“We do.I meet with my entire team and then receive an AAR from each of them.An After Action Report,” he explained.“When you’re up for it, I’d like to bring you in for some official statements.Only when you’re ready,” he added, noticing she grew tense.
Luciana swallowed.“Yes, I will help.I want to do whatever is needed so they don’t hurt any other women.”
“You’re brave as hell,” he told her.
“It doesn’t feel that way, but life goes on anyhow.”She looked away and noticed that Harrison’s gaze fell on the bag of Kona coffee on the counter.Luciana laughed softly.“I was so excited to see some in the store that I forgot you don’t have a coffee maker.I grabbed it along with some other things when Avery and I were shopping earlier.She brought the most amazing Kona coffee this morning.”
“I’ll get a coffee maker,” he promised, his gaze lingering on her mouth.
“Oh, you don’t need to feel obligated to get a coffee maker just for me,” she protested, suddenly feeling put on the spot.
“Anything that makes you smile like that isn’t an obligation.”His voice was gruff, but she heard the truth behind it.She flushed, gazing at him in the kitchen.Harrison was still in uniform, making him seem all that more masculine.He’d worn his uniform before, of course.The very night they’d met Harrison and his team had all been in uniform and full combat gear.This felt different though.It was downright domestic standing here in his kitchen, talking about coffee and their days.
Luciana gathered up the price tags she’d cut from her new clothes, crossing the kitchen to throw them away.“I even got a swimsuit today, so I’m ready to check out one of those beaches.”
“I’ll take you there one day,” he promised.
She glanced out the window then back to him.“Can we go this evening?Just for a quick trip.”
He raised his eyebrows.“You want to go to the beach right now?”
“After flying for hours in an airplane to a tropical paradise?Si.I would love to see the beach.”
The corner of his mouth hitched up.“Then let’s go.Normally I ride my Harley, but we can drive if you prefer.I’ll have to change out of my uniform, but I’ll be quick.”
“Do you have another helmet?”she questioned.
“For my Harley?I do.If you ride with me, you’ll have to hang on tight,” he said, seeming to realize she might not like that.“I don’t mind taking my SUV if you’d rather do that.”
“No, I think I would like the motorcycle ride.”Sitting behind Harrison, clutching onto him might be dangerous, but racing down the road with the sun shining down and wind whipping through her hair sounded freeing.
“Put on your swimsuit if you’d like, but make sure to wear clothes over it.And shoes,” he added, glancing at her bare feet.Harrison’s gaze briefly ran up her legs, and she felt her skin heat.It was nothing like when the men had stared at her in the nightclub with her lowcut, skimpy dress.It made her feel good.Flushed.It was wild to even have such a thought immediately after being rescued, but Luciana felt more like herself today than she had in a month.When she’d been out with Avery, it was almost like she was where she was always meant to end up.
She felt at home here, she realized.Hawaii wasn’t her home, and Harrison wasn’t her boyfriend, but she found herself wishing for a moment that both actually were.
Chapter 21
