Scar stood in Shayla’s townhome, breathing in the smell of scallops sautéing. The protein noodles were warm and ready, waiting with the broccoli he’d cut and cooked. It was one of the easy dinners he would serve with a low-carb sauce. It was delicious, if he did say so himself.

After leaving Shayla at the school, he’d concocted a plan. Not only did he want to cook for her, but he wanted to show her San Diego. She said her class was done in two days. If she had a couple of days free, he’d fill them to the brim with her bucket list.

His mind flitted to kissing Shayla, how amazing it felt holding her in his arms. He wouldn’t deny the fact he liked that she’d texted him when she was afraid. It made him feel needed. It was in his nature to help people. When they acknowledged they wanted him to help, it was deeply satisfying.

He thought about how he could possibly stay in San Diego. What if he stayed to run the new gym? There were a lot of vets between the naval bases in the area. The vets were here in droves because of the beach. Could he stay? Run this program full time? Supervise the others? Granted, he would have to float the idea by the Kincaids, but it could work.

There was also football to consider. Could he quit? If someone would have told him a week ago that he would be thinking about quitting, he would have told them no way. But everything had changed in just a few days.

Shaking his head, he tried to focus on making dinner. He had made a salad and rice as well. When he’d stopped at Vons he’d thought about her food situation, so he’d decided to stock her up whether she liked it or not. This girl needed help. He thought of what he knew about her. Her parents weren’t happy she was living the dream, and they didn’t have money. He was proud of the fact she was doing what she wanted. But he wasn’t happy with the fact she had poor security and she obviously didn’t have skills to defend herself. He had taken measures to fix the security, but they had to deal with the fighting skills still.

He wandered over to the bucket list wall and looked at the list. With a pencil in his fingers, he boldly did something he probably shouldn’t do: he added things. Just three. Biking around Mission Beach. Yes, that was a must as long as she had the list. Lunch at Dana Landing Deli. A whale watching tour on a cruise ship. He thought of his brother and wondered what he would say when he asked to borrow the ship? Probably fall over dead.

Hearing her pull up, he felt nervous, which was odd. After being a SEAL, then playing professional football, he didn’t get nervous any more. He had taught himself a long time ago how to be calm in every situation, but this woman had done things to him in such a short time. He didn’t think he liked it. Yet here he was waiting with dinner for her. Who was he?

When she walked inside the house, her face was agog. “What?” She stared down at the new lock. “You did all this?”

Not knowing if that made her happy or mad, he stepped toward her, deciding to face whatever her reaction would be. “I changed the door locks and window locks.” He pointed to a camera in the keyhole. “I installed this so you can know who is at the door before you open it. I also put cameras on both sides of the house that we can hook to an app on your phone.”

Looking dumbfounded, she held his eyes for a second, then turned and saw the dinner on the table. She blinked. Her bottom lip trembled. “Why did you do this?”

He couldn’t stop himself from pulling her into him. She tensed, as if trying to stop him, but let him hug her. She squeezed him tighter.

He loved the feel of her and her lemon scent. He put his chin over her head. It felt like her head fit perfectly into the hollow between his chin and chest.

She didn’t stay long before pulling back, searching his eyes. “I don’t understand why you did all this.”

The intensity of his feelings was so powerful, it took his breath away. “I wanted to. I don’t want you to worry someone is going to get in. I want you to feel safe here. I wanted to make you dinner, and you didn’t have much food, so I hope you don’t mind I bought a few extras.”

A tear trickled down her cheek.

Looking at her, he knew he had already fallen hard for this girl. Her innocence and purity, the way she cried simply because he cooked for her and changed her locks. He thought of the last woman he’d dated. She had been so ungrateful. She hadn’t cared about any gesture he made, not even when he bought her a car. He could well imagine how she would have reacted to him changing the oil and making dinner.

Putting down her backpack, Shayla went to the cupboards, inspected the contents, and shook her head. “Why?”

Thinking about how he’d actually been whistling in the store earlier as he’d bought all the provisions, he decided he liked the look on her face. Maybe he even needed the way she was looking at him like he was really Superman and had saved the world. He spread his hands. “Because I can help.”

She turned back to him and sniffed. “Thank you.”

He wanted to go to her and hug her again, but he felt he should wait.

“I have a confession.”

Oh no, here it comes. She is still with the boyfriend. Please no.

“I asked God the morning I met you to help me, to help me get money for food and to make a friend.” She sniffed. “I guess He never fails us.”

He was torn. On one hand, he liked the idea of being the answer to her prayers. On the other, he really didn’t like the word friend, not after the kisses they’d shared. But he would be patient. It wasn’t his shtick to be patient, but he guessed God seemed to be teaching him patience time and again. He thought of his injury in the Navy and then of getting picked up by the Titans as practice quarterback. Almost there, but not quite. He didn’t want the almost anymore. He grinned. “Should we eat?”

Letting out a light laugh, she nodded and then wiped beneath her eyes. “It smells great.”

After saying grace and dishing up, she looked at him and smiled, not eating.

He held a bite of scallops almost to his lips. “Eat.”

Still smiling, she picked up her spoon and scooped some up. They took a bite at the same time. Elation washed over her face, and she moaned as she savored the taste. She chewed and swallowed. “Oh my gosh, this is so good.”

He swallowed and smiled at her. “I aim to please.”

She pointed at him with her fork. “I never would have guessed that about you the day I met you. Scar Walker, these are the best scallops I’ve ever had.” She took another bite, and her face positively glowed with delight.

He narrowed his eyes at her. “Is this the first time you’ve ever had scallops?” He knew the Midwest didn’t get scallops easily, and they weren’t cheap.

She laughed. “Is it that obvious?” She took another bite, and her eyes sparkled.

They continued eating the meal with her oohing and aahing over every bite, which positively tickled him.

Finally, she pushed the plate away and put her hands to her stomach. “So full, so good. Thank you.”

He copied the gesture and just watched her. She looked so relaxed and happy. He thought about how she would look after every new experience.

He pitched his plan slowly, focusing on a soft presentation so he didn’t scare her away. “I was wondering if we could talk about something. Something that I know you probably won’t want to let me do.”

A look of confusion, then shock crossed her face. She got up to leave. “I don’t think it’s the right time to talk about what I think you’re talking about.”

“Wait! No.” Alarm jolted him to his feet. “Not that.”

“I’m sorry if I gave off the impression. I’m not, I haven’t, I’ve never—I mean, that’s kind of what Jason was so mad about. He felt like I never would do that with him, and how could he come with me or marry me unless we had?”

What was she talking about? Scar ran a hand through his hair. Was she saying that she’d never …

Her cheeks were aflame as she turned away from him, totally nervous. “I’m sorry.”

This had just gotten more extreme than a reality show. “Shayla, listen. First, I wasn’t talking about having sex with you. I wouldn’t ask something like that after doing something for you. That would never be an exchange type of thing for me.” He was getting this whole thing wrong. “I mean, I wouldn’t anyway.” But wouldn’t he?

Whirling back, her cheeks went even deeper red. “I didn’t think …” She swept her hand up and down in the air. “This got weird, and that’s on me. Sorry.” She wandered away to the front room, looking out the window at the ocean. “You’re just so much older and good-looking and sophisticated and you probably have had lots of …” She trailed off.

Inhaling deeply, he knew this was the time to straighten this all out, but he had to be careful about it. She was different than the women he’d hung out with. That’s what he liked about her. “Shayla, listen. You … I didn’t. You think I’m good-looking?” Dang, did he really sound like a teenage boy looking for a compliment.

Turning back to him, she gave him a shy smile. “Don’t act like you’re not.”

He couldn’t stop himself from moving to her, wrapping his arms around her waist, and pulling her close. He smelled her hair. “I’m not that much older.” He felt like he was pleading with her.

She let out a light laugh and turned in his arms.

Unable to resist, he kissed her, lightly brushing his lips to hers. Keep it light. Keep it innocent. Keep it together man!

She kept her arms around his shoulders. “I don’t even think it’s the years. It’s just, you’ve seen a lot of life.”

He couldn’t deny she was right; he had seen a lot of life compared to her. “Is that good or bad?”

She gave him an innocent look. “You tell me.”

He shrugged, thinking about some of the horrible, some of the awesome. “Both.”

Shayla frowned a little. She gazed out at the street, saying nothing.

He thought of going on the bike ride all over the island with her the other night. Then he thought of today, how he’d rushed with her into the ocean and they’d splashed around. Yes, they’d kissed, but it was more than that. “Fun,” he finally said.

“Fun?” She turned to him, looking at him with suspicion in her eyes.

“I realize that I’m kind of a cynical guy.”

Her body relaxed a little. “That’s an interesting word for you.”

He grinned, liking that she’d relaxed. “You see, you have this bucket list for San Diego. You have your last paper due the day after tomorrow. I was thinking if you wanted, I could rearrange my schedule and we can do your list.”

She looked confused again.

“Together,” he said slowly.

“Why would you want to do that?”

He wanted to say, Because you’re the first woman I’ve met in forever who makes me want to talk to her until all hours of the night and who I deeply respect and with whom I could easily fall in love. That I think I have fallen in love with. Instead, he said, “Because it’s been a long time since I’ve just had fun. Since I’ve done something like the bike ride the other night, since I got to see San Diego through someone else’s eyes. I liked it. I want more of that.”

Searching his face for a bit, she narrowed her eyes. “Scar, I told you I just got out of a relationship, and I admit I googled you.” She pulled back. “You’re kind of a … you’ve been on a lot of dates.”

Scar knew exactly what she was talking about. In fact, part of him felt ashamed of it. “I’ve dated a lot of women,” he said reluctantly. “I haven’t been serious with any of them.”

“That’s okay. That’s just not what I want. I would never want you to get those signals from me.”

In this moment, he admired her more than any woman he could remember dating. She was sweet and innocent, but also firm about her standards. Firm enough to get her here, even though she was obviously running on fumes for money. From one soldier to another, who had given up a lot of his dreams in his life, he suddenly got her. He nodded and put up his hands. “I promise. I’ll be a total gentleman.”

She hedged. “I …”

“C’mon. I even added three things, in pencil, to your list.”

Frowning, she rushed to the list on the wall and inspected what he’d added.

“You’ll love those, I promise. The bike ride around Mission Bay is awesome. The deli you can’t miss. And—” He swallowed. “My family owns the tour company.”

“What?” she asked incredulously. “Your family?”

He shrugged and looked away, wondering if telling her was a good idea. “My brother’s been hounding me forever to come back and take part ownership. I don’t want to do that. We should do the tour. It’s cool. I’m pretty sure I can get you the private tour.” Thinking all this might make her happy, he thought it a lock. Of course she would say yes.

To his surprise, she shook her head. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I really appreciate all of this. But I can’t.”

Grabbing her hand, he said. “Why not?”

“I’m just gonna say it.” Her face clouded with embarrassment.

“What?”

“Scar, let me be clear. I have money saved. Money I scrimped for the last three years that will maybe get me through two years at San Diego State. And that’s crossing my fingers I’ll get some scholarship money. But I don’t have money for all of this fun. I wish I did. Unfortunately, after fixing the tire and buying a new one, I don’t have extra money. I probably need to pick up extra shifts at the diner the rest of the summer.”

“No.” He took her hand again, but let it go when she looked down at their hands together. “Please, let this be something we do and remember for the rest of our lives. I’m thinking we could do most of this in five days. Five awesome days full of experiences around San Diego. Please, just let me pay. I won’t go fancy over the top. Let me pay because I can.” He put his hand up. “I don’t have many expenses. I don’t live at the Hotel del Coronado most of the time. I have a modest home in Dallas, but the Foundation is paying for my expenses while I travel.”

Shaking her head, she let out a cough. “No. No way. I wasn’t raised like that. There’s no way I could do that.” She turned to the kitchen. “Look at what you’ve already bought. Look at the extra food. Plus, you did my oil filter and came to the school, which was stupid.”

Scar swallowed his frustration, forcing himself to not push. “Well, how about just Torrey Pines tomorrow? I saw that on your list, and I know the best trail. It’s ten bucks, so let me give you the tour.”

Cocking an eyebrow, she narrowed her eyes. “I know it costs ten bucks. I just haven’t had a minute to drive up there and haven’t known—”

“Then tomorrow morning. Eight sharp.” He grinned and started for the door, not accepting no.

“Wait. I—”

He put up a hand and turned to her, knowing this would be the only way to get what he wanted. It was funny how much he really did want this. “It would be rude to tell a guest who just made you dinner and bought you groceries no.”

She hedged.

“Great.”

“Wait,” she said, making him pause with his hand on the doorknob. “I actually just realized I don’t have to work in the morning, but I’ll only go if you agree this isn’t a date. I can’t be kissing you. I’m not that girl. I mean …”

“What’s wrong with kissing me?”

She blushed. “Nothing. I just don’t want this to be some fling.”

The way she said it, like he was Dracula and she was some innocent he would suck the blood out of and toss away, made him wince. “I don’t think of you that way.”

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I just feel a bit like my head is spinning at the moment.”

Weighing his options, he relented. “Friends, then,” he said, and kept the door open, knowing full well he didn’t want just friendship with this woman. He put on a flashy smile, the kind he wore for the media. “Eight?”

A small smile crept onto her lips. “Eight, but I have to be back by three so I can finish the paper tomorrow evening.”

“See you then.”

They said good night, and he rushed down the steps of the townhome and put both fists into the air like the Titans had just driven a fourth-quarter touchdown through the Denver Storm. Yeah! he heard the crowds yelling in his mind.