by S. M. Butler
Of all four Demarco brothers, Marcello was the wine expert. Rarely did you have to choose a wine. Marcello seemed to know exactly what his patrons liked.
“Thanks, Angela.”
Angela smiled. “Gabby will be right with you to take your orders.”
“Wine is kind of a staple here. Is that okay with you?” he asked Reganne.
“I’m more of a beer girl, but, yes, wine works, too.”
Damn, was this woman perfect or what? On the outside she appeared classy and sophisticated. The more he got to know her the more he realized how down to earth and real she was. An enigma he wanted to know on a deeper level.
Whoa. Back up. Not the reason he’d asked her out. He had no intentions of getting into a relationship. Have fun during leave. Doable.
“There’s so much to choose from.” Reganne turned the page of her menu.
“What are you in the mood for?”
“I have no idea.” She laughed. A light, musical sound that made him want to hear more of.
“If you like pasta, the cannelloni is good.”
A chestnut-haired woman approached wearing a tight black skirt and white blouse. She smiled when she saw him. “Greyson. How are you?”
“I’m good, Gabby. You?”
“Busy as usual.” She laughed. “And, who is your date?”
He gestured toward Reganne. “This is Dr. Reganne McCain. She’s a pediatrician here in town. Reganne, this is Gabriella Demarco.”
Reganne smiled at Gabby. “Nice to meet you. How many Demarco siblings are there?”
“There are seven of us. Four boys, three girls.”
“Wow. And you all work here?”
Gabby nodded with pride. “Well, Donovan is a SEAL, too, but he’s here when he’s on leave.”
“So this really is a family-run business.”
“Sure is.”
“Well, it’s an amazing place. I love the old-world feel.”
“Grazie,” Gabby said. “Now, what can I get the two of you? Our specials tonight include Camila’s Cannelloni Al Forno—filled with herbed chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, cheeses and organic spinach topped with her special béchamel sauce. It comes with a side of bruschetta. Then there is my brother’s Shepherd’s Pie prepared with the traditional ground beef and lamb with pan-roasted fresh vegetables and herbs, baked en casserole with a mashed potato crust. Luciano grows the herbs himself. And for dessert we have our tiramisu on special.”
Reganne glanced at him, then to Gabby. “Grey also recommended the Canneloni. I’ll have that.”
“Good choice. And you?” Gabby turned to him.
“I’ll have the Shepherd’s Pie.”
Gabby nodded and collected their menus. “I’ll be right back with your wine.”
“Thank you,” Reganne said at the same time he did. Their eyes met and he grinned, pleased when she smiled back. Her eyes sparkled like emeralds. This had to be the most comfortable date he’d ever been on. Definitely more traditional than his usual.
“So what did Angela say earlier? It sounded like Italian?”
“Yeah. She said ‘better late than never’. I’m usually here with my buddies, not a date.”
“I’m the first woman you’ve brought here?”
“Yep.”
“Would it be too forward for me to say I’m flattered?”
His blood raced through his veins. Her honesty was refreshing. Her boldness: sexy as hell. “Not at all.”
She laughed, sitting back in her chair. “I’m not usually like this.”
“I’m not complaining.”
Gabby approached with a bottle of wine. “Marcello sends his regards.” she poured the deep red wine into their glasses. “Your dinner should be ready shortly.”
“Thanks.”
Gabby left the bottle and moved on. Grey reached for his glass, lifting it in the air. “A toast to first dates.”
Reganne tapped her glass lightly to his before putting it to her lips and taking a sip. He did the same, letting the rich Chianti slide down his throat. Marcello did know his wines.
“How did the fishing go?”
Would have been better if he’d been able to get her off his mind. “Caught a couple rainbow trout.”
“Are you one of those catch-and-release fishermen?”
“Today I was.” He grinned, knowing she’d catch his meaning. If he hadn’t had plans to take her to dinner he’d be having a fish fry right now.
“And I’m flattered again,” she mused.
Before he could reply, Gabby showed up with their plates. After setting them down she asked, “Can I get you anything else?”
Grey glanced at Reganne, who shook her head. “Nope, think we’re good.”
“All right. Bon appétit.”
They ate in silence for a few minutes.
“How is it?” he asked, motioning toward Reganne’s plate.
“I’ve never tasted anything this good in my life. How is yours?”
“Incredible. The Demarcos know their way around the kitchen.”
She took another bite. “I have to agree with you there.”
“More wine?”
“Please.”
He refilled both their glasses, setting the bottle off to the side. They chatted easily through the remainder of their meal. No uncomfortable silences. If he wasn’t careful he just might think her the perfect woman. A dangerous thought for a man who didn’t want a relationship.
When they finished and Gabby had cleared their plates, he decided he didn’t want this night to end. Before he could ask her if she wanted to go for a walk she spoke.
“Would you like to come over for coffee?”
Although there wasn’t an invitation in her eyes, a soft smile touched her lips. A bit unsure, which he found incredibly charming. She definitely wasn’t like the women he usually went home with.
“I’d like that.”
Her smile widened, the uncertainty falling away. Grey paid the bill, kissed Gabby on the cheek, waved to Luciano and Camila as they passed the kitchen and escorted Reganne to his truck.
Minutes later they were at her house. She unlocked the front door, punching buttons on the security system.
“Make yourself at home. I’ll brew a pot.”
Grey dropped onto the sofa, watching her move around the kitchen. It wasn’t long before the scent of fresh brewed coffee filled the room. When the pot finished, Reganne poured two cups and carried one to him. She kicked off her heels before sitting gracefully next to him. He’d thought she would sit across from him. He liked this much better.
“I have a confession to make.” Reganne crossed her legs. “You’re the first person I’ve dated since I moved here.”
That gave him a spike of arrogant pride. He shouldn’t care, but he didn’t like the thought of her dating other men. “My turn to be flattered.”
She laughed softly. “Guess we’re even.”
Her gaze turned to the windows, which were all closed, despite the warm temperature outside. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but not many people in California kept their windows closed. Especially if they lived on the ocean.
He sipped his coffee, studying the delicate lines of her profile. High cheekbones, kissable lips.
Pulling back, he looked away. Reganne gasped, drawing his attention back to her. Her eyes were wide, face white as she stared at the window across the room.
“Reganne? What is it?” Every nerve snapped tense and taut.
“There’s someone outside.” Her voice wavered.
Grey put his mug on the table and rose to his feet. “Stay here.”
Before she could protest, he was out the front door, closing it silently behind him. Making no sound, he edged his way around the deck and down the steps. He rounded the house, finding no one.
Just to make sure there wasn’t a peeping tom, or worse, he scoured the beach. A couple strolled hand-in-hand a few hundred feet away, a small group had a bonfire going a quarter mile down. No one close enough to h
ave been looking in the windows. Unless they were a fast runner. Or snuck into one of the houses down the beach. That would be a stretch, since Reganne had no immediate neighbors.
He crossed the sand, taking the steps back up to the front door. Reganne met him at the door, closing it behind him.
“What were you thinking going out there like that?”
He frowned at her. “What do you mean? You said you saw someone outside, I went to check it out.”
“You could’ve been hurt.”
The fear in her eyes made him realize she’d been worried about him. His worst nightmare come true. He put his hands on her shoulders. “I can handle myself. Never worry about me.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re a Navy SEAL. I will always worry about you.”
The one thing he vowed never to do to a woman. It hit him square in the chest, sent him reeling into the past when his mom self-medicated to ease the loneliness and worry.
He dropped his hands and took a step back. “Well, don’t. I didn’t find anyone outside. It’s late. I should go. If you have any more trouble, give me a call. I’ll be staying at my place tonight.”
With that he walked out the door, strung tighter than ever. Best he walked away now before his feelings for her grew into something he wasn’t prepared to handle.
*
Shaken by seeing someone peeking in her window and now by Grey’s abrupt departure, Reganne let out a slow, calming breath. How could the perfect date have gone so wrong? He probably thought her a nutcase after her behavior at the party and then tonight.
Pressing a hand to her forehead, she shook her head. She’d royally screwed up what may have been the best thing to ever happen to her. Grey wasn’t like any other man she’d ever met. On the outside he looked like a hunky badass with all those muscles and intense gray eyes. The more she got to know him the more she realized he had a sense of humor, a sexy grin, and the manners of a saint. She’d invited him over for coffee on a whim. He had no idea how risky that had been for her. She didn’t let people into her life. Not anymore. But somehow he’d stormed her defenses and made her go against the rules she’d put in place to protect herself.
Then she’d seen a face in the window and sent Grey running. Yep, she’d really messed this night up.
Anger coursed through her. Dammit, she’d moved here to put that part of her life behind her. Here she was seeing her ex in a crowd, in the window, and thinking he’d snuck into her house to leave one of his poems. Which couldn’t ever happen because her security system would have gone off and the cops would have shown up. Whenever she left the house she closed and locked all of the windows and doors. Short of having iron bars on the windows, this place was a fortress. Common sense dictated that her imagination was running overtime and letting her past take control. Something she vowed never to let happen.
Well, Grey wouldn’t be calling her because she hadn’t given him her number. And she wasn’t about to be rejected again, so she couldn’t call him.
With a heavy sigh, she retrieved their cups, rinsed them, and put them in the dishwasher. Then she turned off the coffee pot and made her rounds through the house, checking all the windows and doors to make sure they were locked. Tonight she would sleep with the air conditioning on. Her nerves were on edge. She’d never get any sleep with them open.
After turning off the lights she went upstairs and prepared for bed. Exhausted and wired at the same time, she lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Images of Grey invaded her thoughts, making sleep even more impossible.
Flopping onto her side, she forced her eyes closed. Grey’s amazing eyes and sexy-as-sin smile filled her head, causing her womanly parts to tingle. Good Lord, at this rate, she’d never get any sleep.
Too bad she’d screwed up her date with him.
Chapter Five
‡
Grey sat in his truck outside Reganne’s house unable to leave. He watched the lights go dark downstairs, then turn on upstairs. Minutes later the house went dark. Images of Reganne lying naked between her sheets invaded his good intentions. Not that he had any idea what she slept in, but nude painted a gorgeous picture in his head.
Damn. He’d planned on staking out her house for a bit in case someone had been peeking in her windows, not to have fantasies about her. God help the fool that decided to creep around Reganne’s house because his mood made him want to unleash on someone right now. Tonight had been the best date of his life. Before it all went downhill when Reganne said she’d always worry about him because of his career.
Storming out probably hadn’t been the best way to handle it. Hearing those words come out of her mouth had hit him square in the chest. He’d been unprepared for them.
He rubbed his forehead. He’d acted like an ass. If Reganne never called him, he wouldn’t blame her. This was exactly the reason he didn’t date. Too complicated.
Deuce and Tag could have marriage and relationships. He wanted nothing to do with that mess. One date had proven that.
Yet, here he sat outside her house watching over her. Protecting her. When he should be driving as fast as he could to the cabin and spend his leave fishing on his grandfather’s boat. Alone. No distractions. No rock in his gut because he’d screwed up. Letting peaceful Lake Toliver acclimate him to civilian life instead of sitting outside Reganne’s house thinking about her naked in bed. And wanting to be there with her.
Sex worked as a great way to blow off steam after a mission, but his attraction to Reganne threatened to go deeper than that.
Turning the key, he brought the engine to life and backed out of the driveway. As the headlights swung across the house he braked to a stop. A dark figure ran out from behind one of the pillars beneath the house.
With a curse, Grey slammed the truck into park and took off after him. His shoes sank into soft sand but it didn’t slow him down any. He’d trained on these beaches. Still ran five miles on them every morning during leave.
The figure darted between two houses. Grey followed, slowing down when he rounded the corner. A motion-sensor light triggered, illuminating the yard and road. Cars sat in driveways, some porch lights on, others dark. No dogs barked to alert him to the presence of the man he chased.
“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath, scanning both right and left and seeing nothing. Circling around, he jogged back to his truck, turned it off and grabbed the keys. Reganne had definitely seen someone in her window and the creep might still be around.
Like it or not, he wasn’t going anywhere tonight.
He climbed the steps and knocked on Reganne’s door. With luck she hadn’t fallen asleep yet. A light turned on upstairs, then down.
“Who’s there?” she called out.
“Reganne? It’s me, Grey. I need you to let me in.”
“Why?” Hesitant. Wary.
Not that he blamed her after the way he’d left earlier. “We need to talk.”
“It’s late. I really don’t feel like talking.” On the other side of the door now. “Why are you still here?”
“You were right. Someone was outside your window.”
The lock turned and the door opened to reveal a pale-faced Reganne wearing nothing but a silk nightie and matching robe that barely covered her thighs. The robe belted around her slender waist, the neckline plunging just deep enough to make him sweat.
“You saw someone?”
“Yes.”
She held the door open wider for him to enter. He brushed past her, waiting until she’d reset the alarm to move farther into the room.
“What did you see?” she asked, motioning for him to sit.
“A man ran out from underneath your house. I chased him, but lost him.”
“Wait. How did you see him? You left.”
He sat down on the sofa, much as he had earlier. Reganne remained standing, her arms wrapped around her waist.
“I decided to stake out your house for a while. In case the guy came back.”
Unsure how she’d react, he
watched a myriad of emotions cross her face. None of them being anger.
She dropped down on the sofa opposite him, looking stunned. “You believed me?”
He frowned. “I did.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He got up and moved to sit next to her, wrapping his hand around hers where they folded in her lap. “What’s going on, Reganne?”
She stared at their hands. “I don’t know who to trust.” Her voice was sad and low.
“You can trust me.”
Her head lifted, her gaze meeting his. “I just met you.”
He grinned. “Yeah, but I’m a SEAL and I can’t lie.”
“Is that true?”
“No.”
She laughed. “You got me.”
“Got you to smile, though.”
“You do have a way of doing that.”
Pride swelled in his chest. Who could ever make this woman sad? Her smile lit up the room. He’d do anything to keep it there.
“Wanna tell me what’s got you so spooked?”
“Not really.”
His turn to laugh. He hadn’t expected such brutal honesty. “Well, I can’t force you to tell me, but I wish you would. Maybe I can help.”
Her gaze dropped. “If I’m right about who was here then no one can help.”
“Let me try.”
“The police weren’t able to stop him. What makes you think you can?”
He cupped her chin and forced her eyes to meet his. “Because it will be over my dead body that I ever let anyone hurt you.”
*
Reganne stared into Grey’s intense grey eyes, the warmth of his hand calming her nerves a little. His gruff vow echoed through her head. So badly she wanted to trust him, confide in someone, but the last time she’d done that she’d ended up in a coma.
Besides, she didn’t know for sure if Carsen was the one who’d been at her window. Or left the poems. Or made the prank phone call. Even though they were his M.O. What was the chance she’d have another stalker?
If she had this all wrong and Carsen hadn’t found her then she would be confessing all for nothing. Admitting to Grey what a fool she’d been to trust a man like Carsen, to fall for his charms, to believe him the perfect man. To have missed the signs that seemed so glaringly obvious now.