But we could’ve gone together.”
“I was trying to do something nice for you, remember?”
He relaxed a little. She could walk down the street. There was no need to go all alpha male on her. “You just really freaked me out earlier.”
“Look, I appreciate your worry. But I know my limits. I just couldn’t catch my breath before, and all the laughing wasn’t exactly helping.”
“Yeah, what was so damn funny anyway?” Not that he hadn’t enjoyed her laughter. It had spurred him on even more. Making her smile like that had made him feel about ten feet tall. But no way was he pulling a stunt like that again at the expense of her safety. Illness or not, if just laughing brought on an asthma attack, he’d have to be careful.
“You looked pretty cute holding my purse.”
“Cute, huh?” He raised his eyebrows and glanced over at her, a gleam in his eye. Was that a hint of a blush starting on her cheeks?
“Don’t push your luck.”
***
An hour later, Evan was flipping steaks on the grill at Alison’s townhouse. Alison’s Accord was safely parked in her driveway, right next to his SUV, like they both belonged there or something. When he’d pulled in next to her and she’d flashed him a smile, his heart had stopped for a second. It was like some weird déjà vu, alternate universe type thing. Like he’d done it a thousand times before. Things were easy with her, and he’d just met the girl—officially—last night. How crazy was that.
The lady at the impound lot had tried to charge Alison for the tow, but he’d flashed a grin her way and fed her some mumbo-jumbo about serving his country. They’d been in the wrong, not Alison, but sweetening up the woman at the counter certainly hadn’t hurt. Yep, the SEAL bit had the ladies eating out of his hand every time. Alison had been oddly silent during the exchange. Huh.
The smell of the steaks on the grill drew his attention back to the present. They sizzled, making his mouth water, and he grinned. He glanced around the courtyard her townhome backed up to. Green grass, lots of trees. Even a swing set for the kids. He’d love a place of his own, but with so many deployments and his still-single status, it seemed a bit pointless. Why buy a house when he had no one to fill it?
His apartment near base was all a guy like him needed. Aside from the wife and two point five kids he hoped to have someday. He smirked. Who came up with that shit anyway? A solid three kids would be cool with him.
Alison was inside the kitchen making some kind of chick salad to go along with dinner, but she’d also made some killer guacamole, so he’d let the salad part slide. Women.
He watched her through the sliding glass doors as she worked. She’d pulled that long, strawberry blonde hair up into a ponytail. It swished around as she walked. Back and forth. Back and forth. Man, that woman was mesmerizing, and she had no clue what she did to him. Alison grabbed two beers from the fridge, and blood rushed to his groin as he watched her bend over in those skinny jeans she had on. Her heart-shaped ass was a sight to see, and he longed to palm it, running his hands over those sweet curves, pulling her close, and never letting her go.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he shook off that thought. Glancing at the screen, he saw a text from Christopher.
You coming tonight, Flip?
Hell. He’d texted Matthew back earlier this morning but kept it vague. Anchors was a no go. He wasn’t sure he wanted them knowing he was over at Alison’s. Not that he had a problem spreading that news to the world, but she seemed skittish about pursuing anything other than friendship with him. No sense in spooking the woman, especially when they had mutual friends. Or, rather, when her best friend was dating a dude on his SEAL team. Maybe that was his ticket. He’d suggest they hang out with
“I was trying to do something nice for you, remember?”
He relaxed a little. She could walk down the street. There was no need to go all alpha male on her. “You just really freaked me out earlier.”
“Look, I appreciate your worry. But I know my limits. I just couldn’t catch my breath before, and all the laughing wasn’t exactly helping.”
“Yeah, what was so damn funny anyway?” Not that he hadn’t enjoyed her laughter. It had spurred him on even more. Making her smile like that had made him feel about ten feet tall. But no way was he pulling a stunt like that again at the expense of her safety. Illness or not, if just laughing brought on an asthma attack, he’d have to be careful.
“You looked pretty cute holding my purse.”
“Cute, huh?” He raised his eyebrows and glanced over at her, a gleam in his eye. Was that a hint of a blush starting on her cheeks?
“Don’t push your luck.”
***
An hour later, Evan was flipping steaks on the grill at Alison’s townhouse. Alison’s Accord was safely parked in her driveway, right next to his SUV, like they both belonged there or something. When he’d pulled in next to her and she’d flashed him a smile, his heart had stopped for a second. It was like some weird déjà vu, alternate universe type thing. Like he’d done it a thousand times before. Things were easy with her, and he’d just met the girl—officially—last night. How crazy was that.
The lady at the impound lot had tried to charge Alison for the tow, but he’d flashed a grin her way and fed her some mumbo-jumbo about serving his country. They’d been in the wrong, not Alison, but sweetening up the woman at the counter certainly hadn’t hurt. Yep, the SEAL bit had the ladies eating out of his hand every time. Alison had been oddly silent during the exchange. Huh.
The smell of the steaks on the grill drew his attention back to the present. They sizzled, making his mouth water, and he grinned. He glanced around the courtyard her townhome backed up to. Green grass, lots of trees. Even a swing set for the kids. He’d love a place of his own, but with so many deployments and his still-single status, it seemed a bit pointless. Why buy a house when he had no one to fill it?
His apartment near base was all a guy like him needed. Aside from the wife and two point five kids he hoped to have someday. He smirked. Who came up with that shit anyway? A solid three kids would be cool with him.
Alison was inside the kitchen making some kind of chick salad to go along with dinner, but she’d also made some killer guacamole, so he’d let the salad part slide. Women.
He watched her through the sliding glass doors as she worked. She’d pulled that long, strawberry blonde hair up into a ponytail. It swished around as she walked. Back and forth. Back and forth. Man, that woman was mesmerizing, and she had no clue what she did to him. Alison grabbed two beers from the fridge, and blood rushed to his groin as he watched her bend over in those skinny jeans she had on. Her heart-shaped ass was a sight to see, and he longed to palm it, running his hands over those sweet curves, pulling her close, and never letting her go.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he shook off that thought. Glancing at the screen, he saw a text from Christopher.
You coming tonight, Flip?
Hell. He’d texted Matthew back earlier this morning but kept it vague. Anchors was a no go. He wasn’t sure he wanted them knowing he was over at Alison’s. Not that he had a problem spreading that news to the world, but she seemed skittish about pursuing anything other than friendship with him. No sense in spooking the woman, especially when they had mutual friends. Or, rather, when her best friend was dating a dude on his SEAL team. Maybe that was his ticket. He’d suggest they hang out with
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