Page 28 of Worth the Risk

Now, as she stood in front of the mirror, critiquing the jewel-neck, short-sleeved, tier-skirt minidress with the tiny floral print, she frowned. “No. Too casual.”

In a flash, she had it over her head and pulled on the second of the two dresses she’d bought for only $15 at a consignment shop. Living on the run and a shoestring budget, she’d learned to be thrifty, and that more affluent areas had much better stuff.

This dress was flowy with a deep-V neckline and essentially no back, except for the crisscross spaghetti straps keeping it on her. She twisted while scrutinizing her reflection from every angle. The color suited her, and it fit perfectly, but was it too provocative for their official first date?

As she grabbed the first dress to change back into it, the doorbell chimed. Bella checked her hair and makeup then hurried down the stairs. Before opening the door, she took a deep breath to settle her nerves.

With the sun setting behind him, she shielded her eyes, squinting at his silhouette. If not for his size, she wouldn’t have been able to tell it was Dan until he spoke.

“You look stunning.”

His deep voice, like velvet, and the compliment made her cheeks flush. “Thank you,” she replied, stepping back so he could enter. “Come in. This place is amazing, but the late-afternoon sun is brutal.”

When she shut the door and faced him, he was standing close, looking undeniably attractive in his crisp white shirt and black jeans. He had rolled his sleeves up, exposing his muscular forearms and some of what looked like a military tattoo on his right arm.

“Were you in the service?”

He glanced down at the black and green inked onto his skin like he had forgotten it was there. “Marines. I did eight years out of high school and another eight in the reserves.”

She’d never been out with a military man. It would explain his protective streak and the regimented lifestyle he’d chosen. Or maybe, after what had to be sixteen tough years, he was more interested in giving orders than following them.

“I’m in awe of the courage it takes to enlist and serve your country, especially with all the turmoil in the world. It’s not something I could ever see myself doing.”

He nodded as though he’d heard it before. Probably not enough, Bella guessed.

“Joining up wasn’t entirely selfless on my part. My dad was a mechanic, and my mom worked in the church office part-time, so we weren’t exactly rolling in it.”

“Was? Are they...”

“Retired,” he supplied. “They live here in San Antonio, when they’re not burning up the roads in their RV. Growing up, I had what I needed, but school wasn’t my priority other than football.”

“Here in Texas. I bet,” she said, smiling up at him. Glad to hear he wasn’t as perfect as she thought.

“It’s something I lived to regret. Since I didn’t have the grades for scholarships, I enlisted and let Uncle Sam foot the bill.”

“Sounds like Uncle Sam got the better end of the deal,” she murmured, distracted from the subject by his unusual eyes that seemed to change from predominantly gray to more of a blue with his moods and what he wore. Today, they were deep blue with tiny flecks of gray.

“I think we both got what we wanted out of it.” He stepped closer, placed a finger beneath her chin, and tipped it upward. “I can’t resist your mouth any longer,” he announced, his voice low and seductive as his head descended.

Before she could react, he brushed his lips across hers, whisper soft, then his mouth covered hers in an ardent kiss. A hard-muscled arm slid around her waist and pulled her hips against his as he took it deeper, his tongue sweeping inside.

Bella moaned softly, her body immediately responding to his touch. She rose on tiptoe, coiling her arms around his neck, trying to get even closer as she opened wide and surrendered fully to his passion.

When he raised his head, long moments later, they were both breathless. “I’ve wanted to do that since the moment I saw you,” Dan whispered, his eyes burning silvery blue.

Bella smiled, feeling a rush of excitement at his words. “I’m glad you did,” she replied, her voice husky with desire. “But can I ask a question?”

“Of course,” he replied his gaze fixed on her mouth as if tempted to go for seconds.

“Why did you wait so long?”

His mouth tipped up in a grin. “With age comes wisdom, Bella, and patience. Haven’t you ever heard good things come to those who wait?”

“As long as it wasn’t because you didn’t want me.”

“Never that, beautiful,” he assured her, dipping his head and claiming her lips for both seconds and thirds. Minutes later, he broke free. “We better go, or we’ll lose our table.”

Although hungry for kisses more than food, she nodded and moved past him to the console table at the bottom of the stairs to get her purse. The tiny beaded bag she’d found for $5 on consignment was only big enough for keys and lipstick, which were already tucked inside.

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