Hollywood refused to let go of Kassie’s hand, he merely moved their clasped hands to the edge of the table, giving Becky room to put the drinks down.
“Can I get you anything else?” she purred, not taking her eyes off Hollywood.
“We’re good. My boyfriend and I will let you know if we need anything else,” Kassie said in an even tone, a bright, fake smile on her face.
“Of course,” Becky said, standing up straight. “Enjoy.”
Hollywood picked up his beer with his free hand and held it up. “A toast. To a good night and getting to know each other.” He paused a fraction when she picked up her own drink, then added, “And to my date protecting me from overzealous and overstepping-her-boundaries waitresses.”
A flush blossomed over her cheeks, but Kassie merely said, “To a good night,” and clinked her glass to his.
He smiled broadly at her as he took a sip of his beer. He’d been nervous about meeting Kassie and seeing if the chemistry he felt through their online correspondence would transfer to in person. It did. He couldn’t wait for her to meet his friends and continue to learn more about her. The night could only get better from here.
Chapter 5
The night can only go downhill from here.
Kassie wasn’t usually a pessimistic person, but as she and Hollywood made their way from the bar toward the ballroom, she couldn’t help but get nervous. The military traditions Richard had told her about were bullshit, she’d Googled them after his so-called ball, but even though she knew her ex had lied about what went on at an actual military function, she was suddenly unsure and nervous. But Kassie had said she’d go to this thing with Hollywood, and she couldn’t back out now.
She surreptitiously wiped her free hand on the material of her dress and hoped for the best.
“You said you had an ex that was in the Army,” Hollywood stated. “Have you been to a ball before?”
Taking a deep breath, Kassie said, “No, not really. He had some friends over and they all dressed up and said they were following proper military protocol, but I looked online after it was over because some of the things that happened didn’t seem right.” She knew she was talking too much, but couldn’t seem to make herself stop. “I mean, most of the things he did were based on military traditions as far as I could tell, but he changed them and…anyway…the answer to your question is no.”
His lips twitched, but he didn’t comment on her babbling. “So you might know basically what to expect. But to recap, there’s a cocktail hour first where we all mingle. Then we’ll go through the receiving line. I’ll introduce you to the adjutant and then we’ll go down the line. I’m not sure who’s here tonight, but whoever the highest-ranking officers are will be in the line, along with their dates. Then we’ll eat dinner, then the traditional speeches will start. After that is dancing. Do you have any questions?”
Kassie shook her head. No. She understood the concept from her online research, but what she’d gone through with Richard and his friends was still pretty fresh in her mind, even though it had happened over a year ago.
“Good. I can’t wait to introduce you to my friends.”
“Have you known them long?” Kassie asked, trying to get her mind off the ball.
“The guys, yeah. We’ve worked together for a couple of years. They’re like my brothers. Two have steady girlfriends and another is married.”
“Hmmm,” Kassie intoned, not wanting to seem uninterested, but she was remembering some of the things Richard had made her do and hoping like hell her research was correct. It wasn’t as if all these men and women, dressed in their fancy clothes, would do some of the awful things Richard and his friends had…at least she didn’t think so.
“Truck got his nickname because he once ate an engine, and Beatle has three secret wives he keeps in the basement at his house.”
“Cool,” Kassie said, her eyes flicking back and forth as they entered the ballroom. It wasn’t dark, thank God, but the lights weren’t exactly on full strength either. She looked around, curious as to what a real military ball looked like. Granted, Richard’s apartment couldn’t compare in the slightest, but she’d wondered if the ballroom would look like a cheesy prom venue, or more distinguished, as she imagined a true ball would be.
When Hollywood lightly took hold of her shoulders and backed her up against a wall, she looked up at him in surprise. “Wha—”
“You’re not listening to a word I’ve been saying, Kass. What’s going on?”
“I was,” she protested.
“What’d I just say?” he asked gently.
“Um…” Kassie wracked her brain trying to remember, but realized she had no idea what he’d just been talking about.
“Relax,” Hollywood ordered. “You’re acting like we just walked into a torture chamber. Jeez, I thought I hated these things,” he said, more to himself than her.
“I’m sorry,” Kassie told him, looking him in the eyes this time. “I’m just nervous.”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about,” Hollywood reassured her.
“I don’t want to make you look bad,” she told him.
“Kass, unless you strip off your dress and dance naked on the tables, you can’t make me look bad.”
She looked up at him and gave him a small smile. “I’m not planning on doing that…I only strip when I’m at my night job.” Kassie tried to control the shaking of her limbs as she joked with Hollywood.
He smirked at her attempt at humor, but didn’t comment on it other than to say, “Good.” He stared down at her for a moment. “I might be overstepping my boundaries here, but I’d like to give you a hug.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Kassie thought about it and decided she could really go for one right about now. “I’d like that.”
Without a word, Hollywood stepped into her space and wrapped his hands around her. One landed on her back and the other between her shoulder blades. He gently pulled her into him.
Kassie’s eyes closed as she tentatively put her hands at Hollywood’s waist. The feel of his strong body holding hers went a long way toward making her relax. Hollywood wasn’t Richard. Not even close. He wasn’t trying to cop a feel, he was just hugging her. And it felt awesome.
“Relax, Kass. It’s going to be fine,” Hollywood whispered. The hand that had been between her shoulder blades went up to her head and encouraged her to lay it on his shoulder.
She put her cheek against the dark blue jacket and moved her arms a bit farther around him so they were resting on his back.
“Breathe,” he murmured.
Kassie took a deep breath. Then another. Then one more. Hollywood smelled awesome. She could smell the chemicals used to dry-clean his uniform, but it was the woodsy one that made her tilt her chin up and put her nose against his neck.
Kassie felt Hollywood’s hand move from the back of her head to her nape, but she was concentrating too hard on finding the source of the amazing smell coming from him to really register it. She inhaled again. There. It was definitely stronger at his neck.
“Are you smelling me?” Hollywood asked in a quiet voice.
Embarrassed that she’d been caught, Kassie tried to step out of his embrace, but his arms tightened around her, cutting off her escape. Deciding that it was better if she didn’t have to look at him, she laid her cheek back down on his chest and said, “Maybe.”
She felt his chest move with the huff of air that escaped his mouth. “Can’t say a woman has ever smelled me before.”
“They don’t know what they’re missing,” Kassie joked.
“You like it?”
She nodded against him. “It’s subtle. But it shows that you went through the effort tonight. Maybe you didn’t and it’s just your soap, but I like it.”
“It’s probably my aftershave,” Hollywood told her.
Kassie couldn’t resist. She shifted in his embrace and ran her nose along the underside of his jaw once more,
inhaling as she went. “You smell good,” she told him unnecessarily.
Hollywood took a small step back and brought a hand to her chin, lifting her head so she had no choice but to look at him. “You’re a mass of contradictions, Kassie Anderson. One second you’re funny and I’m laughing my ass off, and the next you’re acting as if you think the boogey man is going to jump out of a corner. Then you’re sniffing me and saying how good you think I smell.”
She shrugged a little self-consciously. “I don’t mean to be contrary.”
“I like it. But if you go around smelling my friends like you just did me, I won’t be happy.”
She grinned up at him. “I won’t. Promise. But you should know…I love the way men smell. At least when they’re putting in the effort. Rich…err…my ex never bothered. Said cologne and aftershave were for pussies. I’ve been known to compliment strangers in an elevator or waiters on how nice they smell.”
“Noted. And your ex was wrong. Wanting to smell nice for your date or woman doesn’t make a man a pussy. Not wanting to do something that pleases her, does.”
Oh Lord. Hollywood was saying and doing all the right things. The guilt threatened to overcome her again. Kassie hated that she was deceiving him. So far he’d been amazing. Definitely not the asshole Richard or Dean had said he was.
She swallowed hard. Karina. She had to remember her sister. She was doing this for her.
“Shall we go and find your friends?” Kassie asked. The sooner she got this over with the better. She didn’t know what kind of information Dean wanted her to get, but maybe someone would say something she could pass on.
“Yeah,” Hollywood said absently, his eyes searching hers. For what, she had no idea, but hoped the guilt she felt for lying to him wasn’t shining like a beacon on her face.
He dropped his arms and threaded his fingers with hers, giving her a squeeze before turning to the large room. They wandered through the space, Hollywood nodding at people as he went. Kassie held on to his hand as if it were a lifeline.
After a couple of minutes, he steered them to the same group of men and women Kassie had noticed earlier. If she’d been intimidated before, now she was even more so.
“Hey, Hollywood,” one of the men greeted as they came up to the group.
“Hey, Beatle. Everyone, this is Kassie Anderson.”
Kassie gave a little wave, feeling awkward and out of place. “Hi.”
“Oh my God, I love your dress!” one of the women exclaimed. “That color is so cool. I thought it was black at first, but I can see now it’s dark purple.”
“Thanks,” Kassie said. She gripped Hollywood’s hand unconsciously.
“I’m Rayne,” the woman who complimented her dress said, holding out her hand in greeting.
Kassie had to drop Hollywood’s hand to shake Rayne’s, but she felt his hand move to the small of her back as she leaned forward to greet the woman. “It’s good to meet you,” she told her.
“I’m Emily,” one of the other women said in an even tone. “It’s so good to meet you.”
Kassie shook her hand too.
The last woman also introduced herself. “And I’m Harley. Yes, it’s a weird name. My parents were bikers and named their kids after their favorite thing in the world.”
“I’m Kassie,” Kassie said. “With a K.” She shrugged. “My parents thought it’d be cute to be unique with my name, and when my little sister came along, decided to stick with the K theme and named her Karina.”
“The guy next to Rayne is Ghost, Emily is married to Fletch, and Harley is with Coach. The others are Beatle, Blade, and Truck.” Hollywood finished the introductions.
After she nodded at each of the men, Truck said, “You ladies want some punch? I’m going to get a round.”
Kassie looked over to where the large man had indicated and flinched. She’d been looking for the grog bowl, and wasn’t sure how she’d missed it. On a long table against the opposite wall were two large punch bowls.
“I don’t want any grog,” Kassie blurted.
“Pardon?”
“Grog? Did she say grog?”
“What?”
The murmured questions came from Hollywood’s friends, but Kassie only had eyes for Hollywood. “I don’t know what I did wrong, but please don’t make me drink it.” She knew she was panicking, but couldn’t help it. The grog bowl was one thing she’d researched that was true about Richard’s farce of a military function.
“Kass—” Hollywood began, but she cut him off.
“I promise I’ll be good. I won’t embarrass you. Just don’t make me drink it. I’ll gag. I know I will. I just—”
“Kassie,” Hollywood said sternly, putting his hands on either side of her neck and forcing her to look up at him. “There isn’t a grog bowl here. It’s punch. Just punch.”
Her brows furrowed, Kassie looked up at him in confusion. She gripped his wrists as if her life depended on it. She saw nothing but concerned eyes looking down at her. Didn’t hear his friends whispering to each other. “Punch?”
“Yeah, Kass. Plain ol’ watered-down Hi-C, most likely. Fruit punch. Not grog.”
She swallowed hard. “Are you sure? There’s always grog. I Googled it.”
Hollywood turned his head, but didn’t take his eyes from hers. “Blade. Can you tell Kassie the grog bowl tradition?”
“Sure. They’re commonplace at dining-ins. It’s a tradition dating back to the Knights of the Round Table. Because of the weight of armor back in the day, it was hard to move and get a drink. So it was used as a punishment for someone who was out of order or unruly. The same thing applies today. There’s usually an alcoholic and non-alcoholic version and people who are found to be in violation of any kind of rule have to drink from the grog bowl.”
“And what’s a dining-in?” Hollywood asked, still holding Kassie’s eyes.
“It’s a formal military ceremony for members of a unit to foster camaraderie,” Blade said immediately.
“And are spouses, girlfriends, or significant others invited?”
“No,” Blade said succinctly.
Hollywood’s eyes narrowed, and he asked Kassie in a low voice, “When did you partake of a grog bowl, sweetheart?”
“I…uh…” Suddenly Kassie was more than aware of all the men and women around her, staring. She swallowed hard, embarrassed, but the terror hadn’t left her.
“Did your ex take you to an event with a grog bowl? You saw people drinking from it?” Hollywood pushed.
“He had an event at his place one night that included it,” Kassie told him, then bit her lip. “I told you about that. His friends dressed up in their fancy uniforms and came over. I usually messed up the most and had to drink from it all night. They thought it was funny to make me.”
Hollywood’s eyes closed momentarily and Kassie swore she heard one of his friends say “motherfucker” under their breath, but before she could say anything, Hollywood’s eyes opened and he said earnestly, “I’m sorry you had to do that, Kassie. As Blade said, the grog bowl is reserved for special soldiers-only functions. I can’t deny it’s gross, we’ve all had our share, but it’s supposed to be all in good fun. And I swear to you, all that’s in the punch bowl tonight is punch. Nothing gross. Okay?”
Kassie nodded. Embarrassed now. She’d made a fool out of herself. She should’ve known Richard hadn’t been following proper military protocol. The grog bowl was a real thing, but only for closed ceremonies…not for friends or family members.
“I don’t think I like this ex of yours,” Hollywood said, straightening, and reaching down for her hand once more.
“That makes two of us,” Kassie said with a nervous chuckle.
“Now that we have that out of the way…anyone want a cup of watered-down, barely drinkable fruit punch?” Truck asked dryly.
“Oh, with that description, how can we say no?” Emily asked with a laugh.
“Four cups, coming right up,” Truck said, lifting his chin at K
assie in what she thought was supposed to be a reassuring gesture, but in fact was just confusing.
The large man returned after a couple of minutes and handed out cups to the women.
Kassie looked down at it, still not one hundred percent believing it wasn’t a mixture of vinegar, hot sauce, and whatever other gross thing Richard had found to pour into the grog bowl at his parties. She tried to surreptitiously smell the drink before she sipped it, but Hollywood had his eyes on her and caught her at it.
Without a word, he gently took the cup out of her hand and brought it to his own lips, taking a sip, showing her that it was safe to drink. He then handed it back and nodded at her.
Feeling like an idiot, Kassie took a drink of the red liquid. It was exactly as Truck had described, nothing but watered-down punch. Feeling even more like an idiot, she let the conversation carry on around her, listening more than participating.
“I can’t believe Mary didn’t come with us tonight,” Rayne pouted. “One of you should’ve asked her,” she said accusingly, glaring at Beatle, Blade and Truck.
“I did,” Truck said nonchalantly.
“You did?” Rayne gaped at the large man.
“Yup. She said no.” Truck didn’t look that upset that he’d been turned down.
“Damn. She doesn’t tell me anything anymore,” Rayne said sadly.
Ghost put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her, but didn’t say anything.
“Don’t take it personally,” Truck said. “She’d adjusting to her new job, a new city, and the fact that her best friend is practically married.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Rayne protested. “We’ve been as close as sisters for as long as I can remember. When she went through chemo, we spent almost every day together. Something’s up with her and it’s killing me that she’s closed me out.”
“I don’t think you should take it personally,” Emily said quietly. “After Annie and I were taken, she was amazing. She cooked for us and babysat Annie several nights when me and Fletch were trying to get our heads wrapped around what happened. Give her some time. Friendships as close as yours don’t just dry up. She’s just trying to figure out where she fits in your life now that you have Ghost.”
Rescuing Kassie: Delta Force Heroes, Book 5 Page 5