Glancing at the time, Kayla rushed to finish dressing and fill her thermos with coffee on the way out the door. With little sleep last night, she’d need it. She’d gotten a call from the police. They wanted her to come in sometime today and tell them exactly what happened Saturday night. Now she’d be late and also have to ask off early for her appointment. Kayla liked her job as a computer specialist, and she didn’t want to do anything to put it in jeopardy.
Kayla tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. Traffic was heavy, and this was her third red light.
At work, Kayla tried to get busy and forget about her appointment with the police and her dinner with Jackson. He’d been in her thoughts since she’d left his house.
She’d dreamed about him all last night when she wasn’t awake and restless. How would she handle it when he left, and it was over? He had a wonderful smile and gorgeous blue eyes. He had winked at her when he’d started to walk away on Sunday. When he called later, his sexy voice made her toes curl. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.
“Did you have a late night,” her boss asked.
She straightened and hit her elbow on the edge of her desk. Kayla held back the cuss word she’d started to say.
“I wanted you to meet a friend of mind. We’re going out to lunch. Come out with us and have something to eat.”
Her boss was older and tended to want to look after Kayla like a mother. She’d introduced her to several men in the hopes Kayla would find the right one. After working for Mrs. Terrell for eight years, she knew her boss had the best of intentions. Kayla grabbed her purse and followed Mrs. Terrell to her office.
“Kayla Townsend meet Jackson Langley.”
She had to be dreaming. It was her dream man with the laughing blue eyes.
“I promise I didn’t plan this, but obviously we were destined to meet sooner than tonight.”
Mrs. Terrell looked confused. “You know each other?”
“We met this weekend,” Bear said with a grin and a wink. “And we have plans for tonight.”
Kyla could almost see the wheels turning in her boss’s head. She’d be thinking of a way to get them together more.
“Well Kayla,” Mrs. Terrell said. “Jackson is my surrogate son. You know when my son, Bill, died I was crushed. As SEALs, Bill and Jackson were good friends in spite of being on different teams. Jackson has looked after my husband and me these last two years.”
Kayla glanced at Jackson and was surprised to see a flush across his cheeks. He put his arm around Mrs. Terrell. “We both lost someone we loved. Her son, and then I lost my mother a year later of cancer. We help each other.” He kissed the top of Mrs. Terrell’s head. “Let’s go eat. I’m starving.”
“I’d better stay here and let you have your time together.”
“Nonsense.” Mrs. Terrell took hold of Kayla’s arm. “You’ve become a hermit and need to get out more.”
Over her head, Jackson grinned at Kayla.
“Fine, if you insist.”
“I do.”
At the restaurant, Kayla watched as Jackson teased Mrs. Terrell about the menu and what she might order. He’d suggested food Kayla knew her boss didn’t like, and she suspected Jackson was also aware of her preferences. But Mrs. Terrell would pretend to consider his suggestions and then laughed before ordering what she really wanted. Obviously, they’d been friends for a while.
Then he turned his attention to her. Her heart raced every time he looked at her.
“What appeals to you?”
“I’m not very hungry.” Except for you. Damn, there goes my face getting hot.
“They have good salads, Kayla. You’ve lost too much weight.”
“I’ll order a small salad and half-chicken sandwich,” Kayla said in a hurry. She didn’t want to continue to be the focus of attention.
After they ordered, she listened to her boss and Jackson talk about a variety of topics. They tried to pull her into the conversation, but mostly she listened. It helped her get to know Jackson better.
“I’m certain you spent your first day home at your house,” Mrs. Terrell said. “You need to find a nice lady to come home to instead of books, music, and solitude.”
“I need the solitude. You understand.”
“I do, but I’d love for you to give me some grandchildren to spoil.” She glanced at Kayla.
Kayla wanted to slide quietly under the table and disappear.
Jackson smiled. “Don’t be embarrassed. She does this to anyone under the age of forty whenever we’re together.”
“I don’t.”
Jackson stared at Mrs. Terrell and raised his eyebrows.
“Well, maybe, perhaps, sometimes.”
They laughed at her answer. “When I ask a lady out, I want to get to know her better. If I decide on marriage, the choice will be my mine.” Jackson winked at Kayla and kissed the side of Mrs. Terrell’s face.
“He sounds so much like Bill at times.” Mrs. Terrell patted his leg.
Kayla could barely eat. She was mesmerized by the two and their relationship.
“Does your family live nearby?” Jackson asked. “I’ve been told the blonde lady who comes with you to Aces is your friend.”
“I occasionally go to Aces with a group of friends. My family lives in Washington, DC.”
“I’ve seen your friends there often. Why don’t you go with them all the time?” Jackson asked.
Kayla shrugged. “I was dating someone, but we broke it off. Then I decided to stay away from Aces for a while.”
“Well, I’m glad you went the other night. But sorry the ending was so bad.”
“What happened?” Mrs. Terrell asked, and looked at them.
“I left before my friends, and a man attacked me. Jackson was my rescuer.”
“Oh, my goodness. You should have called and stayed home today.”
“I have to go to the police station later to give a statement. I’d planned to ask to leave early.”
“Of course, take the rest of the day.”
“No, I have a lot of work. But I’ll leave at four.” Kayla looked at Jackson. “Can we move dinner to seven?”
“Of course. How about I meet you at your house. You can call when you leave the office. Then I’ll drive you to the police station, and we can go on to my place for dinner.”
Damn, him. He’s too smart, too good-looking, and nice on top of it. But do I dare trust another man? My father let the family down when I was fifteen, and since then every man I’ve considered might be different, has disillusioned me. And he’s already said when he has to leave, it’s over. But I can’t resist one more try to find a man who loves me.
“All right. I’d rather not go there by myself.”
Mrs. Terrell beamed at them and frequently smiled as they finished their meal.
Back at the office, Kayla worked on the file that was most demanding. When Mrs. Terrell came out of her office, she stopped briefly at Kayla’s desk.
She touched Kayla’s chin and raised her face upward. “There is no man you can trust more than Jackson. If you are interested, I wish you’d give him a chance.”
“I don’t think he’s looking for a wife.”
“Perhaps not, but I think he really likes you.”
Kayla forced a smile and went back to work. No man as good-looking as Jackson would consider a woman like me for his wife. I’m not bad looking, but he’s gorgeous. And I hate to cook.
At four, Kayla left for home. She called Jackson after she got there. “I want to take a quick shower and wear something besides my business clothes. I’ll try and be ready when you get here.”
“If not, I’ll wait patiently. It’s a skill I had to learn for work.”
“Good. See you soon.”
****
After a long session of questions, Jackson put his arm around Kayla as they headed out the police station’s door. “I wish they’d have let me go in with you. But I understand why the police want a separate report from you and me. It makes sense they’d prefer to question us one at a time.” He guided her to his car. “You don’t look good.”
“Getting anxious brought on one of my bad headaches.”
“You can lie down when we get to my house. I’ll be barbecuing while you rest.”
“Please take me home. My medicine is there, and right now I wouldn’t be good company.”
Jackson turned his car around and headed toward her house. “How about I drop you off, you take your medicine and rest. Then just before it’s all ready, I’ll call. If you feel better, I’ll come get you. If not all that good food will be wasted on my buddies.”
“Such a tragedy. I’ll try my best to feel well by the time you call.”
When they arrived, he took her key and unlocked the front door. “Are you certain you’ll be all right if I leave you?
“I am. Go. Call later.” Kayla took her keys and playfully pushed him out the door and locked it. Stepping into her kitchen, she opened the cabinet and took two of the pills her doctor had prescribed for her severe headaches. The air-conditioner kicked in, and she sighed with relief when she stripped and laid on her bed’s cool sheets.
Kayla had no idea how long she’d slept when the phone rang. “Hello,” she said groggily.
“You sound sleepy.”
“I was sleeping until the phone rang.”
“Sorry, but I’m ready to barbecue some steaks, and I thought you might like a quiet evening getting to know each other more. I promise to be on my best behavior. Are you feeling better?”
Even on the phone, his husky voice made her whole body come to attention. Part of her wanted to go back to sleep, and part wanted to accept his invitation.
“If you still have a headache, we can make it tomorrow night.”
“Why are you so insistent on us getting to know each other? You know you might get called at any time, and that’s when it all ends.”
“Let’s just say you interest me in a way a woman hasn’t in several years. I can’t make any promises yet, but am I worth the risk?”
Kayla wanted to say yes. Thoughts whirled around in her head.
“Are you still there?”
“Yes.”
“Yes, you’re there, or yes, you’ll take a risk, and I can come get you in thirty minutes?”
“I’ll be ready.”
“Good. See you soon.”
****
He turned on his sound system to the oldies that he liked. His team teased him about his choice in music. But his mother loved the old tunes, and when he got home on leave, they often enjoyed them together. He missed her. His clock chirped out the hour. He’d better hurry. Being late would not be a good way to start with this lady.
Kayla was ready. Jackson gave her a quick kiss. “I’ll improve on that later, but you must be hungry.” He led her to his car and held the door for her.
When they arrived at Jackson’s house, he unlocked the door and gestured to Kayla to step inside. “Come with me. I’ve got the food ready to go on the grill.” He walked briskly to the left, through his family room, and into the large kitchen.
“You have a lovely home, but it is rather big for one person.”
“I like the space. After a mission where you spend so much time close together to accomplish your goal, coming home to a large, quiet house is good for the soul. That’s why the guys call me Bear. We all have nicknames. They found out in a hurry if I was disturbed before I reached out and called one of them, I could be grumpy.”
Kayla smile. “Like a grumpy old bear.”
“Right, but thankfully without the old.”
She laughed, and he stopped what he was doing to stare at her.
“What?” she asked.
“I’ve never heard you laugh out loud. I want to hear you do it more often. You’re pretty, but with your smile and laugh you’re gorgeous.”
“I didn’t realize, but you’re probably right. I smile politely, as my friends call it.”
“I’m going to work on changing that.”
“How can you be so certain we be might be right for each other?”
Jackson shook his head. “I don’t know, but my men tell me I have good instincts on the job and off.”
She didn’t answer. Jackson watched as she walked to the patio door and looked out at the pool and the extensive yard around it.
“Who keeps up your pool and yard? They’re lovely.”
“When I’m home, I do the work. I love watching things grow and flourish. I have a pool company to keep up the pool year-round. A neighbor and his son cut my lawn and do what’s needed if they notice it hasn’t been done in a week or so. We’ve been neighbors ever since I moved here. What do you like to drink? I’ll get our drinks, and you can sit in the shade and watch me grill.”
“I’ll have iced tea since I took my headache medicine earlier.”
“Go on out. I’m going to check on the beans, and then I’ll join you.”
****
Kayla took a deep breath of fresh air. How long had it been since she’d just sat outside and relaxed? Way too long. His house suited him. She’d always thought homes said a lot about a person. Jackson’s had a peacefulness about it.
“Here’s your tea.”
“I see how you can unwind here. Your garden is lovely, and quiet.”
“I agree.” He put down the platter he’d brought out and placed two large steaks on the grill.
“I hope you don’t think I can eat such a huge steak.”
“Eat what you can. You can take the rest home and make sandwiches for lunch. I suspect you don’t eat enough.”
“Please, you sound like my friend, Cheryl, and Mrs. Terrell.”
He shut the grill top and pulled a chair close to her. “Now, tell me one thing about yourself, and then I’ll tell you one about me.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Your favorite flower. Simple things like that.”
“I love tulips. When we lived up North, there were lots of tulips coming up in the springtime.”
“Interesting. Let’s see. I like old songs and country western. I’ve even visited Tennessee and gone to The Grand Ole Opry House.”
“I like the same type of music, but I also like classical.”
“See how easy this is, and we’re getting to know each other.” Jackson got up and checked the steaks. “How do you like your steak?”
“I don’t want it to moo, and I don’t like it to taste like leather.”
He chuckled. “I understand. They’re almost ready. Do you want to eat outside or in?”
“Outside.”
“Done. I’ll be right back.”
When he returned, he carried a bowl and a tablecloth. “Spread this cloth across the table.”
She opened it out and put it on the round table. Then she took the bowl of potato salad and placed it in the middle. “Surely, you didn’t make this yourself.”
“No, I have to confess I got it at the grocery store, but the beans are my own recipe.”
Kayla shook her head. “You keep a clean house and a beautiful garden, and you can cook. Why hasn’t some woman grabbed you by now?”
“I wasn’t interested in more than a short relationship as I mentioned the other night. I’ve always been honest with the ladies I dated. They knew from the first how I felt, and I tried not to hurt them.”
“Women are fascinated with SEALs. You all are so handsome, strong, and tantalizing.”
Jackson grinned and wriggled his eyebrows. “Am I tantalizing to you?”
“Yes, but I know better than to touch the fire or get too close without keeping my feelings controlled.”
“Can you manage to do that?”
“I try. Since my last breakup, I’ve avoided entanglements and didn’t date.”
“And yet here you are in my lair.”
Kayla found herself grinning again. “For some reason, I decided to trust you.”
Jackson almost dropped the steak he had been placing on a platter he’d brought from the kitchen. He turned and faced her. “Thanks, I won’t disappoint you. I don’t lie. I’m truthful when I say I’d like to get to know you and see where this might go. But I’ll try and be patient and let you choose how fast we move.”
“You’re a confusing man. I don’t know if I’ve meant anyone like you in the past.”
He leaned down and kissed the top of her head as he sat the platter down. “You’ll find, I’m one of a kind.”
“You’ll have to work at convincing me this is real.” She swung her hand out to encompass him and the area around him. “I’m not sure I’m worth the effort.”
Jackson leaned down and cupped her face. “I am certain you are very much worth the effort.”
“We’ll see what happens.”
His kiss was soft, and then he straightened. “I’ll get the beans, plates, and silverware. Then we’ll eat.”
“I can help.”
****
When the air cooled, they came inside. Jackson started a fire in the family room fireplace. He handed her a glass of golden liquid. “It’s a tasty after dinner drink and it’s been hours since you took the headache medicine. Sip it and relax.”
“Yeah, the medicine isn’t too strong, my headaches are from stress. Still, I’d rather have another glass of tea to be on the safe side, and if I relax anymore, I’ll fall asleep.”
“Don’t worry. If you do, I’ll wake you and take you home, so you can rest before going to work.”
He sat beside her and put his arm around her. Her head rested on his shoulder. Soft music played in the background.
“What made you want to be a SEAL?” Kayla asked.
“Good question. My dad retired from the Navy recently. When I finished college, and told him I was thinking about joining the Navy, he suggested I try out for the Navy SEALs.
“I read up on the requirements and started working out harder than usual. I’d always been in shape, but this was going to take more than the ordinary gym work. A year later I signed up, and I got a chance to try out.”
“Do you ever regret it?”
“No, I wanted to do good for my country and be part of something special. Whenever I had off time, I’d visit my parents. I’m glad I did. Three years after I joined Mom got cancer. She fought a good fight, but it wasn’t to be. I miss her dearly, and so does Dad.”
“Do you visit him?”
“Most of my vacations we go hunting and fishing back in Montana. When I’m home for shorter periods, he’ll often fly here to visit. Occasionally, I get a chance to visit my sister or brother’s families. But we’re all so busy and in different cities, so it’s mostly on holidays.”
“How old are your sister and brother?”
“My brother is thirty-two and my sister is twenty-nine. I’m the middle child who always caused the most ruckus,” Bear said and grinned. “My brother, James, has two boys named Cooper and Daren. He and his wife decided they didn’t want to carry-on the names starting with J. My Mom was Joyce and my father, Jacob. My sister, Janice, named her only child, Samantha.”
Kayla leaned her head back and stared up at him. “You and your family seem too perfect.”
Jackson laughed. “Don’t believe it. I have my moments when I can be inhospitable. That’s why they call me Bear. Mostly, I like more alone time than most of my buddies. I’ve always been more of a loner even with my siblings. My team gets a release with other activities, but I need more solitude.”
“Why did you ask me to dance?”
“I saw you enter Aces and thought you were pretty. And I’d just told my best friend I envied him being married and settled down.”
Kayla looked down. Jackson lifted her chin and kissed her softly. “We don’t know where this may go, but I’d like to see if you’re willing to take a chance.”
She sat up and smiled. “Right now, I’d better go home and get some sleep.” She stood, and he did, too.
Jackson pulled her into his arms and hugged her. “Fine, you’ll come to realize I have a lot of patience. My SEAL instructors beat it into me,” he said and turned to douse the fire in the fireplace. Then he walked her out to his truck. Jackson lifted her up on the running board and waited to see she got in all right.
They didn’t talk on the way to her house. When he stopped the truck in her driveway, he turned toward her.
“My friend, Wolf, invited me to a barbecue. It will be at his house next Saturday. Would you go with me?”
“I don’t know. This is all happening very fast.”
“Please, I’d like you to meet some of my friends and their wives.”
“I guess it can’t hurt. I haven’t been to a barbecue in a long time.”
“I have an idea. Why don’t we bring your friend along? There will be single guys in the group. Maybe she’ll meet one she likes.”
“All right. I’ll ask Cheryl, she’s my closest friend. I expect she’ll be very excited about the invitation.”
“Good.” He leaned forward and pulled her head toward him, then kissed her hard. “Sleep on that.” Jackson got out and walked her to the door. Once she was safe inside, he went back to his truck.
I’m falling hard. I’d better slow down so we can be certain we’re right for each other. My body wants her, but I expect from what Kayla’s said that’s she’s been hurt before. I have to know my mind is in sync with the rest of me before I end up doing the same to her.
The lights went out in Kayla’s house. He started his truck and slowly drove off down the quiet street.
****
Kayla glanced at the time. Cheryl might still be up. I’ll call her tonight about the invitation to the party. I dread the commotion Cheryl will make when she hears I’m dating a SEAL, something I said I’d never do again. I haven’t been open with Jackson. The time just hasn’t seemed right to tell him I’ve dated a Navy SEAL before. Kayla reached for her cell phone half-way hoping Cheryl wouldn’t be home.
“Hi, I can’t come to the phone right now. Leave a mess—”
“Kayla, I just got out of the shower and almost missed you. Are you, all right? You rarely call this late.”
“There’s nothing wrong, but I have an invitation for you to go with me to a party Saturday night. Are you busy?”
“No, but why don’t we go to Aces Bar and Grill instead?”
“You’ll like my idea better.”
“I doubt it.”
“I’ve been invited to a party given by one of the SEALs. You’d get a chance to meet some of them in a more personal way. What do you think?” Kayla held the phone away from her ear as Cheryl yelled yes numerous times.
“Don’t embarrass me at the barbecue by drooling on the good-looking single guys.”
The phone went silent for a moment. “How did you get the invite?” Cheryl asked.
“It’s a long story.” She went on to explain what happened Saturday night.
“He rescued you? The one you have a crush on?”
“I’m too old to have crushes, but yes, the one I like. His name is Jackson Langley, and I went to his house tonight for dinner. That’s when he invited me and suggested I bring a friend since there will be single guys.”
“Is this a joke? Are you pretending to be my best friend? My friend is very cautious. I doubt she’d go to a man’s home that she just met, although he did rescue you.”
Kayla blushed at the thought of what Cheryl would say if she knew the whole truth about Saturday night. “Just tell me if you want to attend. I’d guess from the squealing you do.”
“Definitely, and when we get a chance to talk face to face, you will tell me more about how this all happened.”
“I told you the whole story.” Kayla crossed her fingers and hoped lightning wouldn’t hit her for lying.
“Did you make love, tonight?”
“Cheryl!”
“Yep, you did. You’re always so shy about admitting the good stuff. See you Saturday. Shall I come to your house?”
“Yes, you’ll ride to the party with Jackson and me.”
“Hallelujah, I can’t believe he cracked the hard wall you kept up around you. See you.”
Kayla shook her head as she put down her phone. At least the initial telling Cheryl was over. They’d been friends since high school and all through college. They came out to San Diego together after graduation. But Cheryl said whatever came into her mind. I’ve always been much more reticent. I hope she doesn’t say something teasingly that will make me uncomfortable.
****
“I’m glad you asked Kayla and her friend to come with you tonight,” Caroline said.
Jackson had driven over to their house to see what he could do to help. “I hope that was all right.”
Wolf clapped him on the back. “You know it is, and Caroline and I are both anxious to get to know the woman who has caught your eye.”
“I thought Caroline and the other wives might talk about how they cope when their husbands are gone, and how we leave at a moment’s notice. I’m thinking we might get called up while I’m dating her, and she’d wonder what happened to me.”
“Good idea,” Caroline said. She walked to the sink and started cleaning the lettuce and other items for her salad. “Matthew and I never regretted taking our time before making the final commitment. We lived together for a time before our wedding even though our emotions were strong. We knew SEAL’s marriages failed too many times because of the frequency you all are away. We don’t know what’s happening, or if you’ll come through the door ever again.”
“It takes a special lady.” Wolf put his arm around his wife. “A strong woman to survive our type of marriages. But, you and I are older, Bear. We know we don’t have as much time left at this job as the younger ones. Eventually, we won’t be as fast and strong, then we’ll be underfoot so much the wives will tell us to go somewhere and give them some peace,” Wolf added and grinned at Caroline.
“Talk about yourself old man,” Bear said and laughed. “I know you’re right, but our time’s not up yet.”
“You may want it to be after marrying,” Caroline said.
“Enough serious talk. Come on out and help me get the fire started for the meat,” Wolf said.
“I know you two want to talk shop,” Caroline teased.
Wolf kissed her on the way out and grabbed two beers from the refrigerator. Bear followed him out the door.