His sigh was once again, long-suffering. “I was in charge of nearly three thousand Marines.”
Jett’s mouth almost fell open. She’d justknownhe was large and in charge. “Wow. You’re a bad-ass,” she marveled.
“Not anymore.” He threw his napkin down and pointed at her plate. “You about finished? We need to leave.”
Wow.He really was sensitive about something he wasn’t sharing.
The server clearly noticed Trask’s gesture as a sign of being through with the meal, and swiftly brought the bill over along with Jett’s to-go bag.
Trask sat, glowering.
Oooh. She’d really provoked him, now. But she wasn’t sorry. Somebody had to do it.
Maybe Trask was suffering from some kind of service-separation anxiety. But didn’t he know that was to be expected after leaving a long, military career?She’dhad to talk to the base psychologist as part of the protocol before becoming a civilian. She wanted to ask Trask if he’d had his head shrunk to ease him on his way, but she managed to bite her tongue. More than likely, he’d forgone that bit of business, assuming he’d be just fine, and would be pissy about it.
Okay then.Back to small talk.
“One more bite,” Jett managed, stuffing the last bit of pancake into her mouth, then snagging the final sausage with her fingers and shoving it in as a chaser.
He grimaced.
“There,” she said, working her words around the big mouthful. “Ready.”
He grumbled and reached for the bill, but she beat him to it while swallowing.
“My treat,” she said, smacking her lips.
She wished like hell she could say “you can pick up the tab next time”, but she was pretty sure—even though their physical connection had been intense—there wouldn’tbea next time. What a shame. He was an intriguing man, even on their first date.
Yup.She was going there. Maddeningly erotic kisses and food put today squarely in date category, and it would be one for her memories.
Jett, realizing she couldn’t prolong things any longer, reached into her pocket and took out her wallet, peeling off bills that would take care of both food and tip.
Trask looked disgruntled. “I didn’t expect you to pick up the tab.”
“Because you always have to run the show,” Jett countered with a snap in her voice. “But not today. My advice to you? Enjoy being fed, smile, and say thank you.”
His jaw almost looked like it would snap off as he regarded her not-so-pleasant comeback. He clipped out his next words. “Thank you,” he managed.
“You’re very welcome.” Jett turned her attitude on a dime, and gave him her sunniest grin.
She didn’t get one in return.
Still, she was getting under his skin. She just knew it. Not that it would do her any good. He probably couldn’t wait until she was back in the air.
They both got up at the same time, almost bumping into each other in the small aisle, but Trask somehow managed to avoid her, much to Jett’s disappointment.
He didn’t even take her elbow this time to steer her in the right direction, clearly already distancing himself.
Jett shouldn’t be surprised or sad, but she was both.
Part of her had imagined…
Nope. Silly me.
There was no way Trask was going to prolong their association. She was never going to see or feel that exquisite body against hers again, and she’d just have to suck it up.
Jett couldn’t help it. She pouted.
