Forbidden Love with the Marine(32)

“Thank you,” he said, grinning from all the praise. He liked a woman who could show sincere appreciation. It looked really easy but he had put a lot of thought into everything, after racking his brain how to make up for his blunder last night.


Blade could only imagine her fright when she found him waiting asleep in her bed. He well remembered his state of undress when he’d toppled beneath the covers and had an idea she might have got a rude eyeful where she least expected. He couldn’t be sure though but he was glad for this chance to make her feel comfortable and safe around him.

“I’m glad you approve,” he added after a sip of wine, his eyes dancing. “Being in the military doesn’t mean we service men have no clue about dining etiquette. During special operations training we actually had a class dedicated just to being schooled in proper table manners and such. And then we had the chance to practice the skills learned during all those unit dinners. Back then it all felt like such a waste of time and yet I now know I may never need to fire an M14 Sniper rifle again, but what I learned involving table manners will aid my enjoyment of the finer art of dining for many long years to come.”

He saw her pause as she was about to fork some food into her mouth, before she asked curiously, “Is that what you did in the army? You were a sniper?”

Shit! Blade thought, chewing hard on his food as he bought more time. He really, really didn’t like talking about that part of his life in Special Ops. Especially not now, when the wounds, both emotionally and even physically, were still fresh.

He had his fair share of medals and commendations, but there had been times when Blade had felt nothing like a hero; what with those victims that never even knew he was there, aiming to take a shot and take them down. Those poor guys never knew where or when – although some of them seemed able to tell intuitively that the end was near, that Blade was hidden and waiting. A single, clean shot – or however many it took. And never leaving until the job was done to perfection.

No way he could tell Makayla about that. Sure though, the people he’d brought down were people who deserved no one’s pity, least of all his.

Operation after operation, he’d had to keep up his cool-headed outlook on things. This was a job. It was what he was trained to do. No honor or glory in that; just doing what needed to be done because if he didn’t do it, someone else will.

Like some of his other pals in the army, Blade had his share of struggles trying to find his way after leaving active duty. He knew all about PTSD and all that came with it. There was the survivor guilt – yes, he definitely had a large bout of that. Also, there was all the constant reliving of the trauma in his dreams. That too, didn’t look like it would go away soon.

“Maybe you don’t want to talk about it,” Makayla put in wryly when the silence stretched too long. “I mean, most of what you did must be top secret anyway. I know enough about covert military operations to tell that it’s not something you can simply chat about to just anybody.”

“No; it’s okay,” Blade said quickly, his hand shooting out to cover hers. Makayla stiffened and looked down in surprise at his hand, but didn’t pull away.

Only when he felt her relax did Blade retrieve his hand. “You’re right; most of what I did isn’t exactly a fun conversation piece, certainly not at dinner. Suffice to say that being a soldier was the greatest experience I’ve had. It was my life for ten years. I loved every minute of it. It was all I wanted to do since I was fifteen years old. Take down the bad guys. Win battles for my homeland. I’m glad I was able to do all I set out to do, even though it came at a price.”

Makayla frowned with concern. “Were you injured?”

“Only here...and here,” he said, pointing to his heart and head, with a rueful smile. When she smiled back, though tentatively, Blade felt his chest swell. What was she doing to him? She had him ready to open up to her, because she looked like a woman who could handle the truth, and would understand.

But he had no inclination to burden Makayla Stiles with his issues. He had a therapist for that.

“I’m almost afraid to ask if you mean that figuratively or not,” she murmured, though her eyes were dancing as she tried to make light of the somewhat gloomy topic. “Maybe you’d like to know what I do? I can assure you it’s no way as exciting as your former job.”

He chuckled, glad that she’d switched gears. It turned out his assumptions about her occupation weren’t too much off the mark. She was very much the corporate princess with her MBA from Columbia and her job in management consulting. She worked as an analyst for one of the top global professional service firms, and Blade couldn’t help but be impressed.

“Beauty and brains,” he noted admiringly, as he lifted his glass of wine to her in salute. “A very fetching combination in a woman.”


She smiled, though wryly. “You would think so, right? However, half of the single dudes out there are intimidated by my drive, while the other half believe that I’d do anything to get ahead in my career. Not that I’ve ever needed to.”

“I think the sensible men out there know a good woman when they see one. I for one cannot believe you haven’t been snapped up by some lucky guy.”

Makayla’s eyes were dancing over the rim of the wineglass at her lips. “Maybe I’m picky,” she said at last. “I’m not about to fall for just anyone.”