Page 29

“Where was that? Tibet?”

“On a destroyer in the Indian Ocean.”

Leaning my head on my hand, I feel buzzy thinking of him in uniform out there defending our country. “Were you lonely?”

He crosses both arms in front of him, leaning forward. His biceps are so round and bulgey. A vein runs down the center of one…

“A little. I was pretty messed up myself.”

“Why?” It’s the same simple question he put to me earlier. In my defense, all his sexy has pretty much depleted my brain’s store of clever comebacks.

“My sister had just died… Or committed suicide.” He looks down then takes another long drink. “They never knew for sure.”

Sadness fills my heart, and I slip off the stool, going around to hug him. “I’m so sorry.”

He leans down, engulfing me in a warm, strong embrace. I’m surrounded by that clean, manly scent I’m starting to crave. My cheek is against his chest, and I can hear his heart beating solid and strong.

“I thought she was the coolest person in the world.” His voice is quiet, tender. “Her nickname was Cherry… She was a wild child.” A sad smile curls his lips, but this time there’s no dimple. “Five years older than me. She knew everything I didn’t.”

I step back so I can meet his eyes. “I can’t even imagine.”

“I went straight into the academy after it happened, then I left for active duty. When I got out, Robbie Cole offered me this job. He’d been friends with my dad since way back.” He exhales deeply. “I figured it was time to stop running away. Time to be still and make peace with it.”

“It sounds like you had to live your life.”

He nods. “Life keeps going. No doubt about it.”

“Her name was Cherry?”

“Short for Charity.”

“Charity.” I say it softly, imagining a girl who looked like Chad. A bad girl who might or might not have committed suicide.

Without thinking, I step forward again, wrapping my arms around his waist and pulling him close. His face dips lower, beard brushing my temple, and I lift my chin.

Our mouths touch, open. It’s a small kiss at first, a brush of lips, a nip, a pull. All at once, it’s too much to resist, and with a groan, he lifts me off my feet.

My arms go around his neck and my legs around his waist. He pushes my mouth open, and our tongues curl and stroke. Heat blazes between us as I devour his luscious mouth. He keeps time with me, large hands sliding up my thighs, gripping my ass.

I grind against him, feeling the hardness of him at my core, only thin scraps of cotton separate us.

My mouth breaks away with a moan, and I look up at the wood ceiling. “Oh, God,” I gasp as his lips trace a line down my neck, his beard scratching my skin. My heart’s beating wildly, and I want this so bad.

He sits my ass on the bar again then reaches up to my breast. My nipples are tight, tingling, and he slides his palm over them, squeezing and kneading. I can’t stop making little noises. My whole body is hot, wet, and when he goes in for another kiss, I hold his cheek, ready to rip off his clothes, my clothes…

What am I doing? The thought rises unwelcome in my head. Pulling back, I know I have to grab the reins on this. We’re going too far, too fast.

Chad doesn’t hesitate. He leans forward, kissing me again, and I whimper as I kiss him back. I’m still in his arms, and this moment of clarity won’t last long.

“Wait…” My palms flatten against his chest, and I move away this time. “I can’t do this.”

His brow furrows, and ahh, holy shit, he’s so handsome. “I have condoms.”

“I bet you do.” Magnums, from the feel of it.

“So what’s the problem?”

“We’ve had too much to drink. I can’t… I—” I can’t do this with you…