Not a problem, Sophie would jump in and movethings along. Never wanting to wear out her welcome, Sophie alwayshelped with chores. And she liked staying busy.
Throwing on a sundress as bright and breezyas her mood, she floated down the stairs. Her attitude wasunbeatably light this morning. Despite consciously knowing sheshould be feeling guilty for her very dirty thoughts, she couldn’thelp but feel she was floating on a white puffy cloud ofimagination.
Pouring two cups of coffee, she broughtAsher’s cup outside and set it on his chair next to hers. Sunrisewas still a few minutes out. Hopefully he wouldn’t dawdle and missit. Although, after his reaction to her a few moments ago, she’dknow why he was delayed in the shower.
He didn’t disappoint. She was almost afraidhe’d avoid her now that they both had each other’s wet, nakedbodies permanently tattooed in their memories. Dressed in tan cargoshorts and a snug t-shirt with NAVY written across it, he joinedher directly outside and picked up his coffee as he slid into hischair just in time.
Taking a sip of the hot coffee, he broke thesilence before it became awkward. “So. That was interesting.”
Coffee cup hovering at her lips, she poorlyhid her almost-maybe-embarrassed grin and licked her lips beforetaking a sip. “Interesting. Good word for it.”
“Nice body. By the way.” He avoided eyecontact, instead staring ahead at the impending sunrise. His cheekswere tight, fighting the corners of his mouth turning up inamusement.
“Thanks, I work out. And ditto.” Might aswell be honest. She usually didn’t get to be honest inrelationships.That’s okay, I like pepperoni on my pizza… Yourmother didn’t hurt my feelings at all… Of course I orgasmed,you’re a stallion.
Not that this was a relationship. It wasn’t.Couldn’t be. If for no other reason, and there must be goodreasons, Pippa would kill them both. She couldn’t do that to herbest friend.
“I like your tattoo, what’s it of?” Amusedgrin gone, he looked like he actually was interested. Few had caredbefore, more aroused by its location.
Even fewer actually got to see her tattoo.Sophie blushed. Dumb idea for when she has children someday, butshe hadn’t been thinking of that when she requested it placed onher right low abdomen just above her hairline. It could be seen ifshe wore a skimpy bikini, but otherwise it was her little secret.Which was part of why she’d chosen the location.
“It’s a Scandinavian compass. I went a littlenuts when I turned eighteen and lived on my own. Since my mom died,I’ve never really had a home. Somewhere in my youthful logic, Ifigured it might help me to find my way home one day, guiding mychoices along the way, as the myth behind it tells. Besides, itlooked good with the belly button ring I had around the sametime.”
“It must be working. You seem pretty set onthe whole home and direction part of life.” He sipped his coffeeslowly, watching the sky in the distance. Not pushing, butsupporting. “Why did you get rid of the belly button ring? Bet youlooked fucking hot in it.”
She grinned, enjoying his compliments. As theproper accountant she’d become, her last few boyfriends would neverhave used phrases likefucking hotto describe her. Morelike,lovely.
Lovely was nice to hear. But there wasnothing like having afucking hotNavy SEAL be unable todescribe her attractiveness without expletives. And, for him to geta spontaneous erection just looking at her naked body.
“How did you get out of the military withoutany tattoos?” None that she’d seen, anyway. And she’d seen morethan she’d bargained for.
“Can’t make up my mind. Everything seems tootrite or fleeting or excessive. Maybe someday. Once I figure outwhat I want.” He was very matter of fact. Didn’t seem bothered byhis indecision. Or he was accepting of it anyway.
“Makes sense.”
They sat in silence again. Not awkwardly,more of an understanding sort of quiet.
“Why accounting?” He glanced her way, notseeming to care that he was missing the moment the sun was comingover the mountains. His expression was curious, genuine.
“It may sound boring, but I like numbers.Making sense of a budget, making it last.”
“It doesn’t sound boring. It sounds like itmakes you happy.” He looked back to the sunrise, but it was toolate, the sun was too bright to look at.
He didn’t seem to notice he’d missedanything, glancing back to her. Answering her question before shehad a chance to ask, he shared a bit of himself with her… the gooeycenter, not the drool-worthy outside this time. “Everyone thinks Ijoined because I needed the adrenaline rush. They’re not entirelywrong, but I knew I was going to end up high on something, get somegirl pregnant, or just plain wasting my life away doing nothingrelevant. Honestly, despite my stupidity, I wasn’t a completemoron. I never did any heavy drugs. I never committed any felonies,nor have I been arrested. A few speeding tickets over the years,but nothing major. And, I have nevernotused a condom,contracted any STDs, or gotten anyone pregnant.”
He was serious. Must have scared himself withhis prior juvenile path of self-destruction.
“They don’t let just anyone be a SEAL.”
He laughed at that, the wood of his chairsqueaking under his weight as he turned in his chair to face her,his knee resting against the arm of the chair. “No, theydon’t.”
“I don’t think Pippa has had a rebellious dayin her life. Where did you get your roguish streak?” She shiftedtowards him as well, their bodies only separated by the arms oftheir chairs.
Shrugging, he contemplated for a moment. “Ididn’t want to work at Sutherland’s Hardware Store, so I did justabout everything I could come up with to convince Dad it wasn’t forme. When drugs and sex didn’t work, I went to college. When thatdidn’t work, I joined the Navy and bought myself eight moreyears.”
Stretching his legs in front of him beforeresting his arms behind his head and melting into the chair, hesighed before continuing. “I didn’t have a clue what I wanted outof life; I just knew it wasn’t the same things he wanted for me.Pippa wasn’t interested either. She got out of it by expressing herinterest in being a sweet little elementary school teacher, which,we all know Pippa, and you don’t question her plans.”
“None of your impressive, very respectableendeavors seemed to appease him?” Sophie curled up as unconsciouslyclose to him as she could get without actually touching him, orthat would cross a line that shouldn’t be crossed.
