A great question, one Liam had wondered from the moment he received the invitation. He decided to forgo the sweet talk. “Because, frankly, when your teenage wet dream calls you for a date and you realize that you might actually score—it’s intimidating as hell. Why aren’t you nervous?”
“I was.” Brenden didn’t sound ashamed to admit it. “But here’s the deal. Don’t ask, don’t tell was a fact of my life. Sure, lots of the guys knew and most of them didn’t give two shits. I’m not going to lie to you—I’ve had relationships over the years, but they were nothing more than two ships passing in the night. I knew I didn’t plan on staying. I had a good time and I got out. But I’ve had years to accept the only pants I wanted to get into in high school were yours and yours were the only ones I couldn’t allow myself.”
Poleaxed didn’t begin to describe Liam’s reaction. “I wish I’d known.” Years of repeating the mantra that it didn’t matter seemed to crash in on him. But he didn’t feel angry…just sad.
“I’m sorry, man. You know what it was like. I—”
“No.” Liam tapped his fingers against the table, the hard knot of anxiety cramping his gut relaxed. “Don’t be. You’re right. I do know. You didn’t lead me on and you weren’t a douche. I wish I knew so I could have been a real friend instead of the dick you had to rescue because it couldn’t have been easy.” He thought he couldn’t respect the Marine any more.
He was wrong.
“So we’re good?” Brenden tested.
“Oh, honey, we’re better than good. In fact, tell me, sailor—do you come here often?”
“Marine, sweetheart. Learn it. Live it. Love it.”
The low growl in his voice sent a shiver down Liam’s spine and he laughed. “You know, I think I just might.”
Chapter Three
Brenden skipped a fourth beer. Three gave him enough of a buzz and the food helped. They ordered coffee when the waitress came to clear their plates. Music played, couples danced, laughter rose and fell in gentle swells from the diners around them, the sedate atmosphere adding to their comfort level.
The tension thawed between them and Liam grew more animated over the burgers. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into a heart attack for dinner.” The man dipped a salt-and-pepper-loaded fry into the ketchup.
“Hey, you’re the one who added all the salt.” Brenden doctored his coffee with a couple of creamers. “Besides, one of the few things I really miss when I’m not stateside is a damn good burger.”
“Out of curiosity, if you’re on leave, why are you in Texas and not home seeing your folks?”
“They went on a cruise.” He grinned.
“Are you serious?” Liam’s brows rose, amusement tilting the corners of his mouth. Brenden’s father was a work-a-holic and it took a lot of work to get him to agree to the vacation.
“Yup. Mom twisted his arm. Kaleigh and I gave them tickets for their thirty-ninth anniversary. So, I took advantage of the leave to come see some friends here—members of my unit—before I rolled over to another.” The coffee added a pleasant heat burning inside. Good food, good company, good coffee. He couldn’t ask for more.
“So, you ready to get out of here?” Relaxed, Liam grew far more flirtatious than stressed out and wary. More like the guy he remembered.
“Sure. Did you check in at your hotel yet?” Brenden pulled out a credit card and held it up for the waitress. Liam reached for his but he waved him off. “My treat.”
“Okay. I’ll get breakfast.”
The teasing reply tripped a ripple through the Marine’s nervous system. They were really going to do this. He half expected second thoughts to assault him, but his internal security system didn’t sound any alarms. Check paid, waitress tipped, and Liam’s coat gathered, they walked back out into the crisp Dallas winter evening. After the warmth inside, he welcomed the cooler air washing over him. “Want to walk to the car?”
“I parked mine with the valet.” Liam’s words held the smallest of hesitations, but they were still there. If they drove separately would they end the evening before it started? Did he want to drive alone? Is this a good time to call it an evening—before either of them were disappointed? The unspoken questions hung in the air.
“Get your keys. We’ll pick it up on the way to breakfast in the morning.” Brenden wanted to answer all those questions and halt their trip down doubt alley before they veered off the path.