Soldiers in Love

Chapter 3: The Real You-2

He nodded against my hair. “I would like that.”

I couldn’t hold back a smile. Glancing at my watch, I blew out a sigh. “Damn. My break is over.”

Daniel nodded again, tightening his arms around me briefly before letting me go. “Can I bring anything?”

I shook my head. “Nope. Just you and your appetite. I like to have people over and cook for them. And I like to eat.” My cheeks turned pink. “I guess it shows, huh?”

HIs blue-green eyes roamed over my body. “I think you’re beautiful,” he murmured.

“I’d just like to spend time with you,” I said quickly before my bravado faded. I looked away as my face burned hotter.

Daniel gently cupped my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “I like spending time with you too. Yes, I’d love to come over.” He took my hand and we headed back to the coffee shop.

“So you got the job then?” I asked, lacing my fingers in his.

“Yep. I start tomorrow.” He grinned suddenly, catching me off guard as it always did when he smiled. “So I can’t hang out too late tonight.”

I laughed. “Okay, Prince Charming. I’ll have you home before midnight.” I gave his hand a squeeze. “I’m glad you got the job.”

He looked over at me. “I get to see you. That was one of the perks.”

I grunted. “Sure. You’ll get tired of seeing me every day.”

Daniel stopped suddenly, causing me to stop and look at him curiously. Gently, he stroked my cheek with his right hand. “I could never get tired of seeing your pretty face,” he said softly.

I could only stare at him as emotions that I’d thought were long forgotten ran through me. What was it about this man that I hardly knew that made me feel this way? I suddenly wanted to feel his kiss again. And it seemed that he always understood what I wanted without me having to say anything.

“Kiss me, darling,” he murmured. “Once more before you go back inside and Flo tells you to stay away from me.”

“She didn’t-” I began.

He cut me off. “I didn’t lose my hearing, honey,” he said softly.

I slid my arms around his neck again. “I don’t care what she or anyone else says. I want to be around you. And as long as you want me around, then we’ll be together.”

“Good girl,” he said, patting me on the back before pulling me close again. “So, kiss me. You gotta go back.”

I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. His parted and he let me kiss him. With a soft sigh, he pulled me closer.

Though I wanted to continue to sample his sweet mouth, I knew I had to get back to work. I reluctantly pulled back and stroked his cheek. At least one good thing, he and I would be working together. I could see him as much as I wanted. I grinned.

“What?” he asked, looking at me.

“I was just thinking that we’ll have to plan all of our cigarette breaks together.”

Daniel nodded. “Oh yeah. I’d forgotten about that.” He took my hand again and we headed back to the front of the shop.

I paused as we got to the front door. “So we can celebrate your new job tonight then?”

He gave me a small smile. “I’m looking forward to it.”

We stopped just outside the door. I swore I could feel eyes watching us. Too bad. I really wanted to kiss him again. Suddenly, (I swear the devil made me do it) I just didn’t give a damn whether Flo was watching or whether she approved or not. I grabbed Daniel around the neck and kissed him. Instantly, his arms came around my waist and he kissed me back enthusiastically before letting me go.

“I think you’re trying to get fired, darlin’,” he teased me.

“It just might be worth it,” I quipped.

Daniel’s eyes darkened as he gave me a slow up and down look. “It would be. I’d make sure of it.”

Heat suffused my body at his words but I kept my cool. It wouldn’t do to throw myself at him. I figured now was a good time to go back inside before I was all over him. “So I’ll see you later then,” I said.

“I’ll be there,” he promised.

He had to know how I felt for him. He had to. I just wondered if he felt the same way for me.

I guess I’d find out tonight.

______

It seemed like my shift would never end. Flo kept giving me looks and shaking her head. Quanna kept piling me with question after question about Daniel and our relationship. Funnily enough, I didn’t really want to share too many details about him and whatever we were to each other yet. And not to them anyway. Before, I’d tell Quanna almost everything about Conrad and what we did. I’d leave out intimate details about what we did on our personal time. And I neglected to tell her about his behavior towards me. But it was different with Daniel. I felt like this was something far more special than I’d ever had with Conrad and the others. I wasn’t shy or trying to hide anything. But if I talked about this new relationship, whatever it was, too soon, I’d jinx myself and it would vanish poof! And I’d be alone again.

Finally, my shift was over. “I gotta go,” I sang out, tossing my towel in the bucket underneath the counter.

“Off to your hot date?” Quanna asked as she filled a glass with soda from the fountain.

“I don’t think I’d call it that,” I answered. “But yes I am. I’m going to show Mr. Bernhardt my culinary skills.”

“I hope you mean on the grill,” she said, giving me a look. “Because I’ll call him and tell him to eat before he comes.”

I snorted indignantly. “I can cook,” I defended myself. “And you know I can cook too. As many times as you’ve been to my place and pigged out on the meals I’ve prepared.”

She grinned good-naturedly, not the least bit intimidated by my tirade. “Well, have fun and call me if you need me.”

“Well don’t wait up,” I answered. It had always been our plan that if the date was going badly, or one of us was in trouble, we’d text a code to the other and they would call, get the information and show up if necessary.

Flo swished past us. “You shouldn’t be having that man in your house and no one else is there with you.”

“Oh Flo, are you still living in the Dark Ages, honey?” Quanna said, rolling her eyes. “Women don’t do the chaperone thing no more, you know.”

Flo merely shook her head. “I just hope you live to regret it.”

I stared at her. “What is that supposed to mean, Flo?”

“What I mean is, a man like him can be dangerous. You have no idea what he saw overseas and how it may or may not have affected him mentally or emotionally.”

“Give it up, Flo,” Quanna groaned. “I told you that not every soldier is like your husband. Daniel is different. Calm. Quiet.”

“Just watch yourself. Don’t get involved with him too quickly.”

I tried to shrug off her words as I rushed home to get ready for my date. I was just finishing cutting the meat when a knock sounded at the door. My heart began to pound with sudden nervousness and I drew a deep breath, forcing myself to relax. It was my house and I had invited him after all. My place. My rules.

Giving myself a final once over in the mirror, I opened the door. Daniel stood there waiting with a bag in one hand and a single perfect red rose in the other.

“Hi,” I said, stepping back so he could come inside.

“Hello,” he responded, his gaze running over my shorts and t-shirt. “You look great.”

“Thanks,” I said, grinning. “Comfort is paramount.”

His eyes twinkled with humor though he wasn’t smiling. “I see.” He held out the rose. “For you.”

“Thanks,” I said, taking it carefully from his hand. I inhaled the sweet fragrance. I held it up so that he too could smell its perfume. He closed his hand over mine on the stem.

“So you like it then?”

“What woman doesn’t like flowers? Especially roses,” I answered. “Yes. I love it. Thank you.”

He took the flower from my hand and trailed the silky petals down my cheek. “You’d be surprised, darlin’ at what can please a woman.”

I stood still, mesmerized by the softness of the flower against my skin. “Well, lucky for you, I’m pretty easy to please,” I quipped.

“Good,” he murmured. “That’s good.” He seemed equally entranced watching his hand holding the flower against my face. “I really want to kiss you,” he whispered.

I didn’t answer. Instead, I cupped the back of his head and pulled him to me until our lips met in a blistering kiss. Our tongues met and that same fire sparked anew inside me as it always seemed to when he was near me.

He pulled back first, his forehead touching mine. His free hand slid up my back to rest on my shoulder. “I brought some beer and a bottle of wine. I didn’t know which you preferred.”

I grinned at him. “Were you planning on getting me drunk and taking advantage of me?” I asked teasingly, brushing his hair back.

Daniel pretended to think about it a moment. “Well I hadn’t planned on it. But now that you mention it, that sounds like a good idea.”

I pulled away from him, laughing. “Just like a man to plan something. Come on. Bring the stuff into the kitchen.”

He followed me into the kitchen. Setting the bag down, he began to unpack it and put the beer in the fridge. “Well I figured it would make it easier,” he continued.

“Make what easier?”

His blue-green eyes found mine over the door of the fridge. “Easier for you to make love with me.”

I grinned again. “Oh I don’t think I need alcohol for that, honey.” When he didn’t answer, I looked over at him. “I was only teasing you, Daniel,” I said. Then it hit me. “Don’t tell me that someone told you that they had to get drunk in order to sleep with you?”

He straightened and closed the refrigerator door. “Yep. But it doesn’t matter. It was a long time ago.”

He tried to act like he didn’t care. But I knew it had hurt him then and still affected him now. I could see it in his eyes and in the way that he gripped the bottle in his hand. He looked away and busied himself with opening the beer. He put one down next to the cutting board for me and took a sip from his own. He watched quietly as I finished cutting the meat. I glanced at him over my shoulder.

“I hope you like steak kabobs.”

“Sure. I’m not picky.”

“Another lesson courtesy of the Marines?”

The corners of his mouth turned up a little. “Ma’am, yes ma’am.”

I laughed and picked up the tray with the skewers of meat and vegetables. “Come on out back. The grill should be nice and hot by now.” I looked at his faded jeans and long sleeved button-down shirt he wore. “Are you wearing anything under there?” I asked.

I realized what that question must have sounded like when he looked me straight in the eye and said quietly, “No.”

My face flamed in embarrassment. What must he be thinking of me right now? I stammered a bit. “I-I meant if you were wearing swim trunks?”

He smiled and it took my breath away. “I know what you meant,” he assured me. He leaned over my shoulder, watching me put the skewers on the grill. “I really am wearing nothing underneath,” he whispered in my ear.

The rat actually laughed as I almost dropped one of the skewers between the slats of the grill’s grate and into the fire. He had a nice laugh and I wanted to hear it again.

“I’m sorry,” he said still snickering.

“You’re not either,” I snapped in mock anger. I fixed the almost lost skewer and closed the lid. I turned to look at him. “You know that was almost our dinner burned.”

He gave me an innocent look. “What do you mean? I just answered your question.”

“Ha.” I shook my head at him. “Seriously though. Did you bring your swim trunks?”

He reached a hand to brush my hair back. “No. I didn’t bring anything. I don’t swim much. I don’t even own any swimming trunks.”

“No prob,” I said, waving a hand. “I have some that ought to fit you.” I turned to head back into the house.

“Ah, no offense. But I can’t really wear any of your bathing suits. I would look pretty ridiculous.”

I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. I left him waiting in the living room and went into the other bedroom and rummaged through one of the dresser drawers. Turning around, I saw him standing in the doorway. I held up a pair of trunks. “You can use these if you’d like.”

Daniel raised an eyebrow. “An old boyfriend’s?”