Annie totally forgot that Suzanne and Leon were still in the room. Wanting to jump in Shane’s arms, she stood dumbly staring at the wall of masculinity in front of her. His blue eyes moving over her body stood out starkly in his tanned face. His strong jaw, that had just a hint of sexy stubble, had her thinking of burying her face in his neck as he took her. He was dressed in a blue button-up shirt with rolled sleeves, straining to contain his muscles. Wearing khaki pants, she realized that she had never seen him in anything other than t-shirts and jeans. Looking good in both, she couldn’t decide which she liked better.
The silent perusing was interrupted by Leon clearing his throat.
Startled, Annie blushed and Shane just grinned, holding out his hand toward her. “Ready to go, baby?”
“We’ll lock up after you, doc,” Leon announced. “Now don’t be late kids,” he joked.
Suzanne gave Annie a quick hug, whispering, “You look beautiful, doc. I do want you to be happy.”
With that, Annie took Shane’s hand and headed out for their first real date.
* * *
Shane lifted her up into his truck that looked almost new. As he swung himself into the driver’s seat, she couldn’t help but ask.
Smiling, he looked over as he answered. “Not new, but definitely not very used.” Seeing the questioning look on her face along with the cute crinkle above her brow, he explained. “Bought it a couple of months before going undercover. Friend of mine has been keeping it safe for me.”
“That must have been so hard,” she said softly. Her words hung gently in the cab of the truck as they headed toward the restaurant. The silence made her nervous. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything about it.”
Looking back over quickly he just shook his head. “Nah, baby. Don’t apologize. I’m just trying to get used to being back out. That’s almost as hard as havin’ gone in.”
Curious, she prodded, “What do you mean?”
Struggling with sharing too much and frightening her, he sat silent for a moment gathering his thoughts. “It was hard givin’ up my life here to go in. But I was convinced it was needed and I was the man to do it. Just never realized how much I would give up to do it and I’m not just talkin’ about my truck.”
Annie twisted in the seat so that she could focus on him, wanting to know more.
He continued, “Baby, let’s just leave it at this. To survive that world, I did shit I’m not proud of, not happy with. But it became my way of life. A man pissed me off, he got hit. I needed information from someone reluctant to give it to me, I got physical to make sure I got it. I kept my mouth shut and my emotions shut down. The women in the gang were there for a purpose and I had a cover to maintain.”
At this, Annie winced and it did not go unnoticed by him. Fuck. He reached his hand across the seat and linked his fingers with her.
“Is that hard to give up?” she asked, pain laced her words.
Pulling into the restaurant parking lot he brought the truck to a stop. He also twisted his body to face hers. “Baby, that’s not what I meant. I wasn’t talkin’ about the women when I said it was hard to get used to being out. That’s got nothin’ to do with us.” Using his fingers to lift her head so that he could peer into her eyes, he asked, “You understand that, right?”
Nodding, she looking into his blue eyes, feeling as though she were the only woman in the world to him and hoping what she was reading was right.
“I just meant it’s hard for me to make small talk or hold conversations.”
Laughing, Annie reminded him of their lack of conversation when she was operating on Sarge. “You wouldn’t talk so I just jabbered enough for both of us.”
“Darlin’, you were pure, fuckin’ sunshine. Brightest light I had seen in a long time.”
Looking down at their clasped hands, she said, “You don’t seem to have too much trouble talking to me now.”
“You’re easy to talk to,” was the simply reply. “But others…even Leon and Suzanne, well…I find myself not wanting to explain anything because for several years, I never explained my actions to anyone.”
She just nodded, then her stomach growled loudly, protesting the meal of a protein bar that she had earlier in the day.
Laughing, Shane swung out of the truck, walked over to her side, and plucked her out of the cab. “Let’s get you fed, baby. And then let’s get you back to your place where I can peel this fuckin’ gorgeous dress off your fuckin’ gorgeous body!”
* * *
The restaurant was right on the river and their table overlooked the water. The lighting was soft, the food was delicious, and the wine was delectable. Annie looked over the candlelight to Shane and realized it was the nicest date she had ever been on. Then thinking of the night ahead, she clenched her thighs to ease the dull ache that had begun.