Candace Havens - Christmas With The Marine

He nearly tripped.

“It’s bad for me to objectify you,” she said. “But those abs mixed with that big heart of yours is kind of my kryptonite. Just sayin’.”

“Ainsley, you can objectify me all you want. Over and over again.”

She sucked in a breath and fanned herself. “Marine, you cannot say things like that. I might melt into a puddle at your feet.”

His mind flashed to her down on her knees in front of him. No. No. No. He had to get that out of his head. She was just flirting and having some fun.

“Hey, Ainsley, stop hogging the Marine,” Megan called to them.

“Yeah,” a chorus said behind them.

Then there were gales of laughter.

“Your ladies await,” Ainsley told him and made a show of curtseying. Then she waved her arm in a regal manner to the rest of the women from the table.

He’d play the gentleman and make them all feel like they’d gotten their money’s worth.

But there was only one lady he was interested in.

And he couldn’t wait for her to touch his abs.

4

AINSLEY HAD WAITED patiently for more than two hours for her turn to dance with the Marine. Her mother’s friends had helped pay for the privilege to have him at their table, but they were all a bit too handsy for her comfort.

Not that she should in any way feel possessive.

But she did.

Right now he was dancing with Sara Reyes, who was batting her eyelashes at him. The woman was her mother’s age.

“If looks could murder,” Megan said beside her.

“Shut it.”

Megan laughed. “I thought you’d just met him.”

“I did. I told you, at the toy store.”

“Yep, but I’ve never seen you look at a guy like that. Ever. Not even Joe What’s-His-Name when you were twelve and Mom took you to his concert.”

Joe What’s-His-Name had nothing on Ben. She hadn’t been lying about his abs. When he came out from that curtain with his shirt unbuttoned, she’d squirmed in her seat along with every other woman in the place. Ripped. That’s what he was. And there was a tattoo over his heart she was dying to explore.

Her body warmed again just thinking about it.

Fingers snapped in front of her face. “You do have it bad,” Megan said.

Her sister had the most annoying habit of interrupting her fantasies tonight. First, on the way to dinner, and now this.

“What? I was thinking about work.”

Her sister snorted. “Maybe workin’ it. But that face...” She did a dismissive finger wave, clearly to tease Ainsley. “It’s most definitely not thinking about work. He’s so thoughtful. And one of the most gorgeous creatures I’ve ever seen. He keeps stealing glances at you like he wants to eat you up. I say go for it. Have a good time.”

That’s all it could be. She was sticking to her guns when it came to men, especially right now. While her parents might want her to marry and settle down, that wasn’t a part of her plan. Not for a long time. It didn’t matter how many men they paraded in front of her, or forced her to sit with at dinner. Their manipulation wouldn’t work. They thought they were doing what was right—finding her a man who could take care of her—but she could take care of herself.

“I’m not interested. I keep telling you that,” Ainsley said resolutely. “My business takes up my days, nights and weekends. We’re doing really well. He’s a nice guy who did us a big favor tonight. Leave it alone, okay?”

Then she gave her sister the glare. The one that said if you push any harder, I’ll tell Mom and Dad on you.

Her sister held up her hands in surrender. “Fine. Fine. But just be straight with him. Tell him that you want to hang out, nothing serious. I bet he’d go for it. And from what he said about teaching and being a helicopter pilot, it sounds like he’s kind of busy, too.

“He was saying they sometimes leave at a moment’s notice for training exercises all over the world. This could be great. You don’t have to marry the guy, although I’d love to see Dad’s face with that one. Can you imagine? He’d probably have a coronary. I’ll be honest. If you aren’t interested in that Marine, I am. I’d be all over him like—”

“Megan!”

“Yeah, you aren’t possessive at all,” her sister teased.

“What’s so funny?” Ben asked, approaching them.

“Girl stuff,” Megan replied quickly. Ainsley was grateful for her sister’s vague answer. She prayed he hadn’t heard their conversation.

“Would you like to dance?” he said to Ainsley. The poor guy had been on his feet for two hours straight, wobbling through two-steps and waltzes, and a few fast dances with the other women at the table. He always seemed attentive and incredibly kind.

The way he treated others, it was like an aphrodisiac to her. Who needed oysters when Ben was in the house?

He was one heck of a hot guy. “Absolutely, but why don’t you sit down for a little bit and rest. We’ve kept you running all night.”

“I’m good. Besides, this kind of running is a lot easier than the obstacle courses on base. Afraid I’ll step on your toes?” He moved by her mother’s chair so she didn’t have to twist around. And then he held out his hand.

“Not at all. I’ve been watching you all night. I’ve danced with a lot worse.” She took his hand and then stood.

It was a slow number, thankfully.

As they hit the dance floor, he pulled her close and she put her arms around his neck. His went around her waist. With everyone else, he’d been quite formal. She liked that he treated her differently. Special.

“Been waiting for this since I got here tonight,” he said. “Holding you like this.”

She tipped back her head so she could see his eyes. She was five-seven and he had at least a good six inches on her.

“I said it earlier, but you’ve been such a champ. Every woman at that table has a thing for you, including my own mother. She keeps talking about you to her friends, about how you saved the day.”

He chuckled. “How about you? Do you have a thing for me?”

She shook her head and he frowned.

“No. I mean, I do,” she answered. “I mean... Oh, I’m making a mess of this. I told you what my life is like. I don’t have time to have a thing for anyone. My schedule is insane. Crazy busy.”

He shrugged. “This is how you let guys like me down easy, right? I get it. You’re out of my league. It’s okay.”

“No, you’re not. If anything, the opposite is true. I just don’t want to lead you on or set up some kind of expectation. And so we’re clear, I want you. I just probably shouldn’t.”

“I told you before, I’m okay with getting to know each other. No pressure.”

She smiled. “Guys always say that, and then they wonder why I’m not available twenty-four seven. I mean, I know I’m projecting. But the last couple of guys I dated—you’re nothing like them. I get it. But I don’t want to set up any false expectations. I pretty much live for my next appointment. Tonight is a luxury I don’t normally allow myself. But it’s for a good cause, and I’ve made some excellent networking contacts. Plus, we helped the kids, so it’s all good.”

“Uh, I don’t have any expectations,” he said. His brows drew together. “I simply want to spend some time with you. Maybe where we aren’t in a store, or in a fancy ballroom with two hundred very loud women.”

She’d noticed that he’d rub his temples now and then. Did he have a headache? Was the noise getting to him?

“Are you okay?” She was worried that maybe he’d been suffering all night and she hadn’t been aware.

“What? Why would you ask that?”

“You were rubbing your head earlier. And Megan told me she was worried you were having a panic attack before you came out, but then you strutted down that catwalk like you owned the place, so she figured that maybe you were just preparing.”