“I’ll get your drinks right out,” Kate said over her shoulder.
“Oh, please take your time,” Wolf called with humor in his voice. Ice nudged him.
When Colt had Kate outside the room, he pulled her toward a far corner by a window.
“I need to get these drink orders in,” she said weakly.
“They can wait.” He crossed his arms and stared at her a couple of beats before saying anything, and Kate was certainly at a loss. “You left without saying goodbye,” he finally said.
She lifted a brow. “And what would you have liked me to have done. Stayed? Had breakfast in bed with you? Told you that last night rocked my world?”
He titled his head side to side. “All those things would have been nice. For starters.” He had ignored her sarcasm and answered with wit.
“Come on, Colt. We both knew last night was going no further than it already did.” Just saying the words made Kate’s heart constrict. She had no idea what was going on with her. She knew last night should have meant nothing, yet she had experienced a thrill when she first set eyes on him inside that room. And now, here they stood acting like a couple of angsty teenagers. “Look,” she paused a couple of beats while he patiently waited for her to continue. “I like you. I would give anything to spend the next few days—however long you’re in Virginia Beach—learning more about you. I’ve thought about you and our night together this entire day, but…” She squeezed the bridge of her nose in frustration.
“But what?” Colt grabbed her hand and forced her to meet his gaze.
Damn it, Kate thought as tears filled her eyes at the hopelessness of her situation. She’d been so used to shutting herself off to men for the past four years that she didn’t know how to respond to a man who had managed to break through the steel barrier surrounding her heart. It had all started when he helped her get her friends home safely last night.
“But at the end of your time here, you’re returning to wherever you came from, and—” She stopped short of telling him that she would go back to leading a simple life where the safety of her and her daughter were her number one priority.
“My head knows that this isn’t supposed to go further, but my heart?” He ran a hand through his hair, also clearly frustrated. “My heart is telling me that I want to spend more time with you. I would have liked to have seen you this morning before you left. To have told you…”
She grinned when his voice tapered off. “Told me what? How incredible we’d been in bed?” She couldn’t stop the snarky tone her voice took on.
“Again… for starters. Maybe I would have liked to have had a replay this morning just to make sure we had been as good as I remembered from the night before.” He grinned, and she couldn’t help but smile back at him.
It wasn’t that he wasn’t taking her seriously. She could see that. But he liked to redirect with humor. Hell, he made her smile more than anyone had in a really long time.
“Look, last night was great. I just didn’t think either of us needed the awkwardness of the morning after, knowing it was going no further.”
His smile grew. “It could go a little further. I’m here for two more days. And tonight’s dinner is my last obligation. My friends and I are doing nothing but beach time for two more days until we have to leave. I want to spend time with you. You said so yourself that you would like to know more about me.”
“I don’t know,” Kate said, hating herself for how indecisive she sounded. But he was trying to undo four years of solidly formed habits. “I think it would just be delaying the inevitable. And speaking of your friends, I really need to get those drink orders in. It’s going to be a busy night, and if you want to eat tonight…”
“Fine.” He grabbed both of her elbows and pulled her closer to him. “You can have until after dinner to think about it.”
He angled his head and placed his lips on hers, sucking lightly on her lower lip. She didn’t think, just reacted, kissing him back. She slipped her arms around his back and let him press her body even closer into his. Everything about him was inviting her in. He was breaking through each layer of the shield Kate had erected one-by-one, and she knew she was in trouble.
Someone cleared their throat beside them. Kate backed away and met Trip’s gaze. “I’m so sorry, Trip.”
Colt touched Kate’s back.
“You’re sorry for what?” Trip asked. “I’m assuming you two know each other and that you’re not, in fact, sexually assaulting one of my customers. Or vice versa.” He turned a curious eye on Colt.
Colt stood up straighter beside Kate, assessing Trip. She touched his arm. “No. I mean yes.” Her hand flew to her forehead, where she massaged the bridge of her nose. “Shit. What do I mean?” She turned to Colt. “I’m going to put your drink orders in. You never told me what you wanted.”
“Whatever IPA you have on tap will be fine.”
“IPA. Got it.” She turned back toward Trip. “I’m sorry for my complete lapse of professionalism.” She slid past Trip and didn’t even chance a look back toward Colt, nor did she wait around to see if there was any testosterone-fueled territorial dispute between them.
For now, she would definitely think about spending time with him. How could she not when he had awoken every dormant feeling of desire in her body?
Chapter 11
Colt
“So… what’s the story?” Wolf asked when Colt returned and took his seat next to Ice.
Colt glanced toward the door even though he was sure Kate wouldn’t return that quickly. He faced his friends around the table, and he knew he wouldn’t get away with asking them to let it go. “I met Kate last night. We had a drink, talked at a diner until very late.”
“And then?” Benny, Abe, and Cooke all said at the same time.
“Surely you didn’t just talk,” Dude said.
“You really like her,” Ice said with a gentle touch to Colt’s arm. “Any idiot can see that.” She eyed the guys around the table. “And your friends… your brothers… will back off and not act weird tonight.”
“Who’s acting weird?” Dude asked, and he and Benny chuckled.
“No one is acting weird,” Tex joined in the conversation. His wife Melody smiled beside him.
The banter went on like that for many minutes as Colt tried to change the subject. Eventually, the guys turned their attention to the televisions around the room as the teams took to the court to warm up.
“Okay, I’ve got drinks,” Kate announced when she entered the room. She carried a heavy tray of drinks. Trip followed with another tray.
Colt couldn’t help but notice the way Trip watched Kate make her way around the table, delivering drinks, and he wondered if there was something between them. The way Trip didn’t have to do anything but clear his throat when he found one of his employees kissing a customer didn’t really tell him anything. Was it simply an employer-employee relationship? Or was there more to it?
Kate set Colt’s beer in front of him. “I’m going to get everyone some water, then, if you’re ready, I’ll take your food orders before tip off.”
Kate disappeared again without much of a glance in Colt’s direction. Trip followed after her.
“I don’t know, man,” Abe said. “That boss of hers looks awful possessive of his employee.”
“Don’t listen to them,” Ice said.
Kate delivered waters, took their orders, then disappeared again in time for the UK-Duke game to begin. It was killing Colt not to venture away from the table to talk with her, but he didn’t want to get her into trouble with her boss. And what was he going to say? Nothing had changed. He was still going to be leaving in two days.
And now, after his squad’s meeting that morning, it looked like they would be shipping out on a mission the middle part of the week. His life was complicated. What could he possibly gain from a long-distance relationship?
Kate entered again with a tray of side salads. As she set plates in front of people, Colt noticed so
mething that he’d seen a glimpse of the night before. There was an air of toughness about Kate, but there was also sadness. He wanted to know who or what had put that sadness there. And he found himself wanting to help erase the sadness from her life.
He thought about the angel wings on her shoulder. Tattoos held great meaning to most people who got them. He’d gotten a couple of tattoos himself, and they each held significant meaning in his life.
“How did you get the nickname Ice?” Kate asked Ice beside him.
“Oh, all of our nicknames have long stories.”
“I have a great idea,” Colt said before he could second-guess himself. “Kate, if you’re not busy tomorrow, we are all going to spend the day at the beach. You should join us.”
Everyone at the table grew silent again, staring back and forth between Colt and Kate. Colt wondered if he’d made a mistake. Did he embarrass her?
“It’s going to be barely above forty degrees tomorrow,” she said.
“Like you said last night. We’ll just need to wear more clothes.”
Colt heard Dude say something under his breath and chuckle, and Colt immediately sent him a stern eye. Dude straightened. As did Benny beside him.
“I’ll think about it,” Kate said, then looked at the others. “If I do come, are y’all gonna get real quiet every time Colt asks me a question?”
Wolf nearly spit out his beer.
Ice laughed. “No, honey, they’re going to be on their best behavior and stop acting like teenage boys. We would love to have you join us.”
“Is that a yes?” Colt asked Kate.
“No. I was just curious if they always did that.”
Colt’s friends went back to talking among themselves. “But you’re going to think about it.”
Kate nodded, then turned. But before she turned, Colt saw the easy lift of her lips into a broad smile. And that gave him hope.
Chapter 12
Kate
Kate had worked her ass off all night. Colt and his friends had tipped well—above what was automatically included in their bill, making the extra shift well worth her time and effort.
“Thanks for coming in tonight,” Trip said when Kate was gathering her purse and jacket from the back office.
“You’re welcome. They were a fun group.”
“I saw that.”
She turned to Trip. He was smirking at her.
She had to have blushed. “I’m sorry about before.”
“Don’t apologize to me. As long as I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you involved with a guy.”
“Yeah, but I was working, and it was inappropriate.”
“Kate, I said it was fine. Is it serious?”
She waved a hand. “Pfft. No. I just met him.”
“Well, he seems to like you. His friends left more than thirty minutes ago, and yet he’s sitting in the bar having a soda.”
“He is?” A flutter of excitement erupted in her stomach, followed quickly by a feeling of dread—dread for the inevitable. She’d have to send him away. If not tonight, then tomorrow. But why delay? “Thanks, Trip.”
“Have a good night.”
Kate entered the bar. It was nearing two a.m., and the crowd had dwindled.
Colt must have sensed her in the doorway, because he turned just as she took the first step toward him. Smiling, he slid off the bar stool and greeted her by kissing her cheek. “Can I get you a drink?”
“No, thank you,” she said softly. She sat on the stool beside him.
When he sat, he let his legs knock against hers, sandwiching one of hers between his.
“I thought about sending you a note today,” she blurted out before she could stop herself.
He turned to her. “What stopped you?” he asked carefully.
She shrugged. “A chain of events that made me realize that I wasn’t thinking straight.”
Colt played with the straw in his glass. “Ever think maybe you’re thinking too much?”
“No.” She kept her eyes on his. She needed him to hear her—to understand what she said next. “I’m not just protecting my heart—that’s not what this is about. I can’t get involved with you. Or anyone else. Not for one day. Not for a month. Not for ten years.”
Colt reached out a hand and scooped hers up in it. “What happened to you?” Colt asked.
“Nothing. I just need you to understand that I realize it’s strange that we ran into each other a second night in a row—”
“Ice said it was fate.”
She smiled. “I don’t believe in fate.” She moved to slide off the stool, but Colt quickly shifted his legs and locked her in place, forcing her to stand between his legs at eye level with him. “This ends here, Colt. I’m sorry, but I just can’t let this go any further.”
“Bullshit,” he said. “Whatever it is that you’re dealing with, I can handle.”
She stared down into his warm, pleading eyes.
“Those guys in there,” he said before she could talk again. “Those guys are part of my unit. They’re my brothers. We’re Navy SEALs.”
She had suspected they were Navy based on the proximity to Norfolk, not to mention the lean, athletic builds, but she hadn’t gone as far as to think they were SEALs. “Navy SEALs can’t help me,” she said, and dammit if a lump didn’t form in her throat, followed by a crack in her voice.
She liked Colt. She had enjoyed the night before. But she had decided shortly after a dead rat appeared on her front porch—even if that had just been some stupid coincidence—that her life wasn’t hers to give freely. She had to consider her daughter. And she had to consider how much people had sacrificed to make her safe with a new identity.
And last night had been one night. Colt was nice and all, but he’d known her barely twenty-four hours. What would he say when he discovered she had a daughter? And even if she could tell him about her mountain of baggage, how would he possibly deal with that?
“Let me help you,” Colt said. “If nothing else, trust me enough to tell me what has you so scared.”
“Colt,” she laughed uncomfortably. “You’ve known me all of one day.”
“Yes.” He paused a couple of beats. “But I save people for a living.”
Kate’s jaw hardened. “I don’t need to be saved,” she said through gritted teeth. She pushed through Colt’s leg. But he grabbed her arm.
“Hey, pal,” Luke, the bartender behind the bar, said. “You’re gonna want to remove your hands from the lady.”
He did. His intention was not to hurt or scare Kate. “I’m sorry.” He nodded to the bartender, then looked to Kate and lowered his voice so that only she could hear. “I just don’t want you to walk out on me so fast. I don’t know what it is, but I am drawn to you in a way I just can’t explain. Unlike anything I’ve ever felt.”
Kate’s face softened. She looked at Luke. “It’s okay.” He went back to cleaning up the bar for closing. She reached a hand to Colt’s face, cupping his cheek. “You have no idea what you’re saying. I’m not someone you want to get involved with beyond a single night.”
“You can’t decide that for me.” He placed his hand over hers, leaning in to her warm touch against his skin. “Tell me right now that you haven’t wondered in the past eighteen hours what it would be like to spend more time together.”
She sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. “I told you I had. But to what end? You’re leaving the day after tomorrow.”
“So what? You think we’re the first couple to ever meet and decide to have a long-distance relationship? At least get to know me a little better before you decide to shove me away.”
“Listen to yourself. We’re not a couple. We shared one night together.”
“Yes, and I’m asking you to give me one more night before you decide to walk away forever.” He didn’t give her a chance to answer this time. He pulled her to him and pressed his lips to hers. Out of respect for her, and the fact that they were still standing inside the bar of the restauran
t she worked in, he released her quickly. He pressed his forehead to hers. “One more night.”
She was breathing hard from the kiss, and her mind was swimming with the possibility that anything could exist between them beyond another night.
She reached down, intertwined her fingers in his, then looked up into his dark blue eyes and gave him a simple nod.
Chapter 13
Colt
Kate led Colt to her small cottage a couple blocks away from Shuckers, past the white picket fence and onto a quaint porch with a swing.
After she unlocked the front door, she faced him. Her expression was guarded, yet hopeful. “You said you wanted to know me. You’re going to learn a lot about me just by seeing inside my home.”
He snaked a hand around her neck, then leaned in and brushed his lips across hers. “Nothing inside that house can scare me.”
A skeptical look spread across her face. “You don’t think?” She opened the front door, then flipped a switch, turning on two lamps in a front living room.
The room was decorated with a white, slipcovered sofa and oversized chair, lightly colored or painted wood tables, and soft lighting. To the right was a dining table under a shabby chic chandelier. Colt could see a kitchen straight ahead through an arched doorway.
“This isn’t so bad,” Colt joked. “Nothing scary so far.” Kate’s style was relaxed, yet neat and welcoming. It was the kind of home where you could put your feet up, while still remembering to use a coaster.
“It’s not much. You’ve got the living room, the dining room.” She pointed to the table. She headed toward a hallway, pointing to the kitchen as they went. “The kitchen is here.” So far everything was obvious. “Here’s a bathroom on the left. Back there is my room.” She gestured to the door at the end of the hallway. “And this is Sarah’s room.” On the right, across from the bathroom, Kate pushed a door open and flipped on an overhead light.
Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Protected in Darkness (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 5