Primetime Love

Chapter Five: Lia

Lia was very surprised when they arrived at his house and Gibbs led her down to the basement. For a hot second, her thoughts had drifted back to the idea of her being a murder victim. Then she noticed the half-finished sailboat and his bottle of whiskey sitting on the workbench. The basement was obviously his man cave, the place he spent most of his time when he was home. He was allowing her entry to his private sanctuary.

She hadn't complained when he had poured her a helping of whiskey in a mason har that had previously housed carpenters nails. Instead, she had hopped up to sit on the workbench before gratefully accepting the gla – jar. "You a sailor, Jethro?" She started the conversation and nodded at the boat.

"More of a carpenter than a sailor but I'm adequate when I'm on the water." He moved to lean against the bench beside where her legs were dangling. "You like the water, sweetheart?"

Lia smiled and nodded. "My TV mom, Amelia, her and her husband, Ross, used to take me out on their boat with them and their three kids. We'd sail around Catalina Island. Ross made sure to always include me when he was giving his boys sailing lessons. Some of the best memories from my childhood happened out on that boat." She noticed the look of pity that crossed Gibbs' face for a split second before he masked it. "I'm guessing from the pitying look that you know I'm estranged from my mom and have no idea who the hell my father is. Let's save some time. You tell me what you know or think you know about me." Might as well put it all on the table now.

"You don't speak to your mom, your college educated, your ex cheated on you, you're from Norfolk, and, honestly, I didn't know that you didn't know who your father is. I just thought the press hadn't figured out his name." He brought his jar to his lips and took a sip when he was done speaking.

Wow. Pure, relaxed honesty. How many bonus points could a man score with her in one night? He wasn't done scoring points yet either.

"I'm a former Marine sniper, I've been married four times. Three of those marriages ended in divorce because I hadn't gotten over the murders of my first wife and our daughter." Now Gibbs took more of a gulp than a sip from his jar.

"I don't know what to say to that," Lia admitted. She was still trying to process all that he had just shared.

"You don't have to say anything. I was just evening out the scoreboard. Now you just as much about me as I know about you." Gibbs downed the rest of his drink before pushing away from the workbench and walking to the boat. His back to her, he took a seat on a stool, picked up a piece of sandpaper and began to smooth out the wood on the side of the hull. "Come join me, sweetheart."

Lia threw back the last (large) gulp of whiskey in her jar, set it down and gracefully hopped off the workbench. She walked to his side but she declined his invitation to sit between his legs on the stool. Something he said finally registered. "Wait. You said earlier that you want to be more than friends but you also said you've been divorced three times. I have no interest in applying for the job of ex-wife number four."

"I'm not askin' you to, darlin.'" Gibbs chuckled. "I'm not the same man that those three ex-wives were married to. I'm older; wiser now. I know not to go chasing marriage to fill a void left by someone else. I also know when I'm drawn to a woman without knowing the reason why, when I seek that woman out for her company because I enjoy it, not need it, I know not to let that slip by me. It's only ever happened to me twice. The first time ended in a happy marriage and a beautiful kid. Maybe lightening's striking twice, who knows?"

That did it for her. Lia walked directly into his arms and did something very unlike her...she kissed him.