Page 45 of Shelter for Shay
Or maybe they fit in with him.
“I had enjoyed Todd at your mom’s funeral, but I’ll be honest, I thought he was a bit uptight then,” Moose said as he wrestled with the old-fashioned corkscrew. “He’s very different tonight.”
“I’ve known Todd my entire life. He’s an accountant. They’re supposed to be boring.” Shay snagged the bottle from Moose’s hands. “Have you never opened one of these?”
“I’m a bourbon or beer drinker.” Moose chuckled. “I drink wine at weddings or when I’m forced.” He arched a brow.
“Are you trying to tell me that I’m making you suck down a good bottle of wine?” She pulled the cork out with ease. “I’ll have you know that this is the best twenty-dollar bottle you’ll ever have in your mouth.”
He curled his fingers around the glass, took it, and set it on the counter before heaving her to his chest. “I’d rather do otherthings with my mouth.” He kissed her good and hard. With tongue.
And she fully participated. As if they could race off into the bedroom for round two.
But then she shoved him away. “We have guests. Things with mouths will have to wait.”
“At least I knowthingswill be happening later.” He winked.
“Only if you behave.” She laughed as if they were an old married couple. This evening she’d felt that way. “There’s bourbon over there in that cabinet.” She waved her hand. “I have no idea if it’s any good. My mom always kept a few bottles of this and that. Tequila, bourbon, gin… but she didn’t drink much and me?”
“Well, you like your wine.” He opened the cupboard and let out a low whistle. “Wow. This is some expensive shit.” He pulled it down, along with a glass, and poured. “The guys and I buy this brand, but we only break it out for special occasions.” He turned, leaning against the counter. “Like when we don’t die.”
“Don’t joke like that, it’s not funny.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. But I’ll need you to get used to that one.” He took a slow sip. “If we don’t do that, we’d surely go insane.”
“But your job… what you do… it’s so dangerous.”
He set his glass aside, sauntered over, and drew her close. This time it was tender. Soft. “It’s not always about bullets and missions.” He pressed his lips against her temple. “This last mission, all we did was sit around and pick our noses. More often than not, it’s like that.”
“I’ve seen the scars on your body.” She lifted the edges of his untucked shirt, slipping her hands underneath, and fingered a couple of the uneven curves on his skin.
He sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “I’m here. I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon. I’ll try to curb the jokes about stuff like that in front of you.”
“Sometimes I want to pinch you just to make sure you’re real.”
He smoothed his hand down her back, over her ass, and… pinched.
“Ouch. What’d you do that for?”
“Making sure you’re real, sweetheart.” He grinned.
She slapped his shoulder. “Get your drink and that plate of cookies before our friends think we’re having a quickie.”
“That’s not a?—”
“Don’t finish that statement.” She took the wine bottle, turned, and headed down the hallway with a massive grin on her face. She refilled everyone’s glass, except Moose’s before easing back onto the sofa.
Becca sat in Shay’s mother’s old chair and Todd perched himself in front of the fireplace.
“So, how long have you been stationed in Virginia?” Todd asked as he took his wineglass, stared at the liquid, and swirled. Todd was the kind of man who worked hard, made a really fat paycheck, but didn’t care if he had designer anything. He did buy tailored suits because he had to. And he enjoyed buying his wife almost anything she wanted. But he’d been dirt-poor most of his life and knew how to stretch a dollar.
“Going on eight years.” Moose plopped himself down next to her, resting his free hand on her thigh. “Moved there right after SEAL training. I was lucky in the sense that a few of the guys I went into that program with, we all ended up on the same team. Especially lucky that my best friend is now my team leader.”
“What are the chances you’ll be transferred to another base?” Becca asked.
“It’s unlikely considering the way SEAL units work.” Moose shrugged. “But it’s possible and I have no say in that.”
Shay nibbled on a cookie, sipped her wine, and contemplated if she should stop this line of questioning.
