His gaze warmed as he looked at me. “You’re really something, aren’t you?” he murmured.
I flushed. “I’m just—me.” I shrugged.
“Exactly.” He smiled. “Now,” he continued, taking a step back, breaking the spell between us. “Did you eat? ’Cause I’m starving.”
I shook my head. “I kind of forgot about it. I don’t have much in the house,” I added regretfully. “We could order in? If you want to stay,” I added quickly.
“I want to stay,” he assured me, eyeing me with something akin to hunger, and not for food.
My heart thudded, my palms clammy. The very possibility that this gorgeous man could desire me was a heady thought.
“Okay. Pizza?”
“Sounds good.” He made himself comfortable on the couch and the sight of his muscular frame stretched out in my living room was so surreal it took me a second to gather myself. Finally, I managed to pick up the phone and call in our order.
His eyes turned to the television where the movie was paused. “Reservoir Dogs? This gives you the warm and fuzzies?” he asked with an incredulous chuckle.
I shook my head, sitting down on the opposite side of the couch. “No, but I’ve seen it a bazillion times. I wanted something familiar.”
“I get that.” He nodded as Able jumped up between us.
Suddenly I felt immensely nervous and awkward. Should I put the movie back on? Music? Should we just talk?
“Were you a police officer?” I blurted, both anxious to fill the silence and genuinely curious. “Is that how you knew those guys today?”
He stroked Able’s ears thoughtfully. “No. I work with them on occasion though,” he answered vaguely.
I stared at him, willing him to continue.
“I was a SEAL,” he explained. “After I retired, I started a security firm. Mostly corporate security for companies doing business overseas. In recent years things have really… taken off.” He seemed hesitant.
“And that’s bad because…?” I prompted.
“It’s not bad, per se. It just comes with attention I’d sometimes rather avoid.”
“So what, you have security groupies?” I teased.
“Sometimes.” He shrugged, looking uncomfortable.
My eyes popped wide. “I was kidding. I mean—not that you wouldn’t have admirers, look at you.” I gestured to him, and then my face flamed. “Dammit, I’ve only had one glass of wine. It’s way too soon for my filter to abandon me!” I groaned.
He chuckled. “You’re cute.”
His compliment flushed my cheeks darker still. “Let’s go with that over dork,” I agreed.
“Definitely not a dork,” he murmured as a slow grin spread across his handsome face. “Your shirt’s cute, by the way.”
I winced. “You see me at the most flattering times,” I complained sarcastically. “Either falling on my face, being assaulted, or wearing my supercool pajamas.”
“They’re cute, and you didn’t fall on your face,” he corrected with a grin. “Youalmostfell on your face.”
“Almost,” I agreed with a laugh, feeling more relaxed. My phone chirped a second later with a text. “Pizza’s here. I’ll go out and get it.”
“No, I’ll get it. They’re out front of Mabel’s?” he verified.
“Yeah. I don’t like people knowing the cottage is back here unless I have to,” I admitted.
“Smart.” He nodded approvingly. “I’ll be back.”