Allie rang the doorbell before tugging down the front of her dress again.She felt like a fish out of water in this dress.She preferred much longer clothes.Or at least ones where she didn’t worry her underwear was showing when she bent over.
Carson opened the door wearing a long-sleeved, pale blue plaid button-up shirt and charcoal grey jeans.His hair was wet and slicked back like he’d just gotten out of the shower.His gaze roamed over her body.She could feel his stare like a caress.
“Allie, you look…” He took a deep breath before sighing.“Incredible.”
“Thanks.”She averted her gaze, feeling the burning heat of her cheeks.“Sandy dressed me.”She didn’t know why she felt the need to tell him that.Just to assure him this wasn’ta normal attire for her.
Not like he hadn’t seen how she normally dressed, unless he just really didn’t notice the type of clothes she normally wore.Most guys didn’t pay attention to that sort of thing.
Her hands itched to tug on the dress hem again.When she saw Sandy at worktomorrow, she was going to give her an earful.
“She did a great job.Sandy always had great taste.”His eyes widened as if he’d just realized something.“Not that you didn’t look good before.”
“Thanks.”
Carson’s eyes stayed on her a moment longer before he jolted.“Sorry, come on in.”He stepped back to let her through.
“Thanks.”Allie’s eyes drank in the room.Dark rich brown furniture occupied the living room with an overstuffed couch and recliner chair.A small round coffee table in front of the couch and a large flat-screen TV on the wall completed the room.
There were a few pictures on the walls of Carson in and out of uniform.Some had family membersin them and others only himself.There were also plaques and awards.Allie could see straight back to the rear of the house where an archway led to the kitchen.There was a four-seater dining room table in between the living room and kitchen.
It was a similar layout to her own.The bedroom and bathroom must be to the right somewhere.“I like your place.”
“Thanks.”He closed the door and headed toward the kitchen.Allie followed him, her eyes taking in everything.
“Have you lived here long?”
“Since I moved out here almost three years ago.”
Allie’s eyes caught on a particular plaque thanking Carson for his dedication to service.It had years marked out.The end date was three years ago when he said he’d gotten out.
“The military gave me that when I was medically discharged,” Carson said, coming up behind her.Allie jumped not having heard his approach.She turned around to face him.Her eyes drifted to the scars on his neck.
Allie reached up to touch the side of his neck.Before she could make contact, Carson stepped back.“Dinner’s ready.”
Allie cursed her thoughtlessness.She knew his sensitivity to his scars and yet she had reached for them anyway.She had hoped after their kisses yesterday and her touching him, he would be more open to her exploration, but she had totally misjudged.
Allie followed Carson into the kitchen.He was busying himself pulling down plates and getting silverware, keeping his back to her.“Carson, I’m sorry.”
“I hope you like steak,” he said instead of acknowledging her apology.
“Please don’t do that,” she pleaded.
“Do what?”His tone wasbored.One of indifference.He did that whenever he was uncomfortable.Showing a façade of indifference, only she knew better.It was a mask to hide the hurt.
“Shut me out like that.I said I was sorry.I know you don’t like talking about your scars, and you don’t like people looking at them.I wasn’t thinking.”
Carson stopped what he was doing and just stood there.His hands braced on the counter; his head hung low.“I know you didn’t mean anything by it.It’s just…” Carson stopped speaking when words started to choke him.
Allie crossed the room and wrapped her arms around him, one resting on his stomach and the other over his heart.Her chest draped against his back.She didn’t say anything.Just gave him her strength.Carson didn’t tense like he normally did.He leaned into her touch as a hand came up the rest over hers over his heart.
“I couldn’t imagine what it would be like giving up something I loved.”She knew there was a connection between his scars and being discharged from the Navy.He didn’t have to say anything
“Who said I loved it?”
“I can hear it in your voice when you talk about it.This light comes into your eyes when you tell me about your training.Competing with other sea mammals,” she added, hoping to lighten the mood.
Carson turned in her arms.She loosened her grip and stepped back as he faced her, his features grave and serious.How she wished she could erase that look off of his face.“I do miss it,” he admitted.“I did love it.”
