Page 32 of Sloane

As appealing as that sounded, I knew I needed to share Sloane with his friends and his dog, so I reluctantly turned and headed toward the kitchen to cover the cheesecake in plastic wrap.

“Do you have to go back to the base tomorrow?” I asked across the bar-height counter dividing the two rooms.

“Yeah, but only until early afternoon, and then I’ll have the weekend off, so we’ll have until Monday morning to do whatever we want.”

My dirty mind immediately went to not leaving the bed the entire time. He seemed to be on the same wavelength because he added with a grin, “We can stay up all night and sleep all morning.”

I could work with that.

He glanced down at the counter and saw the notes I’d written while talking to the dermatologist’s office. He picked up the notepad and waved it at me, asking, “What’s this?”

“I scheduled a consultation about having my birthmark removed.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m tired of being embarrassed about it.”

He looked at me for a long time. So long, it made me uncomfortable. Finally, he said, “You’re beautiful exactly how you are.”

I’d waited my whole life to hear someone other than my mom tell me that.

And I didn’t believe him for a second, just like I never did my mom.

“I appreciate you saying that, but I think it’s time.”

He shook his head with a frown. “I mean, it’s your face. You do what’s going to make you happy. I just don’t think you need it.”

I wanted to jump over the counter and hug him. Instead, I pressed the plastic wrap tight against the cheesecake pan.

“It’s just a consultation. And they can’t get me in until the new year, so I have some time to think about it.”

“Good.”

He disappeared into my bedroom leaving me feeling confused about what to do. I’d been so determined when I was talking to the doctor’s office earlier, now I wasn’t so sure.

Chapter Eleven

Ashley

Best twenty-four hours ever.

From the moment our eyes locked for the first time in that aircraft hangar, I’d been under his spell.

Even when he was exhausted, he’d been thoughtful and made me feel safe and secure, not to mention desired. Sleeping in his muscular arms had been like being in a protected cocoon. Then he told me not to change the way I looked.

Now his hand was protectively on my back while we walked up his friend’s driveway as Tank barked excitedly in the window.

“I miss that dog so fucking much,” he muttered.

“I know you do.”

His steps faltered, and he looked over at me with a soft smile. “Yeah, I guess you do. You probably know more about me than everyone who was waiting to greet me when I got off the plane, combined.”

“That’s a two-way street, you know.”

He reached for my free hand and kissed my knuckles. “Good.”

Our time together was going to go too fast, of that I was certain.

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