Last night played over again in my mind all day. Every touch, kiss, sound, smell relived itself in my head. Never before in my life had I felt like this, not even with Leslie. I couldn’t call it love, but the connection I had with Callie was deeper than anything I’d ever experienced. My knees shook at the thought of her leaving me, even if deep down inside I knew that wasn’t the kind of person she was.

While Callie’d been in the bathroom, I removed my prosthetic. It hadn’t been entirely comfortable, but in the heat of the moment I couldn’t have given a shit. My first and only thought had been to get inside her. When she’d finished and come back into the bedroom, she crawled back in bed and cuddled up against my side. We talked long into the night, and eventually, she’d fallen asleep in my arms. I lay there a while longer thinking about the future. I briefly fell asleep, but after years in the Navy, I’d woken with the birds.

I dropped a brief kiss on Callie’s forehead before sliding out of the bed and dressing. I carefully crept down the hallway and fervently hoped I didn’t meet any of her girlfriends along the way. Apparently, God had bigger things to deal with because no sooner had I reached the front door than it opened. Skye startled slightly when she saw me standing there, but then a shit-eating grin crossed her face. I couldn’t help the flush that spread across my cheeks. I felt like a teenager getting caught by my girlfriend’s father.

“Good morning, Kyle.”

“Morning, Skye,” I responded with a slight nod.

“Would you care for some breakfast?” Her saccharine smile was starting to irritate me.

“No, thank you. I, um, I better get going. Pleasure to see you.”

I darted around her and hustled down the stairs and over to our house. I spent the rest of the day catching up on sleep. I woke up once to grab something to eat and then went back to bed. When I finally made my way down to the living room, the guys were all standing around getting ready to head out from the looks of it.

“Where you all going dressed to kill?”

“We’re heading down to the pier for the rest of the fireworks. Then we’re going to this Irish pub called Flynn’s. The landlord said they have a kick ass shepherd’s pie. And I’m getting hungry. Reservation is under Evans.” This came from Trevor, who looked like he was ready to sprint out the door.

“Oh, man, I love shepherd’s pie. I’m sold. I’ll meet you guys there. I need to hop in the shower quick and then I’ll head over.”

The guys waved as I headed back upstairs to jump in the shower. Twenty minutes later I was out the door and on my bike. I walked into the restaurant, and the sounds and smells reminded me of the one time I’d been to Ireland as a kid, before my parents died. The Irish jig playing over the speakers had me tapping my toes, and the savory smells coming from the kitchen had my mouth watering and my stomach growling.

I was a little early, but I headed to the bar to grab a drink while I waited. Several women approached me and struck up a conversation, but each of them quickly left when it was clear I wasn’t interested. There was only one woman I wanted. I’d just finished my second beer when the guys walked in. After dropping some bills on the bar, I joined them. We were seated not too much later. The waitress came by to take our orders and while we waited, brought out piping hot bread and butter. We ordered a round of Bunratty Mead and slammed the shots down after we toasted. Our food finally arrived, and I dug deep into my pie. I hadn’t even eaten half of it when a woman’s laugh had me snapping to attention.

My eyes scanned the room, and it was then that I spotted her. Across the restaurant was Callie, dancing and laughing with a young, attractive man. She seemed to be having a blast. I knew I shouldn't be jealous. There was nothing in her mannerisms that spoke of a flirtation with the guy. She didn’t stare deeply into his eyes; she didn’t touch him or dance up close. She looked relaxed and joyful. The entire scene appeared completely innocent. Callie was enjoying herself, and I had no claim on her, so she could dance with any guy she wanted. Except I was jealous. Even though I couldn’t dance for shit, especially with the peg leg I now sported, I only wanted her to dance with, for, me.

Since I had no real claim on her, I sat back and seethed in my jealousy. She danced two songs with the guy. When the song switched pace and a romantic ballad began, Callie excused herself from the guy and wandered over to the bar to sit alone. I crowed a little inside that she’d refused the slow dance. Then, I wondered why she was here by herself until I spotted her friend Liana on the dance floor with Gannon.

I made my way over to where she sat and eased into the seat next to her. She didn’t even glance in my direction.

“Can I buy you a drink?”

“No, thank—” She stopped mid-sentence when she saw me. The slight frown on her face turned upright, and a smile that I could have sworn lit up the whole room now graced her lips. Her expression then changed to one of seduction. “Why, yes, sir, I’d love for you to buy me a drink.”

Raised voices from the dance floor drew our attention. Liana and Gannon were arguing. Callie made a move in their direction, but I stayed her with a hand on her arm.

“Let them hash it out. This shit has been boiling inside both of them for ten years. They need to work it out themselves.”

She slowly nodded and sat back down. Just then Liana stormed off the dance floor and out the front door, Gannon hot on her heels. Damn, he was head over heels in love with that woman. I don't think he’d ever stopped loving her. Which made me turn and look at Callie sitting next to me, a worried expression on her face. I wanted that kind of love. I thought I could find it with her given more time together.

“Now, how about that drink?”

Her expression eased, and she smiled another smile that had my heart tripping its beat. “Yes, please.”

I’d just motioned to the bartender when a crowd of people poured out of the bar. I could hear people talking about a fight. Shit, Gannon and Liana were out there.

“C’mon, we gotta go.”

I grabbed Callie by the arm and headed toward the front door where the crowd was still spilling out into the parking lot. Sirens could be heard coming from all directions and getting louder by the second. I maintained a firm handhold on Callie as I searched over the tops of heads looking for Gannon. From my right, a familiar whistle sounded. I turned toward the noise and spotted Gannon in the distance. I quickly answered with an echo of the same whistle. His and Liana’s attention zoomed in on us. When she spotted Callie next to me, her tense posture relaxed, especially after Gannon spoke in her ear. I gave him a thumbs up and a nod that I’d catch up to him later as I pulled Callie away from the melee and into an alley off the side of the restaurant. I hadn’t seen Trevor or Dondre, but I knew they could handle themselves and take care of their women.

We weaved around trash and broken beer bottles until we came out around the block from the pub. I considered cutting across another street to try and get back to my bike, but I didn’t want to take the chance we’d run into the cops. Nor did I have an extra helmet for Callie.

“Well, that wasn’t how I expected the night to end.” A giggle escaped Callie as we walked hand in hand down the sidewalk.

My laughter joined hers. “You and me both. I haven’t seen a knock down drag out brawl like that since the first year I was in the Navy. Alcohol was involved in that one, as I’m sure it was in the one back there. If I were fifteen years younger, I might have been tempted to join in just for the hell of it.”

“Why? You didn’t even know those people. And they hadn’t done anything to invoke your need to punch someone. Why would you have jumped in?”

I shrugged. “Back then, I was pissed off at the world, I guess. My parents hadn’t been dead that long, and I railed at everything in defiance. What did my parents do to deserve being killed by a drunk driver? They were good people. Went to church every Sunday. What horrible thing had they done? I was an angry teenager. Which is why my college counselor suggested the military. He thought it would give me a place to focus my anger in a much healthier way. He was right. I bonded with my squad members. They were the guys who were there for me through thick and thin. They became my family. Eventually, my rage cooled. I grew up.”