What Part of Marine Don't You Understand - By Heather Long Page 0,20
his one-night stand that morning, after leaving James’ office and before talking to the admissions counselor. The agreement with his unit was they all signed up for the dating service, but his inactive profile wasn’t going anywhere, and he didn’t want a faceless, nameless one-night stand with a stranger.
Naomi. He wanted her.
But what the hell did he have to offer? He didn’t have a job. Couldn’t take her out on dates—well he could try—but she didn’t deserve a brutal, public meltdown. Why am I even here? I should go. I walked her home. She’s leaving in a couple of days. She has a life—a decent one. All I have is a lot of broken pieces to finish gluing together.
Jethro padded out of the kitchen and rubbed his leg. The dog had a sixth sense about his moods. The moment a spiral started, he distracted him.
“What’s wrong?” Naomi’s quiet question floated across the room, and he found her leaning against the doorway separating the living room from the hallway to her bedroom. She’d changed into a T-shirt and yoga pants. The casual clothing, along with her hair pulled back in a ponytail and the gentle expression on her face, eased some of the panic brewing in his gut.
“Not sure why I stayed.” An honest, if not particularly kind answer.
“We haven’t had dinner yet,” she teased.
“No, I mean this—with you. You’re amazing and I’m not.” Self-deprecation was simple. He was damaged. She deserved so much more than he could offer.
Folding her arms, Naomi studied him. “Thank you.”
The lack of argument surprised him. “Thank you?”
“Thank you.” She shrugged, still smiling. “You think I’m amazing. It’s okay if you don’t think you are. I like you just fine.”
“But didn’t you hear what I said?” Patting Jethro on the head, he crossed the room to look down at her. He wasn’t sure what closing the distance would do but give him a better look into her eyes.
“I heard you. I would be more worried about you if you said you were the catch of the century and I’d be a fool to pass you up.” Her nose wrinkled. “Truth shouldn’t be smarmy.”
Okay, I’m missing something here. “You—I would never say that.”
“My point exactly.” She straightened and patted his chest. “You’re a fun guy. You listen to me. You listen to my music. You’re thoughtful, you’re protective, and you’re honest. These all qualify you for someone worth my interest. And even if you were none of those things, you’ve never treated me with anything less than respect.”
The weight of her hand in the vicinity of his heart eased some of the constriction banding his lungs. “You are not hard to be with.”
“Thank you. Again.”
He touched his fingers to her lips to silence her. “Naomi, I’m a mess. You need to know this about me. I’m—”
She stopped his words with a kiss to his fingertips. “Matt, I’m going to stop you right here. You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. Okay?”
But I do want to…. “I think that’s exactly why I want to tell you. You haven’t asked me for anything—for answers—for more. I want to tell you.”
“Okay then. Take your shoes off and get comfortable.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Dinner will be here in a few minutes and I will listen.”
She disappeared into the kitchen and he glanced at Jethro. The dog walked over to the sofa and flopped down next to it. Apparently he liked telling her, too. The knot in his gut returned, boots echoed in the hallway and he shook his head. It wasn’t a hallway out there, it was sidewalk and grass and apartments—not Iraq, not Marines racing to meet the enemy—and no explosions splitting the night in two.
The doorbell rang and he jerked around.
“It’s the Chinese food, Matt,” Naomi soothed, walking over to the door. She waited for his nod before opening it. Exhaling, he let her pay and accept the food. When the door closed, he motioned toward the hall separating the living room from the rest of the apartment.
“I’m going to wash up.” Wash up and clear my head. I’m not in Iraq.
He could tell her without reliving it—he could do that and he would do it.
In the bathroom, he stared in the mirror. “That’s an order, Marine. Be upfront. Let her know everything, and if she doesn’t kick your ass to the curb, well…we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
He really hoped she didn’t kick him to the curb.
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