Doug bobbed his head and, pushing away from the bed, didn’t appear to have any qualms about showing off his buck naked physique. “I know you’re in a hurry. Go on and get in the shower. I’ll put on the coffee.”
“Oh, you don’t have to—”
Without a stitch of clothing, his personal parts already taking shape, he moved next to her, kissed that comforting spot between her brows and stepped back. “Go get ready for your rehearsal. I’ll do the coffee.”
He might as well have said I’ll hang the moon for you. Too bad he was only a dream.
* * *
Doug grabbed his pants from the foot of the dresser and slipped them on, zipping up on his way to the kitchen. He’d been right when he’d first thought it would be one hell of a night. And he’d been right when the nice girl alarms went off in his head over drinks. And that was why he hadn’t walked away before she’d fallen asleep in his arms. He had no idea why she’d chosen now—or him—to play the bad girl, but he knew there was no way he could do his typical no-morning-after bad-boy routine with Emily. And he knew suggesting they continue as friends with benefits wouldn’t be right either. So the least he could do was make her a damn pot of coffee.
And why did walking away from this woman have him feeling as surly as an insomniac bear in winter? He didn’t do commitment. He didn’t do ties. Not to women. In the navy women had flocked to him like geese to bread crumbs, but he’d never had to worry about any one female sticking. Few good women could handle the constant and long deployments. For most women, having a partner in EOD was as bad as having a SEAL who could go wheels up any moment for any amount of time. He should know. More than once he’d been on the team with the SEALs when they’d gotten the call. And little had changed for him since he’d become a civilian. He didn’t do commitment now any better than before.
But he could do coffee. And maybe some toast. And cheese. She’d need protein if she was going to deal with teens all morning. Tap-dancing teens to boot. Rummaging through the packed fridge, he scavenged a block of Swiss cheese as well as a ripe tomato. The bright side of having had to fend for himself most of his life was he knew how to make a sustainable meal out of very little. A couple of slices of high-fiber whole wheat bread in the toaster. Add a little butter after they popped up and a thick slab of cheese covered by a tomato slice, and, after twenty seconds in the microwave, a somewhat nutritious breakfast was born.
“Oh.” Emily walked into the apartment-sized kitchen and smiled at the cheesy toast. “I was going to slap some peanut butter on cold bread.” She sank her teeth into the warm concoction, closed her eyes and moaned. “This is so much better. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Doug turned to watch the coffeepot finish brewing—anything rather than see the rapture in her eyes over a lousy piece of warm toast and be reminded of the similar look on her face last night every time he’d sent her flying over a cliff of sensual pleasure.
Cabinet doors opened and closed. Two mugs appeared on the counter beside him. One a travel mug. Was that for him or her?
“Do you take cream or sugar?”
He turned to the direction the voice came from in time to find her head in the fridge for a backlit view of her rear end staring at him and wondered if he had time for a cold shower. “No, thank you. Black is fine. And I’d better take it to go.”
Slamming shut the fridge door, she glanced up at the clock and set the milk container on the counter. “Oh, my. I really do need to run.”
Doug reached for the full pot, poured it into the travel mug and handed it to her. “Here you go. I’ll just take a minute and gather my things.” He set the pot in its place and quickly jogged down the hall collecting his shoes, shirt, socks and underwear. Shrugging into the shirt, he slipped on the shoes and stuffed the underwear and socks in his pants pocket. When he returned to the kitchen, Emily had set out another travel mug for him filled with black coffee. “Thank you.”
He took a short sip, scorched the roof of his mouth and felt the hot liquid searing its way down his throat. At least it stopped him from opening his mouth and saying something stupid. Like, what are you doing after rehearsal?
Emily looked about to say something, then, pressing her lips tightly together, sucked in a deep breath that drew his attention to the rise and fall of her chest. And reminded him of how her back arched upward when he’d tasted those rosy peaks. Damn, he had to stop doing that. She moved around him, hugging the opposite counter. Thank God. He didn’t know what he would have done if she’d actually rubbed up against him. The school play might never get produced.
Keys in hand, she looked to him. “All set?”
“All set.” It was better this way. One night. No strings. No demands.
Outside her front door he waited for her to lock up, and then, when she turned to face him, she looked so lost and confused, he almost, for the second time in the last few minutes, asked her to join him for dinner, and this time they could have dessert in his bed. And then he remembered, she’d asked if he had a plane to catch.
“Anything wrong?” she asked.
“Wrong?”
“You’re frowning at me.”
“Oh.” He forced a smile. “Just remembered something I forgot to do yesterday.”
The smile that could light up a room took over her face. “Oh. Good. Well.” Hesitating again, she looked around and then stuck out her hand to him.
Doug glanced down at the open hand waiting for him and almost laughed. Too bad he wasn’t going to get the chance to know her better. “I think we’re a little past the handshake stage.” Leaning over, he kissed her good-bye. Nothing long, hard or wet. Just a simple kiss for a nice girl. “Thank you.”
She was still at the door staring at the street when he turned on his car’s engine and pulled away from the curb. Too bad he didn’t do permanent.
* * *
Sitting at a red light after having lunch together, Kara stared wide eyed and opened mouthed at Emily. “You what?”
“I slept with the hot hunk from the wedding.”
“That’s what I thought you said.” A hesitant smile appeared on Kara’s face. “And?”
Emily couldn’t stop the grin that took over her face. “It was…nice.”
“Oh, yeah. I recognize that look. That’s not a nice look. That’s the look of a woman who has most definitely felt the Earth move. When are you seeing him again?”
She tried not to let the smile slip. “I’m not.”
Kara’s brows curled into an unhappy V shape. “Why not?”
“You know most of the guests flew in from Pearl for the wedding.”
Kara turned into the parking lot at the Big Island Dive shop, and Emily decided not to mention how he’d told her that he wasn’t going back to base today. At least she didn’t think so. He’d only told her that he didn’t have a flight to catch this morning.
“So he’s one of Jim’s friends from the base.” Kara blew out a soft sigh and leaned back in the seat. “Too bad. Guys who make your toes curl are nice to have around.”
“And you would know.”
Kara just grinned. “You going to tell Angela?”
“No, because then she’ll tell Billy.”
“She might not.”
“No.” Emily shook her head as Kara pulled into the space in front of the shop. “I like her too much to make her keep a secret from her future husband that she has to know would bring out the worst in my brother.”
“I don’t know about that one. Girl power is pretty strong.” Kara reached the shop door first and held it open for Emily. “Does Mr. Hottie have a name at least?”
“Of course he does. His name is Doug.”
Kara stopped midway to her husband’s office, turned to face Emily and repeated, “Doug?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“And he’s stationed at Pearl?”
Emily stopped walking since Kara didn’t appear to have any plans to move. “Yes.”
“He told you that?” N
ow Kara’s hands were on her hips, and Emily was starting to wonder what had she missed.
“No. But some petty officer made a pass at me, and Doug stepped in. The petty officer backed off immediately. Doug said they served together.”
“Was the petty officer in uniform?”
“Yes.”
“And Doug?”
“Well, no.” Now that she thought about it, most of the guys there were in uniform.
Kara closed her eyes for a long moment, and then reached out and touched Emily’s arm. “Think a minute. Did he say serve or served?”
“Oh.” Emily loved how close she and Angela and Kara and Lexie had grown since her brother and Angela had gotten engaged, but, days like today, she wished Kara wasn’t such a stellar litigator. “Uhm.” Her mind went back to the veranda. We served together for a time. He’s not a bad guy. “Served. Definitely served. Why?”
Kara blew out another breath—something that was starting to make Emily nervous. Kara linked elbows with Emily and spun her around. “Maybe we should go back to the restaurant and tell Angela to meet us there instead for happy hour.”
“Happy hour? We just had lunch.”
“Yeah.” Kara nudged her along. “But trust me when I tell you, after you hear what I have to say, you’re going to be glad when happy hour comes along.”
Chapter Four
“So you got through the entire wedding and avoided Maile Everrett’s matchmaking?”
Doug helped Nick pull out a length of new anchor chain for the Kona Queen, glad to have something to do this afternoon rather than staying lost in memories of last night. “You mean Sara, the redhead?”
“That would be the one.”
“Very attractive. What’s wrong with her?”
Nick chuckled. “Bad choice in men. Broke up with her bloodsucking live-in boyfriend, and now her mother and Maile are determined to find her someone better.”
“So basically anything above pond scum would work. Gotta love mothers protecting their little girls.”
“I’m sure, once you’ve been here long enough to put that chick-magnet magic to work, the mothers will take you off their list.” Nick turned down another aisle at the marina store with all the portable commodes. “Actually I’m a little surprised you haven’t made the rounds yet.”
“Been busy getting settled in.”
Nick bobbed his head and put the chosen toilet in the cart. “Angela said she found you a place to rent.”
“Yeah. Good fit. Close to the shop.”
“Need help moving in?”
“Not much to move.” When Doug had accepted the offer to work the dive crew with his former teammates, Billy had told Doug the job was his for however long he wanted. And that had been just the right thing for him. He’d left everything behind and boarded the plane with just his duffel.
“Nothing coming from stateside?” Nick emptied the cart by the cashier.
“Nope.” Doug lifted the chain. “Not sure how long I’ll be staying.”
Hands full, Nick froze and leveled his gaze on Doug. “Some plans we should know about?”
“Nothing specific.” Moving about suited him well. One of the many reasons the navy had been a good mistress. Unlike most billets that placed personnel in a specific location or ship for a long tour of duty, EOD, like SEALs, meant going wherever the navy needed you. Often in a hurry. He missed those days. Missed the excitement. And missed his brothers.
Working last month with Nick, Billy and the other guys to protect those kids from the cartels had been like coming home. The EOD team had been the family he’d never had, and, after two years on his own, returning among his buddies had been a balm to his soul he hadn’t expected. Nor known he needed. Which made Billy’s offer of a job on the new Island Girl downright irresistible. But that didn’t mean Doug was ready to put down any kind of permanent roots. One day at a time, he’d told himself. Traveling light had never failed him.
Nick paid the cashier, and the two men loaded the purchases into the back of the company pickup. “I appreciate you coming out on a Sunday to help.”
“No problem. Nothing else happening.”
“I’d have thought, with all the women at the wedding, you’d have found someone to keep you company.”
Years of training stopped Doug from flashing a face-splitting grin. “Too many young sailors to compete with.”
“Ha. Right. That’ll be the day some wet-behind-the ears tadpole can outmaneuver you.”
Doug didn’t say a word. Some women were not meant to be locker-room conversation. Although he didn’t know very much about Emily, there was one thing he was positively sure of. What happened last night was nobody else’s business.
* * *
“There you two are.” Billy came out of his office and called across the store to Emily and Kara. “Angela just called. Says you’re not answering your cell but to tell you that she’s on her way. Thought you’d already be here waiting for her.”
Kara seemed to mutter a few indiscernible sounds before finding her voice. “Just remembered something I forgot at home. I’ll call Angela from my car.”
Though totally clueless about what had Kara suddenly in a dither, Emily trusted her friend enough to follow her lead by reaching for the door again and smiling happily at her confused brother.
“She’ll be here in just a minute.” Billy moved closer. “You might as well wait.”
Kara glanced about the shop. “Anyone else here?”
Billy looked over his shoulder and back to Emily, then Kara. “Jonathan’s in the warehouse. Why?”
“No reason in particular.” Her shoulders more relaxed, Kara smiled up at him. “I suppose we can run back to my place after Angela gets here.”
With that confirmation Billy turned back to his office, and Emily and Kara fell into step behind him. In the office Kara dropped her handbag on the chair. “It’s time for me to visit the little girl’s room again. Be back in a minute.”
“We’ll still be here.” Billy grinned up at her. But the moment the door closed behind Kara, he turned to his sister. “I know she fusses about living in the bathroom and indigestion and her spreading waistline, but I swear I can’t wait for Angela to be pregnant.”
Lord, how Emily loved seeing her brother so happy now. For such a long time after his accident, none of the family thought they’d ever see the old Billy again. “I’m right there with you, brother. I like the sound of Auntie Emily.”
One side of his mouth tipped up in a silly grin. “Daddy sounds better.”
“Only to you.” Emily hugged her brother. “I’m so glad you two found each other.”
“Me too.” Billy kissed the top of his sister’s head and retreated to the chair behind his desk. “Did you stay long yesterday?”
“Nah, once you guys left, the party went with you.”
“Such a bullshit artist. Let me guess, you and Mom stayed to close down the place, then Mom spent the entire drive home talking about how beautiful your wedding is going to be.”
Even though she didn’t want her brother to know what she’d actually done after the wedding, it bothered her that he had assumed her evening would have such a boringly pathetic end. And it bothered her even more that normally he’d have been 100 percent correct. “Actually I picked up a superhandsome sailor and had hot monkey sex all night long.”
All color drained from Billy’s face before his eyes narrowed and he pointed his finger at her. “Don’t even joke about something like that. I won’t even address the you know what part of that statement, and I’ve told you before, stay away from navy men. They’re not for you.”
“And why is that, big brother?” She’d heard this lecture on a regular basis since having hit puberty. Only after one thing.
“Men who have been at sea only want one thing when they come into port.”
The military life is hard on a wife.
“And even if you find one of the good ones, the military life is not an easy one for a wife.”
You’re too smart to fall for a man in uniform.
“You’ve got a good head on your shoulders. You know better than to fall for a man in dress whites.”
Well, at least he’d gone from any uniform to dress whites. “You and Nick turned out okay.”
Puffing out his chest like a jungle bird on the prowl, Billy gave a casual shrug. “We’re the exception.”
God, it stuck in her craw how closed-minded her brother was about her dating men in the military. Not that they were overflowing on the Big Island, except for the few here to let their hair down like her brother warned with wine, women and sex. But Billy was pretty difficult about anyone in pants when it came to Emily and dating. No one was ever right for his baby sister. No wonder Ava had moved to Honolulu and Kathleen to San Francisco. Lucky her, Emily got the brunt of Billy’s overprotective nature. “And Jim? He an exception too?”
“Maybe.” Billy smiled.
“And the rest of the guys on your team? What about them?”
“Hell no. The rest of the guys were all man-whores. Still are.” Billy planted his feet flat on the floor and leaned forward. “Trust me, sis. Most military men are not husband material.”
“Who says I’m looking for a husband?” Clamping down on her back teeth, it took a great deal of self-control not to cross her arms and stomp her feet. “You really should make up your mind though. When I’m good and ready, there won’t be any chance of marrying me off if you find something wrong with every man I meet.”
Billy leaned back again. “I want you to find someone good enough for you.”
“Uh-oh.” Kara came into the office. “Should I go back to the bathroom?”
“Don’t be silly. I was just getting ready to tell my big brother that I’ve taken a job at Babes strip club in Hilo. Pays better than teaching.”
Dive Into You Page 3