Page 19 of Her Unflinching Warrior (Omega Sky)
“It is, because you’rea lotannoying when you think you know every damn thing. Because you don’t.”
“Regardless,” he replied with a grin. “I kind of like annoying. And, according to my performance evaluations, it would not hurt me to learn a little humility.”
Jada frowned. “Your lieutenant would never put that in writing,” she protested. “That would be on your permanent record. I thought you liked this guy.”
“Relax. You’re right, he wouldn’t. Why do you know what would or wouldn’t go into my performance eval?” Then his hand shot out and he grabbed hers. “Oh right, your dad was a Marine. I’m sorry for your loss.”
“It was a long time ago.”
“It still hurts.”
His brown eyes were so kind, Jada let down a little of her guard. “You’re right, it does. I was a Daddy’s Girl. I love my Mama, don’t get me wrong, but I was unexpected. Ronnie was their seventh, and they thought, last child. I came six years later. Daddy retired a year after I was born and moved his Platoon from Forster Hills, California to New York. Mama’s family owns a construction company out there, one of my brothers was already working for Uncle Ricky, so Daddy bought in. He died of a stroke on a construction site when I was thirteen.”
“He sounds like a good man.”
“The best. I have five older brothers, all good men as well. And the number of uncles and cousins are too many to name or mention.”
Gideon’s lips tipped up.
“How many in the military?”
“Two of my brothers are Marines. One is still serving.”
“Sounds about right,” Gideon grinned.
“You got it. Once a Marine—” Jada started.
“Always a Marine.” Gideon finished. “So where are all of your five brothers now?”
“Nowhere close by, so we don’t have to worry about that tonight.”
He raised his eyebrow.
“Well, now that I know that you’re nota lotannoyed with me, I’m thinking I’d like to explore any chemistry that might be lurking about. But I’d kind of like to do it without an audience.”
Gideon stared at her for longer than a moment, and she’d worried she’d blown it. Maybe propositioning somebody like him wasn’t the way to go. The last guy she’d done this with was when they were both seniors in college. But hell, she’d definitely felt his level of interest when he was pressed up against her on the dance floor.
Shit, maybe he liked the shy and retiring types. Someone more like Gianna.
Jada bit her lip and tried to pull her hand away from Gideon’s grasp.
“Look, I wasn’t saying we should go to your or my hotel room. I’m not a sure thing, at least not yet.”
Great. Now I sound like a slut.
“What I mean is, I’d just like to be alone with you, maybe talk to you, and very definitely like to kiss you. Is that so wrong?”
She finally yanked her hand away from his and pressed the heel of her sparkly amber heel into the wooden floor, intent on getting purchase so she could push up and away before she made an even bigger fool of herself than she already had.
“Jada,” his voice was lower than before, darker and deeper. “Jada,” he said as he brushed her curls away from her face and traced the line of Jada’s jaw. “Are you listening to me, Angel?”
His voice was a low rumble that seemed to vibrate right into the center of her chest. She nodded. “I’m listening.”
“I’m going to stand up, hold out my hand, and you’re going to take it. Then you’re going to stand up and we’re going to walk hand in hand up to the happy couple and wish them good-night.”
“But—”
“No buts. Sebastian and Gianna are dying to leave, us going will just spur them on.”
