Page 84 of Stone

My stare hit my boots.

“If you wanna make your ol’ lady believe you’re as pure as the goddamned driven snow, you do that. What the fuck ever. But don’t expect me to look in that little girl’s face and tell her a load’a bullshit. It’s not me; it’s not who I am, and honestly, John, it’s not who you are either. It was your choice to enlist and your choice to take an ol’ lady before you fucked off to boot camp. If you’re big enough to take a wife, you should also be big enough to deal with the goddamned consequences. If she can’t handle your lifestyle, then either tell her you gotta withhold shit for her own good or start to look inward at the woman you picked andwhy. ‘Cause if she’s too fuckin’ delicate to know you’re a Marine Scout Sniper, then she won’t handle a week of this club.”

My stomach churned as Dad’s words sunk into my brain.

“You could’ve put her mind at rest,” I protested weakly.

“No, Son,” Dad snapped. “That’syourfuckin’ job. I’m sick of takin’ the fall ‘cause you can’t be honest with the woman you chose. It ain’t my job to care for her peace of mind; it’s yours.”

All the fight left me, and my body slumped. “You’re right.”

“I know.” Dad suddenly cackled. “I’m always fuckin’ right.”

My lips twitched. “I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted,” he barked. “Now fuck off before I grow a vagina. All this ‘he said, she said’ shit’s just like a scene from that ridiculous Dallas show your mother insists on watchin’. Last time I looked, our family name wasn’t damned Ewing, and the boys don’t call me J—fuckin’—R. Now, get your ass back to work, I got shit to do.” With a last curse and a mutter, the line went dead.

Shaking my head, I placed the receiver back on the payphone, staring at it thoughtfully.

There was no doubt my dad had treated Elise badly, but he also made some good points.

Maybe I was being over-protective about my job and what I was about to do, but it was just because I didn’t want her to worry unnecessarily. The danger factor for me had ramped up considerably. I wasn’t worried; I was a U.S. Marine, and I had an exceptional team around me, but I knew Elise would fret.

Still, by trying to keep my girl in the dark, I was doing more harm than good. Something had to change, and that something was me. I had to be more honest with Elise and trust in what we had. I’d already established my woman had an inner strength. Maybe it was time to put it to the test.

Turning, I nodded to the Private who was waiting to use the phone, murmuring an apology for taking so long. Then, withnewfound determination, I headed back up the stairs to my room.

This Marine had some explaining to do.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Elise

My flight arrived in San Diego just after lunchtime on a hot Friday afternoon in July. John wouldn’t get to me until after he finished work, so I hailed a cab and went straight to the hotel to check in.

My fingers tremored as I signed the register and took the keys from the receptionist. It was the same hotel Constance and I stayed in when John graduated boot camp, so at least I knew my bearings. All I had to do was unpack, shower, make myself look pretty, and wait.

It had been a tough few weeks. I hadn’t coped well after John left. Add in his disappearing act and the news he gave me about his change of job, and I would put it down as one of the worst months we’d had since we’d started going out.

Still, I was here now. We’d gotten through it and were still together.

Coming here was all about reconnecting. We’d talk about John’s new position at some point, but I didn’t want to wreck the short time we had. John was under way more pressure than I was, and I was determined to support him whatever happened. I wanted to make the most of the small moments we could be together.

John told me he’d be by around seven, so I made sure I was ready by six-thirty and went down to wait at reception. If he came up to meet me in our room, I suspected we wouldn’t leave it again. The thought of being with him that way again made mytoes want to curl up, but I also wanted to talk, laugh, and have fun before we fell into bed.

The sound of tailpipes caught my ear as I waited outside the hotel’s reception. I knew it was John. I could feel him burning through me already. I didn’t need to touch him to feel close; even being in his vicinity affected my skin, my bones, and even my soul.

Sure enough, a flash of metal and green appeared on the horizon, and the distinct pop-pop-popping of a Harley sounded in the distance.

I closed my eyes and breathed it all in: the sea air, the delicate blooms, and the anticipation of John, before peering down the road to watch him approach. He’s always been a magnificent sight, and whenever he came into my line of sight, he never ceased to take my breath away.

Smooth as hot butter, he stopped his bike a few feet away from me, taking off his helmet before finally dismounting.

My breath caught in my throat as I studied John’s long-legged, lean-hipped body, which had grown even bulkier than before. He looked like a movie star in his Ray-Bans, flashing his white-toothed smile through the golden hue of his tan.

A warm, happy glow spread through me. John was so beautiful, and it made my knees weak to know all that beauty belonged to me.

He raised a hand and took off his Ray-Bans, gold eyes flashing in the warm evening sun. His stare ran from my head to my toes, heating my skin as it went. He stalked toward me, taking me in, noting all the small changes.

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