Page 226 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

He motioned at the veggies she was chopping. “Whatcha making?”

She looked down. “A chef salad,” she replied dully, picking up the knife and resuming her chopping.

He could tell her mind was still on Piper and the problems. “Sounds good.”

“Well, you might not say that when you hear what kind of dressing we have.” She tore the lettuce and placed it in a glass bowl.

He groaned. “Don’t tell me. Blue cheese?”

A smile tipped her lips. “Yep.”

“You know how much I hate blue cheese.”

Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “I remember.” She shrugged. “It’s not like I knew you were coming. It’s what I happen to have on hand. You’ll like this kind though. It’s mild and creamy, tastes more like ranch than blue cheese.”

He quirked an eyebrow, talking with his hands. “That’s like saying that you’ll like this pile of manure better than this one because it’s milder.”

“What?” She burst out laughing. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe you’re comparing blue cheese dressing to manure.”

He sighed in defeat. “You’re right. I shouldn’t be comparing it to manure.”

“That’s right.” She flashed a victorious smile.

He pumped his eyebrows. “I should be comparing it to mold. That’s what it is.”

“Is not,” she countered in annoyance.

“Sure, it is. Where do you think the blue veins come from? Mold.” He pulled a face. “That’s why it smells so gosh awful.” His tone grew speculative. “You know, in Papua New Guinea, blue cheese is known as the cheese of the dead.”

“You’re making this up,” she said, but he could tell from her intrigued expression that some tiny part of her wondered if he was telling the truth.

“It’s because of its decaying properties. When the elderly tribe members are getting ready to pass to the other side, a ritual is held. The elderly are given blue cheese to help speed up the decaying process and hurry them along their journey.”

The look of shock and outrage on her face was too much. He couldn’t hold back the laughter. Her eyes widened, and then narrowed when she realized he was teasing her.

Her lips turned down, and she gave him a self-deprecating grin. “I can’t believe I semi-fell for that.”

“Oh, you fell for it—hook, line, and sinker, darling. You should’ve seen the look on your face.”

She slapped his arm. “You’re such a dork,” she muttered, but there was a hint of admiration in her voice as she smiled. “The cheese of the dead?” Her hand went to her hip. “I don’t know how you come up with this stuff.”

He winked. “I’ll be here all day.”

She gave him a quizzical look. “How do you do it?”

“What?”

“One minute you’re talking about how we almost lost our lives. The next, you’re telling me some cockamamie story about Papua New Guinea and cheese.” She pinned him with a look. “Which one are you? The comedian or the diehard warrior?”

The comment jolted him as he let out a dry chuckle. “Both, I guess.” Something in her expression shifted, and he got the feeling there was a lot more to her questions than what was on the surface. “Does it have to be one or the other?” He stepped closer and peered into her jade eyes. In them, he saw what he thought was pain or regret or uncertainty. Maybe it was none of the above. He wasn’t sure what she was thinking. “I understand very well the gravity of the situation. I guess I use humor to deal with it. Everyone has layers—the surface and everything going on underneath.”

She offered a strained smile. “I guess I’m not as good as you are at jumping back and forth between the two extremes.”

The temptation to be close to her was too great. More than anything, he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her until neither of them could think straight. “Addie,” he uttered, caressing the line of her cheek with his thumb. She drew in a halting breath, and he feared for one agonizing moment she would retreat. When she didn’t, it gave him courage to continue.He swallowed, trying to figure out how to explain how he felt. “When you do what I do,” he cleared his throat, “um, I’ve seen things—horrific things.” He cringed inwardly when her face grew pinched. “But I’ve also seen amazing things. I’ve seen the good a few people, sometimes even one person can do. Look at Sutton and the difference he makes in people’s lives. He helps people in impossible situations, gives them hope when no one else can.” His voice caught. “To be part of that. To know my life makes a difference. Well, it means everything.”

She nodded. “I understand.”

He could tell that she didn’t, however. He touched her hair. “Life is made up of moments.” Tenderness welled in his chest. “Wonderful moments that take your breath away. Those are the moments I hold onto.” His gaze moved over her features, savoring every detail. “Take, for example, the moment we shared this morning. Our kiss,” he murmured. He caught a flicker of desire in her mesmerizing eyes, sending a blaze of heat blowtorching through him.

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