by Susan Stoker
She hadn’t lied, she liked texting. Liked using emojis. And so far, he hadn’t seemed annoyed with how often she shot him messages. Kenna thought back to the parking garage, where he’d admitted that he liked the thought of getting texts from her because it meant she was thinking about him.
He wasn’t wrong.
But then again, Kenna found herself thinking about Marshall all the time. He intrigued her. She’d met her fair share of military men and women at Duke’s, but something about Marshall, and his friends for that matter, seemed different. More intense. It was probably because they were Navy SEALs, but she didn’t think that was the only reason.
They were definitely protective—look at how fast Mustang had gotten to her and pulled her away from Shawn, how quickly Jag had gotten Carly out of Shawn’s grasp, and how easily Marshall and Midas had subdued him. But it was more than that.
They were good men. Kenna would bet her life on it. She was a fairly good judge of character. She’d learned from years of waitressing to sum up patrons at a glance. She could tell who were tourists, who would probably be stingy with tips, and which customers were going to be a pain in her butt. And she was rarely wrong.
Marshall could’ve been an ass about her interrupting his training session. He could’ve yelled at her, told her to get the hell away from him. He could’ve been pissed that he’d gone all the way down to Duke’s with the expectation of a date, and instead she was working. He could’ve wanted nothing to do with her and Carly after what happened, deciding the entire situation was simply too much drama. But that didn’t seem the case.
Carly knew men in general were good at hiding their crazy from others. Heck, serial killers didn’t exactly wear a sign warning people away from them. She’d seen enough murder shows to know most people acquainted with a killer said something to the effect that they “seemed so normal.”
While Marshall might not be perfect, he was certainly the most interesting man she’d met in a very long time. And for some crazy reason, he seemed to like her. Not that Kenna thought she wasn’t likable. She was. But her dating life had been pretty pathetic recently, so it was nice—really nice—to find Marshall so into her.
She was excited about meeting him near the Naval base today, where he’d give her a tour. They didn’t have long, since it was Friday and she had to work later, but he’d gotten permission from his commander to take a few hours off.
Marshall had offered to come into the city to pick her up and bring her back to the base, but she’d declined. Kenna liked him, but she wasn’t ready for him to see where she lived. It wasn’t smart, even though he seemed amazing and she felt safe with him.
Her phone vibrated with a text and she looked down and smiled at seeing the note from Marshall.
Marshall: Looking forward to today. It feels like it’s been a month since I’ve seen you.
Kenna: Me too (and please tell me you’re wearing your uniform! Hubba hubba!). And I feel the same way.
Marshall: I’ve got on my BDUs. Nothing special.
Kenna rolled her eyes. Guys had no clue how much women liked a man in uniform. There was no explaining why, at least for her. It just was. And she couldn’t freaking wait to see Marshall in his. He was hot in jeans and a black T-shirt. But camouflage? Be still her heart.
Marshall: Cat got your tongue?
Kenna: Just trying not to drool on my phone, thinking about you in a uniform. Any chance I’ll get to see you in your dress whites someday?
Marshall: I’m sure that can be arranged. ;)
Shit, had he just used the winky emoji? Kenna couldn’t stop smiling.
Kenna: You sure you still have time to show me around today?
Marshall: Absolutely. Nothing short of world war 3 would keep me from our date today.
Kenna: So it’s a date?
Marshall: Yes.
One word. Kenna could practically hear his emphatic response.
Kenna: Cool. So I’ll meet you in the parking lot for the Pearl Harbor memorial in an hour?
Marshall: I can still come and pick you up if you want.
Kenna: I know, and I appreciate it. But…as much as we’ve talked in the last week and as much as I like you, I’m not comfortable with you knowing where I live yet. Sorry.
Marshall: Don’t apologize. I’m not comfortable with you knowing where I live yet either.
Kenna wasn’t sure if he was kidding or not. It was hard to tell that kind of thing over text. And since he didn’t use any funny emojis to help her figure it out, she decided to just move on.
Kenna: You’ve got a yellow Jeep, right?
Marshall: Yup. I’ll text you when I get close. Wouldn’t want any other guys with yellow Jeeps horning in on my date.
Kenna sent an eye-rolling emoji.
Kenna: Not sure you have to worry about that.
Marshall: Their loss is my gain. I need to go. I’ll see you in an hour. Drive safe.
Kenna: I will. Later.
Marshall: Later.
Kenna sat back on her couch and couldn’t help but smile. One of the things she liked most about Marshall was how much he made her laugh. He simply made her happy, which felt really good.
He’d proven to be a good listener as well. One night after she got home from work, and after an especially hard shift with table after table of assholes, she’d sent him a brief note about how tired she was and wishing him a good night. He’d immediately messaged back and asked if he could call.
They’d ended up talking for an hour. Kenna had gone on and on about the more frustrating parts of her job and the various ways people acted like jerks. He hadn’t blown her off or made jokes. He’d listened. Then he’d shared some of his shitty experiences with humans.
It made her feel even closer to him.
But most of the time when they spoke or sent messages, they were light and silly, making her smile much like she was now.
Knowing she needed to get ready to go, Kenna put her phone aside and stood. She’d make herself a grilled cheese sandwich then get changed. She and Marshall hadn’t talked about having lunch, and he might not have time anyway. She wanted to see as much of the base as he’d be able to show her. She might be able to sneak onto private beaches, but getting on the Naval base without an escort or a military ID wasn’t possible. She didn’t want to get arrested, after all.
An hour later, Kenna climbed out of her Malibu when a bright yellow Jeep pulled up behind her. Marshall had texted just minutes before, like he’d said he would, something else she appreciated…when he said he was going to do something, he did it.
“Hi,” she said as she climbed out of her car.
Though she’d expected him to stay in his car while she joined him, Marshall got out to greet her. Her breath caught in her throat when he brushed his lips against her cheek in greeting.
“Hey. You look great.”
Kenna hadn’t expected the kiss, but it felt natural. He stepped back immediately and wasn’t crowding her or making her feel uncomfortable. She’d gone out of her way to try to look nice today. The first time she’d seen him, she was half naked in her shorts and sports bra, and the second, she was in her waitress uniform of khaki shorts and a Duke’s T-shirt. Today, she’d put on a pair of jean shorts and a v-neck shirt that showed off her cleavage. Tastefully, of course. Normally she lived in flip-flops when she wasn’t at work or going for a run, but because she wasn’t sure how much walking they’d be doing, she’d worn sneakers. She’d left her hair down, but had a ponytail holder in her purse in case it got too hot.
All in all, Kenna was very pleased with her efforts, and was happy Marshall had noticed.
“Thanks,” she told him, smoothing a lock of hair behind her ear. “You do too.” And he did. Marshall had on his camouflage Naval uniform and was just as good-looking as she’d imagined he’d be. His dark hair was a bit mussed and he was clean shaven this morning. She couldn’t decide if she liked his face better bare or with a five o’clock shadow. Then she wondered what he�
��d look like with an actual beard. But a trimmed one, not long and shaggy.
“What are you thinking about so hard?” Marshall asked.
Kenna knew she was blushing. “Um…honestly?”
“Always.”
“I was trying to figure out what you’d look like with a beard.”
Marshall smirked and reached into his back pocket and pulled out his phone. He tapped the screen a few times before holding it out to her with a grin.
Kenna took it and glanced at the screen. “Holy shit,” she said under her breath. She was looking at a picture of Marshall and his teammates. They were dressed in full-on military gear—camouflage, helmets, bulletproof vests, and a ton of accessories strapped to their arms, legs, and chest. Each of them also held a rifle.
But what really caught her attention was that all of them sported full beards and mustaches.
“We’d been on a mission for quite a while,” Marshall explained. “There wasn’t any time to shave, not that it was high on our priority list. When we finally got back to base, one of our friends snapped the picture.”
Kenna brought the phone closer. He looked tired in the photo, but she couldn’t deny that Marshall was hot in full gear and a beard. She handed the phone back. “I like the beard, but I think I like you clean shaven better.”
“Me too,” he agreed immediately. “Having a beard honestly reminds me too much of the things I’ve seen and done while deployed.”
“I can see that. I haven’t said it before, but thank you for your service. For all you’ve done.”
Marshall nodded and pocketed his phone. “You ready?”
“Yup.”
“I have to warn you,” Marshall said as they walked around his Jeep. “I don’t know how exciting this tour will be.”
“I’ve never been on a military base, so for me, this is cool.”
He smiled at her as he opened the passenger door.
Kenna got in and was surprised when Marshall handed her the seat belt. She clicked it on as he shut her door. He walked around and climbed into the driver’s side.
“Go ahead and get your ID out. I’ll need to show it when we go through the gate.”
Kenna dug in her purse and grabbed her driver’s license.
“I thought I’d start out by showing you Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, then we’ll head over to Ford Island. I want to show you one of my favorite places over there.”
“Awesome,” Kenna replied. She hadn’t really thought too much about what they were going to do while on the base, she was just excited to see Marshall again and spend time with him.
Going through the gate was uneventful, then Marshall began driving around. He first took her through one of the housing sections, and she was suitably impressed by how clean everything looked.
“Do you live on base?” she asked.
“No.”
She waited for more explanation, but when there wasn’t any, she asked, “Is it because you’re single?”
“Not really. I mean, yes, single sailors don’t live here in these larger houses, they’re reserved for families, but I like living off base. It somehow makes me feel as if I have a life.” He chuckled. “That’s not the best explanation, sorry.”
“No, it makes sense. I guess it would be like if I lived in the Outrigger hotel connected to Duke’s. It would feel too much like I was at work every second of every day.”
“Exactly,” Marshall said with a small smile. “So…where do you live?”
His question wasn’t exactly subtle, but she gave him a pass. “In a small apartment complex not that far from Waikiki. It’s on the other side of the Ala Wai Canal, but close enough that I can get to work without having to get on the Interstate. And before you get too excited, it’s just a two-level building, and no, I can’t see the ocean from my apartment.”
“I wasn’t going to ask about that,” he said.
“It’s usually the first thing people from back home want to know. ‘You live in Hawaii? Can you see the ocean from your apartment?’ As if everyone who lives here has a perfect ocean view.” She rolled her eyes. “But I’ve got a great landlord and my neighbors are pretty cool.”
“That’s good,” Marshall said.
Kenna thought it somewhat odd that he dropped the subject, but he probably remembered her being cautious about telling him where she lived. Which seemed silly now. She suddenly wished she’d let him pick her up, it would’ve given her more time with him.
They drove past a dog park and an elementary school. He showed her the commissary and the BX, the base exchange…basically like a big-box store that sold everything from snacks to clothes to tools. They drove farther onto the base and Marshall pointed out the building he worked in. He apologized for not being able to take her on a tour of any of the ships that were in port, though Kenna was still fascinated by the sight of them.
“The base isn’t as big as I imagined it’d be,” she told him.
“Well, the Navy doesn’t need a huge post like the Army does,” Marshall explained. “Our playground, so-to-speak, is the ocean.”
“Yeah, that makes sense. It’s not like you need a huge amount of land to drive tanks around on and stuff.”
“Yup. You ready to head over to Ford Island?”
Kenna had no idea how the base was laid out and didn’t know what was on the island compared to where they were now, but she nodded anyway.
Marshall smiled, as if he knew she was clueless, but he was a gentleman and didn’t comment on it. They drove back through the gates, past the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and onto a bridge. She had to show her ID again at another checkpoint, but soon they were on their way once more.
“I feel as if I’m getting some super-top-secret tour,” Kenna told him.
Marshall chuckled. “It feels that way, but honestly, the base is a lot like any other neighborhood.”
Kenna wasn’t sure about that, but she didn’t comment. Marshall drove through another residential area, smaller than the one on the main part of the base. They passed a hotel for military personnel, another dog park, and then Marshall pulled into a small parking lot for the USS Utah memorial. He parked and met her at the back of his Jeep. He reached for her hand and they walked down the memorial walkway that extended into the harbor. At the end, there was a plaque describing what happened to the ship during the attack on Pearl Harbor in World War Two, and she could see the hulking remnants of the ship in the water.
There was only one other couple there, but they left soon after Marshall and Kenna arrived. It was quiet and serene, and Kenna took the time to reflect on the fifty-four men who’d lost their lives and who were still entombed on the ship under the water. Being there made her really think about Marshall and what he did. He was a SEAL. He wasn’t sitting behind a desk, safe here in Hawaii. She had no idea where he was sent or even exactly what he did, but it hit home that he definitely didn’t have a safe job.
She stepped closer and leaned into him, resting her head on his arm.
“You okay?” Marshall asked quietly.
It seemed proper to whisper here. In the shadow of the ship where sailors like Marshall had lost their lives.
“I learned about the attack on Pearl Harbor in school,” Kenna said. “And the Holocaust. And the Vietnam War, and other major conflicts around the world. But they were always just words on a page. Details to memorize for a test. Standing here, seeing the rusting hull of this ship, it’s so real. And now knowing you, and what you do, it just seems more…personal.”
“I didn’t bring you here to make you sad,” Marshall said.
“I know. And I’m not sad…exactly,” Kenna said, struggling to explain how she felt. “It’s only been a week since I’ve met you, and I’m not even sure our relationship is really defined yet, but standing here, reading the info on what happened and seeing the names of the men who died, it makes me worry about you all the more.”
Marshall put his arm around her shoulder and held her against him. “The circum
stances are very different,” he told her. “Pearl Harbor was attacked without notice. The men on the ships weren’t able to do much to protect themselves. My team and I don’t go into any situation without having first researched the hell out of it.”
“That doesn’t mean something can’t go wrong,” Kenna protested.
“You’re right. It doesn’t. But we plan for every contingency we can think of. And, not to be flip about what I do, but you could be killed driving down the street. I don’t take my life for granted, and I’m as careful as I can be, but shit happens. Freak accidents, heart attacks, being struck by lightning. There are a hundred different ways you and I could die walking down the street. I’m probably safer with my team on the other side of the world tracking down a terrorist than you are going to work at Duke’s.”
Kenna snorted. “I’m not so sure about that, but you have a point.”
“I know.”
Kenna rolled her eyes and turned so she could meet Marshall’s gaze. “Sorry for being a downer.”
“You aren’t a downer. And to address something else you said…it’s okay if you’re not sure yet, but as far as I’m concerned, we’re dating.”
Kenna’s stomach flipped. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” he said with a smile. “I already can’t wait for lunchtime so I can call and hear your voice. I’m constantly checking my phone to see if you’ve messaged and the guys have been giving me shit about it…but I don’t care. I don’t even think about sleeping until you text me to let me know that you’re home safe and sound after work.”
Kenna loved all of that. Freaking loved it. “I’ve never dated a military guy before,” she admitted. “And since we’re being honest, you being a SEAL scares me. Now I can’t stop thinking about the dangerous things you do.”
“I can’t do anything about that, except to tell you that my team and I don’t take risks. Especially now that Mustang is married and Midas has Lexie. When we get sent out, I won’t be able to tell you where we’re going or when we’ll be back. Is that a deal breaker?”