Page 30 of Turn the Tide
He hesitated. “Yeah.”
Something like alarm spread through him as he watched her set up a little bed. For them. Together.
Okay. So maybe now he could admit that coming out here had been half about keeping watch and half about staying away from her. He’d been holding her when she fell asleep, rubbing her arm. And she’d let him. But who knew what she’d think when she woke up.
It was because he really didn’t want to let her go that he had.
Now, she was setting up another nest in a place where he couldn’t get away.
“This good?” She stood and surveyed her work.
“Cozy.”
Something about his tone must have sounded off because she tilted her head at him. “You okay with this?”
“Are you?” Why’d he have to sound so belligerent?
She gave a surprised laugh. “Did I… Oh! You wanted to be alone. I’m sorry. I misread that completely.” She stooped to pick the stuff back up.
Alone? Hell, no. He wanted to get back to that warm, safe place he’d shared with her earlier. Wanted, more than anything, to give her that safety. “Don’t.” He took a single step forward, his shoe scuffing loudly in the quiet night.
When she stood, her body language was wary. LikeWhat’s the crazy man gonna do this time?
“Shit. I’m an idiot.”
“Eric? I’m not sure I get what’s going on.”
“Yeah.” Sheepish now, he ran his hand over his head and back. He needed a cut, as usual, but that was sort of his way since he’d reverted to civilian life. No more buzz cuts. Not that SEALs gave a shit about military regulations, but…Fuck. What am I doing?
“You’re cute.” Mesmerizing, actually, but he had enough presence of mind to keep things light.
Even in this light, he could see her raise her brows. She didn’t say a thing. Smart woman.
“My dad used to fish out here. Told you that. I like it. But there’re other places I enjoy more. I don’t keep coming out here for the memories.” He shut his eyes and just gave in to the embarrassment. “I come out here ’cause I’ve got a bit of a crush. On you.”
When he dared look at her again, her big eyes had gone comically wide in her heart-shaped face, and her mouth joined in with a little cartoon O shape.
Then her expression shifted.
“So…” She didn’t look unhappy at what he’d said, which was a start. If he had to qualify it, he’d say she looked intrigued rather than displeased by his admission. “You do or you don’t like the idea of sitting with me out here under the stars?”
“I do,” he said quietly. “Very much.” And then, because he needed to know, he asked. “And you?”
“It’s been a crappy day, Eric.” She moved slowly toward him.
Right, it had been. A horrible day, especially for her. And, shit, he’d just made it awkward by saying—
“But with you, I feel safe. Like nothing can touch me.”
He’d been afraid of this. Now she thought she needed tobewith him in order to receive his protection, and that wasn’t at all what he—
“I’ve got a crush on you, too, Eric.” Their bodies were close enough to touch.
He didn’t budge. “Yeah?” The word came out low and barely audible, a gently plucked bass string. He couldn’t hear himself so much as feel his own vibration.
“In fact, I promised myself I’d ask you out tonight. On the way home.” She made an embarrassed little huff of a laugh and looked away before meeting his night-darkened gaze again. “But I tell myself that every time I come to Polaris. Never once got up the courage.”
His heart was thumping like crazy in his chest when he bent and put his face close to hers. “Wanna stay out here and keep me company, Zoe, while I keep watch?”
Slowly, she shook her head no and, way too fast, his insides crumbled. He started to pull back.
“I know you’re the big tough guy, but that doesn’t make you responsible for everything. How about, instead”—she closed the gap between them—“we keep watchtogether?”
