Page 5 of A Very Grumpy Marine

He jerks his head back. “Jesus. That was fast.”

“Didn’t feel fast.”

It feels like I’ve been waiting for her forever.

Kye watches me for a long beat, then smirks. “Well, if you’re this sure, what are you sitting here for? Go say something.”

I don’t need the push. I’m already moving.

The moment I step outside, my world narrows. She’s standing by a car, digging through her bag. She doesn’t notice me yet, so I take a second to soak her in.

Soft curves. Flushed cheeks. A spark in her eye that tells me she’s got fire in her.

Yeah. She’s mine.

She hops in the car, and I snap out of my daze and rush to catch her, but I’m too late. She pulls out into traffic, and I curse as I watch her drive off.

“Maybe you can catch up to her,” Kye says as he comes up beside me.

“I will,” I say determinedly.

I jog over to my truck and climb behind the wheel. I take off the way that she went, but I don’t spot the little blue car that she was in anywhere.

“Dammit!” I curse as I pull into my driveway.

I need to walk my dog, Gunner, and I’m hoping that a hike will help clear my head, and then I’ll be able to come up with a plan to find my girl again.

Gunner, a Belgian Malinois, comes running up to me excitedly as soon as I step inside, and I smile as I bend down and scratch his ears. I grab his leash and open the door. He takes off, already heading towards the trail behind my house.

That trail was a big reason why I bought this place. I wanted something with a lot of land, that was private or more remote. This house has easy access to a group of hiking trails, and Gunner and I have both been taking advantage of that.

We head up one of the more deserted trails and Gunner trots ahead of me happily. My mind drifts back to my girl, and I sigh as I think about how I let her get away from me.

I’m lost in my thoughts when I hear Gunner bark and then take off up ahead of me.

“Gunner!” I shout, but he doesn’t stop.

I take off in a run after him and skid around a corner. That’s when I spot her. My girl.

Part of me feels like I’m dreaming, but I’m not going to let her get away again. I move toward her, and Gunner keeps running towards her.

“Gunner!” I bark, but he’s already there, shoving his big head under her hand like he’s known her his whole life.

She startles, then laughs. “Well, hello to you too.”

That laugh.

Fuck me.

I reach them just as she kneels to pet him. Gunner licks her cheek, tail wagging, eating up every bit of her attention.

“He’s not usually this friendly,” I say, my voice rougher than I mean it to be.

She looks up, and I swear I feel that gaze like a physical touch.

Bright green eyes meet mine, and I stop breathing. She’s looking at me like she’s trying to figure me out. Like she’s intrigued.

Good. She should be, because I don’t plan on letting her go.

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