Her Vigilant Seal (13 page)

“From now on I want you to know you come first for me. You come before my work.”

He handed back her phone, and she picked up her menu.

“I think we should order.”
Dammit.

“Okay honey, let’s see what sounds good.” He turned his attention to the specials and tried not to grit his teeth.

“I’m not trying to make you mad.”

Which was the only reason he wasn’t going to get mad. He realized she wasn’t used to anyone watching her six. Therefore she couldn’t wrap her head around what he was trying to do. It was up to him to show her what teammates, what friends, what lovers, what loved ones, did for one another.

“I’m not mad, honey, I’m hungry. What are you going to have?”

She chose one of the two specials and he chose the other. When their dinner came, she closed her eyes and inhaled. It was one of the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.

“This is divine. Oh they used tarragon and lemon with just a hint of cilantro. This is going to be so good.”

He couldn’t wait to see her eat a bite. He was right, watching her eat was sexy too.

They talked about how Billy did on his math test and he was happy to hear he aced it. She asked him more about his life in the military and about his renovations. He definitely noticed how she steered the conversation towards current events and his life. He was certainly willing to follow her lead for the main course. He knew how to bide his time.

Sophia said she couldn’t possibly eat any dessert but he ordered the peach cobbler with a full serving of vanilla ice cream on the side.

“So tell me about your plans,” he asked smoothly.

“My plans?” she asked as she dipped a spoon in for a bite of peaches.

“Yeah, you said yesterday you had plans that precluded you from moving in with me. I was wondering what they were.”

“Oh, I talked to one of my friends who I used to work with at the cable company. She’s a supervisor there now. She said she could get me a part time job working four hours a night. It would be right before opening the diner. They need some phone support and they’re bringing some of it back to the United States, isn’t that great?”

“Where would you be working?”

“Up north,” she said slowly as she twirled her hair.

“Up north where exactly?” Mason waited and knew he wasn’t going to like her answer.

“Santa Ana.” One of the poorest and most crime ridden areas of Orange County. Great, just, great. It took every fiber of his being not to channel Drake Avery. He counted to ten. He counted backwards from ten to one. Finally he asked.

“What are your hours going to be?” He was proud he kept his voice even.

“Midnight to four, which is great because I’ll be able to get to the diner by four thirty and have all the baking started and the diner open by five thirty.”

“You’re not going to take this job,” Mason started out reasonably.

“Yes I am. This is a great opportunity. I worked there before when I was going to school. The hours are perfect. I’m going to be able to save up for a good apartment so Billy can come live with me.” Her eyes sparkled and she spooned up a huge scoop of ice cream and waved her spoon at him. “I should be able to have my first and last month’s deposit in no time. I’m not going to tell Billy in case something falls through, but this is wonderful.”

“You didn’t hear me. You’re not going to take this job.” Mason smiled pleasantly. There was no point in ruining a wonderful date or her great mood, but he needed to get his point across.

“Of course I am. I just told you it’s perfect.”

“Over my dead body are you going to be waltzing around at midnight in fucking Santa Ana, crime central of Orange County. Do I make myself clear?” Fuck, he might as well be talking with a southern drawl. Sophia stared in disbelief. She didn’t say a word just stared. The waitress came up and topped off their coffees and brought the check.

“I can’t believe you said that to me. Did you just say that to me? Really?” Sophia sounded genuinely aghast. He had a chance to back out and not sound like a total Neanderthal.

“Fuck yeah, I said it to you. There is no way, on my watch, you are going to do this. We’ll figure something else out. You need the money to rent an apartment? Fine, I’ve got it, it’s yours. You need a part time job? I’ll find you one where it’s safe. But there is not a chance in hell you are going to walk around the streets of Santa Ana in the middle of the goddamn night.” He scrubbed both hands through his hair. Goddammit, he was pretty sure he now had ice cream on his head.

****

Mason was serious. Mason was pissed. Mason had vanilla ice cream in his hair. She stared at him and covered her mouth. He looked horrified. She grabbed her napkin and tried to hold back. She couldn’t. She burst out laughing. She was laughing so hard. There he was, serious as a heart attack, planning on loaning her money, finding her a job, doing whatever was necessary to keep her safe, with ice cream in his hair. She had to stop laughing or she’d start crying.

“Sophia. Honey. Are you okay?” Of course he’d ask that. Of course he’d be worried about her. She dipped her napkin in her water glass and leaned over the table to clean the ice cream out of his hair.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” It had gotten dark and there were just the heaters on and the candlelight on the table, but his eyes looked much darker than normal, almost black. He was so freaking handsome.

“Talk to me, honey. Tell me I’m toast. Tell me you’re going to boil me in oil. Just don’t shut me out.” He looked so worried. At the same time if she said she was taking the job no matter what he thought he wouldn’t look worried. He’d look like a marauder. Some man who thought he had dominion over a woman. But as soon as she had the thought she dismissed it. That wasn’t true. Mason didn’t want to have power over her. He wanted to keep her safe. There was a big difference between a man who wanted to boss you around because of some kind of ego trip, and one who wanted to protect you.

“Sophia? Say something.”

“I take it you don’t approve of my plan.”

He snorted. “You could say that.”

“So what’s the next part of this date?” she asked.

“What?” Sophia grinned, happy she’d thrown him off guard.

“I asked what is ‘stage two’ of this date? Or was dinner all you had planned?” She gave him a pleasant smile.

Mason stared at her and then finally responded.

“There was definitely a ‘stage two’. I talked to Margie, she said you only had to work lunch shift tomorrow, right?”

“It seems like you and my boss have gotten kind of cozy. First she lets you into my apartment. Now she’s telling you my work schedule. Are you sure you shouldn’t be dating her?”

Mason blinked. He definitely wasn’t sure how to take her teasing. It was obvious he thought he was going to be in trouble for dictating to her about the job and he couldn’t figure out her mood. Well good. It was kind of fun to see him disconcerted.

“Nope, I’m dating the one I want to be dating. But Margie is my backup plan.” He grabbed her hand, and guided her to his truck. She loved how pampered she felt.

“I thought we could go to a place in the Gaslight district. It’s a little bar I know that plays some great live music.”

“I’d love that.”

Mason was right. The band was top notch and he even managed to find a seat for her at the bar while he stood next to her. At one o’clock he whispered it was time they head home so she could get enough sleep for work. Since she’d been ogling him most of the night she couldn’t agree more. When they got on the Five Freeway heading north to San Clemente she was stunned.

“Where are we going?”

“I’m taking you home, honey.”

“But I thought…”

“We’re going to go out on a few dates and get to know one another, Sophia.” She didn’t know if she was happy or pissed. She finally decided she was impressed and deprived. He came up to her apartment, unlocked her door, and insisted on checking out the interior of her apartment. Then he kissed the hell out her and left. Yep, definitely deprived.

The next day when Sophia went down to the diner to start work, Mason was there talking to Margie at the lunch counter. Sophia made her way to the hostess stand and started seating customers. When she had the majority of people seated and orders taken she sat next to Mason.

“So did I forget another date?”

“I was going to come install a deadbolt on your door, remember?”

She stared into innocent blue eyes and wondered how often his mother let him get away with things because of that look.

“I called a locksmith, he’s coming tomorrow,” she lied.

“Cancel him. I bought the lock and brought my tools.”

She let out a breath. This was a stupid thing to have an argument about especially when it would be nice to have the added security.

“All right.”

He leaned in and kissed her. Her toes curled.

Mason was done before the lunch shift ended and then he talked her into a movie on Wednesday night.

After her shift was finished she went over to the food pantry to talk to Frannie and Tony. She told them about her plan to earn money for the apartment for her and Billy.

“Are you out of your mind?” Frannie exploded.

“Over my dead body,” Tony said in a low voice.

Sophia sighed. She had been somewhat excited at the prospect of landing a job with hours that would dovetail with the diner but she knew there was a downside, which is why she didn’t tell the DeLucas sooner.

“You know you sound a little like Mason,” Sophia complained.

“The man has good sense. Sounds like someone I’d like to meet.” Tony slapped the table and smiled.

“He reminds me a lot of you, Tony, back when you were in a uniform.” Frannie cupped Tony’s face and kissed him on the cheek. He blushed, and turned his attention back to Sophia.

“So what kind of stupid idea is this? Working in Santa Ana in the middle of the night? Hell girlie, it ain’t the best place to be working during the day.”

“That’s not true. Some of it is poor, but some of it’s nice.” Sophia defended her choice. Tony glared at her and she glared back.

“Fine, I was making generalizations. But still there is gang activity and you’re not going work there from midnight to four in the morning and that’s final.”

“I know. I already decided not to. I’m going to call Shelly tomorrow. But I still need to find something else to supplement the money I’m making at the diner. It’s hard to find one that will work around the hours.”

“You’ll find something. You’re amazing. We’ll talk to all of our friends, kiddo.” Tony leaned forward and pinched her cheek.

“You guys are the amazing ones.” She hugged both of the DeLucas.

She left the food pantry knowing she still had a problem to solve. How was she going to get the money for the bigger apartment so she could petition the courts for custody of Billy?

He was at her door again to pick her up for dinner and the movies. This time he specifically said they were going to his favorite pizza joint so she wouldn’t dress up. When she answered the door in khaki shorts and a pink blouse and flip flops he once again lost his shit. She was gorgeous. He knew his mouth was hanging open. He saw women all over Southern California in shorts but she was flipping gorgeous.

“Mason?”

“Give me a moment.”

“Yeah, sure,” she said, puzzled. “Do you need to come in? Do you want a glass of water? Something?”

“Oh yeah.” He slid his hands into the abundance of honey hair, and tilted her head just right so he could go in for the perfect kiss. Her mouth was open, albeit to ask another question, but still it was open and a SEAL always took advantage of an opportunity.

He went questing and soon she was fire in his arms. They stood for long minutes, as he reveled in the feel of her plush lips, and his tongue glided against her soft one. Realizing there wasn’t a chance in hell they’d make it to dinner if he continued an instant longer, he wrenched away. She looked as shell shocked as he felt.

“Pizza. Movies,” he croaked. She nodded.

“Sweater.” She turned and he watched her world class ass sway in the shorts. He told his dick to settle down. He was losing the battle.
His hard-on finally went away by the time they made it to the pizzeria. Thank the Lord.

They ordered and he found out she was a girl after his own heart—she liked the works on her pizza. They talked about all the different characters who were regulars in the diner—surfers, and a lot of guys from Camp Pendleton. He wondered if they were all blind.

“Seriously, they haven’t been asking you out?” he asked incredulously.

“Oh they’re just big flirts. They aren’t serious.”

“Honey, they’re serious,” he assured her. Then he decided he better shut up. He didn’t want her to start thinking of playing the field.

“If I’m going on dates with you I would
never
start going on dates with someone else.” God, she was a mind reader. “But you’re totally wrong. They haven’t been serious.”

“Okay, honey.” And like mana from heaven their pizza arrived. They were halfway through the food when he asked her the question he’d been dying to ask.

“What happened with the job offer?” If she was still intent on taking it, they were going to have skip the movie.

“I turned it down. I thought about what you said and I talked to the DeLucas. They were just as adamant that it wasn’t a good idea. I think I knew deep down it was a stupid idea. To tell you the truth, I was scared after what happened in San Diego but I didn’t want fear to run my life, you know?”

He took her hand. She looked so forlorn sitting there. He let go and got up so he could sit beside her. “Scooch over.” He put his arm around her and kissed her temple.