Marine Ever After (Always a Marine) (3 page)

“And you obviously got it together.”

“I think so. Mrs. Carter brought me lots of options and introduced me and my crew to a recruiter. He was toughest guy I ever met. I enlisted the day after I graduated. Had to make sure that my record stayed clean and Sergeant Tommy had to vouch for me, but I made it in. And here I am.”

She eyed the chevrons on his rank insignia. “A sergeant yourself—Master Sergeant?”

“Master Sergeant.” He inclined his head. “Good eye. Military brat?”

“Oh, yeah.” Not her favorite subject, but she dialed back her natural reticence. He’d shared something personal and managed to be funny. She didn’t need to let her inner bitch out to play, tired or not. “Army.”

“Dad, right?”

“Right again. Am I that obvious?”

“No.” He twisted the cappuccino cup around on the table, turning it in circles. “You don’t seem that comfortable with the uniform and you’re second-guessing yourself. My
papi
can still do that to me even if I’m standing in front of him in full dress blues.”

She appreciated that. Lifting her cup, she eyed his. “To stern father figures and the impressions they leave behind.”

“I’ll drink to that.” He clinked his coffee cup to hers. The music changed again, the fun and bubbly taking over the dance floor. “You up for another spin?”

She glanced at her shoes with a grimace.

Paul pushed his chair back and nudged her shoes under the table. “Leave them. You don’t need them and you’ll have more fun.”

He held out his hand and she drained her coffee and put it aside, before letting him help her rise. The respite worked, she had a second—or maybe her twenty-second wind. “I love that you love to dance.”
I’m not falling for him, we’re just having fun
.

“Well, I definitely love dancing with you.” He tugged her with him and she laughed at his hip-shaking motion to the beat. It didn’t occur to her until he said that but he hadn’t danced with anyone else.

Not even the bride and there was still a line of Marines taking turns dancing with Rebecca.

Paul spun and caught her around the waist, pulling her close until they were swaying together.

Do not fall for him. Do not fall for him. Do not fall for him
.

***

“Congrats, Captain,” Paul gave Luke a firm handshake and clapped him on his shoulder. “Brody sent his regards, said he was sorry as hell to miss you letting the past catch you.” The lieutenant demanded Paul memorize the message when he got word that the Master Sergeant would make the wedding.

Luke snorted. “All I had to do to let it catch me was stop running. How about you? We haven’t had a lot of time to talk. When do you leave for your next deployment?”

“Three days. Not a hell of a lot of turnaround. But it’s Germany, so a virtual vacation.” Turning around, he leaned against the bar, sipping a second cappuccino. His gaze tracked Lillianna where she and the other bridesmaids clustered around Rebecca. Luke’s blushing bride held onto Lillianna’s hand, chattering animatedly.

“Intelligence training?”

“Something like that. What do you know about Lillianna?” He enjoyed the hell out of her company, so much so, he itched to liberate her from the girl talk and dance again.

“She was Becca’s roommate in college and she doesn’t like me.” The captain chuckled. “I don’t mind, she’s got the right. I acted like a dick and she holds me responsible for my actions.”

“You tell her that?” Tough. Beautiful. Loving. Lillianna looked better and better.

“I’m thinking accepting her disapproval and not making waves for Becca with her friend is the least I can do. In thirty or forty years, she can forgive me after I prove I’m worth it for Becca.” The man had that rare look on his face—bliss.

“Fair enough.”

“Captain.” Logan arrived and slung an arm around Luke’s shoulders. Zach appeared, along with their wife—two men, one wife—not Paul’s idea of a marriage, but whatever worked. Next came James, Damon, Matt and about ten others Paul didn’t know on sight.

“We, the married, want to welcome you to the club.” Zach grinned. “We’re also here with your deployment orders.”

Luke’s brows climbed and Paul hid a smile of his own. This particular surprise he did know about. From the squeal of laughter across the room, the bridesmaids had delivered their present to the bride.

“Deployment orders?” Luke set his drink on the bar and eyed his men. Logan held an envelope out.

“Travel arrangements, Captain. Your gear is packed and waiting in the limo. Lauren took care of Mrs. Dexter’s supplies; Zach and I took care of yours. What you have in your hand are airplane tickets and itinerary for three weeks in Cabo. You, your bride, sunshine and sand.” Logan’s wide smile held pride.

“As for the orders,” James interrupted, “No thinking about Mike’s Place, no worrying about meetings, supplies, duty rosters or patient rotations. The seven of us can do that job. You and Rebecca haven’t taken more than a weekend off together since you found each other again. This is her time—and yours. We appreciate your service….”

Luke didn’t say anything for the longest moment, and stared not at his men, but at the envelope. “I have no words.”

“You don’t need them, sir.” Matt spoke up. “Of all of us, I think I can say it best. You’ve given us a place and a welcome, and you’ve had our backs every step of the way. This is the least we could do.”

Gripping each man’s hand in a quick, hard handshake and blinking back what suspiciously appeared to be tears, Luke took Matt’s advice to heart and said nothing. Shaking Paul’s hand last, the captain cleared his throat. “All right. Well, try not to burn the place down, and whatever you do, don’t rearrange Becca’s carefully planned calendar.”

“Oh, hell no,” Jazz murmured and the rest laughed.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me…I need to go kidnap my bride. We have orders.” He strode away and they all paused to watch him sweep Rebecca up in his arms and they were off.

“Damn. Did not have to tell him twice.” Damon gestured for the bartender to bring refills for everyone.

“No. He wanted to give her a big honeymoon, but they’re both wildly invested here. Hard to plan to be away when it means leaving work unfinished.” James accepted his drink. “One for me, and then I’m going to wrap this up. Damon, you’re in charge of the rest of the reception, make sure cleanup gets handled. Matt, if you and Naomi don’t mind taking care of the band. Logan, you and Jazz will be handling the exit interviews this week for anyone checking out. Zach, you get entrance….” The conversation migrated with the psychologist, but Paul didn’t listen.

With Rebecca’s departure, Lillianna drifted away from the other bridesmaids—heading back to the table they’d shared earlier. She moved with purpose. Abandoning his coffee, he followed. Over the last few years, he’d gone through women like an alcoholic through a case of schnapps.

Lillianna was single malt scotch.

And damn if he wasn’t in the mood for that.

By the time he reached the table, she stared at her shoes with a grimace.

“Need a ride home?” he murmured.

“You don’t give up, do you?” Laughter and fatigue twined in her voice, giving her a husky quality. Would she sound that way in bed, well-pleasured and languid? His body tightened at the mental image.

“No, ma’am. I do not.” No sense in denying it. “You’re one hell of an attractive woman, you’re funny, you’re smart…and you haven’t said anything about there being a man in your life. So would I be stepping on any toes?”
Say no
.

“Paul, you’re a nice guy, but….”

“No nice guy speeches.” He frowned. “They cut a man off at the ego.”

Her snort of laughter entertained him. “I think your ego would survive.”

“Maybe.” He leaned toward her, lowering his voice. “And if you abandon me, it means I don’t have a good excuse to leave early.” So close, the sweet scent of her perfume tickled his nostrils. She really was lovely, exceptionally lovely, and her eyes were softer brown, with just the hint of gold. Or maybe they simply reflected the lighting. But between her rich cocoa skin and faintly golden eyes, she looked like an African goddess and he wanted to be her supplicant.

Pursing her lips, she glared at him. “Are you playing me?”

“Not at all. If I wanted to play you, I’d make a lot of excuses to get into your pants.” He raked her form with an appreciative gaze. She really looked spectacular in the dress. “But I’m honest in my intentions. Do I want to take you to bed? Absolutely. Am I planning to push my luck or trick you into my bed? Not a chance. When you ask me—and yes, you’re going to ask me—you’ll want it as much as I do.” This close, he enjoyed the way her pupils dilated and her swift inhalation.

“Bold.”

“It doesn’t always pay to be subtle.” Tempted beyond reason to kiss her, he reached down to retrieve her shoes. “So what’s it going to be, Cinderella? Do you want to turn into a pumpkin or would you let me sweep you off your feet?”

Hesitation seemed to roll off her in waves.
Tempting, aren’t I?
He edged a little closer, imagining the invisible barrier around her evaporating. “Do you have to work tomorrow?”

“No.” She shook her head slowly.

“Do you want to go home right now?”

“I really should….” She bit her lip.

“Run away from everything with me? A night of make believe, no strings, no problems, lots of fun?” Pushing her wasn’t his style.
But fuck, I’ve got three days and then I’m on a plane. If I let her get away
—

“You’re all about the carpe diem, aren’t you?” She leaned against the chair, arms folded, but she didn’t look ready to escape and he still held her shoes.

“Life is too short not to go after what you want.” It was a motto. He worked hard. He played hard. He lived for the moment, particularly when tomorrow began halfway around the world.
Or at least three tomorrows from now
…

“Does it occur to you that maybe I’m not interested?” But the curve of her lips belied the comment.

“Oh, that wounds.” He pressed a hand over his heart. “Your words cut me.”

Lillianna laughed. “You’re terrible.”

“Nah. I’m cute. You’re just a little overwhelmed by all this hotness.” He winked, and then laid off the hard push. “How about a quiet cup of coffee? We can slide out of here, I’ll give you a lift home after, and we can relax—quiet, no pressure, no demands.”

She stepped toward him, and traced a finger down the buttons of his coat. “I’m sorry, what part of no pressure and no demands is carpe diem?”

“The part that is a gentleman. But we can skip that—if you insist.” A pulse of pure want beat from his head to his cock and back again.

“Tempting. So coffee…and then what?” She trailed her hand up to his neck, her face mere inches from his.

“Whatever we want.” The urge to kiss her grew harder to ignore. “Do you want coffee?”

She sighed, her expression settling into some decision. “No.”

Disappointment bled through him. “Okay.”

“But I will take the carpe diem.”

Chapter Three

Had she really just said she’d take the carpe diem? Paul wasted no time getting them out of the reception. Fortunately, Luke and Rebecca’s exit made amidst laughter and fanfare allowed most of the party to focus on their partners or friends. No one even gave Paul and Lillianna a second glance as they walked out the door. The evening air was humid and warm, the late day heat lingering long after the sun went down—but it was still cooler than Lillianna’s blood.

He paused outside the door and frowned at the concrete and then at her feet. Before she said anything, he mirrored the groom’s he-man tactic earlier and swept her into his arms. A whoosh of air escaped and her pulse double-timed it. There was nothing soft about Marine Master Sergeant Torres, and cradled to his uniformed chest, she couldn’t stop thinking about peeling away the dress blues to investigate it for herself.

Good lord, woman, it’s basic anatomy—calm down
. But her body paid absolutely no attention to her mind. Despite holding her, Paul didn’t start walking right away. The drawn-out silence pulled her gaze to meet his eyes. He studied her with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

“What?” She didn’t quite squirm under his regard.

“Waiting to see if you changed your mind.”

Had she? Running her hand over his shoulder, she teased herself with the possibilities. “Not as far as I can tell. Thanks for the lift, by the way.”

His full mouth spread into a heart-stopping grin.
God, the charm in him doesn’t quit
. “No problem. I didn’t want you to hurt your feet.” He started walking but didn’t head for the parking lot.

Little jolts of electricity skittered along her nerves. “Where are you going?”

Paul paused. “The apartment I’m staying in.” He nodded toward the oblong buildings visible on the other side of the tree-lined greenbelt.

“Oh.” Another shiver of excitement collided with the first. She thought they’d at least have the drive to stretch out the moment.

“Still good?” He waited patiently.

“You look like you’re waiting for me to change my mind.”

“Do I?” The low lighting hid his expression, but his actions bespoke a certainty that she might very well flip-flop on her decision.

“Well, that’s twice you’ve asked. Do you want me to?” It seemed a fair question, particularly since a tiny voice in the back of her mind gulped every time she assured him she hadn’t.

“Hmm.” He canted his head to the side as though considering his response.

Disappointment fluttered in her breast, the barest beat of a butterfly’s wings. Did he really want her to reconsider? He closed the distance and took possession of her mouth, darting his tongue inside for a full-on sensual assault. She forgot to think.

Hell, she forgot to breathe.

The world around her vanished, leaving only the sensation of his lips massaging hers, teasing her with his tongue until she groaned. By the time he lifted his head, they were both breathing heavily. Her haphazard thoughts shut down and she forgot how to speak. Which was a good thing, because she didn’t remember what they’d been discussing.