Page 35 of Heart of a Hero

“Well, that means we not only made it to the second date, we’ve surpassed that goal. And now, we can look forward to a third date, but by now, we know it’ll be good.”

Her cheeks ached with the width of her smile.Maybe I am acting like a teenager.“Okay, that sounds good. We’ll have the pressure lifted by just having thenextdate.”

“Good,” he said softly, and she could have sworn he heard relief in that one word.

They talked for only a few more minutes, then said good night. Disconnecting the phone, she tried to remind herself that it was still in the early days… getting too excited or involved at this stage of a burgeoning relationship was precipitous. But as she slid down under the covers, a smile remained on her lips.

17

Mark looked out his front window, waiting for Karen to arrive. His nerves twisted in his stomach as he waited. Glancing at the dining room table, he stared at the bouquet he’d bought for her, hoping she liked the flowers. Even though they’d already had a dinner date, it had been years since he'd felt like this—nervous, excited, and somewhat out of his depth at having a woman come to his house.

Benji was at a sleepover, and Richard had been visiting an old, retired Navy buddy in Norfolk earlier in the day and wouldn’t be back until late.

Mark spent more time getting ready for this evening than he’d care to admit, standing under the hot spray of the shower longer than usual, carefully shaving, and finally settling on dark jeans and a long-sleeved button-up shirt. He’d stared at himself in the mirror afterward, assessing. At forty, his love of running had kept him in good shape, though he couldn’t help but notice the few gray hairs beginning to pepper his short beard. They’d grown a little more noticeable lately, but something about Karen made him want to be at his best, even if she’d never said a word about appearances.

Now, standing at his front window, he chuckled to himself, feeling absurdly like a teenager. She insisted on driving to his house even though he’d offered to pick her up.“You’re cooking, so I’ll come to you.”

He’d even slipped a box of condoms into his nightstand drawer—not because he expected anything to happen tonight, but because he wanted to be prepared. Flowers and a condom—Christ,he thought, shaking his head.I’m a walking cliché.

The house was quiet, a stark contrast to when Benji was home. He smiled at the excitement Benji had for his sleepover. And now, it would just be Karen, which made his heart race even more.

He was startled when her vehicle pulled into his driveway. He immediately opened the front door and hurried over to the porch, down the steps, and to her side. He held out his hand to assist her. Whatever words he had planned to say vanished from his mind the second he saw her. She looked stunning, even in something as simple as jeans and a casual top. His gaze drifted down briefly to her feet, where she wore black ankle boots.

When his eyes traveled back up, they lingered on her jeans, which fit snugly against her hips and legs, showing off her curves in a way that made his throat dry. The light blue denim contrasted beautifully with the deep green shirt she wore, the soft fabric hugging her in all the right places, especially her waist and breasts. The color of the shirt made her eyes stand out, and although she wasn’t wearing much makeup, the minimal touch seemed to enhance the natural beauty of her face, making her eyes seem even larger and more captivating.

“Hello,” she greeted, smiling up at him.

His fingers twitched at his side, aching to reach out and touch her, to feel the softness of her skin, the warmth of her body. He had no idea what kind of fabric her shirt was made of, but it looked inviting, and he had to fight the urge to reach for herright then and there. The way she was looking at him—those eyes pinned on him with a quiet intensity—didn’t help his self-control.

Nope… don’t think about the condoms in the nightstand.“Hey,” he finally managed to say, hoping his voice didn’t betray how much he felt like an adolescent boy whose voice was cracking at the worst possible time. He cleared his throat, waving his hand toward the front of his house. “Welcome.”

Karen’s soft and radiant smile bloomed as she stepped closer. With her hand in his, they walked into the house. Her gaze moved between the living room on the left and the dining room to the right. “What lovely flowers,” she exclaimed.

“They’re for you.” He walked her toward the table. “I hope you like them.”

Her fingers lightly touched the blossoms. "These are beautiful. Thank you," she murmured.

Mark couldn’t help but watch the graceful way she moved, her hair catching the light as it cascaded in soft waves over her shoulders. When she turned back to him, he said, “Dinner is almost ready.”

“Then lead the way to the kitchen. I’ll help.”

Mark leaned down and, giving her a chance to move away, took advantage when she simply smiled and lifted on her toes. He kissed her lightly, then stepped back.

She lifted a brow as her head tilted slightly to the side. “The sweet kiss was nice, but I was hoping for something a little more… um… involved.”

He barked out a laugh. “Involved?” She laughed, and the sound hit him right in the chest. He pulled her into his arms, and she came willingly, her front plastered to his. Holding her tightly, he held her close, waiting to ensure this was theinvolvementshe wanted.

Her fingers dragged along the back of his neck, sending tingles that stopped at his cock on their way to his toes. She lifted, and he met her halfway. Their mouths sealed, and the kiss quickly flamed bright. Her lips were soft, pliable, and oh, so sweet.

He swallowed her groan, the vibration moving through him. His tongue swept over her, and she gently sucked on it. No longer worrying about moving too fast or if she was interested, he tightened his arms around her, angled his head, and took the kiss deeper, harder, and wetter.

He was lost in her arms as the world around them faded. Barely aware of her fingers now clinging to his shoulders, he continued to plunder her mouth. The kitchen timer alarm went off, causing them both to jump, their mouths separating. They both laughed, and she settled back on her heels.

“Was that involved?”

“Oh yeah,” she breathed. “That was definitely involved.”

They linked hands, and he led her down the hall to the kitchen, where the delicious scents of dinner met them.

---