He made himself useful holding the end of the tape for her. The architectural design of the mansion was unusual in places. Tile original to the space covered many of the floors.
“We’ll clean these, re-grout where it’s needed, and seal it,” she commented as they entered the kitchen.
She turned her complete attention to him and said, “I thought we could have a picnic dinner in the shade around back. Or we can eat in here at the island.” She pointed to the huge island with its veined countertop that overhung on one side where barstools would have provided seating.
“Since we don’t have any stools, outside will be good.”
“The cooler and everything’s in the car.”
She really meant everything. Folding director’s chairs with cupholders in the arm rests and a cooler full of food. “Do you normally carry chairs in your car?”
“Yeah, I just keep them in my trunk and drag them out at the sites. I sometimes work with the project manager during lunch. I usually cook on the weekends and eat whatever I’ve fixed throughout the week.”
A light breeze carried the scent of the wildflowers blooming here and there and the clematis that crawled up an arbor at the back of the house. The blossoms created splashes of vibrant color against the white stucco house.
As they ate thinly-sliced roast beef piled high on hoagie rolls and potato salad, Rylie said, “Tell me what you’d do with the yard back here. I need a man’s point of view.” She poured a glass of sweetened iced tea from a plastic water cooler and handed it to him.
He took a bite of his sandwich, chewed and looked at the sandwich again. “This is damn fine roast beef.”
“I’m glad you like it. I marinate it overnight, then bake it slow.”
“I knew you’d be a good cook.” Reluctantly Eric turned his attention from her smile to study the overgrown backyard. “The patio slab’s in good shape, but I’d put a covering of some sort over it and put in an outdoor kitchen with a grill. I’d also add adjustable seating and a firepit. A pool with its own pool house wouldn’t be too bad either. But if you don’t want a pool, you could put in some kind of rock water feature and scatter the plants around it to separate the entertainment space from the lawn.”
He glanced in her direction. “And you’d need to cut back the trees. Otherwise you’d be cleaning out the water constantly. Then you could do an informal garden all the way back to that tree line.”
He pointed toward a row of jacaranda trees. “Put in beds that can be allowed to run wild and spread, bulbs that will bloom at different times and won’t need too much care. Maybe a cactus garden along that wall over there to accent the house’s Spanish style. There are several varieties that bear fruit or flower so they’ll have some color. You could put in an herb garden on the opposite side of the carport just outside the kitchen. Whoever cooks can gather their own herbs.”
She leaned back, and he could tell she was visualizing his suggestions, probably with a few tweaks. “I love your ideas. I hadn’t mentioned a pool or water feature to my client since we’re doing so much work inside the house and she’s already spending a small fortune, but I have it in the budget to do a structure over the patio and put in the outdoor kitchen. You can spend a hundred thousand dollars in a hurry when you’re talking about external structures. We’re spending twenty thousand on replacing the wooden beams that have been ripped out, repairing the exterior stucco…thank goodness there’s not much damage there…repairing some tiles on the roof, and a small part of the landscaping.”
Shit! He gazed back at the house. “That’s a hell of a chunk of change. What kind of house would you buy if you could?”
“This place is too formal for me. Too many rooms.” She remained silent for a moment. “It’s beautiful, and I can appreciate the architecture, the history of it, but the cost of upkeep…”
She shook her head. “In my father’s house, it’s very modern, very white. Everything has a place and everything has to be put back in that place. I don’t ever want my home to be like that. I think it’s important for everything to be comfortable, so you can enjoy just being together instead of worrying about the minutia. I’d want something modern, easy upkeep, plenty of space…to breathe. And fold-out doors leading outside to a patio and garden with an outdoor kitchen.”
The longing in her expression punched him hard. He covered the hand she rested on the arm of her chair. “Do you have to go back to the office after you leave here?”
She studied him, her eyes darkening. “No. I’m through for the day.”
He didn’t want to rush her, but damn, he wanted her. “My apartment’s close by. You haven’t seen what little there is to see. How about we go there?”
She bit her lip and her throat worked as she swallowed. “Okay.”
He packed up the basket and folded up the chairs while she answered a call about another job site. He hauled the cooler and a chair to the car while she carried the other.
“I have apple pie for dessert.”
He draped an arm around her and drew her in close. “Not the kind of dessert I’m thinking about, but we can have it afterward.” He caught her mouth, diving into the kiss with as much enthusiasm as he’d eaten her roast beef.
She tasted like sweet tea and her. He couldn’t get enough.
He grinned as he looked down at her flushed cheeks. “There’s plenty of breathing room at my apartment.” Since there was hardly any furniture. “Do you want me to drive you and come back for the bike?”
“After I catch my breath, I’ll follow you.”
He’d never experienced anything as sexy as knowing she wanted him as much as he wanted her. He kissed her again with all the edgy desire rampaging through him.
*
Eric rolled to lie beside Rylie and curved an arm around her when she pressed against him. She loved that he liked to stay skin-to-skin after they made love. It made her feel closer to him. She knew his body intimately now, but there were still things he wouldn’t share She supposed that’s the way it would always be.
“I have a girl’s day out on Saturday,” she said after they caught their breath. “You’ll be out on the ocean fishing with some of the guys on Saturday”
“Yeah. They finally got it together. We’re going to fish for yellowtail.”
“Are you going to have a cookout if you’re successful?”
“That’s the plan for Sunday. Everyone will bring their girl and a dish.” He gave her waist a squeeze.
“So, you’re going to cook?”
“I was going to try, but anything you fix would be better than anything I could do.”
She was playing with fire, being around the men from his team. If one of them asked her straight up if she was kin to Admiral Stewart, she’d either have to own up to everything or lie. She wasn’t comfortable with either option.
“I could fix a dessert. Something really rich with lots of chocolate.” She’d discovered Eric had a sweet tooth and chocolate was his favorite.
He turned on his side to look down at her. “I vote for those chocolate chip cookies you made the other night. But you’ll have to fix three, four, maybe six dozen.”
“How many people will be there?”
“Probably six couples. Including us.”
“You don’t really think twelve people will eat that many cookies, do you?”
“Well, I thought I’d take some with me when I leave for training. The commander has scheduled one for us next week.”
“But you’ve only been back from deployment how many weeks?”
“It’s been a month, Rylie. And we start back at the base Monday.”
She sighed. “I’ve gotten spoiled to these afternoon delights.”
Eric laughed. “Is that what you call them?”
“Yes. My grandmother had a collection of old records, and she used to play them for me. Midnight in the Oasis and Afternoon Delight were two of her favorites. I have a feeling she may have been more of a free spirit than my father would
have approved of.
“I have her collection at my apartment and a turntable. I’ll have to get them out sometime.” She caressed his lightly bearded cheek. “Are you going to shave before going back?”
“I usually do while training. It gets hot and sweaty out in the desert. But I’ll leave it if you want me to.”
“I like the way it feels against my skin.”
His eyes lit. “Then I guess I’ll be leaving it.”
She smiled. “But if it’s hot and sweaty, I’d rather you be comfortable, and you can let it grow back when you return. So, you’re going to be gone a few weeks?”
“Yeah. A couple at least.”
“I know you don’t have control over any of that, so I’m not going to pout.” But she wanted to.
“We’ll make up for my being away when I get back.”
“I’ll hold you to that. Will you be able to call?”
“Well, we’re out in the middle of the desert with no cell signal, but I’ll try to call from a landline at the camp.”
She knew all about that, and so didn’t hold out much hope of hearing from him. They trained hard, slept like logs, and often camped out in the desert.
“You’ll be busy on the two projects you have going, so I bet you’ll barely have time to miss me before I’m back.”
She would miss him. But would he miss her? Or was she just a woman to fill in the time between deployments? And Abby would be gone before he got back. She had other friends she’d kept in touch with after college, but her best friend wouldn’t be here to catch her when Eric deployed and they said goodbye. And it was going to hurt…badly.
“I’ll fix the cookies Friday night after work since they’re always a little better the second or third day. You can help.”
Eric rose from the bed as she gathered her clothes. She shimmied into her panties and Eric caught her around the waist and pulled her back against him. He nibbled on her shoulder. “I promise I’ll try to call.”
“I know you will.” It was too soon to expect him to talk about feelings. And what was she going to do when he said it. Own up to being the Admiral’s daughter? “You can make yourself useful and hook my bra.”
She turned as soon as he’d done it. “I wouldn’t ask you to change one thing about yourself or what you do, Eric. You’re a SEAL. That’s as much about who you are as what you do. I understand that.”
His pale blue eyes delved deep into hers. “How do you know that?”
“Because it’s in the way you walk and move, the way you talk. It’s in every part of you. And I was attracted to that as much as I was the control you had over your temper the night we met, the respectful way you treated me even though you were more than pissed. Then you invited me to meet your friends and shared your meal. That told me everything I needed to know about you. And that’s why I said yes when you asked me out.”
He pulled her close again. “Stick around and we’ll go see a movie.”
“Sure. In the meantime, let’s talk about what you need to do to make this apartment look like someone lives here.”
He laughed. “I knew you were going to say that.”
CHAPTER 12
‡
The women’s laughter was like the call of birds. Calling it a hen party was a misnomer because there was nothing henlike about any of those four ladies. They looked like what they were, four professional women out for an afternoon of shopping and fun.
Rylie had told him about Parker and Toni, both blonde and beautiful. One was a lawyer, the other a website designer. But it was Abby he was most interested in meeting, because she was such an important part of Rylie’s life. The woman was her closest friend, and he hoped to make a good impression.
Rylie wore a shin-length white skirt with a pink pullover summer sweater that slipped off of one shoulder. He’d nibbled that pale shoulder earlier and breathed in her flower-scented skin before she went out the door for this gathering.
Her friend Abby wore loose pants that tapered at the ankles and a sweater that showed a bit of smooth, olive skin at the waist. With her midnight dark eyes and heavy braid of hair, she could have been a Bollywood actress.
He’d thought about introducing her to one of the single guys on the team, but she was leaving next week, a few days after he did.
Friends since the first week of college, Rylie and Abby spoke several times a day, and spent time together a couple of times a week, so this separation was going to be an adjustment for both women. He’d be here for Rylie through some of it, but there was no guarantee he wouldn’t be deployed.
It was hard to tell her about the foster homes last night. The way she made love to him afterward said more about how she felt than words could have expressed. She cared about him. He was sure she did.
But there was something going on with her. She started to tell him something earlier today, but the opportunity slipped away because Rooster picked that moment to call and let him know he was in the parking lot downstairs waiting to pick him up.
He wandered up to the table and flashed an automatic smile at one of the blondes. She had just begun to smile back when his attention fell on Rylie. “Your ride is here, Ms. Stewart,” he said.
Rylie flashed him a mischievous smile. “Is it a limo?”
“Something a little smaller, but I’m sure you’ll be comfortable.”
“This is Eric, ladies.”
“She’s mentioned you a time or two today. Parker Lowry.” One of the blondes extended her hand and shook like a lawyer.
“Toni Bristol.” This one was the website designer.
“And you’re Abby,” he said and stretched to shake her hand, taking in the dark eyes and hair, the smooth, tan skin and lush figure.
“Would you like something to drink before we go?” Rylie asked.
He shook his head. “I’ve drunk enough Gatorade today to float in it. It was hot out on the boat.”
“Rylie says you’re in the Navy,” Parker said. She had almond-shaped eyes of a startling green.
“Yes, a Petty officer.”
“How long have you been in?” Toni asked.
“Nine years.”
“And you’ve never been married?” Parker asked.
“No.”
“I think it’s time we left. Before they start with the third degree.”
Abby laughed. “I thought they’d already started.”
“Aren’t you supposed to smell like fish?” Rylie leaned close and sniffed.
“I thought I’d give you a break and hit the shower at home before picking you up. Otherwise you probably wouldn’t have gotten on the bike with me.”
“Does that mean you and the guys caught some fish?”
“Yeah. I caught a hundred-pound yellowtail. In fact, we caught three. We’ll be having tuna steaks on the grill with the others tomorrow.”
Her brows hiked up. “Really?”
“Yeah, really.”
“Holy shit!”
He laughed. “That’s almost what I said when I finally got the fish aboard the boat.”
The women laughed.
“We’ll have to grill out at your apartment or mine and have you ladies over for a meal. We bagged, tagged and packaged some of it for each of the guys for later. I’ve already got mine in the freezer.”
“Maybe in a couple of weeks. When you get back from training.”
“Yeah.” He attention swung back to the women. He couldn’t get the image of colorful birds out of his mind. “It was good to meet you.”
“You too.” Abby said. The two blondes followed suit.
“Have you got any bags?” he asked as he got to his feet.
“I know you won’t believe me when I say this, but I didn’t buy anything. I got my nails done instead.” She stood.
Parker said, “Rylie’s the only one of us who doesn’t go into a store just to browse. She always plans what she needs and how much she’s going to spend. She has willpower.”
Rylie shrugged. “It’s my Scott
ish genes. I’m frugal. Besides, I’m saving up for a rainy day. I’m going to hold Eric to that invitation and I’ll call you all to come over and have a meal in a couple of weeks. Bring a date.”
“Ladies,” he gave them a brief salute.
She slipped the strap of her purse over her head to settle it across her body. He handed her a helmet.
“What kind of rainy day are you saving for?” he asked.
“I’m saving for a house. Or at least a down payment for one.”
There again she was showing that a home and roots were important to her. “I’m not surprised at all. I have a nest egg, too.”
“What are you saving for?”
In case his world went to hell and he lost everything again. He toned it down for her. “Just in case I need something to fall back on.”
He put on his helmet, swung onto the motorcycle, and rolled backward to disengage the kickstand. She cuddled up to him from behind, and he pulled out, followed the flow of traffic, then turned left toward her apartment. The traffic was heavy and the start and stop difficult.
A block from her apartment a police siren whooped twice behind them and the lights came on. Confused, Eric pulled over into the parking lot of a strip mall and waited for her to climb off before he ran the motorcycle up on its kickstand and cut the engine. He pulled off his helmet and tucked it in the bend of his elbow but stayed astride the machine.
He’d been hassled by the cops before, and had learned that staying seated on his bike made him appear smaller and less aggressive.
*
Ryle stood by the bike as the police officer got out of the car and walked toward them, a clipboard in his hand. Though a little older, he hadn’t changed at all since the last time she saw him, which was in her father’s game room playing pool a year earlier. This couldn’t be happening out of the blue.
She pulled off her helmet and ran her fingers through her hair, brushing it back from her face. “Mason. How are you?”
For a second he hesitated, as though caught unaware. “Hey, Rylie. How have you been?”
“I’m good. Working a lot. How are Sherry and the kids?”
Hot SEAL, Taking The Plunge (SEALS IN PARADISE) Page 8