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“Well, we’re not exactly on a military schedule, but my days vary. Most of the time, I get Sundays off.”

“That’s it?”

“Being in the military is not like a normal job. I’m lucky at Alpha Dog because we do shifts, usually ten hours for six days, but if I was doing guard duty or any other job, it could be twelve hours or even twenty-four and nine days on.”

“That is crazy.”

Hannah leaned her back against the door and gazed up at him. The way the porch light shone down on her, brightening her hazel eyes, distracted him until he just repeated, “Yeah, crazy.”

He should walk away and leave her with just a peck on the lips. That would be the smart thing.

At least, he’d intended to kiss her chastely.

Instead, he’d put his hand on the wall above Hannah and leaned in. His body pressed her back into the door, and his mouth covered hers, his tongue sweeping inside her already parted lips, tasting the sweet mix of chocolate and Hannah.

Hannah’s hands cupped the back of his neck as he kissed her. He was dying to slide his hands around to cup her ass but, leery of someone coming up or driving by, he kept them at her waist.

She was the one to break the kiss, pressing a hand to his cheek. “I should go inside.”

He released a breathless chuckle. “Yeah, you probably should.”

Hannah kissed him again and whispered, “Text me.”

“When?”

That sweet smile was all Hannah flashed. “Anytime.”

As she slipped inside and out of his reach, he laid his burning forehead against the cool wood of her door and breathed deeply. He felt like he should congratulate himself for making it through such a crazy first date.

When he climbed back in his car, he called Best.

“Yo, man, what’s up?”

“What are you up to?” he asked.

“Dani and I are watching Netflix. Your date over already? How was it?”

“Her dog pissed on me, so I had to wash my clothes at her place. We ordered a pizza, and then her parents showed up, and I had to sit through an awkward interrogation from her dad. We watched a movie and went for ice cream after—where I freaked over an off-the-cuff remark she made and she put me in my place—and finally, I kissed her good night and she went to bed.”

“Well, that sounds like a fucking nightmare,” Best said.

Blake thought back to when Hannah had wiped his chest, to the adorable horror on her face when her parents walked through the door, and that last look of longing right before she closed the door.

“Actually, parts of it were kind of nice.”

“Well, all right,” Best drawled like Matthew McConaughey. “When are you going to see her again?”

“Not sure. She said to text her anytime.”

“Ho! You know what that means? You got an open-ended invite to get freaky over text message. Ow! Babe, I’m talking about him. No, I don’t talk about our sex life.” His voice grew muffled as he spoke to his girlfriend. Finally, Best came back on the line, his voice hushed, “I’m in trouble. Got to go.”

Best hung up the phone, and Blake grinned, contemplating his friend’s assessment.

Was it too soon to send a text?

When he pulled into his parking spot at his apartment complex, he texted her.

Had an amazing time. Can’t wait to take you out again.