t up to as teenagers, and how she hoped Aimee would have such good friends as she grew up.
‘Are any of those friends still living here?’ he asked as he reached for the dessert menu.
‘Jacqui’s a teacher at the local high school, and Lisa is a radiologist up the road at Waikato Hospital. It’s hard to see a lot of each other with our careers and families getting first dibs on our time. But twice a year we go away to a spa for a girls-only weekend.’
Marshall dropped his chin into his palm. He looked so sexy. Those come-to-bed eyes twinkled at her, making her toes curl with desire. How had she managed to stay out of his bed all week? ‘Spare me. I can hear the three of you now, talking non-stop for the whole weekend.’ Then he grinned at her. ‘I’m having the strawberries. You?’
‘Same,’ she muttered around a sudden yawn. At least she’d made it until now for the first one. Hopefully she’d be okay for the rest of their meal. Shouldn’t have had the champagne. Hurriedly covering her mouth as another yawn ripped through her, she forced herself to focus on the menu. ‘Strong black coffee, too.’
Marshall squashed a flare of disappointment when Charlie yawned for a third time. They’d made it to nine o’clock before her tiredness had won out. He’d been hoping that a change of environment, a romantic dinner for two and just relaxing and talking might’ve kept her alert for longer. But seemed he was wrong. She was fading fast. Leaning close, he kissed her cheek. Then the corner of her sweet mouth. Then her lips. She tasted of champagne and mushrooms.
‘Come on. Let’s go home.’ Standing, he lifted her up against him, kissing the top of her head softly. That exotic fragrance wove around him again. So Charlie. So erotic.
But Charlie sat back down. ‘No. We’ve ordered dessert and coffee. I’d like to enjoy them.’ Her eyes were wide as she stared up at him, as though she was deliberately holding them open while her brain was trying to make her go to sleep. ‘Please.’
‘Am I allowed to carry you out of here later?’ His grin was forced.
Glancing around the nearly full restaurant, Charlie laughed. ‘That’d be entertaining.’
‘That’s a yes, then.’ He slid back onto his chair and pulled it closer to her. To feel her thigh against his gave him a sense of belonging. Yet he never wanted to belong to someone, not even Charlie. That would mean living with her whenever he wasn’t on active duty, which he could handle, even enjoy.
But he never wanted see the light go out in her eyes as he packed to go away for months on end. He knew the hurt and anger and sense of abandonment that went with that look. Because he’d felt it, seen it in his own eyes every time his parents had headed out, leaving him behind.
Her elbow jogged him. ‘Where have you gone?’ she asked as she tried to hide another yawn.
‘I’m right here, babe.’ She shouldn’t be so tired all the time. About to ask about it, he stopped, swallowed the words. They were having a good time. Why spoil it? But he would be talking to her later. Maybe making an appointment for her with one of her partners at the medical centre.
Thankfully the desserts and coffee arrived and they went back to chatting about everyday things.
*
Marshall didn’t have to carry Charlie out of the restaurant but he did carry her up the path and through the front door of her house. She was unbelievably light in his arms. Her eyelids had drooped shut, her eyelashes dark on her pale cheeks. Not even the light dusting of make-up had given colour to her face. With her head lolling against his shoulder, he felt incredibly protective of her. Wanted to look out for her. Knew he’d do anything to keep her safe. And happy. Anything except quitting the army and letting his men down. Even that was beginning to feel odd.
‘Have a good time?’ Brendon asked from the kitchen doorway. ‘Charlie didn’t make it all the way, then?’ Sadness darkened his eyes as he followed them down the hall to Charlie’s bedroom. ‘Shame, when she was so excited about going out. It’s been so long since she dated.’ Ducking around them, he headed for the bed and pulled back the covers.
So Charlie hadn’t been dating. Didn’t make a lot of sense. She was attractive, gorgeous and very friendly. Having a toddler wouldn’t prevent most hot-blooded men from wanting to spend time with her. ‘We had a fabulous meal. Perfect setting for spending special time together.’
He placed Charlie on the bed, pulled up the sheet and tucked it under her chin. Standing back, he gazed down at the beautiful woman who’d somehow managed to snag his heart when he’d thought he’d had it well and truly locked away. Goddamn it, he loved her. No denying it. He loved her. For the way she just accepted him. For how she made no demands on him and didn’t ask what he was going to do about his daughter. Love meant protecting. It meant making sure Charlie and Aimee got what was best for them.
Brendon cleared his throat. ‘If it’s all right with you, I thought I’d head away tonight. Bill and I like to be on the river before sun-up and he’s already gone down to the shack.’
Twisting his head, he met the keen gaze of Charlie’s dad. This man was on the same page as him. Wanted only the best for his daughter and granddaughter. And yet he was leaving Marshall alone with them for the weekend. Didn’t he know what would most likely transpire? Then he saw the understanding, the acknowledgement of his daughter’s needs in the man’s eyes. ‘Of course it’s okay. Just bring me back a trout to taste, won’t you?’
‘Then I’ll be off.’ Brendon leaned down and kissed his daughter’s cheek. ‘Goodnight, sweetheart.’ When he stood up he was blinking hard.
What the hell? ‘Brendon?’
The guy turned for the hall, waving a hand over his shoulder. ‘See you Sunday night.’ Then the front door closed, and moments later Brendon’s car pulled out onto the road, the sound of the engine fading into the night.
Marshall went through the house, locking up and turning off lights. Was Brendon afraid he was going to take his girls away to the States? The man’s big heart wouldn’t stop them going if that’s what Charlie wanted, even though it would break him apart. If only the guy had said something, he’d have reassured him that wasn’t going to happen.
He had no intention of bundling Charlie and Aimee up and dragging them off to another country where they knew no one and would be left to fend for themselves for months at a time. He might like the army but Charlie living on base? After growing up here with family and friends all around? It would never work. Not to mention being totally unfair.
He checked on Aimee and grinned to see her lying on her back with her teddy clutched tightly against her. How had he managed to father something so gorgeous that his heart hurt? She was a cracker of a kid. A Kiwi kid. He kind of liked that.
Now what? He was feeling antsy. His night had been cut short. There’d been no particular plans for after dinner but Charlie falling asleep on him hadn’t featured either. His grin was self-deprecatory. So he’d been a boring date? Not if the way she’d cuddled in close to him had been a clue. That small, hot body had seemed to fold into his shape. No denying he’d hoped they might’ve got hotter than just touching.
It was time he found out what was going on with Charlie and why she had so little energy. He needed to know, wanted to help her if at all possible.
With a glass of bourbon in one hand and the bottle in the other, he returned to her bedroom and removed the workclothes she’d dumped earlier on the recliner chair in the corner. Pulling it out from the wall, he toed off his shoes and stretched out on the leather. The comfortable chair sucked him in, made him relax as he sipped his drink and watched over Charlie. He suspected he’d be there all night.
Not a problem. There’d been many nights in his life when he’d been on duty, watching out for something, someone. Tonight Charlie came under his scrutiny, and if she so much as whimpered in her sleep he’d be there for her. Not quite the way he’d thought he’d be spending nights with her when he’d hopped on that flight down to Auckland.
Strange how sitting here made him feel quite happy. True, he’d love not
hing more than to slip into bed and make love to her, bring her to the peak of ecstasy and hear her cry out before entering her. But that hot and fast relationship they’d had two years ago had morphed into something that touched him more than physically. Talk about complicating things.
He sipped his drink and tried not to think about how he’d deal with this new feeling for Charlie when he flew out of the country.
*
Charlie rolled over. Sweat ran between her breasts. Her hand slid over her damp neck, then further down. Huh? She was still wearing her dress. Why hadn’t she undressed before going to bed?
Sitting up, she pushed the sheet off and reached for the bedside light switch. A golden glow filled the dark room from the low-wattage bulb. The air in her lungs leaked out as she stared across at the nursing chair, where she’d spent many hours feeding Aimee. Correction, stared at the man sprawled over it. Marshall’s long legs spread off the end; his arms hung on either side, with his hands brushing the carpet. And the cutest little snore ricocheted around the room.
Now she remembered—dinner. She’d fed strawberries to Marshall, one at a time. He’d licked her fingers every time he’d taken another berry, sending slicks of heat up her fingers, her arms and throughout her body, making her crave his touch. For a while she’d believed she was in heaven and that she’d manage to stay awake for a few more hours to enjoy what was so obviously going to be a very exciting night in Marshall’s arms.
A rueful glance down at her dress. She’d let this wonderful man down. She remembered walking out of the restaurant clutching his arm, but the rest was a blank. No memory of the drive home, of coming inside or getting into bed. Marshall must’ve put her to bed. And now look at him. Sound asleep in her room. Had he been waiting, hoping she’d wake up so they could finish their evening in the way they’d been headed?
There was nothing to stop them having a good time now. A wicked sense of mischief teased her. Why not wake Marshall up and lead him to bed? Her bed. Or start undressing him, kissing any bare flesh that appeared. That would arouse him in more ways than one.