Page 20 of Grunt: A Marine Romance

“Yeah, I’m fine. I might take a nap before hair and makeup. I’ll see you later.”

“Okay. I’ll see you in front of your hotel at four forty-five.”

She waved as if to acknowledge him but spoke no words as she walked away.

Bret threw the tennis ball and Banjo went to retrieve it. He didn’t feel sorry for Selena: she chose her life just as he’d chosen his. When they were younger, he had always imagined they could have a life together—kids, dogs, a house, the whole picture. But neither of their lives had worked out that way.

Banjo brought the ball back to Bret and dropped the slobbery toy on his feet. After twenty minutes of playing, they headed back to his truck and Bret drove to his father’s houseboat.

Bret was glad to finally be alone. He stepped onto the rickety wood on the dock and walked down the row of houseboats. Each one was unique: one had a Chinese awning; another had brightly colored planter boxes. He was thankful that his dad had purchased this place and he wouldn’t have to spend the next fifteen weeks in a hotel room next to Selena.

He opened the door and scanned the room. It was simple and masculine. His father had been in the Navy before his own dance competition days and had decorated the place with a nautical theme. When Bret joined the Marines instead of the Navy, his father had been furious. Bret would always tease him that the U.S. Marine Corps is part of the Navy, the men’s department.

Banjo ran around the houseboat, checking out his new space. He jumped on Bret and gave him a slobbery kiss.

“Hey, Buddy!” Bret rubbed Banjo’s ears. Lately, Banjo was the only one who kissed Bret. It had been a long time since he connected with anyone. Bret wasn’t a monk; he’d found comfort over the years with some women. But he had always been upfront about not wanting a relationship and would extricate himself from the situation if they or he became too involved.

He put a leash on Banjo and decided to go for a walk to get a bite to eat.

A lady with gray-streaked hair waved to him. “Hello, I’m Gerta. I live in the next boat. You must be Beckett’s boy. He always talks so highly of his hero son.”

There was that word again. Hero. “Hi. Yes, ma’am, I’m Bret. Nice to meet you. And this fellow here is Banjo.”

Her long, flowy dressed shifted in the wind. “Your father said that you were up here filming some television show? I don’t have a television so I don’t keep up with all that Hollywood nonsense.”

At least he met someone else who had better things to do with their time than care about this show. “Yeah. I’m one of the new professional dancers on this season of Dancing under the Stars.”

Gerta’s eyebrows perked up. “Whom are you dancing with up here?”

Bret had no idea but even if he did, he wasn’t supposed to tell anyone his celebrity partner until the big media blitz. But Gerta seemed harmless enough; she didn’t even own a television.

“I honestly don’t know yet, ma’am. But I’ll let you know when I find out.”

Gerta’s blue eyes sparkled. “Where are you heading?”

Normally Bret would’ve been annoyed by this stranger interrogating him, but she was probably just being friendly. “To Fish to get some chowder.”

“Oh I love Fish. Would you mind some company? I’m a widow and get lonely eating alone—though Issaquah dock is the best houseboat community. We are a wonderful group of creative spirits. I’m a sculptor. And we’re one of the few docks that’s dog friendly. If you would like me to watch him on the days while you train, I’d be honored.”

Bret smiled. That was the nicest offer he’d had in a long time. He hated the thought of leaving Banjo alone. “Banjo would love that. And I’d love for you to join me for a late lunch.” He offered Gerta his arm.

Her shoulders wiggled. She took his arm and Banjo led the way.

Bret needed a friend up here. Selena couldn’t be the only one he knew. He couldn’t be around her any more than he had to. In the past twenty-four hours, he had been unable to stop thinking about her. Imagining what it would be like to kiss her, taste her again. But she was completely off-limits. He still wasn’t convinced that she and Dima weren’t involved. And even if she was single, they had nothing in common besides their childhood bond.

Bret couldn’t allow Selena to make him lose focus of what he came here to do. Pierce’s family needed that money. No way could Bret let himself get wrapped up in some childhood love that couldn’t and shouldn’t ever be recreated.