Nine Marines' Shared Property - Nicole Casey Page 0,5

We stood from the table in unison and went inside.

Manny was at the counter chatting and laughing with one of the girls. We nodded to him and took a table in the corner where we could get a good look at the action.

“She’s cute,” said Nolan.

“That’s not Gwen,” I said.

After a few minutes, Manny and the waitress came to our table with drinks and cakes. “The bill’s for J.P.,” he said.

I thanked her and handed her two twenties.

“I’ll be back with your change.”

When she’d left, I looked at Manny and extended my hands, open palms up. “What gives?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, we’re here to see Gwen. You were going to ask her out, right?”

“Relax,” said Manny. “All in due time.”

As if on cue, Gwen stepped out of the kitchen. I elbowed Santiago. “There she is.”

“Damn,” he said. “I’m afraid she might be out of your league, Manny.”

“There’s no such thing,” said Manny. But I saw a flash of nervousness sweep across his face.

“Maybe, you’d better let me handle this,” said Santiago, and he stood from the table.

Manny, too, stood. “Woah, not so fast. A deal’s a deal”

Santiago motioned with a wave of his hand. “By all means. Be my guest.”

Manny strutted across the dining room. He stopped mid-way, turned around, and hurried back to the table. “What am I supposed to say?”

We all laughed.

“Try honesty,” said Nolan. “I hear girls like that sort of thing.”

“Honesty?” said Manny. “You mean like, ‘hi, I’m Manny. My friends and I, we made a bet: the first one here gets to ask you out. And I won the bet.”

Nolan nodded. “That’s as good a line as any. Good luck.”

Before I’d had the chance to say anything, Manny turned and headed back to the counter towards Gwen. I got very nervous, because I knew Manny. Manny was crazy enough to say exactly what Nolan had suggested.

Gwen greeted him with a smile. Her whole face lit up, and I felt a tingling sensation course through my body. She brushed a lock of hair from her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. I felt an erection coming on, and I shifted in my seat.

Santiago said something to me, but I wasn’t paying attention. I had zoomed in on Gwen’s lips. I thought I could read them, guess what she was saying. I soon abandoned that effort and lost myself in a daydream: my lips exploring the contour of hers, nipping at the corners of her mouth, my tongue sliding into her mouth to taste her.

Manny motioned to us. Gwen looked over, and I snapped out of my reverie.

Gwen looked back at Manny. She giggled and covered her mouth.

They both headed over to us.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and wiped the sweat from my hands.

“Gwen, I’d like you to meet my friends.” Manny motioned to Santiago. “This is Santiago. Don’t worry, he’s not as mean as he looks.”

Santiago stood and offered Gwen a devious smile. “I’ll be as mean as you want me to be.”

Gwen looked surprised. She opened her mouth to speak but said nothing.

Santiago bowed slightly then sat back down.

“And this here’s Nolan,” said Manny. “Don’t let those soft emerald eyes fool you. There’s nothing precious about him.”

Nolan stood and extended his hand.

“Hello, Nolan.”

Gwen offered her hand, which Nolan took, turned over and gave it a kiss.

“If Manny here gives you a problem,” he said, “I’d be happy to take him outside and teach him some manners.”

“Thank you,” said Gwen. “But I think I can handle him.”

I cleared my throat and tried unsuccessfully to relax.

“This is J.P., as in Jean Phillipe. So nice they named him twice.”

“Nice to meet you, J.P.,” said Gwen. “I’ve seen you around.”

I smiled. She recognized me!

“I’m a fan,” I said. “I mean: of your cooking. I mean: of the place.”

“Thank you,” said Gwen. “Manny tells me you’re in the Marines. Thank you for your service.”

“We haven’t served you yet,” said Santiago.

I jerked my head at him. “Santiago!”

“What?”

“I apologize for him,” I said to Gwen. “He doesn’t get out often.”

Gwen frowned. “That’s a shame.” And she winked at Santiago.

I felt a hot flash of jealousy course through me, which I quickly suppressed. It could have been jealousy or it could have been arousal. I was confronted with both, simultaneously, and it was confusing.

“I offered to take Gwen to the Waterfront Grill tonight,” said Manny. “But she says she’s not dating. So instead I suggested we make it a group thing.”

“It’s true I’m not dating,” said Gwen, “but I