It felt good to be in Seattle, in my condo, with Garrett. It felt like my old life. But I didn’t regret sacrificing the budding career and the condo in the in-demand high-rise to go home to Gig Harbor and take care of my dad. I’d never let my wanderlust for new experiences keep me far away from him and Valerie. I didn’t want to hurt them like my mother had, so I’d given myself a long enough cord that allowed me the freedom I desired but kept me connected to home.

Garrett and I enjoyed our tasting flights, and after a tense conversation about Nikki, I listened to him as he explained more to me about wine than I ever thought possible. I enjoyed the more fruit-forward reds while he preferred those full of mouth-puckering tannins.

“You have to let it breathe,” he said after I took a sip of something he enjoyed, but I hated.

“It tastes like erasers!” Garrett laughed heartily at my declaration, and I went back to enjoying my glass of red wine that tasted like raspberry jam.

It was later than expected when we left the wine bar, and we had to decide: return to Gig Harbor or stay the night in Seattle.

“Cami, it’s your choice. I’m okay to drive,” Garrett said as we stood in the alley just outside the wine bar. I took my phone from my purse and frowned. Valerie hadn’t bothered to call after my outburst at the hospital earlier. My gut was churning with the uneasiness of this morning’s emotional turn of events.

“We’re only an hour away,” I said with a shrug. “If something happens, we’re still close enough.”

Garrett took my hand easily but let me lead. Instead of guiding him back toward my building, I took him down to the waterfront. I didn’t want the night to end. Plus, I feared awkwardness would settle between us once we returned to my condo. Garrett didn’t seem to mind as we walked down to Pike Place Market and found a bench that faced the water. The marketplace was quiet now that business was done for the day. I made a mental note to return early in the morning to buy flowers for Valerie as an apology.

“You said you have brothers?” I asked, trying to continue the “getting to know you” conversation we’d started and stopped throughout the day.

“Two brothers. Oliver and Neil.”

“Are you the oldest?” It was easy to tell that he was, even if he didn’t say it. He carried the burden of the oldest child and had a look I often saw in Valerie’s eyes.

“Yes. Oliver and I are fairly close in age though; only eighteen months separate us.”

“And Neil?”

Garrett grinned. “He was the happy accident. He’s a freshman at Stanford.”

“Did you see them when you went home?”

“Only Oliver. He and his wife Tabitha run the winery.”

“How does that make you feel?”

“Oliver’s a natural. He’s made great improvements to the business, and I have no desire to take it away from him. My passion is for the land, and the fruit it produces.”

We were quiet again, sitting on the bench, letting the slight breeze wash over us. There was a lot I wanted to ask, to know, but I was scared.

“What’s going to happen once you leave?” That question had weighed heavily on my mind. I lived close enough to Fort Lewis to know that dating someone in the military wasn’t always easy. Valerie knew that better than most, and several friends from high school were now married to servicemen.

Garrett blew out a breath and scrubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t know. What do you want to happen?”

I shrugged. “I don’t have an answer to that. This is pretty new to me.” My mind circled back to our conversation in the parking lot after the Coldplay concert. “I mean, I haven’t dated someone in the military before.” And I haven’t fallen so quickly before either, I mentally added.

“I’ll be able to call you and email you.”

“How often?”

“Once a week, maybe less. If I’m out on patrol, then not at all.”

I swallowed hard. Once a week or not at all? Was that what I wanted for myself? But then I glanced over at Garrett and studied him silently. He was unbelievably handsome with his rich chestnut brown hair and neatly trimmed beard. His nose was straight and pointed and his jaw strong and square. But it was his eyes, the color of melted chocolate, which captured me. So deep and soulful. Underneath, he was equally amazing. He captivated me with his knowledge of wine, and even though he talked about running away from the family business, the passion was there burning inside him. Yes, this was what I wanted for myself. I wanted Garrett no matter how or when I got him.

“Okay,” I said softly. “I’ll take that.”

As we walked back to my building, our hands gravitated toward each other like magnets. His touch was warm and comforting, and I craved more and more of it. Inside the building’s slick marble lobby, we waited for an elevator silently, but once we stepped inside, Garrett backed me into the corner. His lips were on me, eagerly taking and tasting. His large hands roamed my body freely, touching every inch he had promised to memorize. I desperately wanted to reach down, unzip his fly, and take him in my hand. As he kissed trails along my cheeks and jaw and neck, I fantasized about having his cock in my hand, stroking it until it was practically steel. I moaned softly and rubbed myself against him.

“I don’t have much patience,” he growled. “I want to fuck you so badly.”

“I want that too.” My voice was nothing more than a breathy whisper.

The elevator chimed, interrupting us, which might have been a godsend. We broke apart but only fractionally. Garrett still had his hands on me as we exited and walked down the hall to my unit. I giggled as I fumbled with my keys, too distracted by the way his hands and lips were still exploring. I felt like a teenager again, lusting after my crush. But Garrett was much more than an innocent high school crush. He was a man, and my heart told me that he was going to be my everything.

When I finally succeeded in unlocking the door, I opened it, waiting for him to pounce. Instead, I turned and saw him standing in the doorway, watching me with a primal gleam in his eye.

“Being in a relationship will be rough,” he said in a low, gravelly voice. “This isn’t going to be easy.”

He was warning me one final time, and it felt like he was intentionally trying put up a wall between us. I didn’t want to hear it.

“Don’t roll your eyes, Cami. I’m serious.” Slowly, he entered my apartment before turning to close and lock the front door. I stood completely still and watched as he stalked toward me. “You can’t just walk away because it’s too hard.”

Nervously, I swallowed as his large hands circled my waist. I looked down to see where they held me firmly. This was more than just a physical connection. This was different and new terrifying and exhilarating. “I don’t think I could walk away even if I wanted.”

Garrett bent his head and brushed his lips softly against mine. “Get the lights, Cami,” he whispered as he walked past me and headed toward my bedroom.