Chapter 6 #4
“You ready to go?” Marshall asked.
She wasn’t, but Kenna nodded anyway. He had to get back to work and couldn’t sit out here with her all day. “Thanks for bringing me here.”
“Anytime. I mean that. If you need a break, just let me know and I’ll bring you out here and you can hang with my homies as long as you want.”
Kenna laughed. “Your homies? Who talks like that?”
“Well, no one. But it made you smile,” Marshall said.
“It did.”
He stood and pulled her up next to him. The ground must’ve been uneven, because he seemed taller by more inches than usual. He looked down at her with an intense expression on his face.
“What?” Kenna whispered.
“I want to kiss you but I’m trying to decide if it would be weird. If it’s too soon.”
“It’s not too soon,” she encouraged.
She saw his lips quirk upward before his head lowered. Kenna went up on her tiptoes to meet him halfway.
The second their lips met, she jolted as if she’d been tased, but she didn’t pull away.
God, this man was lethal.
His head tilted and one of his hands came up to rest on the nape of her neck.
He didn’t grab her, didn’t force her head one way or another; his large palm just rested on her skin.
Goose bumps broke out on her arms as he slowly and tenderly kissed her.
His mouth sipped at hers, and when she thought she was going to go crazy, his tongue licked along the seam of her lips.
She opened to him eagerly. Even then, he didn’t get aggressive. He lazily twirled his tongue with hers as they learned what each other liked. Truth be told, Kenna liked everything about this man. She pushed her tongue into his mouth, and he let her take control of the kiss.
When it felt like she might pass out from lack of oxygen, Marshall finally pulled back. But his hand stayed on her nape. He stared down at her as if she was a mythical creature. “I didn’t think this place could get any more special,” he said. “I was wrong.”
Shit. He was killing her. Instead of responding, Kenna put her cheek on his chest and leaned into him. His arms immediately went around her, holding her close. The hug felt amazing.
She felt more than heard him sigh right before he pulled away. “You have no idea how much I hate saying this, but I need to get going.”
“I know,” she said. “How come when something amazing is happening, time seems to race by? But when shit hits the fan, time crawls?”
Marshall chuckled. “Right? I feel that deeply. Sometimes it feels as if our missions are weeks long when in reality they’re only days. And of course when I’m on leave, time flies.”
Kenna smiled. “Same with crappy shifts at work. When I have obnoxious customers, they seem to sit at their table all night. And when I have lovely, kind patrons, they eat and run.”
They smiled at each other for a moment.
“Seriously, thanks for showing me your special spot,” Kenna said.
“You’re welcome,” Marshall said, then he leaned down, kissed her on the forehead, and grabbed her hand once more, starting back through the bushes toward the path and the Jeep.
Before she was ready, she was once more in the passenger seat and they were headed for the bridge. Wanting to lighten the mood, she asked, “Do you see Elodie and Lexie a lot?”
“A decent amount. Why?” Marshall asked.
“I just wanted them to know that people are still talking about the mysterious waitress who has connections to Jurassic Park. I think Paulo and Kaleen are spreading the rumor every shift they work, but it’s been amazing how much nicer people have been acting over the last week.”
“I’ll make sure they know their plan was, and still is, a success. Although I’m equally sure they’d prefer to hear that from you instead of me. I can give you their numbers.”
“That would be weird,” Kenna protested.
“No, it wouldn’t,” Marshall countered. “Trust me, they’d love to hear from you.”
Kenna wasn’t sure about texting people she didn’t really know, but then again, she’d really liked both women, and wouldn’t mind getting to know them better. Besides, if she really was going to date Marshall, she’d probably be seeing them more often. “Okay, I’d like that.”
“Great.”
Before she was ready, Marshall was pulling into the parking lot where she’d left her car.
He pulled up behind it and, leaving his Jeep running, got out.
Sliding out of her own seat, Kenna met him at the back of his Jeep.
They walked toward her Malibu and after she’d unlocked it and put her purse inside, she turned to face him. “I had a good time.”
“Me too.”
“Since you showed me around today, you want to come with me on Sunday to try out a new private beach?” Kenna blurted. She’d been trying to think of how to ask him on a date, but had been nervous, which seemed silly now.
“Yes.” His answer was short and to the point. “You’re working tonight, right?”
“Yeah.”
“How’s Carly doing?”
Kenna wasn’t surprised he’d asked after her friend. “She’s okay. She’s been on edge since the protection order was delivered to Shawn, but she hasn’t seen him.”
“Good. Do you think he’ll come back to Duke’s?” Marshall asked.
“I doubt it,” Kenna said honestly. “I mean, he’s not allowed within five hundred feet of her, and there would be way too many witnesses to him being there if he showed up. He’s more the type who will try to catch her at her apartment or something.”
Marshall frowned.
“Don’t worry, one of the guys from work has been taking her home every night. And although you probably know this, your friend, Jag, calls her every night and stays on the phone with her until she’s inside her apartment.”
“He has?” Marshall asked.
“You didn’t know?”
“He hasn’t said anything.”
“Well, he has, and she might not admit it, but I think it’s been a relief for her. Anyway, she’s okay.”
Marshall nodded. “Well, if you do happen to see that asshole, don’t hesitate to call the cops and they’ll come throw his ass in jail.”
“I will.”
“Let me know when you get home?” Marshall asked.
Kenna smiled and nodded.
Marshall reached out and ran his hand along the side of her head, smoothing her hair back. “For the record, I’d like to kiss you again, but since I’m in uniform and we’re in a public place, it’s probably not a good idea.”
“Public displays of affection aren’t allowed when you’re in uniform?” Kenna asked with a frown.
“No, it’s not that. But your lips are addicting and I probably wouldn’t be able to stop.”
Kenna smiled. “Oh.”
“Yeah, oh. Can I pick you up on Sunday? Or do you want me to meet you somewhere?”
“If it’s not too much trouble, you can pick me up,” she told him, feeling somewhat shy. It was a big step forward in their relationship to give him her address, whether he knew it or not. But she should’ve known he’d realize it.
“I swear you won’t regret letting me in,” he said, rubbing his thumb against her cheek gently.
“Is eleven o’clock all right?” she asked, not sure what else to say.
“Perfect. You want me to bring lunch?”
Kenna hadn’t even thought about food, but it was a good idea, so they could hang out on the beach all day—if they weren’t kicked off. “That’d be great.”
“Anything you don’t like?” Marshall asked.
“Not really. I mean, the beach isn’t really the place for something like seafood, but generally I’ll eat whatever.”
“Okay, I’ll come up with something easy to eat that won’t spoil in the heat. Kenna?”
“Yeah?”
Marshall shook his head as if he thought better about asking whatever was on his mind.
“What, Marshall?” Kenna asked.
“I was just going to tell you how excited I am about this weekend.”
She smiled at him. “Me too,” she said quietly. “I don’t know what it is about you, but I feel as if I’ve known you forever.”
“Same,” he agreed. “Drive safe and don’t forget to text me when you get home so I know you got there okay.”
Kenna nodded, then stepped toward him. She went up on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly and briefly. “I had a good time today. Thanks.”
“I’m just happy we’ll have more time this weekend,” he said.
“Me too.”
Marshall stepped away from her slowly, as if reluctant to leave. Kenna definitely knew the feeling. She stood by her car until he was inside his Jeep once more. Only then did she get into her own vehicle. She followed him out of the parking lot and waved when he turned left and she turned right.
After arriving home and shooting Marshall a text to let him know she got there without any issues, she stood in the middle of her apartment with a silly grin on her face.
There was something…soothing…about being with Marshall.
She didn’t worry about where they were or what they were doing, somehow she just had a feeling he’d take care of all the details. Make sure they were safe.
Had she ever felt this way when she was with a guy before?
She didn’t think so.
Looking at her watch, Kenna saw she had a few hours to kill before she had to leave for work.
She decided to spend the time surfing the web and finding the perfect beach for them to go to that weekend.
It had to be somewhere that had high reviews online, but wasn’t too hard to get onto.
She didn’t want to make Marshall drive all the way up to the North Shore either.
Even heading east to the coast could take a while.
So she decided to concentrate on beaches on the west side near the Navy base.
She hated that he’d have to drive out to Waikiki to pick her up, only to go back where he’d come from, but hopefully she could find a beach that would totally be worth it.
Marshall offering to pick her up was extremely considerate.
Especially considering it was so early in their relationship.
One of the things she liked best about Marshall was how down-to-earth he was.
Being a SEAL probably meant he made more money than the average sailor, but maybe not.
She had no idea. Maybe he hadn’t talked much about where he lived because he was embarrassed.
Hopefully after seeing her not-so-very-exciting apartment, he’d relax a little.
Other than his somewhat snobby comment that first night, he seemed to be a lot like her…
middle class, with enough money for the important things in life but not a lot of extra.
Smiling, Kenna sat on her couch and fired up her laptop.
She remembered seeing a private beach in a previous search that she thought would be perfect.
Coral Springs condos looked classy and posh, and the beach was to die for.
With Marshall at her side, she thought they just might be able to sneak in.
As a couple, they’d blend in more, seem as if they belonged there. Sunday couldn’t come soon enough.