Page 43 of Keeping Laryn
“Um…I’m not sure. I think we both have a lot to do to get ready for deployment.”
“I’m not waiting until after we get back. Once onboard ship, we aren’t going to have any privacy, and I’m not going to expose you to any rumors or innuendos from people who don’t know us or who think we’re doing something we shouldn’t. You aren’t in the Army, and it’s not forbidden for us to date.”
“I’m not saying no or disagreeing, I just don’t know when we’ll have time,” she told him, thrilled behind belief that he seemed to be desperate to take her on a date.
“We’ll make time. Play it by ear. I’m still not comfortable leaving you alone at night, not with Osman being out there. Last night was bad enough because I was so out of it, I couldn’t have protected you if someone broke in. But I’ll also understand, considering how things between us have changed, if you aren’t comfortable having me stay the night…even out here on your couch like I did before. I can rotate one of the guys to stay here if that would make you more comfortable.”
Her heart fluttered in her chest. The concern this man had for her…and they weren’t even dating yet…it was unexpected and wasn’t something she was used to. “My dad would’ve loved you,” she blurted. Tate was just like him, protective and alpha to the core.
“I wish I could’ve met him. He raised one hell of a daughter.We’ll talk later. I’ll let you know what Tex thinks about this Osman situation.”
“And what the manager of Anchor Point says? I planned on calling today myself,” Laryn told him. If anyone had asked her before right this second, she would’ve said having a conversation with someone you loved while plastered against him, feeling his erection against your belly, after just being kissed as if the world was ending, would be awkward. But it felt like the most natural thing ever. And surreal to boot.
“Of course.” Then Tate leaned down and kissed her again. But it wasn’t quite as intense as before. His fingers tightened on her nape for a split second before he let go of her and took a step back.
“Thank you again, Laryn,” he said quietly. Then he strode toward her door with the confidence she’d gotten used to seeing in the hotshot pilot.
“Lock this behind me,” he ordered.
Laryn rolled her eyes. “I’m not an idiot,” she told him a little huffily.
“No, you’re not. Later.”
And with that, he was gone.
Laryn hurried to the door and locked the bolt and put the safety chain on. Then she turned her back to the door and wrapped her arms around her belly. A smile formed on her face as she licked her lips and still tasted Tate there.
Everything was happening so fast, but she couldn’t say she was upset about it. She’d loved Tate Davis for what seemed like forever, and it was surreal that he’d been in her apartment, kissing her as if his life depended on it. She had no idea how this might change their relationship at work. She worried about that, butsomethinghad to change. She’d been in a rut and wasn’t happy, hence asking around about other jobs.
She regretted that now, especially if Altan Osman’s threatsturned out to be serious. But she’d cross that bridge if and when she came to it. She was nothing if not practical. Right now she needed to shower and get to work. She had a chopper to help get loaded and she’d be pissed if anything happened to her baby en route to the naval destroyer. Tate’s—and Pyro’s—lives depended on nothing happening to the helicopter in transit. She needed to be sure she did everything in her power to mitigate that possibility.
Laryn was still smiling as she walked into her bathroom and saw Tate had hung up the towel he’d used, and it was right beside hers on the rack. A shiver ran through her as a glimpse into a possible future with Tate flashed through her head. Things might not work out between them, she was well aware of that…but what if they did?
Taking a deep breath, she did her best to tamp down her excitement. For now, she’d play the future by ear. Whatever happened, happened. She’d try to enjoy the ride and not get bogged down in the details.
But thinking about that kiss, and how amazing it was, made that almost impossible. Sleeping next to him and kissing him had rocked her world. If they ever got to a point of being more intimate…she might self-combust.
Laryn stripped and stepped into the shower and tried to figure out how she was going to remove the ridiculous smile from her face before she got to work.
CHAPTER TEN
Casper’s call with the manager of Anchor Point was frustrating. He’d told the man everything that Laryn had seen and done, but without proof, the manager was reluctant to simply fire Barb. She’d never had any complaints about her in the past, and she was apparently a hard worker. There were no security cameras pointing at the bar that would prove she’d drugged his shot, and he argued that he couldn’t simply take Laryn’s word for what happened over that of his employee.
It wasn’t a surprise, but it was still frustrating.
His teammates’ reactions were more satisfying.
They.
Were.
Pissed.
He had to reassure each of them that he was fine, that Laryn had done what she’d needed to do in order to make sure he was away from Barb the Bitch and safe.
“She’s done,” Pyro had told him in a fierce tone.
Casper didn’t bother asking what that meant; he didn’t need to. By the time Pyro was done with her, the woman would begone from Anchor Point…and probably from the Norfolk area, as well.
