Wyne and Dine (Citizen Soldier Series Book 1)

by Donna Michaels

  “Yeah, I thought you’d be pleased.”

  She watched him grab a pillow from the bed and toss it onto the floor. “What are you doing?”

  “Going to bed.”

  “On the floor?”

  “Yep.” He pulled a camouflage liner from his duffle bag and threw it next to the pillow before sitting on the chaise to remove his boots.

  “This is a queen size bed, Ben. There’s plenty of room for us both.”

  He grunted. “I’m barely hanging on by a thread here, Lea. I don’t think I’ll ever get the image of you in that damn corset thing out of my head. No way in hell are we sharing anything.”

  Funny how his discomfort made her feel better. Even though she knew it wouldn’t take much persuasion to get him to break his resolve tonight, she stayed put. His body may want her, but his heart and mind did not, and they were actually more important. Their lack of participation would dampen her pleasure.

  Until Ben came to terms with his wants and needs—if Ben came to terms with them—she would not be making any more advances. Sure, she’d continue to play the dutiful girlfriend thing tomorrow, and enjoy every damn second, but if he wanted in her bed, he was going to have to make the next move.

  Ben had never taken a cold shower before. Ever. Not even during his adolescent years. But last night, after images of Lea battered his mind in that damn sexy blue getup with a sultry, inviting expression on her beautiful face, he’d lost the battle and used the cold water as a deterrent to crawling into her bed to seek relief to the heat and need throbbing his body. The bed had been closer than the bathroom, and a hell of a lot more appealing, but he couldn’t get past the fact it was Brandi’s friend in that bed. His friend. The little girl from down the street. Those were the thoughts that helped him turn on his heel and march into the bathroom.

  But those thoughts were eventually going to fade. Heaven help him then. And now. He entered the dining room, holding Lea’s hand for appearance sake, and did his best to ignore how right it felt. Time to get his mind back on work, and socializing with his peers. That was the reason he was here this weekend.

  “Good morning, Colonel. Mrs. Dankirk.” He nodded to their hosts already seated. With any luck, by the time they filled their plates from the buffet style breakfast set up along the far wall, they’d be able to sit on the other side of the table. “Smells almost as good as your cooking,” he said to Lea.

  “Then we’d better hurry,” she said, tugging him to the food. “We don’t need them running out of bacon. I don’t want to have to put up with Mr. Crankypuss all morning.”

  He stopped, and when she turned to face him, he frowned at her. “I don’t get cranky in the morning.”

  She laughed.

  The lieutenant and his wife ahead of them looked up from the buffet. “Sure you do, Serge, but you always come back in a better mood after eating at Gabe’s. I thought it was the food, but now I know better.”

  Lea blushed. “Nah. He’s addicted to my coffee.”

  “True.” He smiled and received a smack from her on the arm.

  “That’s because I know what you like.” Her gaze was open and friendly with just a hint of mischief darkening her baby blues to steal his breath. “You like bacon with your bacon with maybe a side of eggs.”

  The other couple laughed as they continued down the buffet.

  “True,” he told Lea again, handing her a plate before falling in behind her.

  He had to admit, the view was great. His gaze traveled down her white tank top with blue anchors, exposing a neckline that haunted his dreams, and his body tightened at the way her navy pants hugged those sweet cheeks he’d glimpsed…and walked away from.

  Idiot.

  He was beginning to regret his decision last night.

  “You can get your revenge on him today, Lea,” the colonel stated from across the room. “Because, after horseback riding this morning, we’re all heading to the lake for a picnic, and he can finally own up to that rowing.”

  “Perfect,” she said, then loaded scrambled eggs and some delicious smelling bacon onto the plate in his hand. “You need to keep up your strength, Benny. I’m going to give you a workout.”

  The others laughed, even Mrs. Dankirk, so he forced his lips to curve upward. But he wondered if she was serious or just acting her part. It shouldn’t matter.

  So, why did it?

  An hour later, Ben was still contemplating the answer as they all walked to the stables. Breakfast had been smooth and uneventful, and once again, he was blown away at how well Lea handled the wide range of topics from politics to fashion to celebrities. The pretty woman at his side was eloquent and intelligent, and he was ashamed to admit he hadn’t realized just how intelligent. Made him wonder what else he’d taken for granted about his sister’s friend.

  Like conversation. Today, he noticed she wasn’t initiating dialogue with him, only speaking when spoken to. Which should make things easier. Keep them off personal subjects. So, why did he feel as if something was missing?

  “As you can see, we don’t have enough horses for everyone, so a few of you will have to double up,” the colonel announced when they reached the stable where the horses were already saddled and ready to go. “I’m sure Ben and the lieutenant won’t mind sharing their mounts with their women.”

  “Of course, sir.” The way the weekend was going, Ben wasn’t surprised by the turn of event, but he was surprised by the look of reluctance that flashed fleetingly through Lea’s gaze. Why wouldn’t she want to ride with him?

  Normally, he enjoyed a ride through the country side. The area was spectacular with pine, oak, maple and birch trees standing tall and majestic, with only an occasional creaking branch breaking the silence in the wind. And the slight rocking of the horse and soft thud of hoof beats on the forest floor usually soothed away his troubles.

  Not today. Negative. Today, he experienced a different side to riding. A very enjoyable side. With a woman sitting behind him, but not just any woman—Lea, with her soft, supple body pressed against his back, hitched breaths hitting his neck when the horse rocked them together. Damn, he could feel her nipples and her heat, and heaven help him, he loved every minute. Even guided the horse into a trot just to feel those beauties poking, raking, testing his control, and down a few hills so she’d cling tighter and longer. By the time their ride ended back at the stables, he wasn’t sure he could walk, but his extra ministrations had been worth it.

  Anticipation upped his pulse when he slid off the horse and turned to help Lea dismount. It wouldn’t be inappropriate to steal a kiss from his girlfriend, and he was more than ready to feel those delectable curves brushing the front of him this time.

  Those thoughts were wrong, and the fact he knew it and didn’t care was a testament to the amount of fog in his brain.

  But when he helped her down, she placed her hands on his shoulders, then slid them to pat his chest while she lifted on tip-toe to kiss his check. “Thanks, Benny,” she said, then walked over to the other women and was soon laughing at something one had said.

  What the hell just happened?

  No kiss? No curves? No Lea melting into him?

  Yeah, her display of affection was still girlfriend-ish, so he couldn’t very well remind her he needed her help. But at the moment, he wanted…

  Ah hell, he didn’t know what he wanted.

  Two hours later, he was more than a little frustrated and confused as hell. A walking contradiction of need. On one hand, he needed to keep her at arm’s length; on the other hand, he wanted his hands on her. He was all mixed up, but one thing was clear, he couldn’t do both.

  The colonel drove them to the lake where they hiked, then a few of the women played a bit of Frisbee while the men talked more shop, but after watching Lea jump a few times, Ben realized it wasn’t such a good idea. He couldn’t take the bounces. They rippled through him with a power punch to his libido.

  “Time for the rowing I owe you,” he said, needing her to sta
y still so he could calm his mind and regroup.

  After helping her into a wooden dingy, he stepped in and carefully pushed them from the dock. The urge to distance himself from something had taken over. Problem was, he had no idea what he was distancing from, but he already felt better. As he rowed them toward the middle of the lake, he concentrated on the horizon, using controlled, even strokes, and not paying any attention to the woman lounging in front of him, with her head tipped back, eyes closed and a look of pure rapture on her face.

  No. He wasn’t paying any attention to that, just rowing and rowing, and waiting. Jesus, was she really not going to talk to him unless he started the conversation?

  He pulled the oars out of the water and set them inside the boat. She still didn’t open her eyes. Ben crossed his arms and waited. Finally, after another minute of silence, she opened them and lifted her head…and a brow, but said nothing.

  Damn, stubborn woman. “Spill it. What gives? What’s wrong?”

  “You stopped.”

  He dropped his arms and expelled a breath. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

  Her shoulder lifted. Was she trying to get a rise out of him?

  It was working, damn it.

  “Is this about last night?”

  Color rose up her neck and settled in her cheeks, enhancing the blue of her eyes.

  “No. Not really, Ben. I’m just trying to keep things on an even keel, pretending to be your girlfriend like you asked, but not hanging all over you.” She stilled, then narrowed her gaze. “Why, did you want me to hang all over you?”

  Yes. He did. Damn. “No.”

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  That was the problem. “I just wanted to make sure things were okay between us,” he said, realizing it was the truth. A truth he didn’t want to delve too deeply into, but knew for some reason it was important.

  “They’re good.” Her gaze dropped to the hands curled tightly in her lap.

  She was lying. But he chose not to pursue the issue. Mostly because she was right. Things had changed between them. Not better, not worse, just different.

  “But if you want to make up for last night, then you better get rowing,” she said, smile tugging her lips upward. “I’m not getting any younger.”

  He laughed, adopting her friendly attitude. “Yes, ma’am.” They were going to be all right. “Let’s put all of that aside for now and just have fun today, okay?”

  “Okay,” she replied with a nod. “I’d like that.”

  Ben picked up the oars and started to row, shoulders feeling a little lighter after having cleared the air, even if it was only in a small way.

  Things were good until Lea reached for the buckle on her pants, then the zipper. The sound ripping straight through him as he sat there, unable to move, or think, or row.

  She frowned at him. “What’s wrong?”

  “You’re stripping. Why are you stripping?”

  “Because I want to take advantage of the sun.” She pointed to the cloudless sky above, then turned an almost wounded gaze on him. “Don’t worry, I’m not making a move on you. I’ve learned my lesson. Trust me, that will never happen again.” She yanked off her tank top and pointed to her bikini. “See? I’m wearing a bathing suit. It’s all good. You’re virtue is safe.”

  To hell with his virtue. He was worried about his sanity. Any shred he’d managed to hold onto landed in a heap on the bottom of the boat—with her pants.

  Damn.

  It had been close to a decade since he’d seen Lea in a bathing suit. She and Brandi had been swimming in the pool in their back yard, talking about college, excited about life. He’d been sitting there with her brother and his, and remembered thinking she was going to be a knockout someday.

  As the oars sliced through the water, and he pumped the paddles back and forth until his shoulders burned, he realized with a start that someday was now. Her trim curves had filled in…and out…and she wasn’t the only one bursting at the seam.

  With a content sigh rippling through her, she stretched out her sunscreen coated legs to set her feet alongside him on the seat, and leaned back, resting her elbows on the sides of the boat. Closing her eyes, she let out another sigh. “This is the life.”

  More like the death…of him.

  He spent the next hour rowing her around, talking about their fathers, Brandi’s upcoming wedding, his job, her supposed job pursuit in the Big Apple, everything but the noticeable current flowing between them whenever they accidentally brushed.

  The connection was not welcomed. He didn’t want, nor need it in his life, especially with his sister’s friend. She had plans and dreams, and he did not fit into them, just as she didn’t fit into his agenda. He was a companion only type guy, and Lea deserved a relationship type guy. The two of them simply did not mesh.

  Damn her, and her talk about banana splits last week, because that was when everything changed. Something had happened. She’d woken up his body, and he’d been trying to get the damn thing to go back to sleep ever since.

  By the time they returned to the dock, Ben was more than ready to jump into the lake fully clothed. Luckily, he’d had the foresight to bring his board shorts, and after a quick change in the public restroom, he sought solace in the cool water.

  Then she joined him.

  As did the others, all except the colonel and his wife, who headed back to their estate to pick up the lunch their staff prepared.

  If the morning was a test of his control, he hoped he passed, because after lunch, they got dressed and joined a few locals in a game of baseball. Despite the attraction flowing between them and the danger of such a lure, he was having a hard time not enjoying himself in Lea’s company. He always did like her company, but this time, it was…different.

  Despite calling herself a book nerd, the beauty was very athletic. A natural. And her competitive side, he discovered, was a turn on. Big time.

  With their team down by two, he was on third when she came up to bat. “Come on, baby,” he called to her. “Hit me home.”

  She blew him a kiss, then pointed to left field before settling into her stance. A stance he’d taught her when she was eleven. Feet shoulder-width apart, she held the bat, elbows out and wiggled her butt.

  Catcalls and whistles filled the air and an unexpected heat spread across his shoulders and tightened his chest. The feeling was unpleasant, reminding him of when he’d hear one of the guardsmen talking about sampling her cooking. The more the local guys vocally admired her, the more irritated Ben became, to the point where he almost missed her swing. But the crack of the bat regained his attention, and as the ball sailed far into right field, he took off for home plate.

  Thata girl, he thought to himself, pleased she’d retained what he’d taught her well over a decade ago, the stance and faking where she’d intended to hit the ball. After he scored, Ben turned around and watched Lea running to third base while the centerfielder finally reached the ball.

  “Come on,” he cheered, alongside the rest of the crew. Even Mrs. Dankirk was on her feet yelling. She was the tying run.

  Positioning himself in line with home plate, but keeping far enough away so as not to interfere with the play, he opened his arms and cheered again, “Come on, baby! Come home.”

  And she did, right into his arms. She was safe, but he wasn’t. Deep down, Ben knew he was in trouble, but at the moment, he didn’t care. Using her momentum, he twisted the laughing woman around, and when he set her feet on the ground, he grabbed her face and kissed her square on the lips.

  “Great job,” he told her when he pulled back, chest tight with some emotion he knew better than to analyze. Today was about fun, and that was all he would concentrate on. He told her that earlier, and he never gave an order he didn’t follow himself.

  Color entered her face as pride and satisfaction deepened the blue of her eyes. “I had a great teacher.”

  For the next half-hour, Ben rode the high her words and gaze
created, and after they won the game, he found himself sitting with her on a blanket, sharing some incredible homemade sangria. The combination of strawberries, lemon and wine were surprisingly refreshing.

  “Where did you learn to make this? And when did you have time?”

  She laughed. “Kerri McCall sent me the recipe last year.”

  “Kerri who?” The name was familiar, but his mind was a bit too fogged by the woman in front of him to place the face.

  “McCall. From Harland County.”

  “Oh.” The light bulb went off in his brain. “Jordan’s sister. The chef.”

  “Yes.”

  He hadn’t realized Lea knew anyone else from Texas. “How long have you all been friends?”

  “Since Brandi introduced them last Christmas on Skype. I Skype with all the bridesmaids now.”

  He lifted his glass. “Well, I’m glad, because this is delicious.”

  “I’ll be sure to tell Kerri.” She nodded, sipping her drink.

  “I know you didn’t bring this with you yesterday, so when did you make it?”

  She smoothed out the blanket and glanced at her hand. “Last night. I snuck down to the kitchen and made a batch.”

  “Last night?” He reeled back. “When? I didn’t hear you leave.”

  “You were in the shower.”

  “Oh.” He had hoped she hadn’t heard him.

  She glanced down at her glass. “I…ah, found myself in your boots, so to speak.”

  “You did?”

  “Yeah, either leave or do something I might regret.”

  He dipped his head to catch her gaze. “What in the world would you have regretted?”

  “Me? Nothing,” she replied, blush creeping into her face. “But I’m not sure how you would’ve felt about me climbing in the shower with you.”

  His heart dropped to his feet. The shower? Shit. He swallowed to relieve his suddenly dried throat. The thought of soaping up that incredible body he’d drooled over while rowing made his jeans painfully tight. He shifted to relieve the ache.

  She bit her lower lip and stared at him, waiting for him to respond.