jazz. Hope you don’t mind.”
Rachel smiled. “I’m open for anything.”
Dean looked at her with narrow-eyed consideration then took her hand in his. Rachel knew it had to be a test so she kept her hand there, enjoying the closeness that was beginning to build between them. Dean was everything that she always imagined she would like in a man; tall, well built, and exceptionally kind. As they walked into the bustling restaurant, he held the door open for an older couple, then felt he needed to hold it for the party of eight that came next. If it wasn’t for a gentleman a shade more polite than Dean who ordered him inside, Dean would still be standing out there. But as she looked at his happy expression she could tell he would have been fine holding the door all night if he felt he was the man to do the job.
As he walked toward her where she waited just beside the hostess stand, his expression changed, became more watchful, more aware. Then his gaze drifted oh, so slowly down her body. Rachel had been waiting for him to do the completely male action the entire time she’d known him. It was as if he had waited until he knew she would catch him then she could see the carefully banked desire he’d been hiding. As she looked at the appreciation in his eyes, she vowed to go shopping for clothes that would actually flatter her.
Rachel’s heart began to race. She’d never had a man look at her like that before and it was a little shocking how her body reacted. Beneath the shirt and bra her nipples drew into hard peaks and a seductive warmth curled through her belly, then drifted lower. Moisture slicked her palms with nervous, anticipatory energy. She wanted to get up close and personal with Dean West but worried that he would find her naïve and inexperienced.
Yes, she’d slept with men before, but more to get her virginity out of the way than anything. She’d heard about some of the sexual abuse cases in the military and knew there was no way she was going in a virgin. As crazy as it sounded, she wanted to make the choice of who she gave her virginity to; Grant had been a nice guy but definitely no long-term prospect, perfect for what she’d wanted.
The second guy she’d slept with had been more because she’d wanted him. They’d crossed paths on base a couple of times and when they’d come together it had been more fun than she’d expected. They’d continued their affair for a couple of months until he’d been shipped home. She’d been sad but certainly not heartbroken. They hadn’t had that kind of attraction.
Dean, on the other hand, thrilled her on many different levels. They hadn’t gotten close to getting naked, but she had a feeling that when they connected, it would be making love rather than just having sex. The man was impossibly delicious.
When he stopped in front of her, in spite of the people swirling around them, he cupped her face in his palms. “For that look alone, you could ask the world of me right now, Rachel Searles and I would do my best to give it to you. What is your secret wish?”
The breath caught in her lungs and emotion suddenly tightened her throat. Yes, she was a strong woman, used to taking care of herself and doing what needed to be done but sometimes she would just like to give up control to someone else. Someone who would keep her best interests at heart and protect her through everything life threw at her. Was that too much to ask for?
He was waiting on an answer and she didn’t know if she dared tell him what she wanted. What if he laughed in her face at the crazy request or sidestepped her answer? He was such an exceptional guy she didn’t understand why he hadn’t been snatched up already by some other needy woman. Cops ran across women in distress all the time. What made her special? Why had he made it a point to take an interest in her life?
Maybe she should tell him exactly what she wanted. That way, if he bolted now he wouldn’t shatter her heart. She
Rachel smiled. “I’m open for anything.”
Dean looked at her with narrow-eyed consideration then took her hand in his. Rachel knew it had to be a test so she kept her hand there, enjoying the closeness that was beginning to build between them. Dean was everything that she always imagined she would like in a man; tall, well built, and exceptionally kind. As they walked into the bustling restaurant, he held the door open for an older couple, then felt he needed to hold it for the party of eight that came next. If it wasn’t for a gentleman a shade more polite than Dean who ordered him inside, Dean would still be standing out there. But as she looked at his happy expression she could tell he would have been fine holding the door all night if he felt he was the man to do the job.
As he walked toward her where she waited just beside the hostess stand, his expression changed, became more watchful, more aware. Then his gaze drifted oh, so slowly down her body. Rachel had been waiting for him to do the completely male action the entire time she’d known him. It was as if he had waited until he knew she would catch him then she could see the carefully banked desire he’d been hiding. As she looked at the appreciation in his eyes, she vowed to go shopping for clothes that would actually flatter her.
Rachel’s heart began to race. She’d never had a man look at her like that before and it was a little shocking how her body reacted. Beneath the shirt and bra her nipples drew into hard peaks and a seductive warmth curled through her belly, then drifted lower. Moisture slicked her palms with nervous, anticipatory energy. She wanted to get up close and personal with Dean West but worried that he would find her naïve and inexperienced.
Yes, she’d slept with men before, but more to get her virginity out of the way than anything. She’d heard about some of the sexual abuse cases in the military and knew there was no way she was going in a virgin. As crazy as it sounded, she wanted to make the choice of who she gave her virginity to; Grant had been a nice guy but definitely no long-term prospect, perfect for what she’d wanted.
The second guy she’d slept with had been more because she’d wanted him. They’d crossed paths on base a couple of times and when they’d come together it had been more fun than she’d expected. They’d continued their affair for a couple of months until he’d been shipped home. She’d been sad but certainly not heartbroken. They hadn’t had that kind of attraction.
Dean, on the other hand, thrilled her on many different levels. They hadn’t gotten close to getting naked, but she had a feeling that when they connected, it would be making love rather than just having sex. The man was impossibly delicious.
When he stopped in front of her, in spite of the people swirling around them, he cupped her face in his palms. “For that look alone, you could ask the world of me right now, Rachel Searles and I would do my best to give it to you. What is your secret wish?”
The breath caught in her lungs and emotion suddenly tightened her throat. Yes, she was a strong woman, used to taking care of herself and doing what needed to be done but sometimes she would just like to give up control to someone else. Someone who would keep her best interests at heart and protect her through everything life threw at her. Was that too much to ask for?
He was waiting on an answer and she didn’t know if she dared tell him what she wanted. What if he laughed in her face at the crazy request or sidestepped her answer? He was such an exceptional guy she didn’t understand why he hadn’t been snatched up already by some other needy woman. Cops ran across women in distress all the time. What made her special? Why had he made it a point to take an interest in her life?
Maybe she should tell him exactly what she wanted. That way, if he bolted now he wouldn’t shatter her heart. She
Similar Books
