“Thank you, Ms. Bradford.” He strode to the podium and gave her a polite smile.
Funny how formal they were being, considering their intimate knowledge of each other. Nope, that wasn’t something she’d think about now.
Vince welcomed them with a few questions. “Feel free to raise your hand to ask questions at any time. I want this to be a conversation, not a lecture. Here’s a bit of my background. I’ve served in the Marine Corps for more than ten years. My dad was in the Navy, so I moved often while growing up. When I was around your age, I knew I wanted to enlist in the Marines.”
“Why the Marines?” A boy wearing a New England Patriots shirt asked.
“Their values of honor, courage, and commitment spoke to me. It seemed like the right fit.”
A girl with long wavy hair raised her hands. “Did you go to boot camp?”
“I did. In Parris Island, South Carolina, which I can tell you was no picnic.”
Some boys commented on how they’d seen videos on YouTube and how it looked so tough, they didn’t think they could ever do that.
“Many people think that, especially when they are there. You feel like you’re alone and question if you’ve made a mistake. You face some tough challenges and it makes you think. At some point, you realize that most of what’s holding you back is mental. If you can get past the voices telling you you’re not good enough or fast enough or smart enough, then you’re in a better place, able to reach the goals you set for yourself.”
Emma watched the kids respond to Vince’s words. The way he spoke to them and not down to them, drew them in, even those who had appeared completely uninterested at first. When she brought her gaze back to him, she had to admit she was a bit captivated herself. He wasn’t cocky and didn’t speak with that smug self-assuredness she’d generalized for Marines.
Fortunately, nobody asked if he’d ever killed someone. She guessed Mrs. McDonald had coached them to avoid difficult topics like that.
When they turned to his specific job in the Marines, he noted, “After more training at the Communications-Electronics School in the California desert, I worked in electronics maintenance. You see, when I was a kid and all through high school, I loved to take things apart and see how they worked. It would drive my mother crazy as I took apart just about every electronic in the house—from alarm clocks to speakers—to see what was inside. To keep our household stuff intact, she’d collect discarded or broken electronics from neighbors, giving me more things to tinker with. It was a good fit. But after my first tour over in Afghanistan, I wanted to move into a different role.”
All eyes were fixed on Vince, including Emma’s.
“The explosive ordnance disposal technicians, or EOD techs, put themselves on the line to keep others safe. They locate explosives or other risks, such as chemical hazards, and dismantle or handle them to make the area safe. It’s incredibly dangerous and one of the most stressful jobs in the Marines. I knew it was what I wanted to do, but I couldn’t move into that field right away because you need many years of military experience and training before you can even volunteer.”
“But you did it?” a girl with her hair pulled into a ponytail asked.
“Eventually, yes.”
“You know how to take apart a bomb?” One boy asked.
“After a lot, and I do mean a lot, of training, yes.”
Several comments with wows and cool followed. Questions continued one after another after that. Vince answered them all the best that he could until the bell rang, and it was time for them to leave.
Emma stared at Vince and bit her lip. Once again, he defied her stereotype for a Marine. Perhaps her thinking that every guy in the military was the same was flawed. Maybe she had been too harsh with her first impression, considering she didn’t even know him.
Except what he was like in bed.
Hmm, she wasn’t sure what to think about him now. Did it really matter, though? This was the last time she’d see him before they went their own ways.
Vince
“That wasn’t so bad.” Vince said after they left the high school and walked to her Nissan.
“It went great,” Emma agreed. “They really responded to you. I have seen some speakers who just talk, but don’t listen. But you really connected with the kids. Thanks again.”
“You’re welcome.” He climbed in the passenger seat. Once she started driving, a pang hit him. Soon they’d be back on base and go their separate ways. “Are you hungry? We can stop for lunch.”
“I should get back to work.”
“Don’t you take a lunch break?”
She shrugged. “Sure. I usually take a short break.”
He grinned. “You can’t leave me starving after speaking with the kids. I need something to replenish my energy.”
She gave him a pointed glance. “Are you trying to trick me into going out with you or something like that?”
He raised both hands as in surrender. “No tricks. Just lunch. We both need to eat, don’t we?”
“Food is fine. I’m hungry. But that’s it.”
He was smart enough not to push for more since he’d already scored a small victory in convincing her to go to lunch with him. She was clearly guarded, and damn, he didn’t blame her. He’d seen how women would have to fend off unwanted attention in the Marines. Instead, he commented on their surroundings, the music, veering away from anything too personal that would trigger her to cancel their lunch plans.
When they entered Newport, he read a sign advertising an upcoming holiday stroll and another on Christmas at the mansions.
“Once you miss Christmas at home, you never take it for granted again.”
“True,” she agreed. “I missed a couple and understand.”
“How will you be celebrating it this year?”
She flinched. Tension took hold of her body, from the way she gripped the steering wheel to the sudden tightness on her face. Interesting. What was that about? Once again, the urge to understand her rose. She loosened her hold with a wiggle of her fingers. “I was invited to my friend, Karine’s, to celebrate with her and her family. Karine was the caterer for your brother’s wedding. She has a baby girl, so I’ll stop by as an unofficial auntie.”
He rehearsed what he wanted to say in his head before saying it aloud, so as not to come off as too nosy. “Do you have family nearby?”
“My mom and step-father live in Warwick, but they’re snowbirds. They went down to their Florida house earlier this year and invited my brother and his family and me to go.”
“Why aren’t you going?”
“They’re going on one of those family cruises.”
“Not a fan of cruises?” He kept his tone light.
She raised her brows. “A cruise with a ton of kids running around? My niece and nephew are crazy excited, but it’s not my idea of a relaxing Christmas.” Emma took a deep breath and let it out with a measured exhale. “I’m not really looking forward to the holidays this year, just hoping to get beyond it.”
He studied her for a couple of seconds, then pulled his gaze away so she wouldn’t catch him doing so. If he had the chance to go to Florida with his brothers and parents, he’d jump on the opportunity. They’d goof around unwinding on the attractions. Something must have pained her to want to rush through the holidays.
“Any reason in particular?” he asked, fairly certain she’d tell him to mind his own business.
She kept her eyes fixed on the road ahead. “It’s my first Christmas alone after being divorced.”
He rehearsed how to reply so he didn’t say something callous. “Ah, that must be tough, not that I have any experience with marriage or divorce.”
She rolled her shoulder back. “My ex got someone else pregnant.”
“What a dick.” He spat that out before he could censure himself. “Is that why you won’t date military men?”
They stopped at a red light. Her expression turned bitter. “That’s one reason. But I have more
issues than the periodicals section at the library.” She glanced over at him with a one-sided grin.
He laughed. “I doubt it. You seem like you’ve got yourself together.”
She turned back to the road. “All right, enough of my baggage for now.” The light turned green, and she drove them towards the waterfront. “Want to get a quick bite down here?”
“Sure. I’ve seen enough sand in my lifetime to want to spend as much time soaking up the seaside as possible.”
They found a table near an inside window in a pub that had a view of a courtyard garden. Vince ordered a root beer and Emma an iced tea.
While they studied options on the lunch menu, her phone buzzed. She stared at it and furrowed her brows.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
“One sec, I need to read this.”
Her expression turned worried as she read. She put the phone down and raised her eyes to his. “It was a message from my landlord. There’s been a few break-ins in the neighborhood, so he reminded me to lock my door and keep an eye out for anything suspicious.”
Vince grunted. “It tends to happen more around the holidays.” That time of year could be rough for many people. They might steal for quick cash or gifts for presents they couldn’t afford. When they were stationed overseas far from home, it could be dark. Dark and lonely.
This sudden tightness in his gut made him uncomfortable and he shifted in the chair. “Is it generally a safe neighborhood?”
She clasped her hands together, wringing them. “As far as I know. I’ve only lived there since the spring.”
Last year, she would’ve been married. Had she been happy with her ex? Or had her marriage been strained at that point before he knocked someone else up? Asking those questions seemed out of line.
Besides, what was more important at the moment was making sure she was safe. “Do you have a security system?”
She shook her head. “No. Just a deadbolt on my front door. It’s just a rental. I don’t have much.”
“That doesn’t matter. It’s your space. Your stuff.”
“I know—but aren’t they crazy complicated and expensive? I can’t deal with that.”
“You can get a decent setup that’s not overly complicated or expensive.”
She shrugged. “I’ll look into it.”
It only took him three seconds before he volunteered. “I can set up something for you.”
“What?” She leaned back. “Why would you do that?”
Good question. He didn’t know her that well, but here he was offering to install a security system where she lived. Was that odd? Maybe.
He shrugged. “Why not? Just being a decent guy.”
She laughed. “Those are hard to come by. You sure there’s no ulterior motive?”
“You mentioned the problem with the break-ins and my natural question is whether you have security measures in place.”
“Right.” Her reply was edged with wariness. “But why would you offer to do the installation. You only have limited free time, so I don’t want you wasting it doing something like that for me.”
Nothing about spending time with Emma seemed to be a waste. No point in saying that aloud, though. He’d had to check himself from coming on too strong. Otherwise, she’d just see him as another horny guy on base trying to get with any female who moved. Suggesting Because I want to spend time with you. And getting an invite into your apartment sounds like a promising start seemed too creepy.
Their drinks arrived, and the server took their food orders. Fried clams for him and a bowl of clam chowder for her. He took a sip of his root beer. She swirled the ice in her drink and then sipped it.
He leaned back in his chair. “I’m a tech geek. This stuff comes easy to me. I love taking things apart and putting them back together. I can set up something basic and inexpensive, like what I did at my parents’ house.”
She peered at him as if trying to gauge his sincerity. “Um, yeah, I guess. If it’s not too much trouble.”
“Nope. Not at all.” He gestured with a wave to emphasize that it was no big deal. It wasn’t something he’d do for the average stranger, though. “We’ll go pick one up tomorrow. Say around ten?”
She blinked a couple of times. “Okay. Thanks, Vince. What can I do to repay you?”
He couldn’t keep the image of sexual favors from his mind, which must have been spelled out on his face as he stared at her.
She arched her brows. “No sex.”
He laughed. “I didn’t say that.”
She fixed her gaze on him. “You were thinking it.”
“Maybe it crossed my mind, but I wasn’t going to suggest it. You can repay me with dinner. How about that?”
Emma leaned back and laughed. “Should have known. A man, a motive. Food’s naturally involved—or sex.” She lifted her glass and took a sip of her drink. The iced tea left a sheen on her lips. He stared a second too long.
“Vince, we’re not going there.”
Despite his rationalization that he was taking this action because he was a good guy, Emma calling him out was dead on. Sex had been on his mind pretty much since the first time he spotted her again. How could it not with how great they’d been together? He liked her. He didn’t just want to make sure she was safe, he wanted to spend more time with her.
The attraction wasn’t something he could ignore. Since she told him it was a no go, he might as well squash that fantasy.
Chapter Six
Emma
When Emma returned to her apartment building that evening, she searched her surroundings for anything or anyone suspicious before entering. Once inside, she ensured she locked her door. She brewed a mug of Earl Grey tea and settled onto the brown suede sofa that Karine had given her. Emma’s one-bedroom place was a hodge-podge of second-hand and thrift store furniture.
She played a rerun of New Girl on the TV for background noise and then opened her laptop. After logging into her neighborhood group online, she fell down an internet rabbit hole of reports and speculation about the break-ins. Some of them were bold enough that the criminal slipped into the house while people were home and then escaped without being detected. One family was eating in the dining room and had no idea that a robber had climbed up to their second-floor window, broken in, and got away with some jewelry and cash without making any noise.
She glanced around her living room. It wasn’t like she had much of value to make her apartment a good target. After four years in the military, she’d learned to live lightly. And since she and Peter had split what little belongings they had, she had little more than her essentials. If there was anything worth taking, it was what was on her lap and other electronics. She snorted. Anyone targeting her place would find it a sad shakedown.
Still, the idea of anyone creeping around the neighborhood led her to double-check that her pepper spray and baseball bat were in her bedroom. They were.
Emma returned to the discussion online and got sucked into some crime reports. One guy mentioned a bomb threat at a hotel in Providence last weekend. They had evacuated the hotel, but it had turned out to be a hoax. Nothing suspicious was found on site.
That was good news, but what the hell was wrong with people? Who would create a scare like that? She shook her head. Someone who was nuts, probably, or on some weird power trip.
She ended her Friday night watching a romcom and drinking a glass of chardonnay. The wild, exciting life of a twenty-something divorcee.
Emma tried to ignore the jitters when she picked Vince up on base the next morning. She put on a retro playlist and listened to David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance.”
When he climbed in the car she caught a scent of soap. He smelled good. She resisted leaning closer to inhale it more deeply.
He fixed his gaze on her. “Good morning, Emma. Sleep well?”
And that was why her insides fluttered—those eyes. Those intense eyes that appeared to probe her.
“Fine.” She broke their gaze a
nd placed her hands back on the steering wheel. “You?”
“I had some sweet dreams.” The slight lilt in his tone made her wonder if she’d been part of them.
No need to go there. Why make today anything other than it was meant to be? He was a decent guy doing her a favor, that was all.
“Must have been a sugar rush.” She put the car in drive and headed off base.
She tried to stick to that reasoning while they scoured the electronics in the department store.
“This one is top notch, but it’s pricey.” He moved down the aisle and grew animated as he pointed out different features of other systems. “This one is good for an apartment. Easy installation and monitoring through a smart phone.”
“I don’t need to know all the features,” she said with a laugh. “I trust your judgment.”
“Ah, right. I geek out over this stuff.” He stared at the last one and pointed at it. “This one.”
Once they arrived at her apartment, a one-bedroom unit in a brick apartment complex, a wild edgy sensation inside returned. She hadn’t had a man here since she’d moved in.
“My humble, and I do mean humble, abode.” She opened the cheery red door and welcomed him in, ignoring the wild rustle of heat that churned in her core.
Vince entered and glanced around, gaze lingering on her open bedroom door. He turned in a semi-circle. “Nice place.”
She shrugged. “Thanks.” The tiny footprint wasn’t amazing, but it was only her. She liked the brightness of the kitchen with natural light cascading over the yellow walls and white cabinets. The exposed brick in the open living space had a rustic appeal. And the bedroom…
No, she shouldn’t think about the bedroom while she was alone with Vince in her apartment. His presence was distracting enough.
He scanned her living room from ceiling to floor. “Where’s your internet hookup?”
With the way his follow-up questions focused on wires and power cords, she guessed he looked at her apartment through a far different lens.
Vince: One Night with a Marine: A Second Chance Military Romance (Anchor Me Book 2) Page 5