Page 14 of Lawson & Jill

“Are you sure you’re not in Navy Intelligence, instead of being a Marine Raider?”

“Huh?”

“You sure do know how to evade a question.” She took a sip of wine.

“You sure do know how to pause for an answer,” he grinned. “I like it.”

“You’re reminding me of my brother’s fiancée. She doesn’t pull any punches either. Doesn’t let him get away with a damn thing.” Lawson pictured Eden and smiled.

“It sounds like you admire her.”

“I do.”

“Then I’m happy,” Jill held up her wine glass in salute.

“So Clancy, he and I were in boot camp together. He didn’t come in as a college grad, but he had gone to a trade school to become an electrician, but they found out he made a better manager on construction sites. According to him, the only thing he learned was how to herd cats and keep people from being killed. So voilà, he was perfect to join special forces.”

“And your degree?”

“Sports and health sciences. I really thought I wanted to coach at a collegiate or professional level.”

“What changed?”

“Listening to Asher and Xavier. Really understanding the value of service. I wanted to serve my country, to coach and lead men in the field, and know that I was making this world safer and better.”

He watched as Jill set down her glass of wine and sat back in her chair. He felt a tad bit uncomfortable at the way she focused on him.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard that put any better. I’ve worked with a few former military men and women back in Houston. They all served for different reasons. A lot of them signed up just after nine-eleven. Some later. But I like your reason the best.”

Law gritted his teeth as his cheeks heated. “This is just ingrained. Hell, I was just following in Dad and my brother’s footsteps.”

Jill immediately gave him a frivolous grin. “Okay, have it your way, you just blindly followed others into your current job,” she laughed. “How was your steak?”

Lawson relaxed. “Good. Normally I would want some dessert, but I’ve got cookies at home. I might just share a couple with you before I follow you home tonight.”

“Follow me home?” She looked delightfully confused.

“Yeah, you come to my house for an hour, have a cookie or two. Then you leave to go to your house and I drive behind you to make sure you get home safely.”

While he’d been talking she had taken a sip of water, and she choked on it at the last part of his sentence.

“Law, you’re not serious, are you? I’ve been seeing myself home for years. Normally from downtown Houston. We’re talking from the Pendleton area to Laguna Niguel.” She set down the water and stared at him like he’d lost his mind.

“It’s what I do,” he explained patiently. “Ready for some cookies? The woman who bakes them is really talented.”