I licked the sauce off my fingers, watching Jenny work. Feldon had been right. This place did have the best barbeque south of the Mississippi.

But the amazing ribs were not half as good as the view.

Sweet Jesus, Jenny was finer than what I'd conjured up in my imagination. Her legs were just as long as I remembered but the rest of her was... different. She'd filled out even more, keeping that hourglass shape that drove me nuts last time we'd met. And then some.

She was a brick house.

And I would love to have a visit inside. Hell, not a visit. I wanted to take up permanent residence.

Too bad she wasn't as happy to see me as I was to see her.

I frowned, rubbing my face. I had to wonder why that was. Maybe she'd asked around about me... Yeah, that would do it.

I had quite a reputation amongst the Marines.

But I was a reformed man now. Or I would be, if she gave me another shot. I tilted my head, wondering why she was here. Again. Off another base.

My eyes got wide. I must be an idiot. She was either a military groupie or had a family member in the service. Just... which one? Husband? No. She wasn't wearing a ring and she didn't strike me as the cheating type. Parent? She wasn't that young.

It wasn't falling into place for me. Sweet little Jenny was a mystery. I would figure it out though. And I would make her mine. Or at least soften her up enough to take another crack at it.

If she was a groupie, I didn't care. There were women who had a thing for soldiers, officers in particular. I'd convert her to a one man woman. Just like she'd done to me, the first time I saw those emerald eyes of hers. Hell, if she let me, I'd stick to her like glue.

If she was... related to someone... or an Army brat... well, I might be in bigger trouble than I realized.

I might have to contend with a big brother or a daddy, whoever the unlucky bastard was. I tried to imagine having a daughter that looked like Jenny. It would be hell. Especially since she did not seem to know her effect on men.

And she was innocent enough to work in a place like this and think she wouldn't be dealing with a hard dick or twelve every damn minute. I started getting upset just thinking about it. This was no place for a sweet girl like her. It wasn't safe.

I was going to have to protect her. I'd see her home each night, starting tonight. Hopefully, back to my place.

To my bed.

And that's all there was to it.

I watched as she 'accidentally' spilled a glass of water on a customer. I grinned. He must've said something cheeky to her. So, maybe she could take care of herself.

Didn't mean she didn't need backup.

And I was just the man for the job.

She went behind the bar and picked up a huge box of empties. I was across the room in a flash. I was grinning as I tried to take the box from her.

"I got this sweetheart."

"Let go!"

"What? Why? No need to trouble your pretty little arms."

"My what?"

Oh boy. Her eyes were green fire as she wrenched the box out of my hands and flounced into the back. I followed her, a little less confident than I'd been a few minutes ago.

"What's wrong, sweetheart? What got you so riled up?"

She spun around and hissed at me. Like a pissed off kitty cat. I leaned against the door and grinned. I liked kitties. Especially gorgeous ones like her.

"I need this job, Jagger! Don't ruin it for me like you-"

I straightened up. This was not regular grade anger. This was a bonafide grudge.

"Like I what?"

She scowled at me mutinously.

"Nothing."

I smiled again.

"Well, if it reall is nothing, when are you going to let me take you out again?"

"How about never?"

"Oh come on sweetheart, we had a good time together, didn't we?"

She looked like she was about to cough. Or choke. Her eyes were wide, practically bulging, as she seemed to struggle for air. I was about to get her a glass of water when she burst out laughing.

And kept laughing.

She laughed so hard she had to bend forward and rest her hands on her knees.

I stopped smiling.

"What's so damn funny?"

"You are Jagger. I'm surprised you even remember me with all your floozies."

"I don't have any floozies."

I glanced at the heavens, expecting lightning to strike.

"Well, not anymore."

She just looked at me. I could see I'd hurt her somehow. I didn't like that.

Not one bit.

"Come on sweetheart, let's talk."

"I can't. And don't call me that."

I raised an eyebrow at her.

"You can't talk? You're doing just fine."

"No, I mean not here. I'm not supposed to... fraternize."

"Says who?"

She sighed.

"My boss, that's who."