“How did you manage this? I met you at the gate only ten minutes after we talked on the phone.”
“It’s something you learn in the Navy. On a ship, always make friends with the cook and you’ll eat well. Same goes at the Academy. The cook at the Officer’s Club and I are like this.” He crossed his fingers.
“Smart man.” She took the offered box of carry-out and practically purred at the aroma. Opening it, her mouth watered. “It’s filet mignon. I love filet.”
Mick popped the cork. “I’ll admit that was just luck. I begged him for whatever he had prepared. Right now there’s an Admiral and his wife waiting longer than expected for their dinners.”
Lacey laughed.
Mick gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “That’s good. You’re sounding a lot better than when I first talked to you today.”
“I shouldn’t let my mother get to me like that. I was just so excited about the closing. I called Maeve first, but when she wasn’t home, I called my parents. Big mistake.”
“You should have called me instead. We are friends, Lacey, as you keep reminding me.”
Lacey found herself reaching over and touching his hand. His warmth seeped into her, from her fingertips, up the length of her arms, casting a fire across her breasts. A sigh escaped her. “Thanks. It was nice of you to remember. And believe me, spending the evening sailing with you is a lot more exhilarating than going for a drink with Maeve.” In more ways than one, she thought, quickly pulling her hand from his as she felt her resolve slipping away.
What was her reason for not getting involved with him? Taking another sip of her champagne, her brain scrambled to remember.
“I’m glad you came. It’s been a while since I went sailing. Now that I’m in Annapolis again, I’m even tempted to buy a boat.”
“Really?”
Mick nodded, refreshing her glass. “Mrs. B was thinking of selling their boat. I figure if I bought it, at least I’d make sure she got a good price for it.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? It’s so soon after her husband’s death. I’d hate for her to make a decision like that without taking the time to heal.”
Mick draped his arm lightly around her shoulders, then removed it, giving her knee a quick pat instead. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t let her part with anything she valued. The boat was all Doc’s. She hated sailing. Used to get seasick just looking at it.” He reached for another steak fry. “She has to dry dock it this winter anyway, so it might be a good time for her to put it up for sale.”
“Oh,” Lacey responded, wishing his arm was still on her shoulders. With the cool breeze, the idea of snuggling up to him seemed so appealing. On pure instinct, she found herself leaning subtly toward him.
Their eyes locked for a moment, and Lacey could hear nothing but the gentle lapping of the waves against the hull of the boat. It seemed to echo her heartbeat pulsing inside of her. Mick shifted in his seat. Clearing his throat, he continued, “It’s not like she was looking to sell the house or something. That I’d worry about.”
Lacey’s head snapped back from his several inches, remembering why he was off-limits. “Why do you say that?”
“That house—it’s just not meant to belong to anyone else.” He shrugged. “Maybe it’s my own memories there that are clouding my judgment, though.”
“You spent a lot of time there?”
Mick looked thoughtful, then laughed briefly. “I did and I didn’t. It’s hard to explain. Yes, I spent a lot of time there while I was at the Academy. And I visited a few times since. But it feels like I spent a lifetime there.” He paused, as though trying to find the right words. “In the SEALs, I saw a lot of action. It wasn’t pretty. You never really know life until you’ve seen it taken from others. Until you wonder if you’ll live to see the next minute. I did things… saw things…” His voice trailed a moment. “I don’t think I would have survived if I didn’t have memories of that house.”
Lacey sat quietly, trying to conceal the guilt that she felt for secretly hoping Edith would give her the lucrative waterfront listing.
Mick must have taken her silence as a request for more explanation. “There are times when you have to hold onto images just to survive, Lacey. The pain. The fear. A lot of guys would remember the home they grew up in, think of images of their wife and kids. It gets you through. It gives you strength. For me, I’d think about Doc and Mrs. B and the memories I had in that house. The way it always smelled like something was cooking. The laughter. The way you just sank into the sofa and knew you were home. It kept me alive. I know it sounds crazy because I can’t say anything else.”