Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Their blue eyes snapped and sizzled as they locked.
“Well?” Tavin waved a hand in his direction.
“Oh, I’m allowed to speak now then?”
“I’m probably going to regret it, but yes. Speak.”
“This has nothing to do with Adele. This is just me focusing on my career.” He held up a finger. “And yes, this woman is hot as fuck.” More than he’d ever admit to his brother. “But, like I said I don’t dip my wick there. Not saying she found me attractive, that’s not the point. I don’t have the time or the inclination to play games, Tav. I’m thirty-six fucking years old. I’m not saying I want kids and to get married tomorrow, but I don’t want to deal with the drama of dating a younger woman. I know she’s at least ten years younger than I am.”
“Who cares. Maybe she’ll stop you from needing a walker next week. I know this is hard to believe coming from me, but it doesn’t have to be about the sex. Make a friend, Davin.” He held up his hands. “I’m letting it go now.”
His brother didn’t get it. It was more than just the age difference. There was race and the fact that everything she did was so watched. Many people were waiting for her to fuck up or cry foul.
I was just impressed with her shooting skills.
“What about the shooting class you give off base?” Tavin had served them both the steaks and they were eating under the umbrella at their outside table.
He took a big bite of the perfect steak, chewing slowly, part to enjoy and part to annoy his brother. After he swallowed, he sighed. “This is you letting it go?”
The man didn’t rise to the bait. “You’ve told me you had some women who didn’t feel the best with you so close to them. Maybe she would be helpful. Just a thought.”
Damn him.
The twitch of Tavin’s lips told him his brother had known exactly what seed he was planting in his head. Fucker toasted him with his beer bottle and Davin flipped him off in return.
His night was uneventful and Tavin hadn’t come back from his tour yet when he set out to get his morning run in. Still no sign of his brother so he showered and drove to work. It wasn’t until afternoon when he made his way to his office where he placed a call to the submarine to leave a message for Lieutenant Kirk from him or talk to her then. When she wasn’t available, he left a message and hung up, thinking he never should have listened to his brother. How did I not learn this from our years growing up together?
At the range, taking his time walking it as it was silent, he smiled as he looked over his domain. He’d done his time overseas and on foreign soil. He was happy here and enjoyed the task presented to him. Reaching the far end, he pivoted around and sucked a breath. Striding toward him was Neha Kirk.
He just knew it was her. His body came a bit more alive as she neared. Her steps were brisk and businesslike. She wore her camis, her cover on and she stopped before him and snapped a salute.
Davin returned it, trying his damnedest not to stare at her full mauve lips or that smooth skin. Her black curls were yanked back in a bun at the base of her cap.
“I received a message you wanted to see me, sir. How can I be of service?”
So many inappropriate comments raced to the tip of his tongue. Something else he blamed his brother for putting such ideas in his head.
“Do you have a minute to talk? Am I stopping you from heading home?”
“I’m actually on my way in. I’m on for the next twenty-four. I came in early to see what you’d needed.”
He began walking once more. “I was thinking about your skill.” Shit, did that sound bad as it did in my head?
He cut his gaze to her but all he saw was a woman walking beside him, her eyes behind smoky gray lenses, face slightly tipped up to the sun as if she couldn’t get enough.
“I teach shooting in a self-defense class off base and there are women sometimes who aren’t exactly comfortable with me moving up behind them. I was thinking perhaps you would be willing to come with me, one class and be there for them?”
I fucking sound like a goddamn teenage boy trying to ask a girl out for a date. Unsure and shit. Probably sweating like a pig too. Or, maybe I just want her to come for me as well as with me.
“If you think I can help, I’d be happy to lend a hand. I would need to know in advance though, so I can put in a chit for it.”