Page 5 of Fake Dating the SEAL
This time, she followed him out onto the lanai, and almost blushed when he pulled her chair out for her. How long had it been since she’d been on a date with anyone who had manners? Not that this was a date, but still, it was nice to be treated like a lady, the way all her military friends treated their wives and sisters. She slid one of the boxed meals in front of him. “Not sure what’s in it, but I can guarantee you, whatever it is, it will be delicious.”
Kenny unwrapped a sandwich, set his napkin on his lap, and took a big bite. “Oh, my. This is aseriouslydelicious sandwich.”
“The hotel has their own secret mayonnaise recipe.”
“Works for me.”
Forgetting her own food, she watched Kenny eating as if he hadn’t been fed a decent meal in ages. Of course, being a SEAL he was probably used to rations or some such thing. Sucking in a slow deep breath, she wondered if she would look totally ridiculous if she simply sat here and watched the big handsome sailor eat.
Beyond content, Kenny polished off the last bite of his sandwich and leaned back in his chair. He wasn’t sure if it was the bread, the chicken, or that secret mayonnaise Sara had mentioned that had made the sandwich taste so good. “That was excellent.” He crumpled his napkin and set it in the empty box. “Your friend in the kitchen knows what they’re doing.”
“You won’t get an argument out of me.” Gently dabbing the corners of her mouth, she set her napkin on the box.
The simple contrast in gestures made him feel a bit like an uncouth buffoon. Maybe he’d spent too long living with men who scarf down their food, peed on the side of the road, and took pride in who could belch the loudest.
She heaved a gentle sigh, and blinked longer than she should have.
“Hey, it’s late. You’ve had a long day. We can skip the walk if you need to hit the sack.”
“Nah. I’m off tomorrow and can sleep as late as I want. Besides, when I’m this tired, a nice walk in the fresh air will help me sleep.”
“If you’re sure?”
“Sure.” That smile was as brilliant as the Hawaii stars above.
Gathering up the remnants of their impromptu dinner, he tossed it into a nearby trash can, then followed her to the wide steps that led to the sandy beach. Pausing at the edge of the patio by the low wall, Sara kicked off her shoes, tucking them neatly to one side of the stairs. Kenny did the same.
The sound of waves grew louder as they approached the water’s edge. At this hour the beach was deserted, nothing but moonlight reflecting off the gentle surf. It was nice to be at the beach simply to enjoy the serenity. No mission objectives, no timeline to meet, no team depending on him to make the right call. Just sand, water, and the company of an interesting woman.
“So,” he slowed his pace to match her stride, “do you work a lot of double shifts?”
Her shoulders lifted in a gentle shrug. “Not really, but I hardly ever turn one down if it comes up.”
“All work and no play isn’t good for a soul.”
“Neither is starving.”
His steps faltered. “Am I missing something?”
“Sorry,” she chuckled. “I suppose that was a tad overly dramatic.”
“Only if you’re not on the verge of being homeless.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I live with my parents.”
“Ah.” He was beginning to see the bigger picture.
“At first I thought it would just be for a little bit while I got back on my feet after kicking Vinny to the curb. But soon I realized, on my wages, even with tips, I’d be renting and living from paycheck to paycheck for the rest of my life if I didn’t get some savings.”
“So you’re saving to buy a house?”
Her face lit up again. He liked it when she smiled. “I am, a cozy cottage with a yard for a vegetable garden and lush flowers I can cut and place in vases to keep the inside smelling as sweet as the outdoors.” Her excitement suddenly dimmed. “But Hawaii isn’t exactly the home of bargain real estate. And then every so often something happens that forces me to dip into the savings. Usually it’s my car.”
“A clunker?”
“No. Just getting on in years. Sort of like gravity and an old woman.”
That made him laugh a little louder.
