Once he got both wheels off, he was sweating. Kathleen went inside and came back with a hand towel and offered it to him.
“I’m sorry, Callahan.”
“What for?” He wiped his face and the back of his neck with the towel.
“This isn’t the way I wanted our day together to go.”
He winked at her. “This is just a small bump in the road, darlin’. We’ll get over it and move on.”
The way he said darlin’ in his Texas drawl made her smile. They went in so he could clean up.
*
At the garage, Cal returned from washing his hands in the restroom and slouched into one of the uncomfortable plastic seats in the waiting area of True Tire Company.
Kathleen fidgeted in her seat, then stood up, placing the heels of her hands against her lower back and stretching. The bowlike curve of her spine thrust her generous breasts out. The three employees at the counter snapped to attention, their eyes following her every move while she was totally oblivious. With her hourglass figure, lush mouth, and green eyes surrounded by thick dark lashes, she was gorgeous…and didn’t even realize it.
She’d only eaten one slice of pizza the night before and drunk two shallow glasses of wine. Who had convinced her she needed to work on her figure or anything else?
A sudden fierce possessiveness rushed through him. Who the hell were these guys to ogle his woman? Getting to his feet, Cal suggested, “Let’s walk across the street and get an ice cream.”
“No ice cream for me. But I’d like something to drink.”
Once outside the garage, he caught her hand and gave it a squeeze. “What has you so worked up?”
“Will they be able to tell what punctured my tires?”
“Probably not. Why?”
“I’m just being paranoid after all the stuff that happened at work yesterday.”
Cal remained silent, thinking it through. “Why would they puncture two tires and not all four?”
She shook her head. “This coming on top of what happened yesterday just has me jumpy and restless. And Zach not calling to let me know he’s okay…”
“I’m sure he’s fine, Kathleen. Someone would call you if he weren’t.”
The sound of the vehicles rushing by made it too noisy to talk. Walking across four lanes of traffic took some maneuvering, but they made it. Cal held open the door to the Baskin Robbins for her to precede him.
The scent of freshly baked brownies filled the air. A man ambled by with a sundae topped with them and covered with whipped cream. “What would you like?”
She looked at the brownie concoction with open longing. “Just some ice water will be fine.”
Cal didn’t argue. He ordered two ice waters and one of the brownie sundaes with two spoons. He nodded toward a booth and waited for her to slide in before he set the ice water down in front of her and slid the sundae to the middle of the table.
Kathleen’s gaze settled on his face.
“A bite or two won’t hurt you.”
She drew a deep breath. “It seems we have a theme going here. Feed Kathleen.”
It did seem they’d spent more time eating together and talking than anything else. He couldn’t just ignore the opportunity. “Maybe we need to think of something more interesting and physical we can do together.” He spooned up some whipped cream and offered it to her.
Soft color touched her cheeks, and after a moment’s pause, she leaned forward, opened her mouth, and eased the whipped cream from the spoon. The response he’d hoped for boomeranged right back to him and he was hard in an instant.
Was he ready to drop his pants and bare all? Was she? He sure wished they both were. But no, neither of them was ready to take the plunge.
When Kathleen reciprocated with a spoonful of brownie and ice cream, he smiled and took the sweet into his mouth.
After her second bite, she rested a hand over his. “If you think the way to my heart is through my stomach, you could be right. And you being handy as pockets on a shirt doesn’t hurt any, either.” She spooned up another bite of ice cream and brownie.
“I’m handy in other ways, too,” he said before leaning forward to take it. This seduction thing was easier than he’d thought it would be, and every time Kathleen’s eyes softened or lit with emotion, it encouraged him to be bolder.
She bit her lip. “Are you flirting with me like this because you think I’ll put the brakes on before you have to?”
“I’m flirting with you like this because I like the way you blush when I do it.” He tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. She lowered her face, but not before he caught the parting of her lips. Maybe if he made her want him, really want him, she wouldn’t get all fixated on his leg. “I want you, and I want you to know it. Aren’t you used to guys flirting with you?”
She shook her head. “My first few years at college I was a chunk and the guys weren’t all that interested. After I lost some weight, my ex and I started dating. He wasn’t much of a flirt.”
“From what you told me about him, he wasn’t much of a boyfriend, either.” He offered her another bite of ice cream and she shook her head.
“After some introspection, I have to agree.” She leaned her elbows on the table and folded her arms, which pushed her breasts together and gave him a drool-worthy view of her cleavage.
He could no more keep his eyes from feasting on the view than he could stop things south from rising to the occasion. If he got any harder, his zipper was going to leave a permanent imprint on his dick.
“The way you’re looking at me right now already makes you a much better boyfriend than he ever was.”
“It also guarantees I’m going to have to sit here a few minutes and cool down before I can walk out of here.” He reached for his ice water.
Kathleen leaned back in her chair, removing temptation from sight and reach. “Me too, Callahan.”
Chapter 9
‡
Kathleen studied the San Diego scenery while Cal drove them back to Zach’s house. Moving to California from Boston was like blasting off to the moon. The light here seemed more intense, the styles of the cities were totally different. And she was still surprised every time she saw palm trees. The more moderate changes in temperature in California were rather pleasant, too.
She still missed home and family. Missed the few friends she’d been able to keep after the breakup. And there were still days she woke and reached for her phone to call Tamara. But not Lee.
Thinking of Lee brought her attention back to Cal. How could two men be so completely different? Though her sexual experience was limited to a few heavy petting sessions in high school and sex with Lee, she at least knew the basics of attraction. But Cal Crowes was teaching her something altogether different.
With Cal she was primed and ready for sex after just a look. She’d wanted to climb across the table and straddle his lap right there in the ice cream shop.
He wanted her. She wanted him. It was a good thing. But too much of a good thing could be bad for you. This wild sexual response she had to him could end up hurting her, hurting him. And having sex without an emotional connection just wasn’t something she could do.
“You’re thinking loudly again,” Cal said as he laced his fingers with hers on the console between the seats.
“I know.” She needed to learn to relax and just let things happen. That had been one of Lee’s many criticisms. She could never be spontaneous. She had to analyze and plan everything. But she’d been on a rigorous schedule of classes and work. What had he expected?
He no doubt believed she was supposed to put him first. But when they did have time to spend together… She had to let this go and quit dragging up the hurtful things she’d experienced with Lee.
Cal was different. And she had been spontaneous with him. It was easy to be when you had the time. “Thanks for helping me today.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I don’t have the wheels back on.”
Kathleen gave his
hand a squeeze. “I’m not worried.”
Cal backed the truck into the drive and they got out. For the second time since she’d known him, he had a small difficulty with his prosthetic. The uneven liner inside the truck bed threw his balance off, and he had to grip the edge of the bed while he shoved the wheels down to the tailgate.
Kathleen dropped one of the wheels off the tailgate, then rolled it to her car. The damn thing was heavy, and she had trouble controlling it, which pissed her off. Or was she angry because of Cal’s struggle? Every time she thought about a part of him not being there, it hurt her. It didn’t make her nauseous or freak her out like his ex. It made her ache for him. He would have to struggle with it the rest of his life. And whoever loved him would be a part of that struggle.
When he removed his shirt for the second time that day, she forgot about everything but enjoying the scenery.
Putting the wheels on was nothing compared to getting them off. Within half an hour, Cal had the wheels back on and the lug nuts tightened.
“Come inside for a cold drink.” She offered him the hand towel she’d retrieved from the house to wipe his face.
He followed her into the house, through the bland, personality-starved living room, and into the kitchen. She got him a bottle of cold water from the fridge and waited for him to open his bottle and take a drink before she moved in close.
“I’m sweaty,” he warned.
“You’re fine.” She smiled and ran a hand down over his shoulder to the tattoo. “And I appreciate your helping me get the car roadworthy again.” She rose on tiptoe and kissed him.
Cal wasn’t slow on the uptake. His hand splayed against her spine urged her to lean into him. His lips parted and his tongue brushed the seam between hers.
Kathleen accepted the slow thrust between her lips, and nearly groaned at the act of penetration. With the promising bulge beneath his jeans pressing into her belly, she wanted to just part her legs and invite him in.
The sound of a masculine throat being cleared broke the spell, and Cal raised his head, but didn’t release her.
Kathleen looked over her shoulder at her brother’s scowling, disapproving face. This coming from the man who unashamedly admitted to sleeping around, wanting nothing more than a quick roll in the hay.
She fought the urge to roll her eyes and said, “Hey, Zach.”
“Hey.” His green gaze settled on Cal, intent and searching. She didn’t miss the air of bristling big brother that radiated off him like heat off of asphalt. With his scruffy, unshaven face, butchered hair, and unsmiling demeanor, he looked deadly.
“This is Cal Crowes. I mentioned him the other night.”
“Yeah, I remember.” His deadpan tone sounded less than enthused.
Cal released her in order to step forward and offer his hand. His attention on her brother was just as intent as Zach’s was on him. And he didn’t seem intimidated, despite Zach’s posturing. “We’ve met before, under pretty intense circumstances.”
“We have?” Zach’s features relaxed enough to show mild curiosity.
“Yeah. You and your team saved my life.”
*
Cal never dreamed he’d ever see any of the men who saved his life that day. He’d thought about trying to find them to say thanks, but because of the way they operated, hadn’t pursued it. They were like shadows over there, doing the job with complete anonymity. They didn’t want or expect to be acknowledged in any way.
He’d known a couple who’d gone on patrol with them. Flash and Greenback. And now, dressed again, he was sitting across the coffee table from the medic who worked on him before they loaded him into the chopper.
“Flash and Greenback, they’re okay?”
“Yeah. Both are doing well.”
“Good, I’m glad. They used to tag along with my unit sometimes.”
“Yeah, I know. Crazy fuckers.”
Cal grinned. “Yeah.” Kathleen’s hand came to rest on his thigh in comfort and support, and he placed a hand over it.
Zach followed the gesture with narrowed eyes. “You’re back on your feet, and Kathleen says you’re working construction.”
“Yeah. Commercial. I’m working with the crew who’s building the tower downtown.”
Zach raised a brow. “Didn’t get enough of danger in the sandbox?”
“We sometimes have to dodge falling supplies or dropped tools, but for the most part it’s tame stuff.” He shrugged.
“Kathleen told me about what happened her first day on the job. Doesn’t sound all that tame to me.”
“Nothing like Afghanistan. I’d have bled to death if you and the others hadn’t gotten me out of the wreckage when you did.” It took all his will to maintain his composure.
“We were just in the right place at the right time, the same as you were that day on the job.”
Cal rose. “I want to thank you anyway.” He extended his hand.
Zach rose and took it. “You’ve passed it on, man. It was meant to be.”
Cal met Zach’s gaze. The shared experience was written there in his face. Dodged bullets, explosions, IEDs, and the deaths they’d seen, like the three men sealed in body bags they’d loaded on the chopper with him.
Zach’s mouth quirked up in a smirk. “You wouldn’t want to pay me back by keeping your distance from my sister, would you?”
“Zach!”
At Kathleen’s protest, Cal turned to study her flushed cheeks and outraged expression. He grinned and shook his head. “Not a chance.”
Zach laughed. “It was worth a shot.” His expression grew serious. “I’ll still rip off your head and stuff it up your ass if you hurt her.”
Cal nodded. “Noted.”
Zach slapped his shoulder. “Thanks for getting her car squared away.”
“No problem.” He turned to Kathleen. “How ’bout that drive we talked about? We’ll stop for dinner up the coast.”
“That sounds nice.” She went to Zach and gave him a hug. “Get some rest.”
“Will do.”
She grabbed a hand of his wildly curly red locks. “I’ll cut your hair tomorrow. Stop chopping at it, or I’ll have to shave your head.”
Cal turned his laugh into a cough. He got the feeling that both he and Zach only thought they were in charge, while it was Kathleen who really was.
Zach shot him a look, then grinned. “No problem. I’m taking a shower and hitting my bunk. I may sleep for a week.”
“Good. That way you won’t be waiting up for me when I get home.”
Zach narrowed his eyes, first at her, then him.
She got her purse, and Cal rested a hand against the small of her back as they left.
“Real modest guy,” Cal said.
“Like someone else I know,” she said, with a raised brow.
“Aren’t SEALs supposed to have better timing than that?” He opened the passenger door of his truck and Kathleen slid in.
“His timing did suck, but he approves of you.”
Cal didn’t care one way or the other about that. Well, maybe a little. Kathleen’s feelings were the only ones he was interested in. He strode around and got behind the wheel. Curiosity had him asking, “How could you tell?”
“He eased back on the ‘let’s try and intimidate Kathleen’s date into making a break for it’ routine. And he was smiling before we left. Always a good sign.”
Cal chuckled. “I can’t wait to meet the rest of your family.”
“Be careful what you wish for, Callahan. You might think Zach’s a hard nut to crack, but he doesn’t hold a candle to my dad.”
Cal pulled out onto the street.
After everything he’d been through, facing the men in Kathleen’s family didn’t worry him. What concerned him was the possibility of getting naked with her and seeing all the passion she’d offered him in her kiss die. For all the confidence he could project in his work, his daily life, meeting people, he had no confidence at all when it came to lowering the boundaries a
nd leaving himself vulnerable in that way.
The last girl he’d dated told him he closed himself off to intimacy. She hadn’t realized it was because he’d been scared the one time they made love. It was his first time since leaving the hospital. His body had worked, but his mind and heart had been preparing for that moment of rejection. After a month of dating, and one night of sex, she’d called it quits. Which hadn’t been great for his confidence.
Would he feel the same way with Kathleen? She was already winding her way into his feelings with every laugh, every sign of support. She hadn’t cautioned him to be careful, or said a word about his stumbling in the truck bed when he was unable to stabilize his prosthetic foot on the liner.
Kathleen had been around enough men to know how saying anything would make him feel.
“Now who’s thinking loudly?” Kathleen murmured. “Did the thought of meeting my dad send you into a funk?”
“I’m not worried about your dad, Kathleen. You’re the one I’m dating, so your opinion is the only one that matters.” He felt the weight of her interest for several moments as he wound his way to Highway 1.
“Thanks, Callahan.”
She spoke with such feeling he glanced in her direction.
*
Kathleen’s phone rang and she dug inside her purse to retrieve it. Seeing her mother’s number, she hit the receive button. “Hey, Mom.
“Hey, Kathleen. I haven’t heard from you this week so I thought I’d call.”
Kathleen tried to push back the immediate resentment that tightened her jaw. She shouldn’t feel this way about her mother. But her constant sympathy after the breakup had been hard to take. She kept telling herself her mom worried about her, like she herself had been worrying about Zach for the last two days.
But there always seemed to be a hint of criticism in her mother’s voice every time they talked. As though the breakup had been her fault instead of Lee’s. Again, it wasn’t her mom’s fault, because Kathleen hadn’t been completely honest with her, but it was damn hard to admit to being a fool. “I’ve been working, Mom.” She glanced at Cal. “And I’ve had a couple of dates this week.”
Breaking Boundaries (SEAL Team Heartbreakers Book 5) Page 10
