Teasing Her Seal (Uniformly Hot!)(34)

“Looking for you.” He didn’t have to think about that. Instead, he strode over and dropped a kiss on her mouth as he pulled her toward him. Fourteen nights without Laney and he was still coming to terms with this desperate need he had to hold on to her. Her lips softened beneath his and that was a good sign.

The door popped open and Laney jerked backward. The gurney jerked with her, sheets crinkling, as she butt-planted.

“Sorry.” The nurse’s giggle sounded unrepentant. “Doctor Parker, I thought you might want to know that we’re not expecting any patients for at least thirty minutes.”

“Good to know,” Laney muttered as the nurse retreated and closed the door.

When she didn’t reach for him again, however, Gray dropped down next to her on the bed. The place wasn’t the sexy digs they’d shared on Fantasy Island, and he’d never liked hospitals. A visit meant that either he was out of commission or a buddy was.

“Sorry,” he said, although he wasn’t. A polite request to see Laney had been denied by the nurse. He’d been forced to resort to the truth: that he was here to grovel and beg. The nurse had liked that. And that was after he’d made it past the front desk in the ER. He’d made three-day treks across glaciers that were simpler than negotiating the hospital.

Laney looked at the closed door. “She’s going to think we’re having kinky sex in here.”

She pressed her fingers against her forehead, stifling a yawn in her arm. She had shadows underneath her eyes.

“We already have,” he pointed out. “Just not in here.”

Although he’d be happy to help her with that fantasy, too.

“Hello. She doesn’t know that. And, since being able to look my coworkers in the eye when I meet them in the break room is a good thing, I’d prefer to keep it that way.”

Okay. Clearly, Laney had no intention of making anyone she worked with aware of her relationship with him. Great. That was a bad indicator of success.

“How’s Remy?” She folded her hands in her lap and stared at him expectantly. Next question.

“He’s going to be okay. He’ll be spending the rest of the year rehabbing, but he’ll be back.”

She smiled. “I bet you miss him.”

“Yeah, but injuries are part of being on the team. We’ll keep his spot warm for him until he’s ready to come back.” Damn. He’d mentally rehearsed this. He was supposed to be convincing. Romantic. He was not supposed to list the reasons a SEAL was a bad long-term relationship prospect.

“I’m glad he’ll make a full recovery.” This time she gave him the polite smile of a stranger. She looked like a stranger, too, in her hospital scrubs, stethoscope hanging around her neck. She’d also looked happy enough to see him until he’d reminded her about the death and dying part of being a SEAL. Go him. Or maybe she’d really only been interested in a vacation fling, and his showing up here was awkward.

“Thanks,” he said, because he was out of words. Ashley had offered to text him a script. He should have taken her up on it.

The silence stretched out awkwardly between them. Hell. Picking up her hand, he threaded his fingers through hers, rubbing at the muscles. He should have brought flowers. Picked out a card. Lingerie. Something. Because at least then they could fill up the empty spots talking about those things.

“Why are you here?” she blurted out.

“I...” Say the words. If he could charge an insurgent position, outnumbered and outgunned, he could do this. He could at least spit it out and hear what she had to say. Worst case, she shot him down and he slunk out that door. He’d already sussed out the exit points. There was a convenient stairwell out the door and to his left; he wouldn’t have to do the walk of shame past the nurses’ desk. “I missed you,” he admitted.

Okay. That was closer to the truth.

“Really?” She sounded skeptical.

“You bet. The chopper evac with Remy—that wasn’t how I wanted things to end. Can I be honest?” What if she said no? Then what? His whole plan consisted of tracking her down and telling her that he loved her.

“I think we do honesty pretty well.” She bumped his shoulder companionably with her own.

And that was his invitation to take the plunge. “I didn’t want things to end at all. I was really hoping we’d spend the rest of your vacation together and, after that, that there would be a way for us to keep on seeing each other.” He cleared his throat. “I know you’ve got your job here and I’m based out of Coronado, but at least we’d be in the same state. I just want to spend time with you, to figure out a way to make this work.”

Next time he had to give a speech, he was writing crib notes. On his hand, on an index card, hell, he’d hire a skywriter if he had to. Because he was running dry and she was staring at his face, as if some invisible message was tattooed across his cheekbones. He just hoped it was a good message. An I love you message.

He sucked in a breath. He could do this. He’d rappelled out of helicopters into choppy waters, stormed enemy insurgents laying down automated rifle fire and aiming to kill. Telling the woman he loved the truth ought to be easy.

Nope. So the only easy day was yesterday.

She arched a brow. “What about the fantasies?”

He’d be happy to role-play every night if that was what she wanted. “If we get together, you should know I’ll do whatever I can to make you happy in bed. Or on the beach, the back of my motorcycle or anywhere else you want. I’m aiming to make all your dreams come true.”

She blushed. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Help me out here, then.”

“I wasn’t sure if what we had on the island was only a fantasy.” She shrugged nonchalantly, but her fingers tightened on his, that familiar little pucker creasing her forehead. “And sometimes fantasies don’t translate to real life. They’re gorgeous dreams and fun and they have an expiration date.”

He sure as hell didn’t feel that way.

“I’m not going to lie. I loved every minute of our fantasy nights, and I’m going to do my best to convince you to pick out a new fantasy every week for the rest of our lives if you’ll let me. But the bottom line is that I love you.” Hooking a finger in her stethoscope, he tugged her closer. “You’re my fantasy. You’re the only woman I’m dreaming about. Where I was empty inside before, now I’ve got you. You’re right there in my heart and I’d like to wake up with you every day for the rest of my life.”

Her eyes teared up. He’d screwed up. No surprise there. But he was all in and he didn’t have a fallback position.

“I’ve got something in my eye,” she announced. “That’s all.” She dabbed at her eye with the corner of his T-shirt. The sheet on the gurney crackled loudly, and he’d bet the nurse who’d shown him in had her ear pressed against the door. At least he could make the show worthwhile. Rolling backward onto the bed, he pulled Laney over and on top of him.

“Hi,” he said again, looking up at her.

A smile lit up her beautiful blue eyes. “You came all the way out here to tell me that?”

“Uh-huh. And to offer to buy you a drink.”

“I’m working.” She sounded disappointed.

“So I’ll make suggestions and you can think about it.”

She squeaked. Or maybe that was because she’d just hit his chest. “Okay.”

“So.” He tugged until she straddled him like a cowgirl. Yeah. He had plenty of fantasies about this position. He kept on pulling until her mouth was inches from his. “Can I buy you that drink?”

“How many drinks do I have to choose from?” Her lips twitched, but she tunneled her fingers through his hair, settling down on his chest as if she’d never left.

“I’ve got three,” he said hoarsely. Don’t screw this up, soldier. “A Lover’s Lemonade, a Blushing Bride and a Honey, I Do Martini. It’s your choice, but I’m hoping that this time we can do one of my fantasies.”

“The bartender is pretty sexy. Keep talking. Tell me about this fantasy of yours.”

“I’m fantasizing about happily-ever-after together.” Time to put it all on the line. “We’ll figure out the details but, when we’re apart, I want to know I’ll be coming home to you. I love you.”

And...silence. She stared at him while he ran his hands up and down her arms. “I’m dying here. Please say something?”

She flattened her palms on his cheeks, cupping his face. “You said the L word.”

“I like you, I lust for you. And, hell, yes, I love you. I’ll read you every word in the dictionary if that’s what you want.”

“I love you, too.”

“You do?” Because that was too good to be true. He’d been shooting for a chance to win her heart, but could the battle really be already won?

“Mmm-hmm,” she said, leaning in to kiss him. “I didn’t realize when I went to Fantasy Island that I had a chance at my own real-life lover and hero. I knew I had a chance at starting over, but you’re someone special, Lieutenant Commander Gray Jackson, and I’m starting my own list just for you. Lovable is at the top, but I’m adding new words every day. Lion-hearted, loyal, logical...” She grinned at him. “Definitely lickable. I have big plans for us.”