Taming the SEAL

Chapter 6

Monica tried to make small talk. Her heart told her not to. After all, if you got to know the guy then it would be easier to fall for him. You weren't supposed to get attached. At least that's what Lacey was always telling her. Don't ask what he does for a living. Don't ask about other women in his life. And certainly don't talk about his dog. Not sure why that had even come up. And Lacey refused to talk about it. Just shook her head any time someone brought it up.

"You look a million miles away."

He sounded almost offended. Monica looked down at her half-eaten potato, picking at it with her fork.

"You don't have someone waiting for you at home do you?"

A coughing fit ensued as he choked on his beer. "What?"

"Well I didn't see a ring, so I'm assuming you're not married. Of course, in your line of work you may not want people to know you're married."

"Nope. I was once. But that was a long time ago. No girlfriend either. Most aren't happy with my long absences so they don't tend to stick around."

"I could see that." She relaxed against her seat.

"What about you?"

Monica laughed. "Me? Uh no." A thought struck her. One that bothered her way more than she wanted. "Do I seem like the sort of girl to cheat?"

"I only just met you."

"Even still."

He leaned forward, a grin on his face so genuine it took her breath away. "No, Sweetheart. I get the impression you're as loyal as they come."

She swallowed hard. "C – c- care to tell me about your buddies." A few gulps of red wine warmed her. "You guys work as a team or what?"

The crinkle around the edges of his sapphire eyes told her he knew she was trying to distract him.

"Yeah we've worked together somewhere around 20 years. But strictly outside the bedroom."

Monica's face blazed. "That's not what I meant."

He chuckled making no apologizes or excuses for his statement.

"You're impossible."

"And that is why I'm single. I know all the right moves behind closed doors, but you can't take me out in public."

"So was that in your plan all along?" Monica nodded towards the bar and slipped on her black sweater jacket feeling more than a little naked.

Grant pushed away his empty plate before taking a sip of his beer. "Which part?"

Monica shifted. Wet panties were definitely not her norm while having dinner. "Well I gather that making me come was the end goal." She leaned forward on the table purposefully displaying her cleavage. "But the public spectacle? The kiss? They just don't seem to fit your tough guy persona."

"And how do you know that I'm not the kind of man to screw a woman in public?"

"Because I've met men like that and you are nothing like them."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Lacey. The blonde. She attracts them like flies. Of course she's the one-night stand queen."

A shadow crossed his face so quickly she almost thought it was her imagination. Guilt?

"How was your salmon?" The edge in his voice was evident.

Monica grinned. "You don't have to worry about me. I'm a big girl. I knew what I was getting into when I showed up tonight." Okay, it was only the partial truth.

"Tell me, what inclines one to become a children's librarian?"

More small talk. Alright, I'll play along. "A love of seeing kids discover new worlds and their amazement at learning about the real world around them."

He nodded as if digesting this information.

Maybe honesty wasn't quite the way to go. "What about you? How do you end up as a hired hand?"

"Bodyguard." He finished off his beer. "Retired SEALs often end up doing security."

Monica straightened her back. "SEAL? As in Navy SEAL?"

A grin answered her.

She shook her head in disbelief. Things like this didn't happen in real life. "Why me?"

Grant chuckled at her outburst. "Has no one ever told you how beautiful you are?"

"Sure. My last few boyfriends. But they weren't exactly the most passionate of men. They were the 'let's stay in and watch a video' type. And they were more lamb than tiger in the bedroom department." That was a depressing thought.

"You mean they didn't . . ."

"Sitting at the bar a few seconds ago was the first orgasm I haven't had by myself." The confession was something she hadn't told even her closest of friends. Lacey suspected, but Monica could never voice the truth. And here I am telling the most gorgeous man I've ever met that at thirty years old I'm about as sexy as a wet dog. Way to cross the TMI line, girl.

No words were spoken. He motioned for the waitress to bring the bill. Monica watched as he scribbled a signature for the dinner to be charged to the room. Grant rose and assisted her with her chair. His hand brushed the small of her back.

"Shall we retire to my room to remedy that situation? That is, unless you've changed your mind about spending the night with me." His playful tone was gone and in its place was a gentleness that startled her. "No harm in a woman changing her mind."

"I . . . no. I want this." I've been waiting my whole life for this. "One night. No strings attached." She wasn't sure who she wanted to reassure, Grant or herself.

In true gentlemen form, his hand stayed in the small of her back during the entire trip across the lobby to the elevator. Monica marveled at his restraint in the elevator, but she was a bit grateful as others joined them. He slipped a hand in hers wrapping their fingers together. If she let herself forget for the moment that she had met the man beside her less than 24 hours ago she could imagine he was already her lover who had whisked her away for a weekend getaway.

She stared at the keycard as Grant slid open the door.

"Nervous?" he whispered.

Monica glanced around for prying ears. "Only that you'll be disappointed."

Grant cupped her cheek. "Beautiful, you could never be a disappointment."

And just like that, her heart woke up.