A SEAL's Courage (Military Match #1)(63)

She hitched up the sleeve of her jacket, glanced at her watch for the third time in ten minutes, and heaved a sigh. Her date was late. Okay, so only by five minutes, but in her profession, punctuality was everything. That he was late told her a lot. Namely, that he thought so little of her he couldn’t be bothered to show up on time.

So much for the old adage “third time’s the charm.” This was her third date with Military Match, and it wasn’t starting out any better than the others had. The first guy she’d met was so cheap he’d practically squeaked. They’d gone to a matinee show, and he’d paid for dinner with coupons. Freaking coupons. The second guy spent the whole night talking about himself.

Figures that Lauren would go on one date and immediately meet the man she would marry in three months.

Steph glanced down at her top again. Okay, so maybe she should give Lauren more credit. She and Mandy, best friend number two, had dressed Lauren conservative for her date, and looked how that turned out.

She lifted her face to the beautiful sky and stared at the few stars peeking out from between the clouds. She’d known Mandy for two years now, since the day she’d hired the cute brunette to help plan her wedding. When Alec had left her standing at the altar, looking and feeling like an utter fool, Mandy had been the friend she needed. She’d introduced her to her childhood friend Lauren. That night Mandy had insisted on a girls’ night at home. They’d had so much fun, they’d immediately made it a weekly thing.

If she’d ever had sisters, those two would’ve been it.

Which was why she’d taken Lauren’s wardrobe suggestions. More than anything, she wanted to meet someone special. Since that day, two years ago now, when Alec had stood her up at the altar, she’d been living a lie, determined never to get hurt like that again. But the truth was, she’d grown tired of the endless flings she’d once convinced herself she delighted in. Deep down she wasn’t a single kind of girl, and waking alone every day only served to make her feel exactly that—alone.

Steph turned to scan the area around her again. It being April in the Pacific Northwest, the night was gorgeous. Not quite sixty, with lovely cool breezes and a clear sky, a few stars peeking out from behind the clouds. They usually didn’t see days like this until nearly July. Any other time, she’d have put on her Nikes and gone for a run, simply for an excuse to enjoy the break from the ceaseless rain. Apparently, she wasn’t alone in that sentiment. A half dozen or so people littered the area.

Her date could be any one of them. Not that she’d recognize him if she saw him. The only information about him the woman from Military Match had given her was that he was “huge,” had dark hair, and would be wearing something blue. She was told to meet him by the beach, here at Chism Park.

Restless with the need to move, she surged to her feet and turned in a slow circle. Halfway around, a sight stopped her cold. Some twenty feet or so down the sidewalk, a huge hulk of a man stood doing exactly what she was. Hands stuffed in his pockets, he looked around, as if he were waiting for someone.

The width of his strong shoulders and the dark hair licking at the collar of his black leather jacket sent her stomach into overdrive. The ache of familiarity flooded her veins, setting her heart to trying to escape her chest.

Gabe.

God, he looked exactly the same as the last time she’d seen him. Had it really been eleven years? He stood six foot six inches of intimidating, delicious man. His hair curled over his forehead, the ends whipping in the slight breeze. Her hands itched with remembrance. How many times had she brushed those curls out of his eyes?

Back in college, undergrad days, those big hands and that muscular body had given her so much pleasure. Of all her lovers over the years, he was the one she couldn’t forget. He’d been one of the few to truly rock her world. The energy they’d worked up in each other could easily have powered a small city.

He’d also been one of the few to manage the feat of capturing her heart. Her one and only foray into how to do everything wrong. She’d fallen in love with her best friend. Eleven years ago she and Gabe had fallen into a friends-with-benefits relationship. They’d hung out, discussing classes and dick professors while sharing cartons of Chinese as often as they’d fucked.

Of course, the bigger question was…was he tonight’s date?

The thought made her stomach flip-flop. What she wanted was to turn around and run. Of all the men she could have ended up with tonight, it had to be him. She was here, though, and curiosity had her by the heart. She’d thought of him often over the years.

Besides, Steph Mason didn’t run from anything.

She drew her shoulders back, plastered on her best “no care in the world” smile, and sauntered in his direction. “Gabriel Donovan.”

His head snapped in her direction, and familiar hazel eyes settled on her. Oh, she didn’t have to see them to know their color. She’d know those eyes anywhere, because she’d spent years trying not to stare at them. Beautiful and intense, they were a mix of chocolate brown and a deep, mossy green. They widened as recognition dawned over him. “Stephanie Mason. I’ll be damned.”

As she came to a stop in front of him, she had to tip her head back to look into his face. He stood a good head above her, and she shivered with the power of that broad body.

“The last time I saw you, you were crawling out of my bed.” She attempted to keep the conversation light, but the truth was, the last night they were together, Gabe had gotten a phone call that changed his entire world. His parents had died a tragic, senseless death, literally at the wrong place at the wrong time. A robbery attempt gone wrong had left him suddenly in charge of his teenaged sister. Gabe had dropped out of school a week later and moved home to Oregon to take care of Molly.