by Ally James
Trouble’s ears perked up, a clear indication that she was awake. He’d taken the dog out to do his business earlier and fed him when they returned. The lure of food was the only thing that kept him from being in the bedroom with her. He couldn’t fault him, though, since Gabe felt the same.
A few moments later she came in rubbing her eyes and yawning. When she noticed him, she abruptly stopped. “What’re you doing here?” When he raised an amused brow at her blunt question, her face turned an adorable shade of pink. “I mean—um, good morning. Shouldn’t you be at work?”
“Well, hello to you, Angel. I thought I mentioned that I’m now officially on leave until after the holidays. We finished up in the field yesterday. So . . . I’m afraid you’re both stuck with me.” Her nickname once again slipped out, but she didn’t appear to mind. In fact, he thought she looked pleased. He’d felt awkward when he accidentally called her that last night. He could have attempted to brush it off. But he hadn’t wanted her to possibly think he’d mixed her up with another woman. As if that were even possible. Once he started talking, it all came pouring out. Even though he was uncomfortable revealing so much of himself, in the end he thought it brought them closer. And if this was going to work, they both needed to learn to open up more, no matter how hard it was.
She winced, shaking her head. “I completely lost track of the days if you can believe that. Do you go in on weekends normally?”
“Just depends.” He shrugged. “It’s not unusual, but I try to have Sunday free when I can. Anyway, you’re quite possibly going to hit me—or at the very least, say no. But I realized earlier that tonight is the annual holiday ball.” When she looked faintly alarmed, he rushed ahead. “I know what you’re thinking. I hate these damn things too. I’ve never been good at shit like this. It’s expected of me, though. Lead by example and all that.” He paused before adding, “It’s formal, Sara. I realize you likely didn’t bring anything like that with you. So if you agree to be my date, we’ll go shopping, and I’ll buy you a dress. I’m sorry to spring this on you so suddenly. Between the fieldwork and . . . other stuff, I’ve been kind of distracted.” Why isn’t she saying anything? Gabe put his hands in the pockets of his jeans and rocked back on his heels. He felt as if he were inviting Abby Johnson to the junior prom all over again. Only she’d been a little more enthusiastic than Sara was so far. “Hey, it’s no big deal. I’ll make an appearance, and we can do something when I get home.”
He’d turned away to pour her a coffee when he heard her say, “I’d love to go with you. Just give me a few minutes to get dressed and we can go shopping.”
She made it a few steps when he put a hand out to stop her. “Thank you, Angel, I—this makes me happy.” There was no way he could resist the urge for a good morning kiss. His mouth was inches from its goal when he suffered a sudden hurdle. “What . . . ?”
“No way,” she mumbled as she backed up. “I haven’t brushed my teeth yet. I refuse to go down in history as the chick with morning breath.” He smiled, wanting to assure her that he was willing to risk it, but not if it would make her uncomfortable. She surprised him, though, when she winked and said, “But please try again later. I mean—don’t forget.” Damn, she’s cute.
After she was gone, he replied to a few e-mails in his office, then went outside and started the truck so that it would be warm. When he came back in, she was dressed and pulling on her coat. No time like the present. She glanced up at him and her eyes widened, as if sensing what was to come. She’s not running, good sign. She inhaled sharply when he raised his hand and ran a thumb over the curve of her lower lip. “Gabe,” she whispered, just as he lowered his head and took her mouth in a gentle kiss. He could feel her heart thudding against his chest as he pulled her closer to his body. The feel of her arms wrapping around his waist told him better than words that she wanted this as much as he did.
The connection they shared long distance was even more potent in person. He wanted to explore every inch of her body. She was like fire in his veins. He’d never reacted this strongly to a woman before. He was almost afraid to test his control by deepening the kiss, but the slide of her tongue against his took that decision from him. His hand had just made contact with the curve of her ass when something wedged between them. One of them protested—heck, possibly both. They strained forward, not wanting to let go . . . but Trouble was out of patience. Unfazed by Gabe’s command to stop, the canine continued until he was leaning against Sara. I’ve been dog-blocked, he thought incredulously.
Sara dropped her head, and for a moment, he was afraid she was upset over the embrace. But then a giggle erupted . . . and another, until her entire body was shaking. He found himself laughing as well, unable to ignore that Trouble was jealous. “Buddy, I thought we were friends,” he grumbled. As much as the interruption sucked, it was undoubtedly for the best. As it was, his zipper was digging painfully into his dick. Another few minutes and he’d have taken her against the mudroom wall. Damn, don’t think about that now. He reached over and cupped her cheek. “We’d better get out of here before I get carried away again and he mauls me.”
Her face was flushed, but there was a sparkle of satisfaction in her expression that made him feel good. Any question of how their relationship would handle the transition to the real world was answered fully. We almost threw this away. She pulled her coat back around her and buttoned it before telling Trouble good-bye. As they walked to his truck, Gabe found himself wondering how someone who had been there only a week could make such an impact on not only him but his dog as well. He also wondered how they would ever go back to the life they’d lived before her should she leave. He pushed that sobering thought aside as he took her hand. He didn’t want to miss out on the joy of being with her by worrying over the future. Instead, he vowed to savor each day with her as if there were no tomorrow.
* * *
• • •
Sara stood before the mirror in the bathroom and studied her reflection carefully. Penny, her helpful sales associate, had assured her that the red mermaid dress she’d picked out was perfect for her. And it had seemed to be. In fact, Sara had never worn anything so sexy and glamorous before. The formfitting, off-the-shoulder lace gown was gorgeous.
She’d also stopped by a salon that Maxi recommended and had her hair styled in a loose French twist, which made her neck seem impossibly long and slender. The nude-colored pumps had a higher heel than she would normally wear, but they were surprisingly comfortable. She rounded out the ensemble with a matching bag that was just big enough for lipstick, her phone, and some tissues.
She couldn’t believe how inexpensive the dress was. Apparently the store was having a clearance sale on last year’s styles, and everything she tried on was less than half what the tag showed. It was a stroke of luck, considering she refused to let Gabe pay for any of it. She was already staying with him free of charge. She didn’t expect him to clothe her as well.
“Angel, are you almost ready? I’m sorry to rush you, but we need to leave in about fifteen minutes.”
“I’ll be right there.” She inspected her makeup one last time. Squaring her shoulders, she walked out of the bathroom and nearly crashed into him in the hallway. “Whoops!” She teetered for a moment before he reached out to steady her. Why is he staring at me like that? “Gabe?” She glanced down, thinking there was a wardrobe malfunction. Yet nothing seemed amiss. Both nipples are covered—check.
“You’re absolutely beautiful,” he breathed out shakily. He took her hand and swiveled her around slowly. “Wow. I know I should say something more refined, but that one word keeps going through my head.”
When she got her first real look at him in his dress blues, she knew exactly how he felt. Damn. Did I say that out loud? The look of confusion on his handsome face said that she had. She cleared her throat before trying again. “You’re like seriously hot, Major. I mean you’re always sexy, but this is smoking.�
�� He’s blushing. Ah God, I’m so in love with him. Luckily, it didn’t appear that she had shared the last thought.
“Um—thanks,” he murmured as he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. “Might as well get some practice in on this. You have no idea how badly I want to kiss you right now. But even if you’d let me mess up your lipstick, I still wouldn’t trust myself.” They chatted easily on the drive to the hotel where the ball was being held. Traffic was heavier near town, and Gabe mentioned the night skating at Westchester Lagoon. “I’ll take you there one day. They have big fire pits for warmth and there’s hot chocolate and music. No way I’m getting on a pair of ice skates, though,” he added on a laugh.
“I’d love that,” she said softly. “And I think we can both agree to remain safely on our feet as spectators.”
When they arrived at their destination, Gabe helped her from the truck, then handed his keys to the valet. After dropping their coats off, he put a possessive hand on her hip, guiding her into the room. She knew it was likely her imagination, but it felt as if every eye was on them. Gabe kept her close as they slowly made their way through a long receiving line, where she met Gabe’s boss and his wife, along with a bunch of others she would never remember. Truthfully, she was so giddy over him introducing her as his girlfriend that she hadn’t heard much after that. She hoped she hadn’t missed a question from anyone. When they made it to the end and had a moment alone, she motioned him closer and whispered, “See, I told you. It’s the uniform miracle. Everyone looks amazing.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “Naturally, it’s my date that notices.”
She batted her eyes at him. “None of them hold a candle to you, muffin. You’re like the prize in a box full of Cracker Jacks.”
“Bro, did she just call you ‘muffin’?” Sara whirled around, surprised to have been overheard. The man looking back at her in amusement was handsome—there was no disputing that. But he didn’t compare to the one who owned her heart. Speaking of Gabe, she was afraid she’d embarrassed him with her silly comments, but he appeared unfazed.
“You’re just jealous, Keller,” he said dryly. He winked at her before adding, “Sara, this is Captain Jason Keller.”
She understood their camaraderie immediately. She knew they were not only colleagues but friends as well. Jason took her hand between both of his. “Sara, it’s a pleasure. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Likewise.” She smiled shyly. “Gabe mentioned you many times during his deployment.”
At Gabe’s pointed look, Jason released her. “Oh, I’m sure he did. He’s always been jealous of me. I’m good-looking, intelligent, popular with the ladies, and—”
“Full of it,” Gabe tossed in. “Angel, he’s a prime example of why your uniform theory is incorrect.”
She giggled at their private joke while Jason rolled his eyes. “I’m not going to dignify that with a response.” He eyed her curiously, but she could detect nothing negative there. “Sara, on behalf of myself and everyone we were stationed with in Iraq, I’d like to give you our heartfelt thanks for making our time there more pleasant.” He nodded his head in Gabe’s direction. “You turned this irritable grouch into a ray of sunshine. Granted, it scared the hell out of us when he began flashing those dimples, but eventually we figured out he was actually smiling. Well—either that or he had a severe case of gas, possibly both.”
“What is she doing here?” Both Sara and Jason turned to follow the direction of Gabe’s stare. Melanie? Why?
“Hey, isn’t that your old . . .” Jason’s voice trailed off as he winced at his friend. “Yeah, a lot of us wouldn’t think anything of it, but that’s a little awkward for you, isn’t it, buddy? That’s why I always fly solo to these events. I’ve witnessed too many Jerry Springer moments over the years.”
“It’s not a big deal,” Gabe muttered, but Sara could tell he wasn’t happy with the other woman’s appearance. It didn’t thrill her either. She saw enough to know that Melanie was wearing a sexy black dress that made her appear even tinier. Great, she looks like a size 0, while I probably resemble Clifford the Big Red Dog. As if sensing the direction her thoughts were taking, Gabe pulled her into the crook of his arm and whispered against her ear, “She’s not even in your league, Angel—never was.”
“I need a drink before you two get any mushier,” Jason joked. “I swear, I don’t know how to deal with this kinder, gentler version of you, Randall. Can we at least go glare at some of the newbies? Make their balls draw up around their throat? You know how much you enjoy that.”
Sara cocked her head up at her date, who gave her an innocent smile. “Have no clue what he’s referring to. I’d never do anything so juvenile.”
The banter continued as other soldiers joined them. Soon, she had forgotten all about Melanie’s presence and was enjoying herself. “Hey, we better find our places, the Color Guard is getting into position.” Sara glanced in the direction he pointed to see a group of soldiers holding several different flags. Everyone seemed to be of the same mind, because they were forced to walk single-file through the crowd until they reached their table. She was startled when the soldiers suddenly stood at attention. After the national anthem, it was a blur of toasts, speakers, and even a cake cutting. She was moved to tears at the ceremony around the missing man table. Gabe explained it was in honor of fallen, missing, or imprisoned military service members. She was also fascinated by the history of his unit. The only downside to the evening was Melanie seated at the table beside them, and the fact that she caught the other woman staring at Gabe more than once. It was obvious she still had feelings for him, even if he didn’t return them.
When Gabe’s boss called him over after dinner, Jason leaned closer and said, “He was never into her, so don’t let it bother you. I’ve known Gabe for a long time. We met years ago when we were stationed in Florida. We’ve been split up a few times, but we ended up here together. He’s always been very careful about getting seriously involved with a woman because of the military lifestyle. It’s tough to keep a relationship intact with the separations.” He took a drink from his beer before adding, “You’ve been good for him. He was the most human in Iraq that I’ve ever seen him. Normally he’s kind of like a machine. Focused on the mission to the exclusion of all else. That shit will take a heavy toll on you unless you learn how to decompress. If it means goofing off with the other soldiers, you do it. It’s survival—it’s sanity. And I think he’s finally seen that. Knows there’s more than the job. Doesn’t matter what you do, or who you are, there must be balance in all things.”
She smiled, touched by his insight as well as the trust he was placing in her. He might seemingly be the less serious of the two men, but she sensed that he could be just as intense as Gabe. She also knew instinctively that by telling her what he had, he was giving her his approval. “It’s something I’m learning too, Jason,” she admitted. “Coming here was the biggest leap of faith I’ve ever taken. And I still have a near panic attack several times a day over it.” Just then she spied Gabe holding center court in the midst of a dozen other soldiers, and she was filled with a sense of pride. That’s my man.
Sara had no idea how long she’d zoned out, but the amusement in Jason’s voice said he’d noticed it. “You two crazy kids will figure it out. The best advice I can give you is not to do anything stupid. My father imparted those wise words to me when I was a kid, and they cover damn near everything.”
“That was deep, Captain. You should have that put on a patch for your uniform.” He chuckled in response. She hated to leave the amusing conversation, but she was in serious danger of peeing herself. “Do you know where the restrooms are?” she asked him as she got to her feet.
“They’re out in the hallway, right outside the doors,” he replied as he made a show of stretching his neck. “I think I’ll go dazzle your boyfriend and his cronies with some of my wit.”
She wave
d, then walked in the direction he indicated as fast as her heels would allow. By the time she opened the door to the ladies’ room, she almost had her knees crossed. She was a timid tinkler from way back, so she took the last stall and heaved a sigh. It was nice to have a quiet moment. It had been a great evening, but she wasn’t used to being around so many people. Thankfully, Gabe and Jason’s banter kept it from being too overwhelming.
Unfortunately, her peace was short lived because she heard voices a few minutes later. It sounded as if several of them had had too much to drink. Not wanting to walk out while they were there, she decided to stay where she was. She had texted Chris earlier, so she removed her phone from her bag to see if he had responded. She had all but tuned out the ruckus a few feet away when one of them slurred, “Mel, who’s the girl all over Gabe?” Oh my God.
“Is that the one who’s living with him?” another voice asked.
There was laughter, and she instinctively knew it was from Melanie. “Yes, that’s her. I can’t believe she’s still hanging around. Poor, deluded thing, I almost feel sorry for her. She probably thinks she’s special to him.” Her words might indicate sympathy, but her tone was full of sarcasm.
“She was flirting with Gabe and Jason. Maybe she’s doing them both.”
“That would explain the slutty red dress.”
“If I were her, I’d have picked something a little more figure friendly. She looks as if she has a good twenty pounds on Gabe.”
Sara didn’t know who the other hurtful comments were from, but once again, she recognized Melanie’s voice. “What’d I tell you? I’ve been around him long enough to realize it’s Army first and everything else last. But how can you have such high work standards . . . and rock-bottom personal ones? I mean, aside from her appearance, she’s also very unkempt. The day I met her, she was covered in dog fur. She even let that mutt of his lick her in the mouth.”
