Time to change the subject. “You haven’t ruled out going back to school and finishing your degree?”
“No. I’ve already been working toward a degree in business administration. A little tame compared to what I do for a living, but I thought it might come in handy.”
“It probably will. And give you a good background for running your own business. But you’re never too old to go back and do something else. I graduated with a guy in his fifties who had gone back to school to become a lawyer.”
He narrowed his eyes in thought. “Being in an office day after day wouldn’t be my dream job.”
“Forest ranger?”
“I’d probably like that. But from what I’ve heard about all the cuts to state and federal parks, the pay isn’t great.”
“You could go back to school to be a doctor.”
“What kind of doctor?” he asked, a smile playing across his face.
She couldn’t resist teasing him. “A proctologist?”
He laughed. “I’ve already dealt with enough angry assholes. I don’t want to have to do it the rest of my working career.”
Her laughter blended with his.
They batted a few more serious ideas back and forth. “Your tea has gone to water. Let’s go in and I’ll get us both some fresh.”
She leaned against the kitchen cabinets while he freshened their iced tea.
“It’s hard for me to share things. We have to keep so much about what we do to ourselves. I’m used to just keeping things on the surface, and not sharing anything at all.” He set the glass on the counter. “My teammates know I’m thinking about leaving, but I haven’t even told them… I have an idea for a drone design, and I’ve already partially drawn it in AutoCAD.”
Wow. “That’s wonderful! You could do a degree in mechanical engineering. It would just be four years of study, and you wouldn’t have to go for your master’s or doctorate unless you wanted to.
“The aeronautic field is wide open. Any kind of new design is of interest to the industry. But if you offer it to any of the companies while you’re still in the Navy, Uncle Sam can and probably will claim it’s work product. So I’d hold off on approaching anyone with that idea at least until you’ve filed the paperwork to retire.”
“I have two more classes to finish the business degree. I could do that first while I’m rotating out of the teams.”
“Finishing a degree will give you a leg up to being accepted into a program. Your military experience will help as well. You have to use complex math to do things in your job, don’t you?”
“Yeah. Sometimes. Mostly I’ve taught myself while learning about fuel injection and airflow resistance.”
The way his eyes cut away from hers made it clear he was being careful not to mention exactly how he used the math. “You’re on your way. And it can’t be any more difficult than being a SEAL.”
“No, it couldn’t be.” He set her glass down on the counter next to her, and then hemmed her in with a braced hand on either side. He brushed his lips against her cheek. “Not as hard as it’s been for me to keep my distance all afternoon, either,” he murmured against her ear, his breath warm.
A shiver skittered down her spine when he nibbled at her lobe. Then he ran his fingers beneath the thin strap running over her shoulder. “This clings in all the right places.”
God, she wanted him. She wanted to kiss him and find out if the curl-your-toes kiss last night was an aberration or the real deal. She gripped his T-shirt with one hand, sliding the other up his arm to curl around the back of his neck.
Her heart beat heavy and fast as he nibbled his way down to her shoulder and let his hands wander to her waist. God, she wanted him to touch her, cup her breasts and….more. She leaned back to look up at him. His eyes looked black, the pupils swallowing his dark brown irises. He moved in close until their bodies molded tight. She caught her breath as his erection pushed against her belly.
“I’ve been thinking all day about the kiss last night. Think it was a one-off, or will every one be the same?”
She swallowed to get her voice under control. “We could give it a try and find out.”
He claimed her lips as though he was starved for her. He tasted of the sweet tea and him. Their tongues delved and dueled. He dragged her bathing suit strap down her arm, baring her breast, and cupped it. She leaned into his touch. Her nipple beaded and he toyed with it, rolling it between his fingertips. She shoved her hands beneath his shirt to run her nails lightly down his belly to the top of his trunks. He moaned against her lips.
At the squeak of the front door and the sound of footsteps, he raised his head, swore under his breath, and took a step back.
CHAPTER 7
‡
The breast he’d uncovered was full and round, with a carmel-colored nipple. He wondered if it would taste as sweet. He pulled the thin cup of her suit up to cover it, settled her strap over her shoulder, then reached for her iced tea and handed it to her.
Her cheeks were a little flushed beneath the golden tone of her skin, as though she’d just come in out of the sun.
His father paused in the doorway. “Hey. How did the snorkeling go today?”
“Good. Sloane’s a natural. We’re going to try the tanks tomorrow.” He ran a hand down her back, the cold turkey withdrawal from her hard to take. “Sloane, this is my father, Toby. Dad, this is Sloane Bianchi.”
Toby stepped forward to offer her his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Sloane.”
Her narrow hand looked fragile enveloped in his dad’s larger one. “You, too.”
“I’m going to take a shower and change clothes. Then we’ll throw some steaks on the grill. I’ve had them marinating since early this morning. You’ll stay for dinner, won’t you?”
“Sure. Thank you for inviting me.”
“You’re welcome. Why don’t you warm up the grill, Connor?”
“Will do.”
When Toby disappeared down the hall, Sloane’s attention swung to Connor.
His lips twitched. “I feel like I’m in high school again, and I’m sneaking around to make out with my girl.”
The color on her cheeks deepened, and she buried her nose in her glass for a moment as she took a sip, then set the glass aside. “Thank you for…”
He stepped close again and cupped her chin to raise her face to him. He kissed her softly. “You’re safe with me, Sloane. Whatever this is we have between us, it’s ours.” He kissed her again, then dropped his hands. “If you want to take a shower and change, you can use my bathroom while I go light the grill. It’s down the hall, second door on the right.”
“I’m going to do that.” She paused by the door to look over her shoulder at him and offered him a smile both vulnerable and sweet.
Need coiled tight inside him. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that if his father hadn’t shown up, they’d be making love right now. He’d never experienced anything close to this intensity of attraction.
*
Connor could grill. The steaks were tender and done to a turn with just a little pink in the middle. The salad with freshly made dressing, delicious. The zucchini was cooked perfectly, still firm and succulent. The twice-baked potatoes were smothered in sour cream, cheese, and bacon.
Sloane felt the tension between the two men the moment they sat down. But they both made an effort to entertain her. After dinner they moved to the patio out by the pool, and Toby offered her a cocktail, but she declined. She had to drive back to the condo.
Though Connor was taller, Toby Evans had a similarly muscular build. Their skin tones were close, but Toby’s hazel eyes seemed less intense than his son’s dark brown ones. His hair, liberally sprinkled with gray at the temples, waved back from his forehead.
Connor would look just like him in another twenty years or so. They way they stood and their mannerisms were similar, but Connor’s voice was like the rusty nail cocktail he was sipping, deep, smoky, and warm.
“Beaufort’s downtown area nee
ds some work. We’re getting more tourism traffic than we used to,” Toby said as he sipped his Scotch on the rocks.
“Everywhere seems to be,” Sloane agreed. “The traffic in Charleston is terrible. If I could order my groceries and have them delivered, I’d never leave the house.”
“What’s a little traffic to the woman who accepted a two-week-long challenge?” Connor scoffed.
“What kind of challenge?” Toby asked.
The sweet fragrance of the Carolina jasmine climbing the fence reached her, and she breathed it in. “Connor has challenged me to spend this week and next doing things I’ve never tried before. Thus the snorkeling lessons and the scuba instruction tomorrow.”
“What comes after that?”
“Horseback riding,” Connor answered.
“After that?”
Sloane jumped in. If she survived the scuba thing and the horseback ride, she’d need a break. “I’ve never been to hear a jazz band.”
Connor’s brows rose. “I haven’t either. We’ll have to hit the Jazz Corner. I heard they have guest musicians performing all summer.”
“You’ll have to call and make reservations a week ahead. The place fills up pretty quickly,” Toby said, and when Connor turned to look at him he added, “Your mother and I used to go.”
Connor took a sip of his cocktail. “I didn’t know she was a jazz fan.”
“She liked all kinds of music. I took her because it pleased her, and I got points for being a good husband.” Toby winked at Sloane, and she smiled.
“I was gone so much when Connor was growing up, I felt like I needed to go the distance to make up for all the time we missed together.” He fell silent for a moment. “I’ve been to some wonderful performances at various venues, and some not so wonderful ones. Even went to a few plays and a ballet or two. We could always depend on the Jazz Corner for a quality show. They’re usually on Tuesday night.”
Sloane looked to Connor. “What do you think?”
He raised his glass to her. “I’ll call tomorrow and make reservations for next Tuesday.”
She flashed him a smile.
“Connor says you’re a lawyer.”
“Yes. I work mostly for corporations and a few smaller businesses for Hadley, Childers, and Johnson.”
“They’re pretty big stuff in Charleston. I see their advertisements all the time.”
“Yeah, they are.”
Toby leaned forward in his seat. “You have to have a passion for your work to enjoy it. I guess the law for you is the same as me running my nursery.”
“Sometimes it is. I help people to establish their companies and help them expand or merge with others. Mostly I create contracts for their employees and generally all the paperwork that goes into starting and keeping a company going.”
“Sounds like a lot of responsibility.”
“It is. Some are family-run businesses with a small number of workers. Others are large corporations with hundreds of employees, depending on their goals and success.”
“I understand the pressure. I have twelve employees including me, and I sign their paychecks every week. You become an ecosystem all your own.”
“Yes, you do.”
“So you keep everyone working,” Connor said.
“Actually, the people who run the businesses do,” she replied. “I just try to keep everything legal so they can continue to do it.”
The conversation moved to something more general, and after another half hour she rose to leave.
“You sure you’ll be okay alone?” Connor asked as she met him at the foyer carrying the tote with her bathing suit, cover-up, sunscreen, and a few towels.
His hand caught hers as they wandered down the steps to her car. “You’re welcome to stay here with us.”
“I appreciate the offer, but we both know what a temptation that would be. I’ll be fine at the condo.”
She tossed the tote behind the driver’s seat and turned to face him. “Dinner was delicious. You’ve got some killer grilling skills.”
He shrugged one muscular shoulder. “Women cook, men grill.” When he offered her a teasing grin, she shook her head.
“You could say you’re nervous about staying alone and I could join you,” he offered.
She studied the width of his chest because she was afraid he’d read how much she wanted to do just that. “Think your father would buy into that?”
“Not a chance.” He leaned back against the car and drew her between his feet, urging her to lean into him with a hand splayed against the small of her back.
“I wouldn’t want him to think I’m a loose woman.” She swallowed against the ragged beat of her heart and rested her head against his chest. “I’m tempted more than you can imagine.”
“I’m counting on it.”
She smiled and leaned back to look up at him. “Do I need to bring anything tomorrow?”
“Just you.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “Thank you for being a sounding board.”
“You have a lot to think about.” And so did she. She cupped his face in her hands and got up on tiptoe to touch her lips to his. He slanted his mouth across hers with a hot enthusiasm that left her wet with need and her legs weak.
“You are so good at that,” she murmured when he finally raised his head.
“That ain’t all.”
She laughed, then shook her head as she dragged herself away from his arms to get into the car. She rolled down the window. “And you’re so humble, too.”
CHAPTER 8
‡
Connor watched as Sloane rubbed repellent on her legs, concentrating on her ankles and the backs of her knees. Her long tail of dark hair, which was hanging through the slot at the back of a bright pink baseball cap, draped over one shoulder as she straightened. She gave her arms a cursory swipe as well, then handed the bottle to him.
After wiping her hands clean with a baby wipe, she tucked it in one of the pockets of the foot-long backpack she’d brought along. He decided she made even the casual look of red shorts with a belt and a pullover scooped-neck top somehow seem professional.
“We’re just going on a short hike, Sloane.”
She popped sunglasses on her face and looked over the rims. “You have obviously never been on the biting end of a chigger.”
He laughed. He could say he’d been on the biting end of chiggers, sand fleas, flies, mosquitoes, scorpions, spiders, ticks, leeches, the attempts of a snake or two, and one persistent shark that had gotten way too close for comfort, but he wouldn’t steal her thunder for the world.
To please her, he spread a little of the repellent around his ankles and calves.
Settling her small, light-weight backpack over her shoulders, she smiled at him while he tucked the bottle of repellent inside a pocket and folded down the Velcro flap for her. How much stuff did she carry in that thing? It couldn’t have room for much.
Her skin had already begun to tan, a dusky, warm color despite the sunblock she slathered on.
He was glad to be out in the fresh air and sunshine with her. The temptation to rush her into bed was just too strong, thus the change of plan from sticking around the pool, as they’d been doing the last two days, to a short hike in the local forest preserve.
Under the shade of the trees the sun was blocked enough to keep the walk from being too hot. Their steps clumped hollowly on the wooden boardwalk that meandered through the forest.
Sloane paused, her attention directed at the moss-hung trees overhead. “You could go into the landscaping business with your father. You seem to know a lot about plants.”
“My mom was into plants way before Dad went into business. And as for a partnership between us—My dad is a good guy. But we have a tendency to rub each other the wrong way. I suppose because we’re too much alike. My mom was always the buffer between us, and now she’s gone…” He shrugged. “I’m proud of what he’s accomplished, but I want to build something on my own.”
“I und
erstand. My dad’s a lawyer, and he offered to take me into his firm after I passed the bar. I love him dearly, but I wanted to earn a partnership, not be brought into one because we’re family.”
“I get that.”
“You could apply to be a civilian consultant for the military after you get your engineering degree.”
He’d thought about that. “Another avenue to explore in the future.”
They came out from beneath the canopy of trees into a section of boardwalk that crossed an old rice field. He grasped her arm and pointed at an egret strutting through the marshy water on pencil-thin black legs. Egrets looked both gawky and graceful on land and in the air. As though he hoped to prove that observation, the bird suddenly spread his wings and took flight, dragging his long legs behind him.
Connor couldn’t read her eyes behind her glasses, but he admired the smooth skin of her cheek and jaw, the lushness of her mouth.
“He’s gorgeous, isn’t he?”
So was she. He nodded. “I’ve filled out the separation paperwork. I just have to put a stamp on the envelope and mail it.”
“It would be natural if you’re having trouble taking that last step. It has been twenty years. Being in the military seems to be as much a way of life as a job.”
“Yeah, it is. I’ve already been updating things…my will, my medical files and that kind of thing. Got a copy of my service record. I’ll be in reserve for four years after I transition out.”
“Does that mean you’ll be limited to the areas where you can live?”
“It means that I’ll be held in reserve in case of war and they need to call me back to active duty. They spent nearly a million dollars training me, so if they need me, I’ll go.”
“Once a SEAL, always a SEAL” she mused.
“Same as in any other branch of the service.”
She waved away a persistent fly. “If you could use some of your SEAL training on your resume, it would be good.”
“Maybe a few things.” Although if he put everything down it might make him sound more like a terrorist than a viable employee.
“You could do demolition for a construction companies.”
Hot SEAL, Rusty Nail (SEALs In Paradise ) Page 6
