Savannah, but not about that.No way are you walking home.”
“But I enjoy it.”
“Oh.”That caught him off guard.Then he smiled.“In that case, I’ll come pick you up, we can both have a drink, and then I’ll walk you home afterward.”
She chuckled.“If you insist.”
“I do.I’ve already told you it’s in my nature to protect and serve.There’s no way I’d let any girl I know walk home by herself – even in Summer Lake.”He smiled and decided to risk it.“And we’re not talking about just some girl I know – we’re talking about my girlfriend.”
Her smile lit up her face.“Well, okay then.I guess that’s me told.”
He chuckled.“Yeah, it is.Want to move into the living room?”
She got to her feet and reached for the plates, but he caught her hand.“Let’s leave those.I can get them later.You want that beer?”
“I can’t.I…”
“I could walk you home,” he said with a smile, “and drop your Camaro off to you first thing in the morning.”
“Oh!”
He grinned as he opened the fridge and waited.
“Why not?I don’t have to be at work till eleven tomorrow.”
He led her into the living room, and when she hesitated, he gestured for her to take a seat on the sofa before setting their drinks down on the coffee table.
He sat down beside her, and all his breath caught in his chest.He felt so comfortable with her.She felt so familiar, so… right, that while they’d eaten, he’d been too busy enjoying her company to think about anything else.Now, having her here on the sofa, with his arm having snuck off to wrap around her shoulders before he even knew what it was doing, he suddenly became hyperaware of something else – of what a guy and a girl might get up to on a sofa.
His throat was dry, his palms were damp, and he shifted in his seat, hoping she wouldn’t notice the effect she was having on him.Of course, he wanted to go there, but not yet.Not tonight.They’d talked about getting to know each other better – and he hadn’t meant in the physical sense.
His jeans were suddenly way too tight in front, but that wasn’t what tonight was for.Not in his mind.He held his breath when she rested her hand on his thigh and reached up to press a sweet little kiss to his lips.
Damn.If she wanted to go there, he wouldn’t be able to argue – wouldn’t want to – but…
His heart felt like it might pound right out of his chest when she said, “I thought we were going to get to know each other better.”
His voice came out as a hoarse croak – which was probably a good thing since he had no idea what to say.He tried again and managed, “Are you sure…?”
She laughed.“I am, but I think you should go first.I know you were in the Marines, but I don’t really even know what that means.What did you do all day?”
He cleared his throat, feeling like an idiot – and thankful that he hadn’t said anything to give away what he’d thought she meant.
“I was an avionics technician.”
