“That was like the world’s worst speed dating meeting.” Sofie continued to laugh. She was absolutely stunning. Her whole face lit up when she was happy. I wanted to see that expression all the time. And, wow, a daughter? I was still in shock over it. I wanted to know everything.

After Sofie’s giggles quieted, I asked the question I’d been dying to ask since she broke the news.

“Do you have any pictures of Mia?” I heard the nervousness in my voice.

“Of course. I think my phone is about from explode from all the pictures I have. Just a second.”

She began digging through her purse until she found her phone. She tapped the screen a few times, and then she turned her phone toward me, pushing it in my direction. Hesitantly, I reached out as though it was going to bite me. I picked up the phone, and all I could do was stare. Then, I started swiping. And swiping. I got a little choked up, but managed to maintain my composure.

Every picture, from Sofie holding a baby in a hospital room to a cheesy grin with a few teeth peeking out, brought immense joy to my heart. It also brought sadness knowing how much of her life I’d missed. I planned to do everything I could to change that. Starting with showing Sofie how good we would be together. I’d start right after lunch. We finished our lunch with Sofie telling me all about Mia.

I paid our bill and led Sofie outside.

“You don’t have any plans for this afternoon, do you? I’d love to take you for a drive down to the pier and maybe a walk on the beach.”

Her shy smile had me feeling as though I could conquer the world. “I’m all yours.”

I couldn’t help but wiggle my eyebrows at her suggestive words. “All mine?”

Sofie looked puzzled for a minute, and then she blushed the brightest shade of red when she realized what she’d said. She lightly smacked my arm, and I couldn’t help but tug her toward me and into the vee of my legs. Her hands rested against my chest where I was sure she could feel the pounding of my heart.

My arms wrapped around her waist, and I couldn’t resist resting my hands against the top of her luscious ass. She stilled at the touch. Not wanting to spook her, I moved one hand upward to push her hair out of her face and tuck it behind her ear. I couldn’t stop my fingers from trailing along her jawline toward her chin. I clasped Sofie’s chin in my forefinger and thumb and slowly, so she could sense my intention, lowered my head to hers.

Instant heat shot through my body at the touch her lips against mine. Needing a taste, I dipped my tongue inside. Hers tangled with mine as we re-learned each other’s flavor. I deepened the kiss and swallowed a moan that escaped her. Sofie ground her pelvis into my erection and moaned again. I didn’t want this to end, but I vaguely recalled we were in the middle of a parking lot in broad daylight. Reluctantly, I broke the kiss and pushed her slightly away from me, meeting resistance the whole way. She mewled a little as she tried to push back against me.

“Sofie, sweetie, we have to stop now.”

Unconsciously, a pout crossed her lips. She blinked a few times, and finally, her eyes opened fully as she focused on my face. Another becoming blush spread across her cheeks when she realized what she’d been doing and where.

“Oh my God, why can’t I control myself around you?” Her hands left my chest to cover her face in mortification. I tried to hold back the chuckle. She peeked between her fingers, and the death glare I received would have had a lesser man quaking in his boots. It only made her appear more adorable, and I laughed louder.

“Sugar, you’re welcome to lose control any time you’re around me. But maybe we need to save it for a more private location?”

I laughed again when another strike hit my arm.

“You’re such a jerk.”

“Ha, whatever. You love me, and you know it.”

We both froze at my words. She ducked her head as she took several steps backward, and an awkward silence surrounded us. I coughed to clear my throat.

“Well, then. You still up for that walk?”

She looked up at me and, without saying a word, nudged me out of the way as she made to open her door. I stayed her movement.

“Let me.”

Once we were both in the car, I pulled out of the parking lot and headed down the road. I wanted to take her for a ride along the coast, but this close to Miami it was too commercially built up to see the ocean. Nothing like the Pacific Coast Highway in Cali. Maybe one day I’d take her and Mia there.

We headed down to South Beach and South Pointe Pier. We walked down to the end of the pier and stood silently enjoying the view. I was surprised when Sofie laced our fingers together.

“Let’s head over to the beach. Maybe we can find some seashells for Mia.” I was almost surprised at the invitation. So far, I had been the one pushing to move our relationship further. Just as we reached the boundary of sand, she removed her shoes and looped the straps of her sandals over her finger.

We strolled, hand-in-hand, along the water, ignoring the crowds of tourists around us. It was just like that long ago night when everyone and everything just disappeared, and we were the only two people on the planet. A comfortable silence settled between us as we walked. Neither of us seemed to be in a hurry for the afternoon to end. I knew I needed to hang out with the Kyle, and I’m sure she wanted to spend time with her friend, but I could sense she was reluctant to part.

Eventually, I could tell she was getting tired.

“Are you ready to head back? I’m sure you’d like to get back to your friend.”

“I probably should. I only get to see Callie once a year. And I missed last year because Mia was too young. While we’re walking back, tell me about you and your friend.”

“We’re former military who served together. Both of us have seen, and sadly, done, some bad shit during our careers. We meet once a year, as well, to decompress. To not think about all that shit for a short time. Both of us have been affected in some way by the war, Kyle more so. He lost his leg to an IED. These trips are our time to focus on healing and to take our minds off the military. Plus, I’m really the only family that Kyle has, so it’s important that we spend time together whenever possible.”

“That’s such a wonderful thing that you can get together like that. I work at the VA, so I know how important the brotherhood of military men is. For some of the guys I treat, their brothers-in-arms are the ones who push them to get better. To help pull them out of the funk that they most go through. They need others like them to talk to. Who know what they’re going through and who can relate to how they’re feeling.”

“Exactly. We support each other in all ways.”

We arrived back at the car, and Sofie balanced herself against me while she dusted the sand off her feet and put her sandals back on.

“It’s got to be tough, but I’m glad you’re able to be there for each other.”

I couldn’t resist cupping Sofie’s face in my hands. I didn’t mind talking about Kyle and our military history, but I’d rather focus on the woman in front of me.

“As much as I love my friend, he’s not the one I want to talk about. You are who’s important right now. Well, you and me, rather. I know we’re both supposed to be spending time with our friends, and I still plan on doing that, but I need to spend this time with you as well, Sofie. How about we all go out to dinner tomorrow night? There’s a nice restaurant on Ocean Drive called The Local House. I know we don’t have any concrete plans so I’ll bring it up tonight.”

Sofie leaned into my touch and covered my hands with hers. She sighed a small sound of contentment.

“I’ll talk to Callie when I get back. I’d love that. We can all get to know each other. And I want her to meet Mia’s father.”

I leaned down and brushed my lips across hers, softly and tenderly. “Can I call you later? Just to talk.”

She nodded and, after digging my phone out of my pocket, I keyed in the number she gave me. I drove back to Kyle’s house and walked her next door with a promise to call her after supper.