Free Alone With You by Aliyah Burke Page B

that.”
    His chuckle had her smiling. “If it helps, I don’t see myself as a Pierce either.”
    Tuck held her chair for her and brushed a kiss along her cheek as he pushed her in. Their table was by a wall that had water rivulets streaming down it, creating a lovely sound. Soft lighting behind the water circulated hues every minute and added to the atmosphere.
    Sleek. Elegant. Way nicer than anything she’d attended recently. Not even just recently. I’ve not been out anywhere nice in a while. Not to this degree. Roxi’s wedding had been lovely but they didn’t get to any places like this.
    “What do you think?”
    She stared at him across the white linen tablecloth and the two lit tapers in silver engraved holders.
    “Thank you for bringing me.” She gave him a smile. “It’s lovely. And I am really digging this water thing here. I’d like one in my house. Once I get a house, and that would of course be after I figure out where I’m going to live.” She realised she was rambling and shut her mouth.
    While Tuck ordered and picked the wine, she watched him. The man she was used to seeing was the opposite of the one before her, yet he wore both personas well.
    “You’re awfully quiet,” he said. “Uncharacteristically so.”
    She tinkered with her napkin. “Not sure what to say that won’t have me sounding like a loon.”
    “How about you tell me about work?” He must have noticed her hesitation for he amended the question. “How was your two weeks?”
    This she was fine discussing. “It was absolutely wonderful. Great to see old friends and spend my days getting dirty instead of sitting behind a desk. Been thinking it may be in my best interest to get back in. Not sure yet.” She drank some water and her attention was snagged again by the changing colours. “Have a fractured rib from a ballgame but—”
    “You fractured a rib?” He leaned closer, concern present on his features. “And you’re thinking about going back in the Marines?”
    “Yes,” she said airily. “I did it sliding into second.” She grinned wryly. “But we won the game so it was worth it.”
    “And your rib now?”
    “Will be sore for a while.” She lifted her shoulder indolently. “Not a big deal. I’m not doing anything which will hurt it for a while.”
    His expression told her he wasn’t on board with her cavalier attitude towards her injury. Then again, it could be about her going back into the Corps. He had a slight scowl on his face. Their order came and she thanked the man after he had placed it all down. The presentation was so nice on the plate, she wasn’t sure she wanted to eat it—seemed like it should have its picture taken instead of being devoured.
    He’d ordered her grilled Alaskan salmon, wild rice and steamed veggies. The fact he’d remembered how much she enjoyed salmon was touching. She lifted her wine glass and toasted him before sipping the liquid. Not typically a wine drinker, she was pleasantly surprised with the taste.
    “What’d you get?” she asked him, staring at his plate.
    Okay, so I wasn’t paying attention to what he ordered for himself. I was busier staring at him after I told him what I’d like.
    “Veal.”
    “Baby cow.” She tsked. “Poor thing.”
    He cut and ate a bite. “It did its job well.”
    She laughed and turned her attention to her own plate, tasting her salmon. After putting her napkin on her lap, she cut some salmon and ate a few bites. It fell apart in her mouth. “Done to perfection.” She tried a bit of everything else on her plate and found them in the same calibre, perfect.
    Suddenly she was struck with a case of the nerves. With a deep breath, she stared at him. “I’m fucking nervous over here,” she admitted with a shaky laugh.
    He rested his elbows on the table and gave her his too-damn-sexy smile. His normal smile actually, which was one of the things that had first attracted her to him. The dimple was present and she had the oddest urge to