“No, ma’am. We are taking my family’s boat tonight. The Saltry is only a twenty-minute boat ride. It’s on an island in Halibut Cove.”
“A boat.” She frowned. “Am I dressed okay?”
He looked over at her, then back to the road. Dressed in a killer pair of tight black slacks, a black shirt and, black vest, he’d looked quite pleased when she’d appeared in the living room.
“You look great. Perfect outfit for the Saltry.”
Her hesitation must have been reflected on her face. He reached over and took her hand. “Don’t worry. I’ve been driving a boat in these waters since I could see out of the pilot house. You’ll be fine. Trust me. You’ll love the food. The pickled salmon alone is worth the ride.”
She gulped. Pickled salmon? She was a steak and potato Texan. What the hell had she agreed to?
Chapter 6
The drive from the Ellis place to Split Road took only ten minutes. He turned onto the road and drove down to the Homer Port and Harbor. He lucked into a parking spot fairly close to the ramp that led down to the dock where his family kept their fishing boat.
Taking her hand as soon as they were out of the car, he led her down the metal gangway, which clanked and squeaked as they walked down. At the bottom, they stepped onto floating concrete walkways and followed the main one until they turned onto a shorter walkway that provided moorage for twelve boats. Theirs was in the second slip.
“Here we are,” he said and gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. Her hand was soft and fit perfectly in his. He held his breath as he waited for her reaction, hoping she’d enjoy his plans for the evening. He wasn’t disappointed.
She gasped when she saw the boat. “This is what we’re taking?”
“Yep.”
She sighed. “Thank goodness. This isn’t what I pictured at all. You mentioned your family fishing boat, and I…”
“Thought I was taking you in a flat-bottom?” He laughed.
Shrugging, she said, “Or pontoon or ski boat. Boats don’t look like this in Texas.”
He held her hand as she stepped over the side of the boat onto the flat fishing area of the stern. He untied the mooring in the front, then the rear and leapt onto the boat.
“Follow me,” he said and led her into the enclosed helm. “It’s still cool, so I’ll shut the door. One of the things I love about this boat is that I can drive inside here or outside. Just depends on the weather. Tonight, you look too pretty to let the wind mess up your hair.” He gestured to a seat on the port side. “Besides,” he continued as she sat. “If your hair gets messed up, I want to be the one who does it.”
He followed his comment with a quick kiss and jumped into the driver’s seat.
“Once I get us out of port and into open waters, you can drive if you want to.”
Her eyes widened. “Um, no thanks. I think I’ll just enjoy watching the captain work.”
He piloted the boat into the bay and settled into his chair. “You’re too far away. Come here.”
With a chuckle, she stood beside him and he put his arm around her waist. “Now this is much better, don’t you think?”
“Gosh. I don’t know. We have a twenty-minute ride. You get to sit, and I get to stand. There’s something seriously wrong with this picture.”
He scooted over and patted the seat beside him. “I think we can both fit.” Of course, that meant that half his ass was hanging off, but it was his uninjured side, so that was fine.
She climbed onto the seat. By the time she got settled, their hips were pressed firmly together and, as he’d predicted, he hung off but who cared? He liked how she felt next to him. He put his arm on the back of the seat around her shoulders and she leaned into him. This was nice. Sexy but comfortable. Like he’d been with this person many times.
How odd. He’d never had this kind of reaction with a woman. Sex and attraction? Sure, but not a comfort level like this, and definitely not this fast.
“This is beautiful country,” she said.
“Agreed.”
For the next twenty minutes, they talked about the scenery, fishing, the boat, and everything, except their personal stories. He knew more about her history than she knew about his, and she certainly had no idea he knew about the ex.
He knew a million ways to kill that guy and seven SEALs who’d help him dispose of the body. Her ex had no idea how lucky he was.
He slowed the boat as they neared the dock and then tied off.
He handed her a coat he’d stashed behind the galley table explaining, “You may need a heavier jacket. We’re up high and the wind off the water can get cool, especially in the evening.”
Once they were both in jackets, they headed down the grayed wooden walkway until they climbed the long, steep, metal walkway to the Saltry. He’d requested an outside table, close to the fireplace, if they had a fire burning. At this time of the year, his money was on a fire. Definitely still cool enough to support one.
And the staff came through.
They were led along the roofed, weathered, wooden deck to a table beside a fire burning in a fireplace built into a rock wall. There wasn’t privacy as there were a number of people warming themselves, but it was impossible to beat the ambiance.
Once they were seated, she leaned over to him. “You realize I’m completely out of my element here, right?” She pointed to her chest. “Texan. Meat. Potato. Bread.” She tilted her head toward a table to their side where salmon and oysters laden the table. “We don’t grow salmon at home.”
He laughed. “We don’t grow salmon up here. We catch them. Nature and God grow them.”
She studied the menu like a graduate student prepping for final exams. Doubt shadowed her eyes. “Pickled salmon? Seriously? No steak, but there’s a kale salad?”
She said the last thing like someone who was saying “Turd punch?” He couldn’t stop smiling.
“Yes, kale salad, but there are other things. Keep reading.”
Her eyes widen. “Octopus? Are you kidding? Where’s my steak?”
“Steak next time. I promise. And I won’t make you eat octopus, I swear.” He traced an X over his heart.
He’d eaten here many times. It was one of his favorite restaurants in the area. Fairly famous, too. “Trust me, Bailey. I wouldn’t have brought you here if I didn’t know it was fabulous.”
She blew out a breath. “Okay. The pear salad sounds good. So does the seafood chowder.”
“Both are. Try the salmon. I think you’ll like it.”
She nodded and when their server came, he ordered the pickled salmon, pear salad, and seafood chowder with two spoons as starters and for dinner, the halibut and scallops.
They both ordered water and coffee to go with the meal.
He made sure she took the seat facing the bay, the one with the best view.
“Right now, I don’t care what the food is,” she said with a gesture toward the silvery water. “That view is incredible. I know you guys who grew up here take glaciers for granted, but wow. The evergreens dotting the mountains, the glaciers, even the color of the water is breathtaking.”
He sighed. “I know. People in the lower forty-eight just don’t get Alaska until they come here. There’s no place like it.”
“I love the live and let live attitude. I mean, it feels so much freer up here. Like your neighbor isn’t looking in your window and telling her neighbor what you’re doing.”
“We do have our fair share of gossips. You have met my mom, right?” He chuckled. “But I know what you mean. I wouldn’t get it if I hadn’t been gone from here for a while. When you grow up here, you take a lot for granted. Take planes for example. We have more pilots here than in any other state. I think it’s like over one percent of the population hold a license. For some places in Alaska, you can’t get there except by plane.”
“And I gather from earlier tonight, you have a pilot’s license.”
“Everyone in my family has one but Mom. She didn’t want one. Dad ma
de her learn how to land the plane in case of an emergency, but that’s it.”
“So, everyone has their own plane?”
He laughed. “God, no. We couldn’t afford that. We have one family plane. I’ll take you up. I think you’d enjoy it.”
She looked doubtful. “I don’t know.”
The server took that moment to deliver their first dishes and the conversation turned to the food, what conversation there was between her moans and groans of pleasure. At one point, he scooted a little further under the table to hide what her vocalizations were doing to him. Messages to his cock that she wasn’t talking about him went ignored.
But he was glad he’d put on underwear. That might keep the flesh on his dick from being abraded by the metal of his zipper.
“Levi,” she said on a long exhale as she sat back in her chair. “The pickled salmon? Ohmigod. That was like candy. I want more and more.”
He chuckled. “I told you. Wait ’til you try the entrees.”
“I don’t know how they can beat this bread and the seafood chowder.”
“Just wait.”
With the first bite of halibut, her eyes rolled back in her head, and a low, deep moan emanated from her chest.
Levi got rock-hard. His cock couldn’t get the message that her moaning wasn’t about sex, but then he wondered…what does she sound like during sex? That was something he really needed to find out.
“Um, you okay? Do you and your halibut need some alone time?”
She chuckled. “Maybe. Okay,” she said with a sigh. “You were right. This food is incredible and I—”
She grabbed his hand and pointed. “Ohmigod. Look.”
He swiveled in this chair in time to see a bald eagle carrying a salmon in his talons fly past. Turning back, he said with a smile, “Now there’s something you don’t see in Texas.”
Her hand flattened on her chest. “I’d give a million bucks to have had my camera ready for that. My friends back home will never believe it.”
Mentions of her leaving threw a cold bucket of ice water over his groin, which was probably a good thing.
When they were finished with dinner, not a scrap remained on either plate.
“Dessert?” the server asked. “You must try our chocolate cheesecake. It’s been written up in magazines for being one of the best in the world.”
Bailey put her hand on her stomach. “That sounds delicious, but I have nowhere to put it.”
“Give us a piece to go,” Levi told the server. He looked at Bailey. “You may not want it now, but trust me, you will want it later. Besides, who knows when you’ll get back here.”
She nodded. “A solid argument.” She looked up at the server. “The man has a plan.”
The server smiled. “Great. I’ll get that to go and bring the check. I trust everything was good.”
“More than,” Bailey said. “I overate so badly, I’ll have to diet for a month.”
“Perfect,” the server, a man in his late twenties said. “But don’t let this be the last time you come. The ferry runs every day. Come for lunch.” He glanced at Levi and back to Bailey. “Call ahead and ask for Paul. I’ll make sure to take care of you myself.”
With that last line, which was such an obvious pick-up line in Levi’s opinion, the man turned and strode away.
“That guy’s lucky I don’t pick him up and toss him into the ocean.”
She frowned. “Why? What’d he do?”
“He just hit on you. My date. In front of my face.”
She grinned. “He did not. He was just working for a bigger tip.”
“Tip? My tip for him would be to stay away from a SEAL’s date if he wants to be around to serve lunch any time in the future.”
She snorted. “You are so overreacting, but it’s sweet that you think he was flirting.”
Levi left the server a tip, because back in the day he’d worked some crappy jobs, too, but the tip might have been larger if the guy hadn’t tried to pick up his date right under his nose.
Once back on the water, Levi got the boat situated in the middle of the passage and stood. “Take the wheel.”
“What?” Bailey screeched. “I don’t know how to drive a boat.”
“I’ll help. Come on,” he said with an exaggerated sweep of his hands.
She slipped onto the pilot’s chair and took the wheel in shaky fingers.
“You’re a natural,” he said. “Give her a little gas.”
“How?”
He pointed to the shifter. “Push it forward a little.”
She jabbed it forward, and the boat jumped forward at a quick pace.
“I said a little,” he said with a laugh. He pulled the handle back until the boat was barely skimming the surface.
“Okay,” she said, confidence ringing. “I’ve got this.”
She made him happy, smiling, and not a complaint to be had. His team would love her.
He pulled the level to idle, then cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. She returned the kiss with an eagerness that made him groan and claim her mouth with his tongue. Their tongues tangled and licked the other. She twisted her hips on the seat until her body was angled toward his, and then she ran her hands over his chest and around his neck. She broke the kiss and left a trail of small, sweet pecks along his cheek and then headed back to his mouth.
“How did you do this in high school?” she asked against his lips.
He smiled. “Much the same way,” and went back in for a long, wet kiss that had her groaning in response.
She pushed against his chest. “No, I mean all the light. No darkness. No privacy.”
“Ah.” He released her and opened the small door that led to the small bed under the stern. “Ta-da.”
She chuckled. “You had a boat bedroom to take girls to?”
“Not exactly. But a couple of girls I dated had them.”
With an eye roll, she said, “I bet you were quite the player in high school. Cute. Funny. An athlete. Bet you had girls calling every night. And there’s no telling how many Frog Hogs follow you around where you’re stationed.”
He frowned. “What’s this all about?”
“How old are you?”
“What? Thirty. Why? What difference does it make?”
“I’m thirty-three. I’m older than you.”
He waggled his brows. “Great. Always did favor an older woman who could teach me, you know, things.” He said the last with emphasis and a wink.
She laughed. “I doubt I can teach you anything. My point is you’re a SEAL on leave. A known flirt and player. I’m only here a short time. I don’t want to get involved with anyone. You know what I mean?”
With a slight frown, he said, “I’m only going to be home for about fifteen more days and then it’s back to Coronado and wherever my team is sent. I want to enjoy my time while I’m home. I’d like to enjoy it with you. We can play it however you like, but I enjoy being with you. I love kissing you.” He ran a thumb along her lower lip. “I really love kissing you. If we do more than kiss, I’d love that, too. If not, then I’ll take whatever you’re willing to share. Bottom line, Bailey, is that I want to see you while I’m here. You’ll be gone by the time I ever get home again. Maybe we’ll both leave Alaska with good memories of a special time.”
She studied his face for a long time as though trying to decide if he was full of bullshit—which he’d been known to be—or if he was telling her the honest truth. Finally, she nodded. “I’d like that, too, as long as you understand I can’t do long-term. Not now.” Her eyes darkened. “I might not ever be with a guy long-term again.”
He knew what she was saying, but she didn’t know he knew. “Okay. Sounds like there’s a story there. Want to talk about it?”
She shook her head. “Maybe someday, but not tonight.”
“Good enough.” He kissed again. He blew out a long, satisfied sigh. “I’d better get you home before Cherry calls my parents to tell on us.”
&nbs
p; She laughed, exactly what he was going for.
Chapter 7
Friday morning, Bailey couldn’t wipe the grin from her face no matter how hard she tried. Finally at noon, her last patient of the day, a ninety-year old woman who might live to hundred the way she was going, looked at her and said, “Now, I’m old, and sometimes it’s hard for me to remember some things, but I know the look of a woman with a new feller.”
Bailey blushed. “No, no, Mrs. Kimble. I’m just in a good mood today.”
“Uh huh,” her patient replied. “You don’t lie worth a damn, my dear. Remember that in the future.”
Bailey chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Can I go?”
“You can. You’re as healthy as a horse,” she said, drawing on an example her mother always used when Bailey had tried to skip school.
“Well, shoot. Horse died last year. Not looking too good, huh?” She cackled at her own joke. “I’ll see you, missy, before you leave. Been nice having you here.”
Bailey walked Mrs. Kimble to the receptionist’s desk and was shocked to see a bouquet of mixed flowers sitting on the ledge.
“Oh no, Molly. Did I forget your birthday?”
Molly took Mrs. Kimble’s charge ticket and winked at the old woman. “They aren’t for me. You might want to look at the card.”
Mrs. Kimble cackled again. “I knew she had a new feller. Just look at that grin.”
Bailey felt the heat of her blush. “Let me see.”
Molly passed over the vase. The small, white envelope stood on a stick among the pink, purple, red, and lavender flower petals. The arrangement was massive and designed to make a statement, and it did. The variety and size of the blooms shouted, “Look at me.”
The envelope was sealed, but the way Molly was bouncing in her chair, she wondered if her receptionist hadn’t already peeked at the card.
Thanks again for last night. Want to give a thick steak a try?
Levi
That was followed by his phone number.
Bailey scooped up the vase in the crook of her arm. “Bye, Mrs. Kimble. See you in a couple of months.”
Hot SEAL, Alaskan Nights (SEALs in Paradise) Page 6