Einstein jumped down off the bathroom counter when the doorbell rang.

“Bad Kitty!”

Einstein meowed back at her with haughty disdain. He hated being called ‘Kitty’. He stalked toward the bathroom door and Riya looked at the makeup, brushes and spilled lotion on the floor.

“I should have capped that properly,” she said.

She heard another meow. The damned cat was agreeing with her. She turned and glared at him, and then he turned around and walked out of the bathroom. She grabbed some tissue and wiped up the mess and the doorbell rang again.

What an auspicious start to the day. Riya tore down the stairs with Einstein trailing behind her.

When she got to the door, she took a deep breath and smoothed down the silk of her blue dress that fell to just above her knee. Opening the door, she was met with miles and miles of chest covered by a blue pinstripe suit and silver tie. Her knees weakened. Riya had to look at least a foot into the air to briefly meet Gray’s clear blue eyes. They matched her dress. Thank God she wasn’t wearing her shoes, or she really would topple over.

The only thing that kept his smile from looking like a toothpaste ad was that he had a little scar that bisected his upper lip. She wanted to lick it. Oh yeah, she had it bad.

Heat suffused her body as the memory of that amazing kiss overloaded her senses.

“If you keep looking at me like that, we’re not going to the wedding.” His voice rumbled like thunder.

Arggh. If she wasn’t careful she’d get drool on her dress. Everything she’d practiced saying to him totally flew out of her mind. She needed to get a handle on this, like yesterday. Still, he was good to look at.

“No can do, sailor. I’m a bridesmaid, I have commitments. Why don’t you come on in and sit down. I still have to get their package wrapped.”

Riya turned and waved him in and shut the door. When she turned back she saw him standing in the middle of her living room with his left eyebrow reaching for his hairline.

“Having trouble making up your mind?” he asked.

She let out a long sigh. “Laugh. Just get it over with. It’s not like I haven’t heard it before.”

“Do you own a craft shop? Does someone in your family own stock in Hallmark?” Gray asked as he bent down and picked up two rolls of wrapping paper and compared them.

“I want to make sure that it’s pretty and conveys the right message,” Riya said as she snatched the rolls from his hand. Gray simply bent down and picked up two more rolls.

“Honey, I’ve seen people with a variety of Christmas wrap, but how many different patterns of wedding wrap do you have here?”

Riya looked at her six large Tupperware bins, five that contained wrap and one that contained ribbon and bows. “Can I say that I don’t know?”

Gray tapped one of the bins with the toe of his high polished shoe. “You’d be lying. I bet you know the entire inventory of your house. How many rolls?”

“Fifteen wedding, seven baby shower, five Hanukkah, thirty-seven Christmas, two Easter, five Valentines, twenty-seven birthday rolls of wrapping paper and one St. Patrick’s day,” she reluctantly admitted.

Gray took a moment, then he gave her a sympathetic smile. “It must kill you to be one roll shy of one hundred.”

Dammit, he was right. It was killing her. She was down a roll since Ethan’s birthday. Gray must have seen he’d been on target because he laughed.

“How can I help?” he asked.

“I just have to get the present wrapped and find my shoes, then we’re good to go.”

“I don’t believe that you can’t find your shoes.”

Neither did she. They were supposed to be right by the couch. She had precisely placed them perpendicular to the sofa right before she brought out the Tupperware containers.

“And if I offered to wrap the present while you found your shoes?” Gray asked. His eyes were sparkling. Again, he knew the answer to his question.

“Ahhhh,” she tried to come up with an answer.

“How about if I pick out a wrapping paper or a ribbon?”

“You’re totally getting a kick out of my obsessive compulsive nature, aren’t you?”

Gray put the rolls of paper back down into the plastic bin and stepped toward her. “I just get a kick out of you. Full stop. The fact that you can laugh at yourself, is just the cherry on top of the sundae.”

Riya tilted her chin up so she could look at him. “Don’t you mean the sprinkle of nuts on the sundae?”

Gray chuckled. “See what I mean?”

That laugh. Those eyes.

Get a grip, girl.

She grabbed at his wrist so she could see his watch.

“The wedding starts in two hours and ten minutes,” he said. “You have fifteen minutes to get your sexy tush in gear and out the door. That way we will be at the church exactly one hour before the ceremony is due to start. According to Griff that’s when the bridesmaids are due to arrive.”

“I can do this. Here’s the deal. I just need to prioritize and delegate.”

“Oh, I get to do something? I’m honored.”

“You’re a SEAL so you get to go on a rescue mission. Find my shoes. Last time I saw them they were exactly by the couch. I was walking around down here making sure I got used to them, since I’d never worn them before. After I made sure I wouldn’t slip, I put them there.” She pointed to where she had last seen them.

“Aye, aye.” He tapped her on the nose and turned to gaze around the first floor of her townhome.

Riya bent down and pulled out the silver wrapping paper with rings and doves on it. She had some great sparkly silver ribbon to go with it, but didn’t have time to mess with it, so it was time to use the big elegant bows that she’d been saving for a time crunch.

She ran to her kitchen, to the drawer that housed her scissors, and then skidded back into the living room in her stockings. Gray was standing there with her white patent leather pumps in his hands. “Are these what you were looking for?”

“Where’d you find those?”

“Your cat helped me find them. They were underneath the loveseat.”

Riya crouched down and saw two shining blue eyes looking at her from beneath the sofa. “He didn’t try to scratch you, did he?”

“Nope, we came to an understanding. What’s his name?” Gray asked.

“Einstein. He’s more temperamental than his namesake.”

“Intelligent though. He saw me looking around and pushed one of the shoes out from under the sofa. It was the damndest thing.”

“He was also the one who shoved them under there in the first place. He loves playing hide ‘n seek.” Riya knelt down and pulled the first box off of the coffee table. Gray peered over her shoulder and whispered.

“I didn’t see those knives on the gift registry. They’re high-end.”

“Susan loves to cook. My mom swears by this brand. She’s constantly saying that having the right tool for the job makes the meal.”

“That’s right for any mission.” Gray picked up the second box and turned it over. “You also got grilling tools and utensils, another thing not on the wedding registry.”

“I take it you shopped on the registry and had it sent to their house.”

“I don’t have ninety-nine rolls of wrapping paper to choose from.” Gray turned over the corner of the paper she had chosen. “Are you sure this is the right one to use? It might be too much silver.”

Riya blew her bangs out of her face and looked over her shoulder. “I got the impression you wanted to possibly see sunrise. Was I wrong about that?”

Gray held up his hands. “Note to self, no pithy comments on the lady’s taste.”

“Not if you want to live,” she agreed.

“It’s nice you got something for both of them. At least I’m assuming Mike grills.”

“Does a bear poop in the woods?” Riya asked as she measured and cut the paper.

It’s the prettiest paper, isn’t it?

She folded the paper over and went to grab the tape. Gray had already torn pieces of tape and had them ready for her to grab. “You’re prepared.”

“Part of the job, ma’am.”

She quickly had the knives and grill set wrapped with the bows on.

“How much more time?”

“You’ve got enough time to get your shoes on,” Gray smiled.

“I’ve got to put the lids back on the paper before Einstein decides to play,” Riya said as she bent over.

Before he could offer to do it, Riya was on all fours and fishing around under her couch and pulling out Tupperware lids. Gray took note of the intricate tattoo that was on display with her halter dress. It was a delicate lacy mandala between her shoulder blades, inked in black and orange.

Holy hell.

Now her dress was creeping up and her butt was wiggling. Had he died and gone to heaven?

Damn it.

He cleared his throat.

Riya pushed up on her knees, and pulled out a stack of lids.

“Give those to me, Honey. We’re on a deadline, I’ll put them on for you. You go sign the card.”

She stood up and smoothed down her dress. When she was standing in front of him, he looked down at her as her head came up to the middle of his chest.

“I’ve been remiss,” he said. She tilted her head and looked up at him. “I didn’t tell you first thing that you look absolutely gorgeous.”

Riya’s face suffused with color as she looked away.

“Thanks,” she mumbled. She bent her head and looked around the room. “There’s the card.” She hurried over to the dining room table and pulled a pen out of her purse. He saw her pause and then take her time to write something appropriate.

She grabbed her card, her purse and a shopping bag she’d had sitting by the card and came over to the couch. “Can you hand me my shoes?” she asked as she sat down.

Gray grabbed them and knelt down in front of her. “Let me help put these on.”

“I can do it.”

He traced his thumb over her cute toes, then slipped her peep-toe shoe on. He repeated the process with the second shoe, garnering another sigh from her. He wanted a kiss, but there wasn’t a chance in hell he was going to risk it here in her home before they had to be somewhere. Especially not on their first date.

She got up from her seat and went over to the table and opened up the shopping bag.

“Gray, can you slip the packages in here?”

“Sure thing.”

He picked up her white trench coat lying across the sofa and helped her put it on.

“Thank you, you’re quite the gentleman.”

“I was raised in Missouri. My two aunts would kill me if I failed to live up to the Southern gentleman standard.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I didn’t think Missouri was a Southern state.”

“I grew up in Springfield. According to my great-grandfather who was still alive when I was eight, he said his father and uncles fought for the Confederacy. My aunts only hold onto the Southern etiquette and hospitality something fierce.”

He escorted her out of the condo. Outside, he snagged the umbrella he had left by the side of her entrance.

“You brought an umbrella?”

“There was a possibility of rain. Figured you would have a fancy hairdo, and you do,” he smiled easily. “Give me your keys and I’ll lock your door.”

Riya handed over her keys, then frowned at him when he went to pocket her keys after he locked the door. “Give those back to me.”

“No can do. I have to be able to unlock it when I bring you back.”

“Uhm Gray, isn’t that kind of control freaky?”

“Nope.”

“I can’t believe you said that with a straight face. That is so much being a control freak. Miranda warned me about that.” His gaze slipped sideways and he watched as she thought over a new way to approach him. “Wouldn’t it be more comfortable for me to have the keys in my purse instead of you having them in your pocket?” she reasoned.

“Nope.”

He helped her into the passenger seat, then got into the driver’s seat.

“Is it really important for you to be able to unlock the door for me when we get back?”

Gray liked the fact that she never sounded upset, just curious. It made him relax.

“Yes, it is.”

She sat back in her seat. “Well, okay then.”

Gray pulled out into the little side street and Riya concentrated on the bougainvillea lining the fences.

“So how well do you know Susan?” Gray asked.

“I’ve been working with her about a year. She’s been a lifeline for me at the lab, and she’s let me babysit for her. Plus she has a dog. And a cat. And a rabbit. I love it over at her house.”

Riya clamped her hand over her mouth. Then immediately took it away to see if any of the lipstick came off. Good it didn’t. It was living up to the hype. But seriously, she needed to stop saying everything that came into her head.

“It sounds like you didn’t come from a large family if you’re so excited about babysitting a girl, a boy, a dog, a cat and a rabbit.”

“How do you know Susan’s kids are a girl and a boy?”

“I met them when they were little.”

“You did?” She looked over at him curiously.

“It’s a long story. So no brothers and sisters, or was it that you were just whisked away for schooling?”

“I was the youngest child of five girls. Amira, my sister closest to me in age is six years older than me. Then when I went to school I was always in grades with older kids, so I didn’t get to interact with kids my own age. Plus, I was so busy studying I didn’t have a chance to do anything like babysit when I was growing up, so spending time with Hope and Jeremy is a pleasure. What about you? Siblings?”

“I was raised by my two aunts, and spent a lot of time over at the Conway’s house. They had three kids and five foster kids, so they really didn’t notice that one more was at their table most nights.” Gray tilted his head. “There’s the church.”

Riya looked and saw the building through a faint haze of drizzling rain. The parking lot was full. Gray drove to the front entrance of the church and idled the car, then pressed a button on his steering wheel.

A man’s voice came over the speaker, “Hello.”

“Hey Griff, you got Miranda settled?” Gray asked.

“Affirmative.”

“Can you come out front and escort Riya in, while I park?” Gray asked.

“I’ll be there in a moment,” Griff answered.

Gray disconnected.

“Isn’t this taking the Southern gentlemen etiquette a little too far?” Riya asked.

“Not really,” Gray said looking over at her. “Griff would have asked me to do the same thing for Miranda if the situation were reversed, and he was born and raised in Los Angeles. So this isn’t a Southern gentleman thing, this is a Navy thing.”

Suddenly her door opened, surprising her. Riya hadn’t even noticed that Griff had come out of the church.

“Hi Riya,” Griff grinned. He held out his hand for her. “You look gorgeous.”

She looked over her shoulder at Gray in surprise. That’s exactly what he had said. She wasn’t used to all the praise.

I should get out of the lab more often.

Gray reached over and unhooked her seatbelt, then he brushed the side of her cheek. “I’ll be there in a minute, after I park the car.” Then he looked over her shoulder. “Make sure she doesn’t slip in those shoes. It’s beginning to drizzle.”

“Sure thing,” Griff said.

She could practically smell the testosterone in the air.

“Uhm, gentlemen, I have made it almost twenty-six years without falling on my butt, thank you very much.”

Griff took her hand and she stepped out of the vehicle. The pointed heel slipped out from beneath her, and if it hadn’t been for Griff’s quick reflexes she would be sitting in a puddle in the church parking lot.

Perfect, just perfect.

Her purse had fallen and everything was scattered to the four winds. She’d just bought that lipstick.

By the time she looked up from the security of Griff’s arms, Gray’s SUV was no longer idling. Instead it was in park, and Gray was pulling her out of his team member’s arms.

“I’ve got you. Are you okay?” Gray demanded. She looked up into his face. His voice had come out all angry, but his eyes were the soft blue of concern and worry, not the mad blue. Which was it? Angry or concern? God, she hated not being able to read people.

Suck it up buttercup.

She gave a fake smile.

“How did you move that fast?” She looked over at his vehicle, then back at Griff who was crouched at her feet gathering up all of the things that had fallen out of her purse and putting them back in.

Really? A tampon? Kill me now. Where’s a hole I can crawl into?

She looked up at Gray to see if he noticed, but he was staring down at her face. “You’re looking flushed. Let’s get you inside.”

“Here you go,” Griff handed her the purse.

“Here’re my keys, can you park the SUV while I get Riya situated?” Gray asked.

“Sure thing,” Griff smiled.

“I’m really capable of walking by myself.” But as she looked at the wet steps leading up to the church, and considered her brand new high heels, having someone to hold onto sounded like a great idea. Darn it, she really needed to have gone for girly classes or shorter, thicker heels. But as soon as she’d seen these shoes at Nordstrom, it was a done deal. By golly, she’d intended to look tall and sleek walking down the aisle with the groomsman. What was his name again?

“Honey, you’re daydreaming. Are you ready to go?”

She looked up and saw that she and Gray were standing under an umbrella. How had she not noticed that happening? She relaxed, this was definitely nice and concerned Gray.

“Let’s get this show on the road.” She nodded.

Gray put a bracing arm around her shoulder and the other under her elbow. Riya felt surrounded as they walked up the stairs. She took her time considering the sensation, and by the time they reached the top she decided it made her feel safe.

“That’s quite the smile,” Gray said as he closed the umbrella underneath the eves of the church.

“I’ve decided I like how your aunts raised you,” she murmured.

His eyes brightened, and when they did little laugh lines fanned out from the corner of his eyes. “Let’s get you in with the rest of the beautiful women, shall we?”

She shivered at the compliment. Oh yes, she definitely liked how he’d been raised.