Finding Kenna (SEAL Team Hawaii #3)(25)

“No,” she said, answering his question.

Marshall sighed in relief. “Whew!” He pantomimed wiping sweat from his brow. Then he got serious. “Talk to Elodie and Lexie,” he said. “They can tell you how my team and I work since they’ve seen it firsthand. I’m sure they’d also be happy to discuss their feelings about when we’re deployed. One of the most important things for a military spouse is a support system. Having someone to call when you’re scared or worried. Someone who can commiserate with how you’re feeling and be there for you no matter what. And I can tell you with no hesitation whatsoever that both Elodie and Lexie will be that support for you.”

Kenna stared up at him. “You sound like this will be a super long-term thing.”

“For me? I hope it is. I’m not getting any younger, and the thought of casual dating gives me hives. I can’t see into the future. I don’t know where we’ll be a month, a year, ten years from now, but I’ll tell you this—you aren’t a fling for me, Kenna.”

“Most guys would have a heart attack talking about a long-term relationship or, God forbid, getting married, a week into a relationship,” Kenna said.

“I’m not most men,” Marshall said simply. “I know what’s important. Family. Friends. Relationships. Not material shit. Not being the most popular or dating as many people as possible. I want what my friends have. I want to come home from a mission knowing the woman I love is waiting for me. Knowing she’ll be just as excited to see me as I am her.”

“Marshall,” Kenna whispered, not sure what to say.

“Sorry. I’m not trying to freak you out. But…yeah. As far as I’m concerned, we’re dating. We’ll take things one day at a time and see what happens.”

“Okay.”

“Okay,” he echoed. “You ready to move on?”

Kenna looked back at the hunk of rusting metal in the ocean in front of her. She could be afraid to get into a relationship with Marshall. Could push him away because she was scared of him getting hurt, or getting hurt emotionally herself…but that wasn’t like her. “Yeah,” she said softly.

“Good. Because I’ve got something else kind of cool to show you. My favorite spot on the island. Although with your response to seeing this memorial, I’m kinda nervous now.”

“Don’t be. I didn’t even know this existed, and I’m honored to have been able to see it,” Kenna said.

“All right. You okay? Hungry? Too hot?”

“I’m good. I wasn’t sure if we’d be eating or not, so I had a sandwich before I came.”

Marshall grinned.

“What?” Kenna asked.

“You’re just so…refreshing. You’re hungry, you eat. You plan ahead. You don’t assume. I can see I’m gonna have to work hard to spoil you.”

Kenna shrugged. “I’ve been on my own a long time. And trust me, you don’t want to be around me if I’m hungry. I turn into a raging bitch.”

“Now that I don’t believe,” Marshall said, putting a hand on the small of her back and leading her down the walkway toward the parking lot.

“I’m serious,” she said.

“Noted,” Marshall said. “I’ll do my best to make sure I have snacks for you just in case.”

Kenna smiled. “I usually have my own snacks,” she informed him.

“Right. Then I’ll do a better job of planning our dates, letting you know if I’m going to be feeding you or not.”

“Now I feel bad,” Kenna said. “I’m not going to waste away if I don’t eat at a specific time.”

“I know,” Marshall said as they approached his Jeep. “Here we are.”

He opened the door for her again and handed her the seat belt as she got settled. When he was behind the wheel once more, she blurted, “The other reason I’m scared is because you seem so…perfect.”

Marshall chuckled as he pulled out of the lot. “I’m not perfect, Kenna. Not even close.”

“You’ve said all the right things, opened my door, and you haven’t irritated me once. It makes me nervous.”

“I was brought up to treat my girlfriend as if she was the most important person on Earth. My dad made sure I knew how important the little things can be in a relationship. Sure, grand gestures are nice, but it’s the everyday things that make the difference. Opening the door for you, handing you the seat belt so you don’t have to crane backward to grab it, holding your hand…those are easy. I’m positive I’ll annoy you sooner rather than later. It’s inevitable. I just hope the small things make up for it.”

Kenna had a feeling they would.

“What about you?” he asked.

“What about me what?” Kenna asked in confusion.

“From where I’m sitting, you’re pretty damn perfect yourself. You jumped into the ocean to rescue me when you thought I was drowning, everyone at Duke’s obviously respects and likes you, you’ve followed your heart even when it was probably scary to quit your job and move to Hawaii. You’re beautiful, funny, and somehow you’ve gotten me to actually enjoy texting.”

Kenna laughed. “Point made. I’m not perfect either, Marshall.”