Free Wyne and Dine (Citizen Soldier Series Book 1) by Donna Michaels

lake.
Thanks for that, by the way. Seems I’m supposed to row you around.”
    She smiled big. “Don’t mention it.”
Bugger was going to row her twice around. He owed her at least that for walking
out earlier.
    “Yeah, I thought you’d be pleased.”
    She watched him grab a pillow from
the bed and toss it onto the floor. “What are you doing?”
    “Going to bed.”
    “On the floor?”
    “Yep.” He pulled a camouflage liner
from his duffle bag and threw it next to the pillow before sitting on the
chaise to remove his boots.
    “This is a queen size bed, Ben.
There’s plenty of room for us both.”
    He grunted. “I’m barely hanging on
by a thread here, Lea. I don’t think I’ll ever get the image of you in that
damn corset thing out of my head. No way in hell are we sharing anything.”
    Funny how his discomfort made her
feel better. Even though she knew it wouldn’t take much persuasion to get him
to break his resolve tonight, she stayed put. His body may want her, but his
heart and mind did not, and they were actually more important. Their lack of
participation would dampen her pleasure.
    Until Ben came to terms with his
wants and needs— if Ben came to terms with them—she would not be making
any more advances. Sure, she’d continue to play the dutiful girlfriend thing
tomorrow, and enjoy every damn second, but if he wanted in her bed, he was
going to have to make the next move.
     
    B en had never taken a
cold shower before. Ever. Not even during his adolescent years. But last night,
after images of Lea battered his mind in that damn sexy blue getup with a
sultry, inviting expression on her beautiful face, he’d lost the battle and
used the cold water as a deterrent to crawling into her bed to seek relief to
the heat and need throbbing his body. The bed had been closer than the
bathroom, and a hell of a lot more appealing, but he couldn’t get past the fact
it was Brandi’s friend in that bed. His friend. The little girl from down the
street. Those were the thoughts that helped him turn on his heel and march into
the bathroom.
    But those thoughts were eventually
going to fade. Heaven help him then. And now . He entered the dining
room, holding Lea’s hand for appearance sake, and did his best to ignore how
right it felt. Time to get his mind back on work, and socializing with his
peers. That was the reason he was here this weekend.
    “Good morning, Colonel. Mrs.
Dankirk.” He nodded to their hosts already seated. With any luck, by the time
they filled their plates from the buffet style breakfast set up along the far
wall, they’d be able to sit on the other side of the table. “Smells almost as
good as your cooking,” he said to Lea.
    “Then we’d better hurry,” she said,
tugging him to the food. “We don’t need them running out of bacon. I don’t want
to have to put up with Mr. Crankypuss all morning.”
    He stopped, and when she turned to
face him, he frowned at her. “I don’t get cranky in the morning.”
    She laughed.
    The lieutenant and his wife ahead
of them looked up from the buffet. “Sure you do, Serge, but you always come
back in a better mood after eating at Gabe’s. I thought it was the food, but
now I know better.”
    Lea blushed. “Nah. He’s addicted to
my coffee.”
    “True.” He smiled and received a smack
from her on the arm.
    “That’s because I know what you
like.” Her gaze was open and friendly with just a hint of mischief darkening
her baby blues to steal his breath. “You like bacon with your bacon with maybe
a side of eggs.”
    The other couple laughed as they
continued down the buffet.
    “True,” he told Lea again, handing
her a plate before falling in behind her.
    He had to admit, the view was
great. His gaze traveled down her white tank top with blue anchors, exposing a
neckline that haunted his dreams, and his body tightened at the way her navy
pants hugged those sweet cheeks he’d glimpsed…and walked away from.
    Idiot.
    He was beginning to