to us,” Danny said.
Patricia slapped the back of Danny’s head. “Be nice or you’re grounded.”
“You can’t ground me,” Danny said.
His mother sniffed. “We’ll see about that.”
Ben laughed and then said, “I didn’t forget the men. Since I assumed you wouldn’t want flowers, I brought this.” He pulled a large bottle of expensive bourbon from a sack.
“Well, I was going to give you hell about making us look bad to our women by bringing flowers, but this makes up for it.” Patrick took the bottle with a wide grin. “Glad to have you over for dinner, Benjamin.”
“I’m looking forward to it. Base chow and my own cooking leave a lot to be desired. I’m sure Patricia’s cooking will be the highlight of my day, heck, probably my week.”
“Thank you, Benjamin” her mother said, a little blush flaring on her cheeks. “I hope you enjoy it. Dinner’s ready, so why don’t we move on to the table.” She looked at Ben. “Danny has to be at work tonight, so we’re eating a little earlier than usual.”
He nodded. “Coronado police. I remember.”
Holly took his arm and followed the rest of the family to the dining room. Her mother had gone all out today, setting the table with the good china she only used on special occasions. Holly supposed she should feel guilty about presenting a pretend boyfriend when her mother was so happy that she’d put out the good stuff. She should feel that way, but she didn’t. They’d all brought this on themselves with their incessant matchmaking.
Dinner went better than she’d feared. The male members of her family were friendly enough, without basically asking, “When’s the wedding?”
Having been around Navy personnel all their lives, and having more than their fair share of run-ins with Navy brats—both while they’d been growing up and now as professional law officers—her brothers and dad were slightly prejudiced against the Navy. And, in their collective opinions, SEALs were the worst of the entire camp. If she only had a dollar for every time she’d heard her dad or one of her brothers say that SEALs believed “the rules don’t apply to them,” she’d never work again.
They’d made it through dinner with small talk when Ben’s cell phone began to play The Imperial March from Star Wars.
“I am so sorry. I have to take this call,” he said, rising and walking into the living room.
Holly blotted her lips and followed him. When she touched the small of his back, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders while he continued to talk.
“Yes, sir. Got it. I’ll notify Bravo team.”
“Give me a minute,” he said to Holly.
She nodded and began to step away, but he pulled her tight against him.
“Don’t leave,” he said. “I have to call my team.”
She nodded again and stood there as he made seven identical phone calls.
“Wheels up in two. Be on base in one.”
Apparently, no one had questions, because those were the only two sentences he said before moving to the next number. After the last call, he shoved the phone in his pocket with a sigh.
“I’ve got to go.”
“I know.”
He turned them until they were face-to-face. “I’m sorrier than you know.” He smiled, and her heart thudded loudly. “I had some ideas about ice cream and whipped cream planned for later.”
She smiled and dipped her head, knowing her cheeks had to be flaming red. She may have made the whipped cream reference on the phone, but the reality was she’d never been with another man other than her husband and she didn’t have the first clue how to flirt or seduce.
He chuckled a low-in-the-gut sound that shot arousal from her breasts to the area between her thighs. He put a couple of fingers under her chin and kissed her. Her desire shot from ember to roaring fire in seconds.
If I climb him like a tree in my parents’ living room, think they’ll notice?
Someone coughed. They broke apart, looked deeply into each other’s eyes, and turn toward the intruder.
“Sorry for the interruption,” her mother said, but she didn’t sound sorry. “Is there a problem?”
“I’ve been called in. I have to go,” Ben said. “Dinner was wonderful, Patricia. I hope I can repay the favor at some point.”
Her mother smiled broadly. “Why, thank you, Benjamin. That would be lovely.”
He looked at Holly. “I need to say bye to your family and then I really have to go.”
“I understand,” she said honestly. This was his job and he had to go. Why couldn’t she have picked an