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Her curiosity aroused and left unsatisfied, she yanked one of the suitcases up onto the bed and began the task of unpacking. Within minutes, she had both cases emptied and her meager belongings stored in the dresser and closet. Six months ago, she’d left most of what she owned with Clay, taking only what she could carry in the cases. The apartment she’d been living in had come fully furnished. Unfortunately, the roof had sprung a leak in the last rain. Not only had they had to repair the roof, they’d had to rip out the drywall and flooring due to water damage and mold. She wouldn’t be allowed back into the apartment until they’d completed all of the repairs and mold remediation. Thus, the move to the bed-and-breakfast.
The night was still young, the sun having barely dipped below the hilltops. She could lie there and reminisce or go find something to eat.
Grabbing her coat and purse, she headed for the door, slung it open and nearly crashed into T-Rex. “Oh, sorry.”
He steadied her with his big hands and then dropped them to his sides. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” She stepped back and willed her heart to slow.
“I was coming to see you.”
“You were?” Her pulse leaped again.
T-Rex dug in his pocket and pulled out a device that fit in the palm of his hand. “I want you to have this.” He reached for her hand and placed it on her palm.
“What is it?” she stared down at the gadget, her heart banging against her ribs at the touch of his hand beneath hers.
“A stun gun.”
Okay, so it wasn’t a diamond bracelet, but seriously, what man gave a woman a stun gun as a gift? “How does it work?”
He turned it over and pointed to the button on the side. “You switch it on here. When someone gets close enough to you, you push this button and stick it to him.”
“And then what?”
“He will lose muscle control and balance and become disoriented. It will disable him for up to thirty minutes.”
“Wow.” She held it out. “Sounds dangerous.”
“The effects aren’t permanent. It gives you a chance to get away. Carry it in your hand when you’re alone, like when you’re locking up at the day care and walking out to your car. If your ex ever pulls a stunt like he did today you can be ready to take him down long enough to get away. One jolt from this baby and he’ll think twice about harassing you.”
She stared at the device and then glanced up at him. “That’s about the nicest gift anyone has ever given me.”
He laughed out loud. “Better than roses?”
“Much.” She slid it into her purse, careful not to switch it on in the process. “I’m not sure I have the nerve to use it, but it will make me feel better knowing I have it in case I need it.”
“Were you heading out?” he asked.
“I was just going to find something to eat. Normally, I fix a salad and eat at home.” She grimaced. “But that won’t be an option while I live in the bed-and-breakfast. I miss my apartment already.”
“I was about to go to the Blue Moose Tavern. Care to join me?”
She smiled and shook her head. “So much for avoiding each other. I think it will be nearly impossible in such a small house.”
“No need to. I promise—” he held up his hand as if swearing in court “—not to overstep your boundaries without your permission.”
“In that case, I would love the company. I hate eating alone.” She led the way down the stairs and out of the building.
Once outside, he glanced around as if looking for something or someone. “I don’t see your ex anywhere, but we should probably keep up appearances.” T-Rex held out his hand. “Girlfriend?”
She hesitated, staring at his big, open hand. Knowing it would only be for appearances, it shouldn’t be a big deal. But as soon as she placed her hand in his, the electricity of his touch zipped through her body, pooling low in her groin. Yeah, being this close to T-Rex could only lead to trouble.
At that moment, she didn’t care.
Together, they walked the three blocks to the Blue Moose Tavern and asked the waitress for a table.
Once seated across from T-Rex, her hand in her own lap and no longer touching the man, Sierra’s thoughts settled from the scramble they’d been since she’d kissed him. He was just a man. The first man she’d kissed since her divorce. Surely there would be more, and she wouldn’t make such a complete fool of herself over the next.
The waitress brought them their drinks—a glass of red wine for Sierra and a draft beer for T-Rex.
Sierra lifted her glass. “To new friends.”
He touched his mug to her glass. “To new friends.”
They sipped and stared over the tops of their respective drinks.
Sierra had to focus on staring into his eyes and not letting her gaze fall to his sensuous mouth. For a long moment, she struggled to come up with something to say that wasn’t kiss me. Finally, she knocked back the rest of her wine and set her glass on the table. “Tell me about yourself.”
Chapter Five (#u6e32857e-6827-5a94-a61e-7a4335488036)
T-Rex felt his muscles tighten. He’d never been this uncomfortable sitting across a table from a beautiful woman. When she stared at him and demanded he tell her about himself, his pulse kicked up a notch. He swallowed the last of his beer and set down his mug. What did she really want to know?
Did she want to hear that he’d watched his best gunnery sergeant nearly get blown apart? That he wished he could have taken Gunny’s place in that explosion? That he loved women but avoided relationships because of the profession he’d chosen to dedicate his life to? He didn’t want to talk about himself, so he stalled. “Like what?”
“Not going to make this easy, are you?” Sierra nodded, squared her shoulders and launched. “You can start by telling me which branch of the service you’re in.”
“Marine Corps.” That wasn’t so hard. He relaxed a little.
“How long?” she demanded.
“Ten years.”
“That’s quite a commitment.” She drew in a breath and let it out. “Have you been deployed to a war zone?”
Tension shot up again. He nodded, his glance dropping to his empty mug. “Four times.”
Sierra’s brows drew together, and she reached across the table, laying her hand on his arm. “Thank you for your service.”
The heat of her touch sent his blood burning through his veins. He didn’t feel like he had done anything to be thanked for. While he was walking around on two perfectly good legs, Gunny couldn’t even hold his newborn son in his arms, or hug his girls.
T-Rex shook off her touch and moved his hands to his lap. “My turn.”
She nodded. “Shoot.”
“How long were you married to your charming husband?”
“Seven years.”
“Was he as abusive the entire time you two were married?”
Sierra glanced to the far corner of the room, her brows wrinkled. “He’s always been demanding. I thought he’d mellow as we grew older together, but he didn’t. Then he lost his job as a truck driver due to an accident a couple years ago. He was home all the time and I went to work. That’s when he got mean.”
“Children?”
She shook her head, her shoulders sinking a degree. “No. No children.”
“By choice, or luck of the draw?”
“It just didn’t happen. If I could, I’d have a dozen children.”
“Do you come from a big family?”
She shook her head. “No. My parents died when I was six. I was raised in the foster care system.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She smiled. “My foster parents were very good to me.”
“Were?”
She sighed. “They passed away within months of each other five years ago. I miss them.”
“No siblings?” he asked.
She shook her head. “You?”
T-Rex nodded. “I have a sister in Texas. She’s married with three little boys.”
Sierra looked at him with a smile. “They must love their Uncle T-Rex.”
“I doubt it.” He shrugged. “I don’t see them often enough.” Hell, he hadn’t seen them since they were all in diapers. He made a mental note to visit his sister.
“Parents?”
“Retired and traveling around the country in a motor home.” He shook his head. “They sold the home and ranch we grew up on and bought a motor coach. They never spend more than four months in any one place. Their goal is to explore every national park in the United States before they die. And a few dozen state parks.”
Sierra leaned her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her palm. “Wow, sounds like a wonderful way to spend your retirement.” A long strand of her blond hair fell forward over her cheek.
Without thinking, T-Rex reached across the table and tucked it behind her ear. He brushed his knuckles across her cheek, that same electric current sending shock waves through his system. He snatched back his hand. “Why do you stay here?”
She shrugged. “I love this town and most of the people in it. Minus one ex-husband. It’s a great place to live and raise a family.”
“But you aren’t married and, from what you’ve just told me, you don’t have family here.”
She shrugged. “I’d love to travel, but I never considered doing it alone.” Her lips twisted. “I’d want to share my adventures with someone else. I couldn’t see myself standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon and having no one to share my appreciation for what I’d be seeing.” Sierra laughed. “Sounds dumb, but that’s how I feel. Besides, I was married from the time I left college until just a few months ago. We didn’t have the money to travel. We barely had enough to pay the rent. So, there you have it. That’s my pathetic life in a nutshell. The best part about it is working with the children. I love those kids.”
“And they all love you.”
“The little traitors were quick to switch their loyalties when you came through the door.” She winked at him. “Why don’t you have children?” Her eyes widened suddenly. “Wow, I don’t even know if you’re married.” She pressed her hand to her lips.
He shook his head. “I’m not, and I don’t have any children.” Leaning toward her, he said in a low voice for only her ears, “Besides, I wouldn’t have kissed you if I had a wife. Call me old-fashioned, but I believe you only kiss the one you’re committed to.”
Sierra sank back against her seat. “Whew. You never know. I’ve been out of the dating scene for a long time. Heck, I don’t think I’ve ever been in it. I married my high school sweetheart two years into college.”
“What did you major in?” he asked.
“I would have majored in elementary education, but I didn’t get to finish.” She rubbed the third finger on her left hand.
“Why?”
“Clay thought college was a waste of time. He dropped out and got a job as a truck driver and we got married. When it came time for fall semester to start, he wouldn’t let me go back. He said it cost too much, and what did I need a college education for anyway? He made enough money driving a truck to support us.”
“And he lost his license.”
She nodded. “Over a year ago.”
“Seven years and no children. That from a woman who loves kids.” He raised his brows.
“I wanted them.” She shrugged and looked away. “They never seemed to happen. Can we talk about something else?”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“It’s okay. It was a sore subject in our marriage, and it still hurts.”
“Then let’s talk about what to order.” He popped open a menu and perused the items he had yet to try. Soon, the waitress delivered a bison burger for him and a Southwestern chicken salad for Sierra. They spent the rest of the meal talking about the upcoming football season and who they thought would play in the bowl games.
When he’d finished the burger and fries, he ordered another beer and sat back. “I’m surprised you know your college football teams.”
She sipped from her wineglass and raised her brows. “Why? Because I’m a girl?”
“No,” he hedged. “Because you’re a woman. I thought most women disliked sports.”
“That’s a sexist remark.”
“Guilty.”
“My foster mother and father were huge football fans. We spent many weekends watching the games and yelling until our throats were raw.” She smiled, her face softening. “I miss that.”
“Was your ex a fan?”
She shook her head. “He liked hockey. Don’t get me wrong. I love watching a good hockey game, too. But I missed watching football.”
“He wouldn’t let you watch football?”
“No.”
“Jerk,” T-Rex muttered just loud enough for her to hear.
