Page 41

Marlowe let out a huge laugh. “Are you saying that not everyone you’ve dated has been intelligent?”

I shrugged, considering my next words. “There have been one or two who haven’t been too bright, but they were by no means stupid. But some of the guys in my unit continually date a woman based on their looks and other skills, and I’m pretty sure these women’s IQs are in the double digits. It’s either that, or they have just lost too many brain cells doing shots at the Ramada Inn bars.”

Marlowe shoved her face into my chest to stifle her giggles. God, that felt good. This whole day had felt good.

Damn good.

She pushed back again when she got her laughter under control and looked up at me. God, she was perfect. I curled my fingers and tucked them under her chin to gently lift it.

“Do you know what else a man in his thirties does?” I asked her.

“No, what?”

“He doesn’t miss opportunities when they present themselves.”

“Huh?”

She was genuinely perplexed. So cute.

I lifted her chin even higher with two knuckles, pleased when I saw her lips part.

“I want to kiss you, Marlowe Jones.”

“Oh.” Her brown eyes widened, and she smiled. “Yes, please.”

I had never had a sweeter invitation. I lowered my head and brushed my lips against hers, slowly, softly. She sighed, and I pressed just a little harder, reveling in the soft feel of her plump lips. That electrical spark that I’d felt when we’d first shook hands was back, only stronger.

I cupped the side of her jaw with one hand, and speared my fingers through the thick, silky hair at the nape of her neck. She purred. It was a heady sound that swirled around my entire body, ending in my groin. I licked against the seam of her lips, and she opened for me. I took immediate advantage, plunging my tongue in, basking in her warm heat.

Her tongue shyly played with mine, and I pulled her closer. My hand stroked down her jaw to her neck. Her pulse fluttered like a hummingbird. I wanted to kiss her there, but later. My hand moved down farther, and soon encountered those barely there straps. I so wanted to push them down.

I played with the shoulder straps as I continued to revel in the sweetest kiss of my life. Then I started to push the strap downward, off her shoulder.

Marlowe broke our kiss and pulled away from me. If she hadn’t looked as bereft as I felt I would have been upset. Instead, I was confused.

“What?” I asked.

She nodded behind me.

I looked over my shoulder and damn near swallowed my tongue.

For fuck’s sake.

We were in full view of all her neighbors and any car that happened to be driving down the street. When was the last time I was so unaware of my environment? Had I lost every part of being Delta after that sniper attack?

I pushed back Marlowe’s straps and slowly pulled my fingers out of her hair. It had to be slow, because it felt so good. I was reluctant to look into her eyes, but when I did, all I saw was dazed wonder. Add to that her swollen lips and her flushed cheeks, and I felt like I was ten feet tall.

“I’m sorry,” we both said at the same time.

“Let me go first,” I said when she opened her mouth to continue. She nodded. “I shouldn’t have gotten carried away like that on your front porch. My only excuse is that you’re absolutely gorgeous and I’ve been thinking about kissing you since I saw you outside the Whispering Pines Inn.”

“You were?” She asked, her voice breathy.

“I was. I definitely was.”

“That’s nice.”

I grinned. She made me grin a lot.