“I meant what I said,” he told her. “I don’t judge you. Or anyone.”
“But I—”
He leaned forward and set his drink on the coffee table between them. “You what? Partied? Slept with some guys? Elissa, I’ve killed people. Sure, it was in the line of duty and it was my job and it probably saved lives, but they’re still dead. Some of them deserved it, but some were just kids pretending to be soldiers. Some weren’t supposed to die. Not on either side.”
She thought about what he’d told her before. “Are you talking about your friend Ben?”
He shrugged. “He took a bullet for me. It all happened so fast. I don’t know how they got in the cave. That shouldn’t have happened. But they did and he died to save me. He was a kid. Some skinny kid from Seattle. He wasn’t even a good Marine. But damn, did he have heart. He didn’t have anyone but me and the Marines and now he’s gone.”
She felt his pain as if it were her own. She felt his emptiness and knew these ghosts were the ones to cause him to cry out in his sleep.
“Walker, you didn’t do anything wrong,” she whispered as she put down her drink and moved toward him. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do, she only knew he needed comfort.
But as she approached, he rose and suddenly she was in his arms, his hands on her back, his mouth on hers.
Everything happened so quickly, she didn’t have time to think. Which was all right because the feel of his lips on hers made it impossible to form thoughts.
His kiss was firm and confident without being demanding. She felt the heat of him, and his strength. He moved his mouth against hers, discovering, arousing, making her strain toward him in an attempt to convince him that more was a really good idea.
She pressed against him, liking how his muscles provided a warm resting place for her body. While he rubbed his fingers against her back, she explored his shoulders and upper arms.
She felt the first brush of his tongue on her lower lip and parted for him. When he slipped inside she felt heat pour through her. Body parts melted. Her thighs and stomach tightened, while her knees nearly gave way. Her breasts swelled.
Wanting swept through her. Need, and hunger. It had been so long, the sensations were almost unfamiliar—but still very, very welcome.
He tasted of wine and sex and promise. When he drew back, she whimpered, but then he kissed her jaw and the side of her neck. His lips traced the line from her ear to her shoulder. He pushed her hair aside and nibbled on the back of her neck.
Liquid desire washed away any lingering resolve she might have mustered. She was more than willing to take things to the next level. Make that the next fifteen levels. She wanted them both naked, clinging, touching, riding each other until they were too exhausted to ever do it again.
She opened her mouth to tell him so when he stepped back.
“Sorry,” he said. “This was not in your game plan.”
Screw the game plan. Had she been able to speak, she would have told him just that. But she was too stunned by her incredible response to him to do more than breathe.
“Even if you were interested,” he continued, “I’m the wrong guy. You and Zoe need someone who’s going to stick around. That’s not me.”
“You’re moving?” she managed to ask, her voice thick and unsteady.
“Not this week. I meant in general. I’m not a good bet.”
“Why not?”
“I saw too many guys get dumped while overseas. Love is fleeting at best.”
“It doesn’t have to be like that.”
“You seen any different?”
My parents. Except she didn’t say that aloud. Were her parents even still together?
“I’m not looking for forever,” she said. “I just find it interesting that someone as caring as you isn’t looking for more.”
“You think I’m caring?”
She managed a smile. “Did I just violate the male code by saying that? Should I take it back?”
“I’m a real bastard, Elissa. You need to understand that.”
She almost giggled. Right. A real bastard who took Mrs. Ford to the hospital and spent time with her daughter while Zoe showed off her new school clothes.
“Bad to the bone,” she said. “I got it.”
He narrowed his gaze. “I’m not kidding.”
“I know. You’re practically evil.”
“Are you making fun of me?”
“Maybe. A little. Gonna get me now?”
“You should respect what I’m telling you. I’m not a good bet.”
She sighed. “Actually, I do believe that.”
Not because of anything he’d said, but because of her own past. He might not be bad, but she was a walking, breathing disaster when it came to men. Neil was proof of that.
“So we’ll just be friends,” he said. “Pretend this never happened.”
“Of course,” she said, knowing she was lying. She planned to relive that kiss every night for the next month. But repeating it in person? Not likely. Fool me once and all that.
He slipped his hand against the back of her neck and drew her to him. “You’re a real temptation. You know that?”
She was painfully normal. Average height, average looks, average body, with the added thrill of a couple of stretch marks. A temptation? Who was he kidding?
But there was a heat in his gaze. A fire that thrilled her as much as it made her want him more.
“And how do you feel about temptation?” she asked.
“I walk away.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
DANI SIPPED the hot coffee and stared across at the view of Lake Union. She was due at the restaurant in an hour, but until then she planned to enjoy the perfect summer morning.
It was just after ten, when those who had regular jobs had disappeared into their offices
