What Part of Marine Don't You Understand - By Heather Long Page 0,14
the security around here?”
Her easy smile and offhanded attitude bugged him. Staying in the apartment alone, she shouldn’t be leaving it unlocked. Mike’s Place may seem like base—but it wasn’t.
“Stay.” He went through the door first, tension ratcheting up his spine.
Like so many of the pre-furnished apartments on the property, done in earth tones, with the standard sofa, television, coffee and dining room tables. A jacket lay folded over the back of a chair, a laptop occupied the center of the coffee table, and the remote sat next to the television on the stand.
Open window blinds admitted the late afternoon sunlight, dappling the room in homey comfort. A single coffee cup sat next to the sink. He set the guitar case and basket down and completed the walk-through, including a glance in the bedroom. The double bed was made, the sheets and blanket tucked tightly.
Pleasure curled through him. Only one toothbrush in the bathroom and a hint of apples clung to the air—likely her shampoo or conditioner. Returning to the living room, he found her leaning against the doorframe, Jethro wagging his tail beside her. They wore similar expressions of patient waiting.
“It’s clear.”
“Thank you.” Her easy acceptance surprised him. She didn’t comment on the search or the fact that he took the lead. Jethro trotted in ahead of her and she closed the door. “So, dinner? It’s almost six.”
He hesitated.
And then she sweetened the deal. “We could order pizza.”
He could do pizza. “Okay. I’d like that.”
She grinned and waved him over to the sofa. “Make yourself comfortable. I usually do a meatlovers. That work for you?”
He started to sit and Jethro leaped up onto the sofa next to him. “No, sir. We’re guests—”
“It’s okay. I like dogs, he’s more than welcome to sit up there.”
Matt didn’t share her graciousness. He’d rather she sat next to him, but he could nudge Jethro down when the food got there. She grabbed the phone and the information card staged next to it. Every apartment had them—a list of local services that delivered. So many of Mike’s Place guests were out-of-towners. Placing the order, she disappeared into the kitchen.
“Beer?”
“Sure.” He could handle one and then switch to water afterward. Fortunately, his medication was only on an as needed basis so he didn’t have to decline. Sheet music stacked next to her laptop and the blank screen had him curious, but he didn’t tap the space bar to see what she’d been doing the last time she sat there. “So how many songs are typically on an album?”
“Depends on the album,” her voice floated back, the pop of a bottle top underscoring the words. “Ideally, I’d like ten or so.” She walked over to the sofa and handed him his beer and set her own on a coaster on the table. “I have seven so far, so that’s three more to write. I may listen to more of the samples Phil sent and see if I like them. But so far, none he’s sent over have matched the theme. Excuse me for just one minute?”
“Of course.” He bit back, who’s Phil, and ignored the brief surge of jealousy flavoring the thought. She vanished into the bedroom. Restlessness raced through him and his right leg began to bounce. He took a swallow of beer and concentrated on breathing through the mild surge of panic. Jethro rolled over and laid his head on Matt’s leg, quelling the bounce.
“So—what’s the theme?” he called.
“Marines.” She reappeared on the heels of the words and he was glad he wasn’t drinking or he might have swallowed his tongue. She’d changed her clothes, swapping out jeans for a pair of shorts and a USMC T-shirt. Without a trace of make-up on, she looked edible. Plopping down on the opposite end of the sofa, she scratched Jethro’s back and propped her bare feet on the edge of the coffee table. Bright red toenail polish teased him—along with the sexiest little toe-ring he’d ever seen.
“What?” He blinked and dragged his attention north, focusing on her cheerful brown eyes rather than the pert breasts framed beautifully behind the lettering on her shirt.
“I said my theme is Marines—Marines, their families, growing up Marine, Semper Fi, and goodnight.” She locked gazes with him and heat pulsed from his head to his cock and up again. He couldn’t be certain if he was relieved or disappointed when her shy eyes ducked away. Her cheeks were pink and flushed and damn gorgeous.
“I liked the one you sang earlier—about Leatherneck