A SEAL's Courage (Military Match #1)(62)
Gabe held up a hand, stopping the encouragement he’d heard a dozen times since she’d taken it upon herself to sign him up for this date. “Don’t start with the ‘this is good for you’ crap. I get it. You’re both right. It’s time. But I don’t have to like it.”
Molly let out a heavy sigh, then, just as suddenly, flashed an over-bright smile. “At the very least, hope you’ll get laid, then.”
His heart stalled, and he darted a panicked glance behind him. Char’s soft voice echoed up the hallway as she sang some upbeat boy-band tune. Satisfied she hadn’t overheard Molly’s blatant statement, his heart resumed its beat. Gabe turned back to his sister and frowned.
“Jesus, Moll, keep your voice down.” He shouldn’t be surprised she’d said it, though. That was Molly in a nutshell—bold as brass and doing as she pleased. He couldn’t stop his cheeks from blazing all the same. “I don’t need advice on getting laid from my sister.”
She had the nerve to grin at him. “Apparently, you do, because you’re not doing it.”
He glared at her. “Moll…”
She laughed and held up her hands. “All right, all right. At the very least, try to have a good time? Don’t scowl, and for crying out loud, don’t sit there brooding.” She cuffed his shoulder and winked at him. “You had a personality once. Try to dig it up, huh?”
He let out a heavy sigh. She was right. More times than he cared to admit, he’d bitten her head off for worrying about him too much. Hell, the guys at the shop had pointed out the same thing, how snappish he’d become. Marcus had teased him about it the other day, when he’d lost his temper with a supplier over parts that hadn’t come in on time. “You need to get laid, man.”
Also why he’d found himself with a date tonight. Because Marcus was right. He hadn’t had sex with anyone but his left hand since Julia got sick, nearing on four years now. Hell. His freakin’ balls were blue. The thought of warm feminine curves against him made his cock twitch in his jeans. If all he got out of this date was that, he’d consider this whole experience successful.
Char came running back to the door, her backpack stuffed full and slung over her shoulder. She hurled herself against him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. “Bye, Daddy. I love you.”
He bent to kiss the top of her head. “I love you, too, sweetheart. Make sure you mind Aunt Molly, okay?”
She leaned back, hazel eyes wide and anxious and filled with too much worry. “Promise you’ll try to have a good time? Mom made me promise that I wouldn’t let you sit around and be sad. So you have to promise.”
A thick lump formed in his throat. Slayed. Completely, one hundred percent slayed.
He brushed the curls out of her face. “I promise I’ll try. Now go.”
She hugged him again, then slipped her hand into Molly’s.
Molly tossed him a friendly smile. “I’ll have her back Sunday morning, as usual.”
He hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. “Thanks, Moll. I really appreciate your help, you know.”
Warmth bloomed in her eyes, her smile softening. “I know.” Then she punched his shoulder and pursed her lips. “Now you have to promise me you’re at least going to try to like her.”
He couldn’t help the soft laugh that left him. Despite being five years younger, she had a definite motherly streak. An annoying one.
He opened the front door and nodded at the porch beyond. “Will you guys get out? I’ll never get there with you two hanging around nagging me to death.”
Molly rolled her eyes but ushered Char out all the same, calling to him as she made her way to her car, parked at the curb. “I’m going to call you tomorrow morning. You’d better not answer.”
He shook his head and closed the door. Alone in the deafening silence, he heaved a sigh. The sickening knots in his gut twisted all over again. The “fun” of this particular dating agency was supposedly in the initial meeting. They set up the time and place, and you simply showed up. All he knew about his date tonight was that she was a blond attorney and she’d be wearing something blue. Hence the damn tie.
According to Karen, the service’s owner and his mechanic Mike’s wife, the idea was to make the initial meeting seem more like a chance encounter. Add a little mystery. Trent, however, had told him all it really meant was that he’d have a blind date. Trent had loathed that aspect and had offered the information almost as a warning.
Gabe glanced down at his sneakers and stroked a hand down his thigh. At this point, he wasn’t above a blind date for his first venture into the land of dating again. He only hoped she wouldn’t mind that he was missing the lower part of his left leg.
*
Seated on a hard park bench, looking out over the waters of Lake Washington, Stephanie Mason’s knee bounced with the nervous anticipation flooding through her. She glanced down at herself, straightening her jacket. A half hour ago, when Lauren, one of her two best friends, suggested she wear this cobalt-blue halter top, it had seemed perfect. A chance to shed the bland suits she wore to the law firm every day, sexy without being too revealing. Now she had her doubts. It seemed too tame.
Were she going to a club, she’d have worn something a little more revealing. She wasn’t a stranger to the dating scene. When she had needs, she knew how to flirt, how to dress to lure a man’s attention. Lauren, though, the more sensible one of their trio, had pointed out that showing her goods wasn’t appropriate for a first date she hoped would lead to more than a one-night stand. The question was, would her date like tame? Or should have insisted on something sexier?