by JM Stewart
Her gaze slid to his, eyes soft and glowing from within. She was happy, and his chest swelled at the sight. Finally. He’d done something to make her happy. He’d try to lasso the moon and the stars in order to keep that look on her face.
Determination lit in her eyes, and Lauren slid off his lap, holding out her hand. “Come on. Time for bed.”
He set his hand in hers and let her pull him to his feet, watching the sexy sway of her ass as she led him out of the living room and down the hallway. “To bed or to sleep?”
She shot a smile over her shoulder, but he didn’t miss the heat that flared in those gorgeous eyes. “That depends. How tired are you?”
His heart tripped over itself. He hadn’t slept in a week. He was exhausted, actually. Bone-dead tired.
Not that he’d tell her that.
He grinned and winked at her. “Not in the least.”
BEAUTIFUL, SASSY, AND DRIVEN, LAWYER STEPHANIE MASON STOPPED BELIEVING IN LOVE A LONG TIME AGO. SO WHEN HER MILITARY MATCH DATE ENDS UP BEING HER SEXY FORMER COLLEGE HOOK-UP, GABE DONOVAN, SHE DOES WHAT ANY INDEPENDENT, STRONG WOMAN WOULD: SHE PROPOSES A NO-STRINGS-ATTACHED FLING. BUT THIS FORMER SEAL IS DETERMINED TO CONVINCE STEPH THAT, SOMETIMES, LOVE IS BETTER THE SECOND TIME AROUND.
SEE THE NEXT PAGE FOR A PREVIEW OF
A SEAL’S HONOR.
Chapter One
Gabriel Donovan frowned at his reflection in the full-length mirror, then glanced down at his ten-year-old daughter, Charlotte. She stood in front of him, her gaze intent on her task of knotting his tie. “Why the hell am I doing this again?”
Char frowned her disapproval and darted a glance at him. “You owe the swear jar a dollar, Dad. And you’re doing this because you need a date. It’s time.”
With a heavy sigh, he stuffed a hand in his right front pocket, pulled out a dollar bill, and held it out to her. The jar was full already, and the money in there was mostly his. Some example he was setting.
Char stuffed the bill into the pocket of her jeans and resumed knotting his tie. He turned back to his reflection, frowning at the dress shirt and tie she’d insisted he wear. At least he’d won the jeans argument.
He let his shoulders slump. The whole evening set out before him exhausted him, and it hadn’t even started. “I am so not cut out for this. I miss your mother.”
Life with Julia had been simple. Reliable. She’d been a constant. He’d been cocky enough back in college to think he was good with women, but he hadn’t dated in…hell, before Char was born. He was so far out of practice he might as well be a gangly, uncertain teenager all over again.
Char looped one end of the tie over the other and tipped her head back to look up at him. “I miss her, too, Dad, but you promised you wouldn’t be sad forever.”
While her face remained stoic, her scowl set firm, he didn’t miss the worry and sadness that crept into her eyes. Julia’s death had been hard on them both but on Char most of all. His baby sister, Molly, was right. A little girl needed her mother. That was also partly why he was going on this date. They both could use a change.
He cupped Char’s chin in his palm. She looked like a younger version of Julia. The same auburn hair, a shade darker than her mother’s. The same oval face and cute, up-turned nose. All she’d gotten from him were her hazel eyes and unruly curls. Still, every time he saw her, his chest ached. He wasn’t ready to start dating again. Marriage and family had suited him fine. “You’re too old for your own good, you know that? You shouldn’t be taking care of me. You should just be a kid.”
Char was smart like her mother, too. She got straight As in school with little effort, constantly had her nose in a book, and since Julia’s death, seemed to have made it her mission to take care of him. It’s what they’d done since Julia got sick, how they’d gotten by: they took care of each other. Her enthusiasm for his dating again came from a more basic need, though. She wanted him to stop being sad.
At least that’s what she’d said last week when he’d finally given in and agreed to his sister’s cockamamie scheme. The problem was, he wasn’t sure how to stop being sad. How do you stop missing someone when you’d give both arms to have them back?
The heavy emotion in Char’s eyes lightened, and she shot him a mischievous smile. That was something else she’s gotten from him—her playful nature. “Somebody has to take care of you. We’d eat out every night if I didn’t make you cook.”
A twinge of guilt of tightened his stomach. She was right, of course. He couldn’t cook to save his life. Julia had always taken care of that. Along with a host of other things, like laundry and grocery shopping. Even after his parents’ deaths, Molly had taken care of what he’d always considered the “girl stuff.” He hated the grocery store. It was too damn crowded and too damn bright. If you asked him, the drive-through was just easier all around.
“I don’t know what you have against takeout. Most kids your age could live on the stuff.” Gabe turned back to his reflection and poked a finger into his collar, tugging at the tie cinched around his neck. “Is the tie really necessary?”
He hadn’t worn one since he’d gotten out of the service four years ago. Spending most of his day at the custom motorcycle and repair shop he co-owned with one of his best friends, Marcus Denali, he had his hands in engine grease the majority of the day. Anything more than a T-shirt would only end up grimy anyway.
Char slipped one end of the tie into the loop she’d made. “Yes. It’s nice. Plus, it’s blue. That’s what they said, right? You have to wear blue so she’ll know it’s you.”
He sighed and stared at his reflection. For the first time since Julia died three years ago, he had a freakin’ date, from a service, no less. One of his mechanic’s wives owned the exclusive dating service Military Match. Trent Lawson, a fellow SEAL who did most of his custom detailing, had used the place with good results. He and his fiancée, Lauren, were getting married in three months.
“Besides, I like this tie. Mom gave it to you for Christmas before she died. It’ll be good luck.” Char readjusted his tie and patted his chest, then stood back to eye her handiwork. A self-pleased smile etched across her face. “There. You look perfect.”
He shook his head. “I must be out of my mind.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. Three years alone, and he still wasn’t ready for this. He was, however, lonely. He missed the simple things, like not having to sleep alone and waking to warm, soft curves. Getting married again, though, he flat out wasn’t ready for.
What he hoped for tonight he hadn’t a clue. Companionship? To get laid? Someone else to talk to besides Char and Molly and the guys at the shop? Hell. He’d figure out the rest when he got there. At the very least, it would get Molly off his case.
The doorbell sounded through the house, and Char’s brows shot up, her eyes widening with excitement.
“That’s Aunt Molly!” She darted out of the room, her feet thumping down the hall.
Gabe turned from the full-length floor mirror to the picture on the dresser beside him. He touched the glass, tracing the curve of Julia’s forehead with his thumb. She’d been healthy then. Alive and vibrant. Her smile still took his breath away. “Wish me luck, Jules.”
He drew a deep breath, trying his damnedest to ignore the nausea swirling in his stomach, and followed Char. Emerging into the front room of the house, he found her in the foyer with Molly. Since Julia’s death, Molly had taken to helping him with Char. He was grateful to her on that front, because he was in over his head. He hadn’t a clue how to raise a little girl. If it were up to him, Char would be in the shop with him, learning how to take apart an engine. Julia had always insisted little girls needed a feminine role model. Luckily for him, Char adored her aunt Molly.
Molly glanced up as he entered the living room. A slow smiled curled across her face, amusement gleaming in her eyes. “Wow. Look at you. Hot stuff.”
He glared at her as he approached the foyer. “Stop.�
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Molly’s smile drooped. She turned to Char and tousled her hair. “Why you don’t go pack your stuff for the weekend. Give me a minute with your dad.”
Char shot him a sideways scowl. “Cheer him up, Aunt Molly. He’ll ruin his date.”
With a shake of her head, Char strode for her bedroom. Once she was out of hearing range, Molly turned worried eyes on him.
Gabe held up a hand, stopping the encouragement he’d heard a dozen times since she’d taken it upon herself to sign him up for this date. “Don’t start with the ‘this is good for you’ crap. I get it. You’re both right. It’s time. But I don’t have to like it.”
Molly let out a heavy sigh, then, just as suddenly, flashed an over-bright smile. “At the very least, hope you’ll get laid, then.”
His heart stalled, and he darted a panicked glance behind him. Char’s soft voice echoed up the hallway as she sang some upbeat boy-band tune. Satisfied she hadn’t overheard Molly’s blatant statement, his heart resumed its beat. Gabe turned back to his sister and frowned.
“Jesus, Moll, keep your voice down.” He shouldn’t be surprised she’d said it, though. That was Molly in a nutshell—bold as brass and doing as she pleased. He couldn’t stop his cheeks from blazing all the same. “I don’t need advice on getting laid from my sister.”
She had the nerve to grin at him. “Apparently, you do, because you’re not doing it.”
He glared at her. “Moll…”
She laughed and held up her hands. “All right, all right. At the very least, try to have a good time? Don’t scowl, and for crying out loud, don’t sit there brooding.” She cuffed his shoulder and winked at him. “You had a personality once. Try to dig it up, huh?”
He let out a heavy sigh. She was right. More times than he cared to admit, he’d bitten her head off for worrying about him too much. Hell, the guys at the shop had pointed out the same thing, how snappish he’d become. Marcus had teased him about it the other day, when he’d lost his temper with a supplier over parts that hadn’t come in on time. “You need to get laid, man.”
Also why he’d found himself with a date tonight. Because Marcus was right. He hadn’t had sex with anyone but his left hand since Julia got sick, nearing on four years now. Hell. His freakin’ balls were blue. The thought of warm feminine curves against him made his cock twitch in his jeans. If all he got out of this date was that, he’d consider this whole experience successful.
Char came running back to the door, her backpack stuffed full and slung over her shoulder. She hurled herself against him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. “Bye, Daddy. I love you.”
He bent to kiss the top of her head. “I love you, too, sweetheart. Make sure you mind Aunt Molly, okay?”
She leaned back, hazel eyes wide and anxious and filled with too much worry. “Promise you’ll try to have a good time? Mom made me promise that I wouldn’t let you sit around and be sad. So you have to promise.”
A thick lump formed in his throat. Slayed. Completely, one hundred percent slayed.
He brushed the curls out of her face. “I promise I’ll try. Now go.”
She hugged him again, then slipped her hand into Molly’s.
Molly tossed him a friendly smile. “I’ll have her back Sunday morning, as usual.”
He hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. “Thanks, Moll. I really appreciate your help, you know.”
Warmth bloomed in her eyes, her smile softening. “I know.” Then she punched his shoulder and pursed her lips. “Now you have to promise me you’re at least going to try to like her.”
He couldn’t help the soft laugh that left him. Despite being five years younger, she had a definite motherly streak. An annoying one.
He opened the front door and nodded at the porch beyond. “Will you guys get out? I’ll never get there with you two hanging around nagging me to death.”
Molly rolled her eyes but ushered Char out all the same, calling to him as she made her way to her car, parked at the curb. “I’m going to call you tomorrow morning. You’d better not answer.”
He shook his head and closed the door. Alone in the deafening silence, he heaved a sigh. The sickening knots in his gut twisted all over again. The “fun” of this particular dating agency was supposedly in the initial meeting. They set up the time and place, and you simply showed up. All he knew about his date tonight was that she was a blond attorney and she’d be wearing something blue. Hence the damn tie.
According to Karen, the service’s owner and his mechanic Mike’s wife, the idea was to make the initial meeting seem more like a chance encounter. Add a little mystery. Trent, however, had told him all it really meant was that he’d have a blind date. Trent had loathed that aspect and had offered the information almost as a warning.
Gabe glanced down at his sneakers and stroked a hand down his thigh. At this point, he wasn’t above a blind date for his first venture into the land of dating again. He only hoped she wouldn’t mind that he was missing the lower part of his left leg.
* * *
Seated on a hard park bench, looking out over the waters of Lake Washington, Stephanie Mason’s knee bounced with the nervous anticipation flooding through her. She glanced down at herself, straightening her jacket. A half hour ago, when Lauren, one of her two best friends, suggested she wear this cobalt-blue halter top, it had seemed perfect. A chance to shed the bland suits she wore to the law firm every day, sexy without being too revealing. Now she had her doubts. It seemed too tame.
Were she going to a club, she’d have worn something a little more revealing. She wasn’t a stranger to the dating scene. When she had needs, she knew how to flirt, how to dress to lure a man’s attention. Lauren, though, the more sensible one of their trio, had pointed out that showing her goods wasn’t appropriate for a first date she hoped would lead to more than a one-night stand. The question was, would her date like tame? Or should have insisted on something sexier?
She hitched up the sleeve of her jacket, glanced at her watch for the third time in ten minutes, and heaved a sigh. Her date was late. Okay, so only by five minutes, but in her profession, punctuality was everything. That he was late told her a lot. Namely, that he thought so little of her he couldn’t be bothered to show up on time.
So much for the old adage “third time’s the charm.” This was her third date with Military Match, and it wasn’t starting out any better than the others had. The first guy she’d met was so cheap he’d practically squeaked. They’d gone to a matinee show, and he’d paid for dinner with coupons. Freaking coupons. The second guy spent the whole night talking about himself.
Figures that Lauren would go on one date and immediately meet the man she would marry in three months.
Steph glanced down at her top again. Okay, so maybe she should give Lauren more credit. She and Mandy, best friend number two, had dressed Lauren conservative for her date, and looked how that turned out.
She lifted her face to the beautiful sky and stared at the few stars peeking out from between the clouds. She’d known Mandy for two years now, since the day she’d hired the cute brunette to help plan her wedding. When Alec had left her standing at the altar, looking and feeling like an utter fool, Mandy had been the friend she needed. She’d introduced her to her childhood friend Lauren. That night Mandy had insisted on a girls’ night at home. They’d had so much fun, they’d immediately made it a weekly thing.
If she’d ever had sisters, those two would’ve been it.
Which was why she’d taken Lauren’s wardrobe suggestions. More than anything, she wanted to meet someone special. Since that day, two years ago now, when Alec had stood her up at the altar, she’d been living a lie, determined never to get hurt like that again. But the truth was, she’d grown tired of the endless flings she’d once convinced herself she delighted in. Deep down she wasn’t a single kind of girl, and waking alone every day only served to make her feel exactly that—alone.
Steph turned to scan the area around her ag
ain. It being April in the Pacific Northwest, the night was gorgeous. Not quite sixty, with lovely cool breezes and a clear sky, a few stars peeking out from behind the clouds. They usually didn’t see days like this until nearly July. Any other time, she’d have put on her Nikes and gone for a run, simply for an excuse to enjoy the break from the ceaseless rain. Apparently, she wasn’t alone in that sentiment. A half dozen or so people littered the area.
Her date could be any one of them. Not that she’d recognize him if she saw him. The only information about him the woman from Military Match had given her was that he was “huge,” had dark hair, and would be wearing something blue. She was told to meet him by the beach, here at Chism Park.
Restless with the need to move, she surged to her feet and turned in a slow circle. Halfway around, a sight stopped her cold. Some twenty feet or so down the sidewalk, a huge hulk of a man stood doing exactly what she was. Hands stuffed in his pockets, he looked around, as if he were waiting for someone.
The width of his strong shoulders and the dark hair licking at the collar of his black leather jacket sent her stomach into overdrive. The ache of familiarity flooded her veins, setting her heart to trying to escape her chest.
Gabe.
God, he looked exactly the same as the last time she’d seen him. Had it really been eleven years? He stood six foot six inches of intimidating, delicious man. His hair curled over his forehead, the ends whipping in the slight breeze. Her hands itched with remembrance. How many times had she brushed those curls out of his eyes?
Back in college, undergrad days, those big hands and that muscular body had given her so much pleasure. Of all her lovers over the years, he was the one she couldn’t forget. He’d been one of the few to truly rock her world. The energy they’d worked up in each other could easily have powered a small city.
He’d also been one of the few to manage the feat of capturing her heart. Her one and only foray into how to do everything wrong. She’d fallen in love with her best friend. Eleven years ago she and Gabe had fallen into a friends-with-benefits relationship. They’d hung out, discussing classes and dick professors while sharing cartons of Chinese as often as they’d fucked.
