by Marie Harte
“You sure he’s not going to pummel me into tomorrow? Those Cava guys are huge,” Bobby muttered, also in on the plan.
“Just eat your hamburger and stop whining,” she ordered, conscious of the many admiring male glances cast in her direction. In some ways, being a woman living near a Marine base was nice. With so few single women around, she stood out. But that could also be a problem, as the complimentary stares were intermingled with men making her feel like a piece of meat. And that she could do without.
“Fine, I’ll eat. But only for you.” Bobby winked, and she laughed.
Right at that moment, she glanced up to see Major Mike Cava glaring at her.
She waved, pretending her heart wasn’t racing. “Look alive, he’s here,” she said out of the corner of her mouth.
“Great. Remember this moment when they bury me. Make sure my tombstone says, ‘He ate his burger, and he cared.’” Bobby groaned.
She couldn’t help laughing again and inwardly cheered when Mike, and Brad behind him, walked in their direction carrying a tray of food.
Brad. So that’s how Olivia managed Mike to be here today. Great. Now Brad knew about them. Behind Mike, he winked at her.
Mike and Brad made their way toward her, nodding to fellow Marines in greeting. With so many empty tables available at the early lunch hour, they had their pick. Yet they planted themselves right next to her and Bobby. So far so good.
“Gentlemen.” Bobby nodded with respect.
“Sergeant Thorn.” Mike nodded as he and Brad sat. “My brother, Captain Cava.”
“A pleasure, sir.”
Brad grinned. “Nice to meet you, Sergeant. Hey, Maria.”
“Hi, guys.” She continued to smile, but at Mike’s fuming glare, she explained, “Bobby and I are friends. We were just grabbing lunch.”
“Lunch,” Mike repeated in a growl.
Across from her, Bobby seemed to pale.
“Yeah, Mike. You know, when people eat between breakfast and dinner? They call it lunch,” Brad said slowly. “You’ll have to forgive him, Maria. He’s infantry.”
Bobby frowned. “So am I, sir.”
Mike ignored him and said to her, “I was hoping we could get together tomorrow.”
Right in front of Bobby and Brad. That had to be good, right? Instead of jumping up and down in glee, she put on her sad face. “Oh, I wish I could. But Olivia and I are going away for a girls’ day out.”
“Great. Where are we headed?” Brad teased.
“Nowhere, asshole.” Mike started eating, but he didn’t look away from her.
Bobby had one more bite then stood and made his excuses to leave.
She stood and hugged him. “See you later.”
He practically raced from the table with his tray.
She sat and saw Mike still staring at her. Perhaps this had worked too well? “You okay? You look angry.”
Brad, on the other hand, appeared amused and entirely too pleased with himself.
She gave him a look, and he focused on his food.
“Angry?” Mike asked softly. “Why would I be angry? We both agreed to be exclusive, but what the hell? Maybe I should call up Sue Mayton, see if she’s busy.”
“For lunch?” She forced herself to shrug. “Go ahead. Because Bobby’s a good friend of mine, and I owed him a lunch.”
Mike’s cheeks turned red, and she stared, wide-eyed.
Completely ignoring Brad, she said, “Mike, are you jealous?”
To which he turned even redder. “No. Not at all.”
“You are so jealous.” Brad smirked. “Over Maria? I had no idea. I thought she was your sister.”
“She’s not my fucking sister,” Mike gritted between his teeth.
“So I see.” Brad gave her a thorough onceover, and his leer seemed genuine. “You really have matured, haven’t you? Mike’s not all that fun, you know. Maybe you and I could—”
“Maybe you could shut up and leave me alone with Maria?” Mike suggested. “Before I kick your ass from here to Quantico? Leave, asswipe.”
“Dickhead.” Brad frowned and stood. “Maria, will I see you at family dinner Sunday night?” he asked her, all smiles.
“I, um, sure, I guess. If that’s not too—”
“Yeah, she’ll be there. With me.” Mike’s stamp of ownership might as well have been tattooed to her forehead.
“You poor thing.” Brad shook his head. “When you get tired of this one, give me a call.” He wiggled his brows but took off when Mike moved to stand. Brad joined a table with some other officers nearby.
“You and Bobby. Just lunch, huh?”
“Just lunch. I mean, that’s not a problem, is it? I was under the impression you and I are just hanging out until we decide we’ve had enough.”
“Have you had enough?” The intensity of his gaze was laser-sharp.
She hoped she kept her voice casual when she answered, “Not yet.”
He continued to stare at her, but he must have seen what he wanted to because he relaxed. “Yeah, not yet.” He started eating again, so she did too. “So where are you and Olivia going?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a drive to Myrtle Beach for the day? We’re leaving tonight, so I’ll know when we get there.”
“Uh-huh.”
“What about you? Got any plans for this weekend?”
He frowned. “I thought you and I might… But then, you’re busy.”
She forced herself to smile as if she wasn’t dying to hug him tightly and claim him as hers and hers alone. “I figured since we spent the week together, you’d probably want a break from me.”
“Yeah, sure.” He didn’t sound sure. “You probably want your space too.”
“Yep.” Not at all.
Part of her felt bad about manipulating him like this, but as her mother and Olivia had said, Mike was a tough nut to crack. He had to know he wanted her. She couldn’t trick him into feeling emotion. But she could help him realize it existed. If it even did. But today was a good sign.
They finished lunch talking about his parents’ extended vacation. The pair was finally due to arrive back in town the next day.
“I swear my father will do anything that woman wants.” Mike smiled. “He’d walk on water if he could.”
“It’s so awesome how in love they are.” She imagined herself and Mike like that one day.
“Whoa. What’s that look?”
She blinked, feeling foolish. “Probably my dopey dreamy eyes.” She laughed at herself. “I can’t help it. I’m a romantic at heart.”
He captured her hand and squeezed. “I like that about you. You’re not afraid to feel or be who you really are.”
“That’s me. What you see is what you get.”
“Finally. An honest woman,” he teased.
Which made her feel bad about tricking him…for half a second. If the stubborn man would just open his eyes—and his heart—and admit he loved her, they could have their own happily ever after right now.
“Aaannnd you’re glaring at me.” Mike sighed. “What did I do?”
“Nothing.” You slow bastard. “Just thinking about something Olivia said about men being stubborn. You and your brother don’t get that from your dad.”
“Are you wrong about that. Brad and I are enlightened. My dad used to expect my mom to sit around the house waiting for his sorry ass all the time. She had to beat that attitude out of him.” He laughed. “Just ask her.”
“You don’t want that? From your future wife, I mean.”
“No way. I want her to be like my mom. Strong, independent on her own, but willing to work with me. I guess saying I want her to be like my mom is weird.”
“Not at all. I love your mom.”
“I know.” He smiled then his expression changed. She couldn’t read the look he gave her.
“What? Do I have mustard on my mouth?”
His gaze heated when it rested on her lips. “No. Just thinking…”
“Don’t hu
rt yourself.”
He laughed. “You’re such a smartass. No wonder my family loves you.”
I wish you would.
“Then again, I think Brad could love you a little less.” He frowned. “I’ll talk to him. I don’t want him making you uncomfortable, coming on to you like that.”
“He’s not.”
“Oh?” Mike lost all sense of humor. “So you like him flirting with you?”
His jealousy over his own brother gave her great hope. “What is it with you? I just meant Brad’s only teasing. He’s not serious.”
“Yeah, like I’m not serious,” he grumbled.
“You’re not.” Pause. “Are you?”
“So what if I am?” He seemed to spook himself by saying it and quickly covered with, “I’m just annoyed with life in general. Had a Marine that screwed up his chance for promotion with a DUI then found out our training op got moved—without anyone talking to me first. The Ops O is on my last friggin’—
“Guess I’d better let you go, then.” She stood, and he stood as well. It didn’t escape her notice others were looking at them. Particularly Brad.
Mike noticed too. “Sorry for being a jerk. It’s been a rough day.”
“Lame excuse.”
He flushed. “Yeah. And I… Hell. I wanted to spend tomorrow with you.”
“Oh.” What to say to that without making her sound totally in love with him? “I’ll see you Sunday, though.”
“With everyone else.” He frowned, glanced over his shoulder at Brad, then looked back at her with determination.
“Well, bye, Mike.”
“Bye.” He pulled her in for a kiss that shook her to her toes. He ended the kiss, breathing hard, and with a smirk added, “See you later, baby.”
He sauntered past his brother, said something that turned Brad’s smile into a scowl, then left.
She followed, doing her level best not to spin cartwheels out of the dining area. On her way out, Brad gave her a subtle thumbs-up. She smiled and passed him then overheard, “Who the hell was that? I want her number.”
“Me too.”
Nothing like a bunch of guys wanting her phone number to pump up her ego. Or to have the one who mattered grow jealous. Now how to get him to acknowledge he loved her? That was the real question.
Chapter Nine
Mike didn’t know how she’d done it, but damn if Maria hadn’t burrowed under his skin like a friggin’ tick. He saw her everywhere in the house as he cleaned up for his parents’ return. Instead of finding a place to stay, he’d spent his free time making love to Maria at every available opportunity.
He missed her like crazy, and knowing she’d be out with his sister on a foray out of town about killed him. What if she found some other guy? What if she got drunk and accidentally kissed—or worse—someone else?
His sister, unfortunately, had been known to have one or two wild weekends with her wingman in attendance. Or so she’d bragged when trying to outdo him a few years ago.
“Dude, if you dust that table any harder, you’ll wear off the veneer,” Brad teased.
“The only reason you’re here is to make my life easier. You can do that by shutting up.”
“Ah, still upset over my tiny flirtation with Maria. Got it.”
Mike flipped him the finger.
“You’re such a horse’s ass. If you want the woman, tell her.”
“I do. It’s obvious anytime we’re together.”
Brad huffed. “A boner does not say I love you.”
“I only let you live because it would break Mom’s heart to kill you.”
Brad laughed. “You mean Dad’s heart. I’m his favorite.”
Mike counted to ten in his head.
“Come on, bro. Admit it. You have a thing for Maria. Why not couple up? Instead of warning me and every other swinging dick off her, tell her. Or are you two dating and I just don’t know about it?”
“We’re not dating, exactly.” But they were. Even when they weren’t having sex, Mike wanted to be around the little smartass with the big blue eyes. She had him hooked, and he was shocked at how fast he was falling.
“Then what are you doing? Fucking? She’s better than that.”
Mike stopped dusting and jacked his brother up against a wall. No mean feat considering Brad had put on several pounds of muscle since their last tussle, but still. No one talked about Maria like that. “What did you say?”
Brad yanked at Mike’s arms but couldn’t pull away. “Quit being a dick. That insult was directed at you, not her. I love her.”
Mike shook him.
Brad coughed to catch his breath. “Not like that, you moron. Put me down,” he said, wheezing.
Mike reluctantly dropped him.
“I meant she’s too good to be used like that. If you’re not taking her seriously, I will. I like her, she’s hot as hell, and she makes me laugh. I’ll treat her right.”
Panicked at the thought of losing her before he had her, Mike scowled. “I take her very seriously.” If Brad declared his interest, there was no telling where Maria might go. His brother had charm down to a science and lacked that intensity that seemed to annoy most of Mike’s exes.
“Then why not ask her out as more than a fuck-buddy?” Brad held up his hands in surrender but didn’t stop talking. “Because you can call it what you want, but that’s all you guys are.”
“I’m smoothing my way into her good graces.”
“Bullshit. You’re the king of no commitment. None of your girlfriends last more than a few months. What gives?”
Mike blew out a breath. “Truthfully? I don’t know. I’m looking for someone intelligent, sexy, and not needy. I can’t do clingy, and they all seem to want more than I can give.”
“Maria doesn’t.”
“No, she doesn’t.” And that bothered him. He couldn’t figure her out. “I’m confused. The woman wanted me for years, then all of a sudden, she’s over me just when I notice she’s got a kickass body.”
“Not to mention she’s smart, funny, and pleasant to be around,” Brad added drily.
“Fuck off. I always knew that about her. But I didn’t see her as more than Olivia’s buddy. Now she’s…” All I can think about.
“Going to be gone if you don’t make a move. Not by me,” Brad said. “But by Bobby or some other guy. Hell, two of my friends at lunch yesterday asked for her number. I said she was taken, but if you don’t get it together, she’s going to be pretty available.”
“I know.” Mike felt miserable. “But I’m too young to be attached at the hip.”
Brad stared at him. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“All my married friends complain about being married, that or they’re divorced and bitching about lawyers,” he admitted, hating to realize he was afraid. Afraid of failing where his parents had succeeded. And Mike never failed. It wasn’t in his makeup, so better not to try than risk a letdown. “I guess I don’t want to make a mistake. The fact is, I’m going to be deployed again at some point. Marriage to a Marine is hard. I don’t want a wife who’ll stray or lose it altogether.”
“Wait. Wife?” Brad blinked. “You’re thinking marriage?”
“Huh? No.”
“You are.”
“I’m not.” He wiped his forehead. “Shit. Forget I said anything.” Just as he wished he could forget it. But with Maria in the picture, he kept seeing into the future and coming up…scared.
Brad narrowed his gaze. “Mom and Dad are not the exception, you know. A few of my friends are happily married. And yes, for more than a few months,” he added before Mike could question him. “Quit being a pussy and take Maria seriously. Or, I’m telling you, she’ll find someone else who will.”
“You—”
“And not me, you jealous moron! Now let’s get to wiping down all these surfaces you no doubt defiled with Maria. If I wasn’t so envious of your sex life, I’d be disgusted.”
“Whatever.”
“I’m not forgetting this talk, either. I plan to continue to remind you to be a man. Dickless.”
“I’ve heard enough.”
Brad tried to escape, but Mike had him on the floor, pinned and gasping for breath. All the while wondering how best to deal with Maria without putting his heart on the line. If that was even still an option.
****
Maria hadn’t been so nervous since first begging Mike to sign her cast after she’d broken her arm at age nine. When he hadn’t rejected her, she’d nearly passed out from the thrill of his name on her body. A lot like she felt now.
After a full day in Myrtle Beach bouncing ideas off Olivia, Maria had come to the realization that just because Mike was afraid to admit he like-liked her didn’t mean she should do the same. She’d spent enough time with him to know their physical connection was something special. And his jealousy—as Olivia agreed—gave her hope he wanted more.
She could take it slow, but they needed to have a boyfriend/girlfriend talk. By this point, what was the harm in trying to at least up their relationship to more than “friends who fuck”?
Sunday night dinner provided the perfect opportunity, especially since Mike seemed all over her. He took the spot at the table next to her, bumping Brad next to Olivia. He talked to his parents about her, mentioning the time they’d spent together in between quizzing them about their trip abroad, and he held her hand—under the table, but still—throughout the meal.
“Anyone for dessert?” Elizabeth asked as she stood to clear the table.
“What do you have?” Maria asked as she grabbed her plate and stood.
Mike surprised her by taking it from her. Then he shocked the hell out of her by kissing her on the lips and saying, “I got it, baby.”
A kiss and a baby in front of his parents.
Olivia and Brad looked smug. Mike acted as if he’d done nothing out of the ordinary. His parents said nothing, but she could see the colonel and Elizabeth trying not to smile.