The Marine's Red Hot Homecoming (11 page)

“They are.” Caleb intertwined his fingers with hers. God, her hand felt so right in his. So did the heat that surged through his body. “Gibson Technologies is at the cutting edge of creating new ways to protect our troops—better communications methods, new encryption codes and devices.”

She leaned forward. “How soon will you be able to deliver the product?”

He almost swallowed his tongue. Hannah’s subtle movement exposed a fantastic view of her cleavage and he made out the delicate red lace edging around her bra. He averted his glance, then looked back at her face. Just her face. Nothing more. No way was he going to look... shit. So much for self-restraint. “I wish I could deliver it today,” he managed to say after he calibrated his horny brain to neutral. “If I’d had that stuff out in the field a year ago it would have made a huge difference.”

Now he had to decide if he’d take the opportunity to use his company’s technology out in the battlefield again. Would he answer another call to duty for which he was ideally trained to lead? Risk another drop behind enemy lines with an elite team of warriors? Run another deep cover mission that would mean another two years of zip contact with the outside world?

A world that had changed in more ways than he’d envisioned. Now that he had a son to raise, he had even more reason to fight for his country’s freedom. But Hannah’s piss poor experiences with her ex military boyfriend meant he might lose her if he followed through with that choice. He stuffed the dilemma into a deal-with-it-later compartment when their next course arrived and the near invisible server refreshed their drinks.

Though Caleb loved the feel of her hand in his, the comforting warmth and the zips of electricity that charged all the way to his groin, he broke their connection. Reluctantly, he cut into the second to last vegetarian course of their meal. Two wedges of what looked like Styrofoam to him artfully arranged on a bed of arugula and other assorted cold vegetables.

“How do you like the sesame glazed tofu and greens?” she asked after he swallowed a few bites, which pretty much meant he’d inhaled the entire plate.

His stomach rumbled with a hunger pang. “It’s good,” he said. Did he really pay two hundred dollars per person for this meal? Not that money was an object, but geez. Who could live on this stuff?

Apparently Hannah. Half her plate remained untouched. She cut into her second slice of tofu, then slowly brought it to her mouth. “The best I’ve ever had. I only wish I had room for ten more courses,” she said, then nibbled.

Her tongue darted out to catch a drop of tangy sauce. The image of her doing all kinds of wonderful things to his lips, his body—oh man all the ways she had driven him wild with her mouth shot through him.

Caleb’s ears thundered and his collar felt uncomfortably tight. So did his pants. “There’s still dessert.” He didn’t remember what they had ordered, but he sincerely hoped it was cold enough to douse the fire burning inside.

“I know.” Her cheeks glowed in the candlelight that flickered between them and flecks of gold sparkled in her hazel-green eyes. “I can’t wait to try the honey poached Asian pears and caramel-almond tart. Yum.”

“Yeah, me either.” But the only thing he really wanted to taste was Hannah. He wanted to lick the delicate skin at the base of her neck, dip lower to her breasts and rediscover her sweet, responsive nipples. Now that would be a helluva an amazing dessert.

“Liar,” she said.

Amusement underscored her accusation. “What are you talking about?” he asked. Had she read his randy mind? Not good. But maybe not such a bad thing after all? He shifted slightly in his chair and carved his fingers through his hair.

“I heard your stomach growling earlier.” She lifted her glass of chardonnay and sipped, then gave him a half-smile.

“There’s not a lot of food on the plates, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like this stuff,” Caleb said. “Besides, as long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”

“We should both be happy.” She arched a brow. “What time is it?”

He pulled out his iPhone and glanced at it. “Eight. Why?”

“It’s not too late to hit The Barley Stop before we head home.”

His stomach nearly wept with relief. “Burgers, fries, the best craft beer this side of Asheville.” Already his mouth watered.

She laughed. “And pool.”

“You don’t mind?” he asked hopefully.

“Not at all,” she said. “You’ve treated me to a great dinner, but I know this isn’t your thing. Besides, I’m fairly certain I can kick your ass at the pool table which, if I hedge my bets right, means I might win another few diaper free days.”

While the idea of winning a few diaper free days definitely appealed, the thought of watching her bend over a pool table in that sexy dress gave him all kinds of instant fantasies. “You’re on,” he said.

“Great, but not until I’ve had my dessert.”

“Deal,” Caleb agreed.

During the rest of their meal, though antsy to split the fancy restaurant and head over to the best burger joint in Sweetbriar Springs, Caleb found himself mesmerized by more than the physical attraction pinging between them. He liked the familiarity of their conversation, the shared memories, and the sense of belonging that he’d never experienced while growing up.

A guy could get used to this kind of feeling. Maybe too much. But he didn’t want to deny himself, or Hannah, the possibilities it held. Not tonight.

After dessert, Caleb paid their bill and they exited the beautiful restaurant. He held the bike steady as she climbed aboard his V-rod, then he swung onto the leather seat in front of her. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against his back. Her legs bracketed his as he gunned the bike to life.

The V-rod’s powerful engine vibrated between his legs, and his skin thrummed with anticipation as she tightened her hold. He drove onto the road leading back to Sweetbriar Springs. She leaned with him as he banked a curve and his blood rushed hot to his groin. Focusing on the road took the will power of a sniper waiting for his target to come into view. Good thing he had plenty of practice overseas.

Caleb gripped his handlebar, zoomed down the resort’s road. On either side, trees wrapped in shadows and reflections of moonlight blurred into a mysterious waves. He rounded a bend, and long streaks of pewter cut across the milky moonlit valley below. The Blue Ridge Mountain ranges veiled in jet blank ink and silver tones.

The air smelled of sweet rhododendrons and spring leaves waking up from a long, cold winter. And of Hannah’s uniquely feminine scent of violets melding with the earthy, natural aromas.

Caleb exited onto the road leading to The Barley Stop. His family had an interest in the microbrew pub and the new owner hadn’t disappointed. Revenue remained solid and the customers raved about the venue.

They drove in silence, only the rumble of the bike sounding in his ears as they approached

But it felt right. And Hannah felt right with him.

Chapter Nine

“Looks like you got hustled, Caleb.” Zach pulled the eight ball out of the pool table’s pocket and rolled it toward Hannah. “Good shot.”

“Thanks,” Hannah said unable to hide the smile in her voice and glad to see him relaxing for a change. They’d run into him when they first entered the brew pub, and he’d told them Kennedy had booted him out of the house. She had enough of his hovering, and that she’d survive one night without him. He’d concurred only after Kennedy had called her mother to come by to keep her company.

The sound of people talking over the music blaring through the tavern’s loud speakers and the aromas of burgers, fries and the best onion rings in town permeated the tavern’s air. The energy in the room was electric.

As was the steady buzzing in Hannah’s ears of the thrumming of her heartbeat. Throughout the last round of pool, her senses had been assaulted and broken down one by one by every accidental brush of Caleb’s body against hers, especially when he leaned over her to
help
her improve her pool stance. A small giggle bubbled inside her, making her giddy.

Caleb shot her a confused look. “Since when did you become an Ace at playing pool?” he asked.

Oh, he had looked adorable when he’d gainfully tried to muster interest in her favorite foods earlier, but now? Now he was beyond handsome with his eyes, blue as the midnight sky, assessing her with renewed admiration and something more deliciously dangerous.

This was the bad boy; the rogue she’d had a crush on for the better part of her youth. This was the man she had turned to after overcoming her darkest hours and sought solace in the strength of his arms. And this was the man who had reawakened every female hormone she possessed the moment he had stormed back into her life.

This was the man she had loved, still did love if she was honest with herself.

But she played down the thoughts, schooled her features into a calm facade. Right now using her pool shark skills to hide her vulnerability to his magnetic charm would be the smart thing to do. “Michael taught me when I was in high school. We used to tag team each other back at the resort.” She racked the balls for another game. “Hustling guests for a few extra dollars helped pay for my prom dress.”

“You ripped off the guests?”

“I wouldn’t call it ripping off. More like teaching them an object lesson in making assumptions.” She checked her cue and swiped chalk on the end, then lined up her shot. “They assumed a petite, pretty blonde girl would suck at pool. I proved them wrong.” She took the shot and called the ball to the corner pocket. To her satisfaction it rolled into the right hole as she had predicted. “The money I gained was an excellent side benefit.” Just as gauging his clear attraction to her was a bonus to winning her bet with him.

A low, impressed whistle escaped Caleb’s lips. “Now that I know what I’m up against, I’ll play to win,” he said and locked his eyes onto hers.

There was respect in them along with desire. She didn’t know what caused her resistance to him to melt more. Knowing he liked her, enjoyed spending time with her, made her head spin. The intensity of his smoldering gaze turned her muscles to molten liquid. Her grip on the pool stick faltered.

Oh my
. “You want to raise the stakes?” she asked smoothly, straightening her shoulders and angling her hips seductively against the table.

A muscle jumped in his jaw, and his Adams apple moved up and down as he swallowed, hard. Not only that, but his hand faltered ever so slightly while he moved the chalk across the tip of his stick. “Absolutely,” he said, his tone devoid of the passion stirring in his darkening pupils. “Double or nothing.”

“Sounds good to me.” She tracked his movement around the table, enjoying the incredible view of his butt when he stopped just shy of where she stood.

He closed the scant distance between them. “And a renegotiation about some other terms of our earlier agreement come to mind, especially the no touching each other part.”

Her mouth dried. Did his eyes always have tiny flecks of cobalt in them? And had his lips always been that sensuous and enticing and oh so very kissable? The last time they’d been together in a bar, neither of them could see too well because of an alcohol induced daze. But tonight? Oh, she saw him all too clearly.

“Sure. Why not?” She feigned nonchalance. “After all, I play to win, too.” She shouldn’t let him win, but the idea of losing to him and being with him
that way
did have its merits.

She had to win. Period. “Zach, make yourself useful and go order us a couple of cokes from the bar.” Alcohol would dull her senses. And that was the last thing she needed.

“Sure thing.” Zach smiled, then strolled out of her peripheral vision. “I’ll have Linn deliver them to you before I head home.”

“Thanks.”

She lined up another shot, trying to ignore the roar of her heartbeat in her ears and the slow warmth building low in her sex. But just the scent of Caleb, clean and masculine and so uniquely him, made her want to throw the game plus her dignity out the proverbial window.

She slid her glance to take in another lingering look at his chiseled backside, then heard him chuckle.

“Still want to play to win?” he asked.

Her cheeks burned. She quickly averted her gaze back to the table and the ball she wanted to sink. An easy clip on the corner would nudge the striped twelve ball into the corner pocket. She moved her arm back, wiggled to position herself and her behind brushed against his pelvis.

More heat and awareness zipped through her. Gritting her teeth, she slid the stick across the bridge of her knuckles, guiding the angle but her aim trembled. She missed her mark by a smidgen. “Damn it,” she said, watching in dismay as the twelve ball pinged the outer edge of the pocket and roll to the opposite side of the table.

“Just the opportunity I’ve been waiting for,” Caleb said.

She heard the quiet triumph in his voice. And the double-edged meaning behind the words.

Now her hand itched to caress his chiseled backside to throw him off his game. But cheating had never been her style. Well, at least not overt cheating. Instead, she pressed a light kiss to his cheek. “Good luck.” She drew her hand down the length of his arm, exalting in the tensing of his bicep and forearm.