Page 19

HARLOW

I might only be able to see him in profile, but it’s enough to know that the smile on his face would knock the wind out of me if I were to see it face-on.

We’re only in the car for a short time, but it’s enough to know that he really needed it.

By the time he pulls off the highway and into the parking lot of a small surf shack, the muscles in his shoulders have relaxed and he has a totally different aura about him.

Yeah, he’s still the cocky Brit I first met, but it’s like the ocean breeze coming from the windows blew down a couple of his walls—or at least I hope that’s the case, because I’m dying to find out more about this man.

“They do the best seafood in all of LA.”

“Is that right?” I ask, climbing from the car and looking out over the bright blue ocean beyond. It’s a sight I don’t think I’ll ever tire of.

“I don’t know,” he laughs. “I’ve not been here long enough to test out all the competition, but it’s pretty bloody fantastic.”

He jogs around the car to meet me, and, to my surprise, he laces his fingers through mine.

Was Brooke right? Is he in this for more than just a good time?

After opening the door, he gestures for me to enter. My eyes widen as I step inside.

“Oh wow, this was not what I was expecting,” I breathe as I take in all the sports memorabilia covering the walls. All of LA’s teams are represented, but none more so than the LA Vipers.

“It’s a surf shack with a difference,” Corey says, standing close enough behind me that his breath rushes over my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

I’m still distracted with the decoration when a woman approaches. I don’t pay her much mind until she speaks.

“Corey! I was beginning to think you’d abandoned us,” she says with a friendly smile on her face, her eyes fully focused on his.

Something stirs deep in my belly. Something I don’t like, and something I certainly shouldn’t be feeling.

“Just been busy—you know how it is,” he says nonchalantly, although his attention remains firmly on hers.

“Sure do. Things still going well down there?”

“Yeah, it’s doing good. Harlow, this is Kat. Her dad owns this place.”

“Hey,” I say politely, forcing a smile onto my lips.

“Table for two?”

“Please,” Core says, placing his hand on my lower back. A move that Kat clocks, but she doesn’t look pissed or jealous. Just … happy.

“Right, this way then.”

We follow her out onto the patio area, and she seats us at a secluded table in the corner.

“I’m assuming you’d like a beer and …” She looks to me, but despite the riot of emotions bubbling up inside me, she doesn’t look anything but professional right now.

“A rum and Coke, please.”

“Perfect. Here are the menus—not that he needs one. I’ll be back in a few moments.”

“Thank you,” we say in unison as she disappears around the corner.

Silence falls between us as I battle to banish the jealous that erupted from nowhere.

He’s not yours, Harlow. Reign it in.

Corey’s brows pinch as he studies me, already able to read me well enough to know something is wrong.

“This place is nice. How’d you find it?” I ask, hoping to distract him from asking questions I don’t want to answer.

“One of my first clients recommended it. I’ve been addicted ever since.”

“I can see why.”

Silence returns with only the chatter of the other patrons and the crash of the waves below filling our ears.

“So, how come you left the army?” I ask, needing to know more about him and how he came to be here.

“Medical discharge.”

“Oh?”

“We ended up somewhere we shouldn’t have been. Things didn’t go too well. Only a few of us made it out.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“It is what it is,” he says, using my line from earlier. “I lost some great friends that day. But it got me back to civi life.”

“You didn’t want to be in the army?”

He looks out to the ocean, getting lost in his memories. “I didn’t have a lot of choice. The day I was born a boy, my dad decided I’d follow in his footsteps and enlist the second I left school. He had dreams of me becoming an officer, making a difference to my country and all that.”

“You weren’t interested?”

“It was more that I didn’t want to do what I was told,” he says with a laugh. “I can’t say I never would have signed up of my own accord—it was in my blood, after all. My father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all military men. But I didn’t take well to being told.”

“I can understand that.”

“So, what about you? Have you always been a hockey fan?”

A soft smile plays on my lips.

“No. I was a teenager when Brooke and her father opened my eyes to it. It was a few years later that I knew I wanted a career that allowed me to give back to the community.”

“Because of losing your family?” Corey guesses.

I nod as a lump of emotion crawls up my throat.

“I can’t imagine how hard that must have been.”

I shrug, not really wanting to talk about it when we should be enjoying ourselves.

Thankfully, Kat chooses that moment to reappear with our drinks and take our orders.

I haven’t even glanced at the menu, so when Corey immediately places his order, I ask for the same, trusting that he knows what’s good.

“So, why LA?” I ask once we’re alone again, hoping to turn the conversation away from my past. Nothing good can come from that.

“I needed a chance, and the lure of the sun and the ocean was too much.”

“Fair enough.” I can’t really argue; we do live in a beautiful place.

The meal is incredible, just like Corey promised. The conversation between us after touching on our pasts was light, and just being with him made me feel so comfortable. As we make our way out, I can’t help butterflies erupting in my belly. What’s next?

His fingers lace with mine, but no words are said between us.

Knowing that he’s also lost people he loved helps me understand why we might have the connection we do.

Unlike most people I meet, I think he actually understands.

I know it’s not unusual for people to have lost their parents young, but the way it happened isn’t all that common, or for them to all be wiped out at the same time.

Everyone is sympathetic, but they don’t get it, not really.

Even Brooke, who lived through some of the aftermath with me, can’t possibly understand.

We climb into the car and Corey heads back onto the highway. Silence fills the space, but it’s not uncomfortable—totally the opposite, in fact. If anything, his presence is soothing.

“I … uh … don’t know where I’m going,” he says after a few minutes.

“Hang on.” I wake up the GPS and hit the home button so he can follow it before sitting back in my seat and watching the sun setting into the ocean.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

I sigh and turn back to look at him. The concern on his face makes my breath catch. His brows are pulled together, and there are creases in his forehead.

“I was just thinking about what you said about it being a great place to live,” I lie.

He’s silent for a beat, and I worry he’s about to tell me I’m talking shit. Thankfully, after he turns back to the road, all he does is agree.

“Thank you for today. I never would have thought it, but it was exactly what I needed.”

“Oh yeah?” His familiar cocky smirk appears, making his dimple pop up.

“I’m sorry I left like I did this morning,” I say, addressing the elephant in the room.

“I’m sure you had your reasons, although I do hope they weren’t due to my performance.”

His grip on the wheel tightens until his knuckles turn white, and heat floods my core knowing that he’s reminiscing about our time together.

“I don’t think your ego needs me to tell you that wasn’t the reason.”

“It always likes being stroked.”

“Oh my God,” I laugh. “I’m sure it does.”

He reaches over and places his large, burning hot hand against my thigh, and I tense.

“Relax,” he mutters when he feels my muscles tighten beneath his touch.

“I’m sorry.”

“Get out of your head and enjoy yourself.”

“Trust me when I say that I’ve done that more in my short time with you than I’ve done in the last few years.”

“Really?” he asks, glancing over, a smile twitching at his lips.

“Really.”

“Then I think we should definitely spend some more time together.”

“How’d you figure that?” I ask with a laugh.

“I’m clearly good for you.”

“Hmmm … so, what are you suggesting?”

“Another date? Say, Friday night?”

“I’ll need to check my calendar. I might already have one.”

His eyebrows rise in surprise. “Oh, I wasn’t aware I was one of many of your conquests.”

“Never assume, Brit boy. Never assume.” I hate to make out like I might be playing the field when it’s the furthest thing from the truth, but I’m happy to keep him on his toes.

He glances over as we turn into my street. His eyes are darker than before, but I can’t get a read on him as to why.

He brings my car to a stop outside my house and pulls his cell from his pocket, hitting a few buttons before pushing it back inside the fabric of his pants.

I hesitate, not sure if I should get out or wait for what he has to say.

I’m about to reach for the door handle when he turns to me.

My breath catches at the look in his eyes. There’s a familiar desire dancing in them, much like when he looked at me in only my underwear earlier, but there’s also a hint of anger in them.

My stomach clenches for the briefest moment as I wonder if I’ve got him all wrong.

“I strongly suggest you cancel your Friday night plans.”

“Oh,” I squeak. “Why’s that?”

“Because you’re mine.”

“Am I?”

“You are.” His hand comes up, his fingers wrapping around the nape of my neck as he leans closer.

Our noses brush before his lips tease mine.

The touch is so light, yet it sends a shockwave through my body, causing my temperature to soar.

My skin tingles for more, to feel his hands all over me once again.

“Corey,” I moan when he doesn’t move to kiss me properly.

“Mine,” he whispers against my lips, his breath almost burning hot against me.