Chapter 5 #2
“Nope. If you text me, that means you’re thinking about me and wanted to reach out to share something. How could I ever get annoyed knowing you contacted me because I was on your mind?”
She blushed. “Well, when you put it that way…”
“I’ve dated my share of women,” Aleck said, hurrying to continue when she frowned.
“Some have only been with me because I’m a SEAL.
Others were hoping we’d get married and they’d be set for life…
because let’s face it, the military has some pretty good benefits.
A few were just out for a good time. And a couple were with me for another reason…
which we can talk about later. But none of them have made me feel like you have after just one day. ”
Aleck knew he was being sappy, which totally wasn’t like him. He was the smart aleck, the joker. But around her, he couldn’t seem to play that role.
“I like you, Kenna Madigan. And while I might not be able to text you back right away if I’m in meetings or something, know that seeing a message from you pop up on my screen will make me smile, and that I’ll always like hearing from you.”
She stared up at him for a moment. “Another reason?” she asked. “Should I be worried?”
“That’s what you got out of all that?” he asked with a small chuckle.
“Hey, I’ve learned to listen to the little things. They’re usually the most important.”
“No, you shouldn’t be worried. Not at all.” Aleck looked at his watch, then said, “We’ve known each other for three-point-two seconds and we’ve already had a good amount of drama. We can save any more revelations for another time.”
“Fair enough,” Kenna said. “I’ve dated my fair share of men too, and plenty were just looking for regular sex.
Or they thought they liked me until they got to know me.
Or they wanted me to be more…reliant on them.
I’m independent and I like it that way. I’m an extrovert who loves meeting new people.
I like my job, as you know, and I have no intentions of quitting and becoming a stay-at-home mother.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it’s not for me. The stay-at-home part, not motherhood.”
“You want kids?” Aleck blurted.
Kenna shrugged. “Sure. Someday.”
For a split second, he couldn’t get the image of her pregnant out of his head. Which was even crazier than all the other crazy tonight. But still…
“Marshall?” she asked.
“Yeah?”
“Please don’t be a psycho.”
He burst out laughing. “I’m not.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Even if things don’t work out between us, you aren’t going to be all…weird…right?”
“If you mean weird like Shawn was tonight, no. I have no desire to chase after a woman if things between us aren’t working out, especially one who doesn’t want me. And even if I fall madly in love with you, but you don’t reciprocate my feelings, I swear I won’t be…weird…if you break up with me.”
Kenna nodded. “Okay.” She looked behind him at the car, then met his gaze once more. “I should go. Get Carly home.”
“Yeah.”
Neither of them moved.
Aleck wanted to lean down and kiss the intriguing woman in front of him, but knew it was too soon. He settled for squeezing her hand. “Drive safe. Would it be presumptuous of me to ask you to let me know when you get home?”
“Only if you’ll do the same,” Kenna said.
“Deal.” Weirdly enough, no one had ever asked him to let them know when he arrived back at his place safely. Maybe it was because he was a guy. Maybe it was because he was a SEAL. But he couldn’t deny her concern felt good.
He forced himself to let go of her hand and reached for the door handle of her car. He opened it and, once she was seated, leaned over. “Be safe, ladies. Carly, I’m glad you’re okay tonight. And for the record…you will always be one hundred percent safe with Jag. He’s one of the good guys.”
“I just don’t want him to get the wrong idea,” she replied quietly.
“He’ll follow your lead,” Aleck assured her. And he would. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t do whatever he could to change her mind about being just friends. His teammate definitely couldn’t take his eyes off Carly tonight, making his interest loud and clear to his friends.
It was a good thing he’d taken Carly away and kept her safe, because if Jag had stayed to deal with Shawn, things would’ve gotten ugly. Aleck had no doubt about that.
“Thanks for walking us to the car,” Kenna said.
“My pleasure. I’ll talk to you later.”
Kenna nodded, and once more Aleck had to force himself not to lean over and take her lips with his own. He shut the door and stuffed his hands in his pockets. He gave the women a small chin lift and headed for the elevators.
Shit. He was a goner.
He’d seen it happen with Mustang. Then Midas. And now he was acting the same way his friends had after they’d met Elodie and Lexie, respectively. But instead of being freaked out about it, contentment filled him.
It was hard to believe twenty-four hours ago, he didn’t know Kenna existed. It felt as if the entire trajectory of his life had changed since meeting her. That sounded nuts, and he knew it, but he also didn’t care.
Maybe he and Kenna wouldn’t work out. There was a lot they needed to learn about each other. But Aleck had a feeling he could be in it for the long haul…and he was one hundred percent all right with that.
Smiling, he greeted Jag with a grin and they headed down the sidewalk toward another parking garage, where Aleck had left his Jeep. Neither spoke, both lost in their heads. Things had changed for both of them that night, and it was a lot to process.