Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“Okay. How about The Goat Locker?”
“Perfect.” I gave in to the urge to step closer and kiss her cheek. “See you then, gorgeous.”
When I moved back, she looked stunned. She blinked at me, her green eyes dark with desire. I held my grin at her reaction until I was in the hallway.
“I think you addled her brain a little, Kade,” Simon chuckled.
My smile grew wide across my face as we exited the building. It had been a relief to see that she was as affected by me as I was by her.
It had taken some time that afternoon for my dick to relax, but as Annalise sashayed up to me, I was back to being hard as fucking rock.
“Hello, gorgeous,” I said softly as I opened the door to the restaurant and stood back.
“Hi,” she said breathily, her perfect lips curled up in a beautiful smile. She walked inside, and I followed close behind, taking the opportunity to admire her spectacular ass.
As we moseyed up to the podium, I placed my hand at the small of her back and desire curled in my gut when she shivered at my touch.
“Lieutenant Truett.” The young woman at the hostess station greeted me warmly.
“Hey, Dove. How’s the business?”
“Busy,” she answered with a laugh. Then she aimed her smile at Annalise. “And who might this lovely lady be?”
“Annalise Ragsdale, meet Dove Creed,” I introduced them. “I serve with Dove’s brother, Stirling.”
“Nice to meet you,” Annalise replied, shaking Dove’s hand.
“Verrrrry nice to meet you, Annalise,” Dove said cheekily, tossing me a look that only a little sister could ever perfect. One that clearly spelled trouble…and made me second-guess how happy I’d been that Annalise had picked this place. “We were starting to wonder if Kade would become one of those crotchety old vets who complain about retirement and yell at the kids to get off their land.”
I sighed. “How about a table, squirt?”
Dove laughed and grabbed two menus before turning and weaving her way to the back of the restaurant.
“Lieutenant, huh?” Annalise murmured, smiling up at me as I guided her with my hand still resting right above her ass.
“Lieutenant Junior Grade,” I clarified.
“So it’s safe to assume you’re in the Navy?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Dove stopped at a booth and set down the menus, before gesturing to the table with a smile. “Here we go. Try not to scare her off, sailor. Enjoy your meal, you two,” she said with a wink before making her way back to the front.
“Sorry about that. I’ve known her since she was five, so she sees me like a big brother, which means I get all the little sister sass.”
Annalise chuckled. “So no real little sisters then?”
I shook my head. “Two younger brothers. One’s a seaman on the USS Gerald R. Ford, and the other…well,”—I winked playfully—“we don’t like to talk about it.”
She cocked her head to the side and studied me for a moment. “Uh, oh. Did little brother break ranks?”
I laughed and nodded, but before I could respond, a server appeared, bringing water and our orders since we both knew what we wanted.
Once he walked away, I leaned across the table and stage whispered, “Don’t tell anyone. He’s a corporal in the Marines.”
“How devastating,” Annalise deadpanned as she picked up her glass, making me laugh.
I shrugged and gave her a lopsided smile. “Could be worse. At least he’s not a flyboy,” I quipped with a shudder.
Annalise suddenly choked on the swallow of water she’d just taken. I swiftly moved to her side of the booth and took her glass away before patting her back as she coughed. “Fucking hell, baby. Are you okay?”
She nodded, but couldn’t speak yet because she was still hacking, although it was subsiding.
“S-Sorry,” she sputtered. “I must”—cough—“have swallowed wrong”—cough, cough.
“Just so long as you’re okay.” I rubbed circles on her back until she breathed normally. When I was about to return to my seat, I decided I liked it better right next to my—yes, she’s mine—girl. I reached across the table and moved my water and silverware over in front of me.
“What are you doing?” she asked, her expression curious.
“Sitting next to you,” I stated.
“Well, I can see that, but why?”
I snickered. “Gorgeous, if you haven’t figured out why, then I’m doing something wrong.”
Annalise’s cheeks bloomed with crimson, but she gave me a pleased smile.
“So tell me about you. How did you get into training service animals?”
“My brother was injured in a combat mission during his last tour of duty. I don’t know the particulars, he won’t tell me. But his PTSD was so bad that my father and I were worried he might…do something dangerous. His psychiatrist urged him to get a PTSD service animal and…well, Charlie saved Andrew’s life. It was like a miracle. I decided I wanted to help others find their miracle too.”