Yesterday's Promise

by Cheryl St. John

  A frown creased his forehead. “Who told you that?”

  She looked over her shoulder. “No one had to tell me. I’ve always tripped over my own feet or fallen from a crack in a sidewalk. I not only fall downstairs, I’ve also fallen up them.”

  He leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers. “Everyone has embarrassing moments. I’ve turned too fast and walked into a door.”

  “Yes, but do you do it consistently?”

  He studied her expression. “Occasionally. Do you do things frequently?”

  She nodded. Might as well let him know what he was getting into right out of the gate. “I experience my klutziness on a weekly basis.”

  “How so?”

  “Let’s see, this week, I got my backpack caught in a door and had to take it off in order to get it loose. Last week I tripped up the stairs in the lecture hall when I was leaving class. Those are two of many.”

  “Were you in a hurry or nervous either one of those times?”

  For someone she only met last night, he had a good read on her. She sighed. “When am I not a nervous wreck?”

  Leaning closer, he spoke close to her ear so she could hear him. “Have you ever tried visualization to help calm your anxiety?”

  “I’ve tried several different techniques and some things have gotten better.” How had they got onto this horrible tangent? She needed this conversation to not be about her.

  The slide of his hand on her back was a distraction she didn’t need when she was trying to talk and make sense. “What about you? What’s your biggest fear? Or your worst habit?”

  “Don’t you know SEALs are badasses? We’ve been trained to overcome any personal fears.”

  Another mechanical jerk made her slip sideways, but Heath shifted his weight to support her until she could regain her seat. His movements were smooth and effortless. She touched his hand. “Anyone ever tell you that you’ve got great reflexes?”

  “Not recently.” He shrugged. “Constant training keeps our bodies and minds ready at a moment’s notice.”

  “Do you really get called out with no warning?”

  “Frequently. Sometimes for a training op and others for actual missions. We have to be prepared to leave at any time.”

  “What about today? Could you get a call today?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, even on my day off. I have my go bag with me, like every other day.”

  “How do you live like that?” Oops, that sounded rude. Sometimes her comments came out too blunt. “I mean, how do you make plans when you know they might not happen? I’m not explaining this well.”

  He shifted his stance, faced her horse and bracketed his arms in front and behind her. “You make plans you hope to keep, but you explain to the people in your life about what could happen with no warning. No one’s life is perfect. Our friends and family have had to learn to deal with missed dinners, birthdays, anniversaries and other special events. This type of life isn’t for everyone, and it isn’t easy on relationships.”

  How would she feel if her boyfriend didn’t show up for a date with no notice? Could she handle that? She’d like to think she could, but if she was honest, she wasn’t that strong. The first time he didn’t show, she’d believe the worst. “I can’t imagine how tough that must be on the families. Especially the not knowing.”

  “Yeah, it is, but SEALs have to be upfront about the downside of our lives. We can’t tell our loved ones where we’re going, when we’ll be back or what we did when we’re gone. That’s tough on everyone.” He leaned closer. “I’m not trying to bring the mood down, but I want to be honest.”

  The carousel slowed and gradually stopped. Once again, her mount was at the top of the rotation and the floor was a long way down. Too far for a normal dismount.

  “Swing your right leg over the saddle horn, turn toward me and slide. I won’t let you fall.” Heath gave her a reassuring smile.

  “That’s easy to say, but not so easy to do in a skirt.” Particularly when said skirt was already draped over the back of the horse. Cassie shifted and managed to get her right leg over without showing more than a little thigh. Now for the tricky part. Maybe she could stand in the left stirrup first to tuck the fabric behind her before she started the dismount.

  Heath moved directly in front of her and placed both of his hands on her waist. “Grab my shoulders and hang on.”

  His statement was the only warning before he freed her left foot and lifted her from the horse. She lunged forward and wrapped her arms around his neck in a strangle hold. “Oh, my god.”

  “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

  The low rumble of his voice vibrated through her everywhere they touched. She was plastered against the front of him, making the sensations spark electrical charges in places she’d never experienced before. Every nerve ending in her body tingled on high alert.

  Heath slid her down his body one slow inch at a time. His heart rate increased, and his breaths came faster. The feel of her arms wrapped around him and way her soft womanly curves fit his harder frame woke parts of his body he needed to keep under control. He didn’t want to scare her away. Today had been one of the best days he could remember.

  He wanted more time with her. That meant keeping his body’s reaction to her from becoming a problem. Bending his knees, he gently set her on her feet. But she didn’t let go and he couldn’t straighten without poking her with his embarrassing reaction.

  “Hey, sweetheart, you can let go now. You’re safe on the ground.” He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and tipped her chin up to see her face. “Are you okay?” Oh man, he hadn’t grabbed her too tight, had he? “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  She lifted her wide-eyed gaze to meet his and shook her head. “No, you didn’t hurt me. I was startled. You surprised me.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.” Wrapping his arm behind her back, he turned and guided her from the carousel. Her small frame fit against his side like they were two pieces of a puzzle. He’d never met any woman who attracted him the way she did without even trying.

  Once they left the pavilion, he kept his arm around her, and they strolled further down the pier. They tried on hats or held up shirts with funny messages printed on them. They each tried to make the other laugh. He’d never enjoyed a date as much as this time with Cassie.

  “What would you like for supper?” He wanted her to make the choice since he’d made all the major decisions for the day.

  Her head came up and her gaze met his. “No, supper isn’t necessary. You’ve already spent a lot today.” Concern marred her beautiful face.

  “Yes, we need something to eat. I simply want you to pick what you’d like.” The idea of someone worrying about his money was a novel one. Granted, his family had plenty of dough, and his dad had set up a trust fund for him and his twin brother. Heath lived on his salary, but having the trust money to fall back on, if necessary, made life easier. He leaned closer to her. “I’m not a student. I work and get a paycheck. Buying supper won’t break the bank.”

  She shot him a hesitant look. “I didn’t mean to offend you, but money is tight for people our age. I know you’re not in school, but I didn’t think military salaries were high paying either.”

  “True, my base salary won’t make me rich, but when I go on missions overseas, I get a bump in my base pay. I also live in base housing with a teammate.” His gaze met hers. “Please say yes. I don’t want this day to end.”

  A tentative smile lit her face. “I don’t want this to be over either.” She glanced around the pier but didn’t seem to find what she wanted. “Is there an inexpensive seafood place close by?”

  Relief washed through him. “I think I saw one earlier. Let’s head back and see if we can find it.”

  Ten minutes later they were seated at an outside, shaded table facing the ocean. “Order what you’d like.”

  A frown marred Cassie’s forehead. “They have a wonderful
selection, but some of the dishes are pricey. They’re even higher than these same dishes would be in Denver and we’re right here at the ocean. They must inflate their prices.”

  “The prices in California are higher than most of the country. I think I’ll have the crab legs and tilapia combo. What do you want?” He closed his menu and took a sip of his water.

  “The Cajun shrimp and salmon combo sounds interesting.” She met his gaze. “Are you sure about this? I’d hate for you to have to eat Ramen noodles the rest of the month.”

  He chuckled. “I’m sure. And I can’t stand those horrible noodles. Trust me I wouldn’t risk that.”

  “Okay, then let’s order. For some reason I worked up an appetite.”

  “Well, we don’t want you wasting away from hunger.” Heath motioned for the waiter.

  After they gave their orders, he reached across the table and clasped her hand. “Thank you for spending the day with me. I’ve had a great time. I hope you did too.”

  Cassie nodded. “I had a wonderful time and enjoyed getting to know you.”

  “We haven’t talked much about you and your family. You mentioned Denver, are you from there?” He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. Her skin was baby soft, yet there were calluses on her fingers. He wanted to hear the stories behind those, but he wouldn’t push.

  “Denver is my hometown. As for family it’s my dad and myself. My mom died when I was little.” A faraway look shadowed her eyes. “I don’t really remember her, but dad showed me pictures and told me stories about her.”

  “You and your dad against the world, huh?”

  “Yeah. My dad is great. He always makes me feel special and beautiful. Even on days when I’m a mess.”

  Her memories had to be good based on the wistful expression on her face. Heath didn’t think he had any good memories of his mom. And only a few of his dad. His good memories were tied to his twin brother and their older sister. “Sounds like the two of you were close.”

  “We still are. He encouraged me to choose any college or university I wanted. After I got all my school brochures, we studied them together and made a pro and con list to help me make an educated selection. Then I narrowed it down to four choices and Dad and I visited those campuses to check out all the options.”

  “You really do your research don’t you?”

  “I like to know everything before I make big decisions.” She shrugged. “One more unusual habit I’m known for.”

  “Why is being thorough an unusual habit?”

  Before Cassie could answer, the waiter appeared with their food, and she slipped her hand from Heath’s. She immediately missed his warmth and the slow stroke of his thumb against her skin. Leaning back in her chair, she inhaled the wonderful aromas coming from their selections. She might not be a great cook, but she loved good food.

  The first bite of perfectly cooked salmon practically melted in her mouth. The flavored rice and steamed vegetables complimented both the salmon and shrimp. She closed her eyes with her second bite to intensify the burst of flavor over her taste buds. “Mmmm.”

  A hiss of air had her opening her eyes to Heath’s flushed face. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah,” he replied in a low and raspy tone.

  “Are you sure?” She didn’t know what was wrong. Had she done something to cause his strange reaction?

  After swallowing several times, Heath finally managed to meet her gaze. “Do you do that often?”

  She thought back over their previous conversations and drew a blank. “Do what?”

  “You took a bite of your food, closed your eyes and got an…” He seemed to struggle for the right words. “Orgasmic look on your face, followed by a throaty moan.”

  Heat flooded Cassie’s face. Oh, my god. Had she really made that type of noise with that kind of expression on her face? If any of the other diners or the staff had noticed, she’d never be able to come back here. “I’m sorry I had no idea.” She paused. How could she explain her reactions? “I’m a foodie and the exceptional flavors in this meal speak to me.”

  The corners of his mouth twitched as though he struggled not to laugh. “I’ve never dated anyone who enjoyed their meal like you do. Don’t be sorry. It’s nice to be with a woman who doesn’t pick at her food for fear she’ll gain an ounce.”

  She grinned. “I do Pilates and yoga, so I can eat the foods I like. I’ll workout as long as I have to so I can keep eating my favorite foods. I also walk everywhere on campus, which helps.”

  After eating, they strolled back to his truck. Heath couldn’t remember ever enjoying spending an entire day with a date. Most women irritated him after a few hours, probably because most of them never let him see who they really were. The women he’d dated had worried more about how they looked and what people thought about them. None of them had winning personalities.

  Unlike Cassie who had a delightful personality but was clueless about how beautiful she was. Would she continue to date him? He ached to ask her to spend Sunday with him, but he decided that a long game would be smarter. He figured she needed to study, so he could be patient. She was worth the wait.

  #

  The next two months sped by. Cassie studied hard during the week, enabling her to spend more time with Heath on the weekends. She’d tried a couple of his time management suggestions and now met with two study groups for her toughest classes. Her test scores had improved. She understood the subjects better, too. A weekly planner helped her organize her school projects, tests, and study time which helped her find time for Heath.

  They spent most Saturdays together. Sometimes sightseeing, other times at the park or beach. He’d even managed to talk her into a bike ride around the pier. Heath had only canceled one dinner due to a surprise training operation. The more time they spent together, the deeper she cared for him.

  Cassie didn’t know if she could deal with the uncertainties of everything his job entailed. For now, she’d live in the moment. It was the only way she could keep her imagination in check. She’d ignore as much as she could to enjoy their time together. That’s one reason she’d invited him to dinner tonight, her treat.

  She’d also rented a hotel room. Alone time was impossible with them both having roommates. Cassie wanted to take their relationship to the next level. Her body came alive whenever she was close to Heath. Cassie had never before experienced those feelings and wanted to discover what all the fuss was about. It wasn’t like she hadn’t had sex before. So, it was only once, and she hadn’t enjoyed the experience. She ached to discover how good making love could be with the right man.

  Based on her strong feelings for Heath, he was the right man. For now. For the long run, maybe not. She didn’t have enough experience to know if what she felt would last. Only time would tell.

  She took special care with her appearance, and Kristina helped her apply makeup and curl her hair. Cassie studied her reflection and admired how well her new, royal blue dress complimented her figure, while minimizing the flaws. She glanced at her watch. Heath would be here soon.

  Wiping her sweaty hands on a towel, she did one final check in the mirror. Was this what sexy felt like? Tonight would happen or it wouldn’t, but she’d done everything in her limited repertoire to make him want her. The odds she could pull off any kind of true seduction were slim, so hopefully the way she looked would nudge him the right direction without her having to say much. She could only hope.

  Heath had called Cassie, but she hadn’t answered, so he’d left a voicemail. He hoped she got it. Damn it. Another glance at his watch showed he was already fifteen minutes overdue. Tapping the steering wheel while he waited for the light to turn, he forced himself to take several deep breaths. Why was he nervous? They were just going to dinner.

  She’d asked him to dress up though and his wardrobe choice might not be right. He had one suit, but he wasn’t sure it was clean. Maybe his dress whites were an overkill, but she’d never seen him
in uniform. If they were going somewhere fancy, then his choice would be perfect, if not he’d have to tough out the stares. He finally pulled up to her dorm, bailed out and sprinted for the entrance.

  He skidded to a stop. Wow. Cassie stood on the steps looking gorgeous. When she turned toward him and smiled, the air whooshed from his lungs. He didn’t know what he’d done to deserve such a glorious woman, but he was glad he’d found her. Wait. Where had that thought come from? When had his feelings grown deeper?

  He closed the distance between them and bowed. Now was not the time to second guess himself. He needed to lighten the mood. “My lady.” Straightening he shifted to offer her his hand to help her descend the stairs. “You look beautiful.”

  Shaking her head, she placed her hand in his and let him steady her. “There’s no need to flatter me. I know I’m not a great beauty. At best—.”

  He placed his finger over her lips, stopping her mid-sentence. “Remember the saying ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’? According to my eyes you’re beautiful. The color of your dress brings out the sapphire blue of your eyes and highlights your smooth creamy skin.”

  A flush crept up her neck and she bowed her head. Gently, he tipped her face up to him. “I don’t mean to embarrass you. But I’d like to know who made you think you’re not gorgeous? I’d like to pound them into the ground for making you doubt yourself. You are special. I want you to see yourself the way I see you.”

  “How do you see me?”

  Her voice was so soft he could barely hear.

  He waited until her gaze finally met his. “You are a beautiful, smart, funny and caring woman.” He brushed his lips across hers, forcing himself to keep the pressure light. He suspected Cassie didn’t have a lot of sexual experience and he didn’t want to frighten her. He vowed to keep things slow and easy. She’d loosened up around him, but he didn’t doubt that could change if she felt threatened.