Authors: Jacquie Johnson
She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. “It’s my pleasure. I do believe I have the most handsome escort in the building,” she teased as they ambled toward the door.
“Stunning,”
Tonio
pronounced as they passed the reception desk.
“Thank you,
Tonio
.” Angela beamed, her smile as bright as the sun as she twirled in front of the desk, her skirt flaring out and offering a tempting hint of the well-toned thighs hidden by the fabric.
Chase’s jaw tightened at
Tonio’s
appreciative perusal. He wrapped a muscular arm around her waist and kissed the side of her head before turning toward the door. “Night,
Tonio
,” he called out. “Don’t wait up.”
As she slipped into the waiting sedan provided by the hotel, Angela felt like a princess in a fairy tale. The trip to the restaurant was quick and the conversation comfortable. Within minutes of their arrival, the hostess led them to a romantic table for two, in a dimly lit, secluded corner.
“Is there anything else I can do for you?” The hostess leaned closer to Chase and trailed a fingertip along his muscular forearm.
“Hmm.”
Angela rolled her eyes once the hostess had departed. “She might have well asked, ‘coffee, tea or me?’”
“Nothing to be jealous of, Angel.”
Chase reached for and caressed her hand. “She doesn’t hold a candle to you, Angela. You’re the most beautiful woman in the restaurant.”
“Thank you,” she replied quietly, staring at their joined hands and feeling silly all of a sudden. Chase wasn’t her boyfriend. He was more like her bodyguard.
“What’s wrong?” he probed. “I lost you the moment she seated us.”
“I’m sorry.” She tried to withdraw her hand, but he held tight.
Chase stood, pulled her upright, and moved her chair next to his before assisting her into the chair again. Cupping her face in his hand, he ordered, “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I just forgot that none of this is real,” she whispered, averting her eyes.
“What do you mean?” he asked softly as his fingers caressed her face.
“You’re doing this because Uncle Zach ordered you to protect me.” She shrugged lightly.
“Yes,” Chase admitted, his eyes holding hers, and Angela’s heart clenched. She struggled to keep the pain and disappointment she felt from showing on her face but knew she failed when he tightened his grip on her hand.
“I am doing this because I was ordered to, but that’s not the only reason. I’m a soldier, a hard-core, mercenary man who does what is necessary. For the first time in a long time, I’m feeling more than I should. I can’t tell you exactly what I feel for you, but I would protect you regardless of my orders.”
His whisper soft voice and his eyes assured her he was being sincere and she relaxed. Chase dropped a light kiss on the top of her head before raising his menu again.
“Are you ready to order?” The waitress interrupted the uncomfortable silence.
While Chase ordered salmon, Angela splurged with lobster ravioli in a cream sauce. Over Caesar salad prepared tableside, Angela asked Chase where his home was. Wryly, he admitted that, though he kept an apartment in Virginia Beach, he hadn’t had a place he thought of as home since he joined the military.
“What branch?” Angela toyed with her salad, more interested in the man next to her than the food.
“Got a guess?” His eyes glittered with amusement.
“Army, like my dad?” she proposed, before taking a sip of her wine and savoring the flavor.
“Nope,” he teased, shaking his head.
Interlacing her fingers, she rested her chin on her hand and watched him for a few minutes. The romantic candlelight illuminated Chase’s warm smile, making Angela aware of how handsome the man sitting across from her actually was. “Wait!” She snapped her fingers. “Virginia Beach, you said?” Chase nodded.
“Navy.”
Chase chuckled, “Beautiful and intelligent. Just the way I like my women.”
“SEAL?” she prodded.
“Used to be.”
“Right.”
She rolled her eyes. “Once a SEAL, always a SEAL, I imagine.”
When he only smiled, she leaned forward. “So what exactly do you do for Uncle Zach? And what group are the two of you affiliated with again?”
Arching one eyebrow, he sipped his wine without answering.
“Chase!” she demanded, her eyes laughing. “Surely, you can tell me something.”
“I can tell you lots of things, like I’m a Red Sox fan even though I’ve never lived in Boston. But I can’t answer those kinds of questions.”
“Can’t or won’t?” she pressed.
“Both. The less you know, the safer you are, babe.” When she opened her mouth again, he stated, “That’s the way it has to be, Angel.”
Nodding, she acquiesced.
“So, the Red Sox?
What about the Celtics?”
“No to the Celtics. My granddad was a huge Larry Bird fan though.” Chase paused while the waitress refilled their wine glasses and let them know dinner would arrive momentarily. “I like sports but don’t follow the pro teams much. The games are built around the stars instead of the team.”
“Did you play any sports growing up?” Angela wondered, enjoying the way he way was opening up to her.
Chase nodded, leaning back a fraction of an inch as the waitress placed his salmon before him.
“Basketball and baseball.
How about you?”
“Gymnastics.”
“Really?
How could I have not known that? So,” he directed a rakish smile at her, “can you still do the splits?”
She tilted her head to the side and laughed at his expression. “That’s such a typical guy question! Why do you ask?”
Grinning at her reaction, he waggled his eyebrows. “Just wondering if you still have that flexibility? If I’m really good, it might come in handy.”
“No, that’s only if you’re really bad, and I’m in the mood to play.” She flashed him an impish smile, and he growled under his breath.
“So you like bad boys, babe?” He lifted her arms and began trailing light kisses upwards, starting at her wrist.
“That depends. Do you consider yourself a bad boy, Chase?”
Chase sobered and released her hand. “I’m not a nice guy, Angel. You should probably keep that in mind.”
“Chase,” she objected as he pulled back, his body language closed.
“Eat before it gets cold, Angela,” he ordered and turned his attention to the plate in front of him.
They lapsed into an uneasy silence while Chase ate and Angela played with her food. Suddenly, she pushed her plate away and turned toward him. “Chase,” she demanded, but he only lifted an eyebrow in response. “Was my father a good soldier?”
He nodded, a slightly puzzled look crossing his face for a just second before his impassive façade returned. “From what I’ve heard, he was one of the best.”
“He was dangerous, right? He killed people?” she probed, ignoring the slight queasiness in her stomach at the thought.
Again, Chase inclined his head affirmatively.
“So using your definition, he wasn’t a nice guy either,” she announced firmly. “But I loved him, and he loved me. As stupid as this may sound, I like you, Chase, and I trust you.” He opened his mouth but she signaled for him to remain quiet. “No, I don’t know you well, but I’d like to get to know you better. If you’re dangerous, so much the better because it looks like I’m in trouble. You’ve rescued me several times already, so I can’t imagine you intend to hurt me physically. From where I sit, it looks like the only part of me you’re a danger to is my heart.”
When Chase remained silent, she pushed her chair back and stood. “Excuse me.” As she rushed to the back of the restaurant, she could feel the intense heat of Chase’s stare. Once she reached the safety of the ladies’ room, she collapsed on the small sofa placed just inside the door and buried her face in her hands. Once again she had left her emotions get away from her. She was a job to him, nothing more, and she needed to keep that in mind.
“Bad date?” A petite blonde woman handed her a box of tissues.
“Sorry,” she sniffled, removing a few from the box. “It was a pretty good date until I opened my mouth and confessed I liked him.”
The blonde smiled sympathetically.
“Happens to the best of us.
Who knows? Maybe it’ll give him something to think about. If not, there are lots of fish in the sea. You won’t find any of them hiding in the ladies’ room though.”
“Thanks for the reminder.” Angela smiled wanly and moved to the mirror to repair her makeup as the blonde exited.
A few minutes later she opened the door, her eyes downcast, and crashed into a wall, a tall, muscular, male wall that smelled faintly of teak, lemon and the sea. Inching her eyes upwards, she grimaced at the expression on Chase’s face.
Chase dragged her from the restaurant and pulled her down a nearby alley. Trapping her against a brick wall in a secluded corner, he leaned his body into hers, effectively immobilizing her. “Scared?” he hissed as a shiver coursed through her body.
She shook her head. Even if she were scared, she sure wouldn’t admit it to him.
“You should be,” he warned as he wrapped his hand around her neck and squeezed. “I could snap your neck at this very moment.”
“But you won’t,” she gasped, as he tightened his grip. “If you’d wanted to kill me, you’d have done it already. You’re just trying to scare me.”
“Damn it, Angela!” He loosened his grip, his thumb caressing the sides of her neck. “You should be scared.”
“Well, I’m not,” she scowled, her blue eyes flashing with anger.
“I can see that.” She could hear the smile in his voice. He stepped back slightly and leaned his forehead against her, breathing in and out slowly. Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her. “Don’t you ever walk away from me like that
again.
”
“I didn’t walk away. I went to the bathroom,” she protested, well aware that her excuse was weak.
“Bullshit! You stomped off without any thought to your safety. If you need to use the bathroom, you let me know, and I’ll escort you.”
“I don’t need an escort to…to…well, you know,” she objected embarrassed by the mere thought.