Chapter 2

CHAPTERTWO

Baker held open his front door for Jodelle and couldn’t stop the feeling of satisfaction when she walked past him and the door was firmly shut. The petite woman was the first guest he’d ever invited into his home…and having her there felt right.

From the moment he’d met her, shortly after she’d started coming to the beach to watch over the kids, Baker had felt a connection. He couldn’t explain it, and honestly, it had made him so uncomfortable, he’d gone out of his way to treat her as nothing more than an acquaintance. But over the last year or so, she’d gotten even further under his skin without even trying. Watching his friends find and marry the loves of their lives…and seeing them actually make those relationships work…made him yearn for something more in his life.

He’d only ever had one long-term girlfriend. And that had been enough for him to be turned off of relationships for good. He’d treated Tabitha like gold, and in return, she’d emptied his bank account, taken out twenty-three credit cards in his name, and had actually plotted to kill him. It was like a fucking crime show. She’d played him, and he’d been so desperate for love at the time, to find what everyone else had, that he’d bought into her bullshit.

She hadn’t even done any jail time either, which pissed him off to no end. Her daddy had hired the most expensive and successful lawyer he could find, and she’d gotten off with probation and some fines.

Baker had sworn off women from that point on. Refusing to spend more than a few nights with the same person before ghosting them. He was an asshole, he knew that…but now, for the first time in years, he wanted more.

Wanted it all.

Jodelle. The first time he’d heard her name, Baker had thought it was the most beautiful name he’d ever heard. She’d laughed the first time he’d called her that and told him that everyone used her nickname, Jody. But he refused. He’d always think of her as Jodelle.

He’d fought against her pull for months. For years, actually. And he couldn’t fight it anymore. He’d hoped the connection he felt would fade. Actually, Baker was sure she’d do something to piss him off or annoy him. Something that would prove she was just like most of the other women he knew. But instead, the longer he got to know Jodelle, the more he liked her.

She was sensitive. Introspective at times. Didn’t feel the need to fill a silence with idle chatter. She genuinely cared about the kids she kept her eye on. That had been proven time and time again. She was selfless, not pretentious, and Baker definitely liked how she looked in a bathing suit. She was curvy in all the places a woman should be curvy.

All-in-all, he hadn’t found one negative thing about Jodelle since he’d met her. And that both irritated and intrigued him. No one was as saintly as she seemed to be. No way.

Even being as attracted to her as he was, he’d still been determined to stay away. She was too good for him, that was crystal clear. But after witnessing how happy Mustang and Elodie were, how happy all of his SEAL friends were with their women, not to mention the love in Pid’s eyes when he looked at his new baby daughter…Baker’s mindset had begun to change.

He tended to keep people at arm’s length, men and women. But after an old SEAL teammate of his had come to Hawaii with a serious grudge—and used Monica Collins, the woman of one of his acquaintances, as bait—Baker did some serious soul-searching.

He came to the realization that he didn’t want to be an old man with no friends. Too much of a stubborn asshole to let anyone in. After so many years, the thought of being alone no longer appealed.

And when he thought about his future, about who he might want to hang out with when he was old and gray, the only person who came to mind was Jodelle. It was crazy, they didn’t know each other, not really, but Baker couldn’t stop thinking about her.

Then Ashlyn Taylor, the girlfriend of another SEAL friend, was shot several months ago, and Baker envisioned Jodelle being in her place.

He panicked. It wasn’t logical. Wasn’t something he’d ever dwelled on in the past, his friends being hurt. But the last couple of years had proven danger comes when you least expect it, especially in regard to his SEAL friends and their women. Now he couldn’t shake the image of Jodelle lying in a hospital bed, suffering from a gunshot wound. He didn’t ever want to see that happen.

And the best way to keep her safe…was to keep her by his side.

The thought didn’t freak him out. For the first time since Tabitha, Baker wanted to be in a relationship. Wanted to go to sleep with a woman at his side and wake up the same way. He wanted her to text and let him know how her day was going, and he wanted to share what was going on in his own life right back.

Jodelle wasn’t Tabitha. She’d never even think about stealing from him. And plotting to kill him? No way would that happen. Baker knew that as clearly as he knew his own name.

Earlier today, when he’d wrapped his arm around her chest to keep her from interfering with the medic’s evaluation of the teenager she was so worried about, Baker knew instantly that he was a goner. She fit against him absolutely perfectly. He’d never been one to go for petite women, but Jodelle changed his thoughts on that. Aside from her curves, he loved her long dark brown hair that never seemed to want to stay confined in whatever hairdo she put it in, and her golden-brown eyes that hinted at a pain he wanted to soothe. She was also the most expressive woman he’d ever met. He knew exactly what she was thinking without her having to say a word.

But it was that agony deep in her eyes that called to him most. The woman was broken inside. She was merely going through the motions of life. Every smile was subdued, every chuckle tinged with grief. Baker wanted to hold her close and tell her that she didn’t have to hide from him, that he’d put her back together piece by piece—but he had to earn the right.

And he was more determined than ever to do just that.

Baker knew she’d had a son, and that he’d died. But he didn’t know any of the details. Her son’s death had to be what had broken her, and while Baker couldn’t know exactly what she was feeling, he’d experienced loss himself.

As he’d held her back from going to Ben, Baker had made a decision. He’d been a coward for too long. Afraid to let anyone in. But no longer. He’d seen the looks Jodelle had sent his way. She was interested, but had absolutely no intention of doing anything about it, which made her different from other women. Baker knew if he didn’t at least attempt to explore the connection they had, he’d regret it for the rest of his life.

So today was the first step toward healing them both. Maybe things would work out, maybe they wouldn’t, but he’d be damned if he didn’t at least try.

“It’s nice,” Jodelle said as she looked around his place.

Baker shrugged. He hadn’t thought much about decor in the past. The house was functional, and that was all he needed. Tile on the floor, small kitchen and living areas. Decent-size master bedroom with a bathroom attached. An extra bedroom where he usually stored his surfboard and other miscellaneous crap he’d accumulated over the years. He had the requisite large-screen TV and a comfortable couch and oversized easy chair.

But looking around, he didn’t see anything that screamed “home.” No pictures on the walls. No knickknacks. It was kind of cold…which was a feat, since he lived in Hawaii.

“It’s a place to sleep, that’s it,” he told Jodelle with a shrug. He knew she was merely being polite. The thing of it was, he had no idea how to warm the house up, how to make it a place she might want to hang out.

“Come on,” he said a little more gruffly than he’d intended. “Let’s get you settled so I can feed you.”

“I’m fine,” Jodelle said as he put his hand on the small of her back and led her over to the small table next to the kitchen. Baker couldn’t remember when he’d last sat there. He usually ate standing up or on the couch while watching TV.

Ignoring her protest, Baker opened one of the cabinets in the kitchen and scanned its contents. “I can make some killer spaghetti. The pasta would probably be good for you, since it’s been a while since you’ve eaten.” He then went to the fridge and looked inside. “Or I’ve got some steaks I can grill.” Leaning over, Baker spied a package of chicken in the back. He grabbed it and stood, looking for the expiration date.

“Baker,” Jodelle said from her spot at the table.

“I was gonna say I had some chicken, but I can’t read the expiration date and I don’t remember when I bought this. Not gonna risk you pukin’ your guts out later.” He walked over to his trash can and threw away the package of chicken thighs, making a mental note to take the trash out later so it didn’t stink up the house.

“Baker,” Jodelle said again, a little more forcefully.

He turned his head to look at her.

“You don’t need to make me anything. I’m still unsure about why I’m actually here. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy to give you a ride, but you’ve probably got things to do. I should go.”

Baker strode over to where she was sitting and put one hand on the table and the other on the back of her chair. She’d turned so she was sitting sideways, and she was now effectively blocked in by him. He leaned down and couldn’t help but be pleased by the way her cheeks flushed and she stared at him with wide eyes.

“The only thing I’ve got to do right now is make sure you don’t pass out from lack of sustenance. We’ll talk after we eat. You want spaghetti or steak? Unfortunately, those are the best options I’ve got right now. If you pick my killer spaghetti, the sauce really should simmer for at least six hours to get the full effect, but we’ll make do.”

“Um…spaghetti.”

Baker studied Jodelle for a moment. “You eat meat?” he asked.

“Yes. I mean, not a lot. I don’t have anything against it, but it’s so easy to get fresh fruit and veggies here. The farmers market in Waialua is awesome, and I go there a lot, so I usually fill up on salads and pineapple. Besides, it’s not like I need the extra calories from heavy, meaty dishes.”

“No,” Baker said.

She scrunched her nose. “No? No what?”

“Don’t denigrate yourself. You’re perfect exactly how you are.”

Jodelle chuckled, but it wasn’t exactly a humorous sound. “Baker, I’m forty-eight. At this point in my life, I know what I am and what I’m not, and what I’m not is perfect. I’m about twenty…okay, probably more like thirty pounds heavier than I should be. When you’re barely an inch over five feet, those extra pounds really show. And living here in Hawaii, seeing all the beautiful women in their bikinis, just hammers that home all the more.”

“I’ve never understood the desire for women to be skin and bones,” Baker said. His eyes strayed, raking down her length, stopping on her tits for a moment before scanning the rest of her body. She had on a pair of shorts, and it took everything in him not to reach out and caress the tanned skin of her thigh. “Trust me when I say, I love how you look. You okay with ground buffalo in the spaghetti sauce?”

She stared up at him for a beat. Baker could see her pulse hammering in her neck. But eventually she took a deep breath. “I haven’t ever had ground buffalo. What’s it taste like?”

“Beef,” Baker said, slowly standing up. There was nothing he wanted more than to lean down and kiss her, but it was too soon for that.

“Then why not just get ground beef?” Jodelle asked with an adorable tilt of her head.

“Because buffalo’s leaner,” he told her, forcing himself to head back into the kitchen.

“And why not get lean beef?” she asked.

Baker’s lips twitched. He couldn’t help it. Never in a million years would he have thought he’d be standing in his kitchen having a discussion about the merits of buffalo meat over beef. “It’s got selenium, an antioxidant that helps prevent oxidative stress and reduces the inflammation that a poor diet causes. It also has more iron, higher levels of vitamins, and twice as much beta-carotene.”

“Well, all right then,” Jodelle said with a chuckle.

Baker stared at her for a moment, fighting the sudden urge to go to her, pick her up, and carry her into his bedroom. Had he ever felt this way about a woman?

No, definitely not.

“Can I help?” she asked.

Baker didn’t need help. He could make the spaghetti sauce in his sleep, but his kitchen wasn’t very big, and if Jodelle helped, they’d most certainly get in each other’s way…and he’d have a chance to brush up against her.

“You want to brown the meat for me?”

She immediately stood. “Of course.”

Forty-five minutes later, Baker carried two plates of pasta topped with sauce to the table. He’d made it less spicy than usual, since Jodelle said she wasn’t a huge fan of hot food. She stared down at the heaping plate of spaghetti and laughed.

“I can’t eat all this.”

“Then don’t,” Baker said with a shrug. “Whatever’s left over, I’ll eat later.”

When she continued to stare down at the plate and didn’t pick up her fork, Baker frowned. “What’s wrong? If you changed your mind, I can still grill us some steaks.”

Jodelle looked at him in surprise. “What? No. You went to all the trouble to make this, there’s no way I’d change my mind now.”

Baker leaned forward on his elbows from across the table. He wished he’d picked the seat next to her rather than opposite. Though, it wasn’t that big of a table, and he could reach out and take her hand in his even from where he was sitting, but he forced himself to stay still. “Anything you want, Jodelle. I never want you to do anything with me just to be polite. You change your mind, about anything, at any time, I’m more than happy to accommodate you.”

She stared at him for a moment, confusion and apprehension swirling in her brown eyes. “I don’t understand.”

Baker knew they needed to talk, but first, he really did want to feed her. She hadn’t eaten all day, had been too worried about taking care of “her” kids. He regretted worrying her. He sat back and took a deep breath. “Food first, then we’ll talk.”

His words didn’t seem to relax her, which just made him regret coming on too strong all the more. Baker had never been a subtle man. When he wanted something, he got it. Period. But this situation wasn’t like wanting to be a SEAL. Or wanting to track down a terrorist. Or wanting the newest gadget. He was dealing with Jodelle, and he needed to back the fuck off or he’d scare her away, which was the absolute last thing he wanted.

“Go on,” he said, attempting to lighten his tone. “Try it. Tell me what you think of the buffalo.”

He watched her take a deep breath, straighten her shoulders, and nod. She picked up her fork and wound some noodles around the tines, making sure to scoop up a healthy portion of sauce in the process. He waited with bated breath as she forked the bite into her mouth and chewed.

After she swallowed, she gave him a small smile and said, “It’s really good.”

“Of course it is,” Baker said with a touch of pride. He might not be a chef like Elodie Webber, but he could make a mean spaghetti sauce if he did say so himself.

Jodelle chuckled, then shook her head as she stared down at her plate. “Spaghetti. Is there anything less dignified to try to eat in front of someone you—” Her words stopped abruptly.

Baker hoped like hell she was about to say “someone you like.” But he didn’t want to embarrass her, so he did his best to deflect the conversation away from what she’d almost said.

“I’ll never forget when I was in Morocco and my team and I had been invited to a local tribe leader’s home. He was as proud as he could be to serve us some local delicacies. He brought out a plate of food, and we couldn’t recognize anything. But it would be rude, and quite the insult, to refuse to partake. I picked what I thought was the most inoffensive-looking item on the plate. Our host had this huge smile on his face, which I should’ve realized meant I should definitely not eat whatever it was I’d chosen. But as team leader, I had to suck it up. Our host picked up another one of the round balls and popped the whole thing in his mouth, then nodded at the object in my hand, as if to tell me to get on with it. So I mentally shrugged and copied him.”

Jodelle was smiling and leaning toward him as if enthralled with the story. “And? What was it?”

Baker realized for the first time that during a meal probably wasn’t the best time for this story. “Uh…maybe we should finish eating first.”

“Oh no, you started this story, you can’t leave me hanging. It’s not gonna turn me off this amazing pasta, Baker. Continue.”

“Right. Well, the thing was slightly squishy, so I could compress it with my teeth…but then it expanded again. The only thing I could do was bite into the soft sack. As soon as I did, a rush of slimy liquid filled my mouth, and it was all I could do not to spit it out right there. But as our host was nodding and smiling like I’d just given him the world, I forced myself to swallow. At least the thing in my mouth wasn’t quite as big as it was before, but what remained was rubbery, almost impossible to chew. No matter how much I chomped on whatever it was, it wasn’t getting any softer and it was still too fuckin’ big to just choke down.

“So I did what I had to do—I shoved it into the side of my cheek, pretended to swallow, and smiled at the tribal leader. He let out a triumphant yell and grinned at me. When he turned around to grab another piece of questionable cuisine, I spit the hard whatever-it-was out of my mouth into the dirt and quickly buried it.”

Baker shuddered. “It was one of the worst things I’ve ever eaten in my life, and trust me, I’ve had some bad shit.”

“What was it?” Jodelle asked with a wide grin.

“Sheep’s eye. I didn’t find that out until later though, and it’s a good thing. I probably would’ve thrown up right then and there if I’d known.”

Jodelle shuddered dramatically.

“So…spaghetti doesn’t even rank in the top one hundred of undignified things to eat in front of someone else,” Baker told her with a grin of his own.

“Thanks for not feeding me eyeballs,” she said, returning his smile.

“Never,” he said.

The rest of the meal went by smoothly. Baker could hardly believe Jodelle was actually here in his house, eating a meal with him. He wasn’t the most loquacious man in the world, but she didn’t seem to mind. Even when there were long silences between them, she didn’t seem nervous or uneasy. Better yet, she didn’t yammer on about nothing just to fill those silences.

Eventually, Jodelle sat back in her chair with a sigh. “Uncle,” she said. “I ate as much as I could.”

Baker was impressed. He’d put quite the pile of noodles and sauce on her plate, and she’d managed to eat just over half. He liked that she hadn’t been afraid or embarrassed to actually eat in front of him. Some women would’ve taken a few bites and pretended to be full.

“It was good?” he asked as he stood and reached for her plate.

“Delicious.”

Baker nodded in satisfaction. A familiar thrill swelled inside him. He’d felt this way when he’d completed a mission in the past, or after riding a killer wave, or when he’d uncovered an important piece of information while researching bad guys…but never had he experienced the emotion after making a meal for someone.

They worked together to package up the leftovers and when they were done, Baker said, “It’s fairly early, the traffic out there will still be awful. If you leave now, it’ll take you forever to get to your house. Want to sit for a while?”

Jodelle stared at him for a second, then asked, “You know where I live?”

Baker thought about lying, about saying that he just assumed she lived closer to Waimea Bay, but he didn’t want to start their relationship by being dishonest. “Yes,” he said simply.

Jodelle tilted her head and stared at him. “I don’t know anything about you,” she said after a moment.

“Yes, you do,” he countered. “You’ve known me a while now.”

“Fine. I know that you’re a hell of a surfer, you used to be a Navy SEAL, you have some pretty awesome friends—if the few I’ve met are any indication. I know you’re the strong-and-silent type, you’re kind of bossy, and that you’re kinder than you want most people to know.”

Baker nodded. “Except for that last one, you’re right on.”

“You don’t think you’re kind?” Jodelle asked.

“I know I’m not,” he said as he gestured to the couch with his head. “Shall we sit?”

She immediately nodded and followed his lead to the small sitting area. She sat on one end of the couch and Baker settled on the other. He wanted to pull her into his arms and into the oversized easy chair, but that was a bit much, even for him.

“I think you’ve probably seen some pretty awful stuff when you were active duty,” Jodelle said, continuing their conversation. “And it’s made you wary of most people. But I’ve seen you interact with the kids. You’re tough with them, you don’t beat around the bush when they mess up, whether in the waves or in school, but you aren’t cruel about it. You tell them what they did wrong and how to fix it. They respect you for that, you know.”

Baker shrugged.

“I mean, don’t get me wrong, you can be a jerk. But most of the time, at least from what I’ve seen, the people you call out deserve it.”

Baker wanted to tell her she was wrong. That he was anything but kind. But he also wasn’t an idiot. He wanted her to like him, and fessing up to all the times he’d called out people for being assholes and when he purposely went out of his way to piss someone off because they deserved it…that wouldn’t do the trick.

“I’m glad you see me that way,” he eventually said.

To his surprise, Jodelle laughed. “Wow, was that diplomatic.”

Baker couldn’t help but smile.

“Anyway, you know where I live…what else do you know?” she asked.

“I know that seeing you makes my day one hundred percent better. That being around you makes me feel less like a washed-up old Navy SEAL and more like a normal man. That you’ve got more pain deep down inside of you than anyone I’ve ever met, and that I’ve never wanted a woman more than I want you.”

Jodelle blinked in surprise. “Oh, um…wow.”

Baker inwardly cringed. Shit, he was no good at this. “I’m not a nice man,” he continued. “But being around you makes me want to be the kind of man you see in me. I’m fifty-two. I’ve figured out that things go much better when I spit out what I want, rather than beating around the bush or being vague. I want to get to know you better, Jodelle. Go out. I can’t stop thinking about you. It’s crazy, I’ve never been like this before, and I want to see if the attraction we seem to have for each other is something we can build on, or if it’ll burn hot and fast, then fizzle out.”

She stared at him for so long, Baker had a feeling he should’ve at least attempted to come on less strong.

“Why now?” she asked.

Relaxing a fraction, since she hadn’t outright laughed or denied there was an attraction between them, Baker said, “Because I’ve fucked around too long as it is. If there’s anything the shit that’s happened to my friends has taught me, it’s that life is short. I mean, you’d think I would’ve already known that being a SEAL and all, but my eyes have been opened even more recently, and I’ve realized what an idiot I’ve been.”

“I’m not sure I want to be in a relationship,” she said.

Baker respected her even more for her honesty. “I’m not sure I do either,” he told her.

Her lips twitched. “So we’re two people who don’t want to go out, but will attempt it anyway?”

Baker shrugged. “You’re different,” he said quietly. “I don’t know why, but I want to find out. I always thought I would be alone for the rest of my life, and I was fine with that. I’ve been satisfied helping take out the assholes who think they can abuse others and do whatever they want without any consequences. But at the end of the day, I come home to this empty and soulless house, and I’ve realized that while people appreciate what I do…if I disappeared off the face of the earth tomorrow, no one would give a shit.”

“That’s not true,” Jodelle said softly. “Your friends would care.”

“They would,” Baker agreed. “For a short while. Then they’d get back to their own lives, as they should. I’m not explaining this well. I just…I realized I want more out of my life than simply being the man people call in when they need help or want to dig up some dirt they can use to prosecute someone.”

“And you think you want me?” Jodelle asked.

“Yes,” Baker said simply.

Jodelle shook her head. “I don’t think I have it in me to love anyone again, Baker.”

He snorted.

“I don’t,” she insisted.

“You have more caring in your little finger than some people have in their entire bodies,” he told her. “Take what happened to Ben today as one small example. The second you heard he was in trouble, you didn’t even hesitate to try to get to him. And I know you’re still thinking about him, even now.”

“That’s common decency, not love,” she insisted.

“The hell it’s not,” Baker told her. “Look, I know I’m comin’ on strong. I don’t know any other way to be. If you don’t want to explore the connection we seem to have, all you have to do is say so. I’m not one of those guys who can’t take no for an answer. It’ll suck, but I’ll respect your feelings.”

“I just don’t want to lead you on. I’m a mess, Baker. Seriously.”

“That wasn’t an answer, Jodelle.”

She sighed. “I also don’t want to disappoint you.”

Baker decided he was done putting distance between them. He scooted over until his leg was touching hers. He lifted his hand and palmed the side of her neck. Inwardly, he stood up and cheered when she subtly tilted her head into his hand. “You won’t. I have a feeling I need to be the one worried about disappointing you.”

He wanted to kiss her. So damn bad. But Baker forced himself to stay still. To gaze into her eyes and try to read the emotions he saw swirling there.

Then, after a long pause… “Okay.”

“Okay?” Baker asked. “Okay what?”

“I was attracted to you the first time I saw you…who wouldn’t be? You’re a good-looking man. But I’ve seen lots of handsome men in my lifetime. However, the more you hung around in the mornings with my kids, the more I realized that you weren’t just a hot surfer. You’re confusing, kind of scary sometimes, never beat around the bush…but you’re also protective, a hell of a good friend, and have the kind of honor I haven’t seen in anyone else, ever. I’m lonely too. But I always thought it was penance for all the wrongs I’ve done in my life. I’m not sure…no, I know I don’t deserve someone like you. But I’m too weak to say no.”

“You aren’t weak,” Baker told her with a small frown.

She didn’t reply.

“You aren’t. I don’t know why or how you think that of yourself, but I’m going to do everything in my power to make you see yourself the way I do. Life is hard, Tink. It beats us up, then delights in throwing curve balls when we’re already down for the count. Weak would be giving in. Becoming bitter. There’s a saying in the SEALs, the only easy day was yesterday…which is so fuckin’ true. And yet in you, I see the same thing I saw in my SEAL teammates. A refusal to give up.”

“There are times when that’s exactly what I want to do,” Jodelle said.

“But you don’t,” Baker countered. “Which makes you strong as fuck. I see you, Jodelle Spencer. And I like what I see.”

She shivered and lifted a hand to grab hold of his wrist. “This is probably a mistake,” she whispered.

“You want me?” he asked bluntly.

She nodded.

“Then it’s not a mistake,” Baker said. “I can’t see the future, but I can tell you this—whatever happens between us will be good. Great. And if we mutually decide to go our separate ways, we’ll do so. It won’t be full of drama, it’ll just happen. Okay?”

She sighed. “I’d like that. But as you said, you can’t see into the future. Things happen.”

“They do. But I’ll never, ever, turn on you. You have my word on that.”

“Okay.”

“Okay,” Baker agreed, feeling more excited and happy than he’d felt in a very long time. “You wanna watch TV? I can put in a movie. Or we could take a walk.”

She looked up at him with her big brown eyes, and Baker wanted to think he saw the same excitement he was feeling reflected in her gaze.

“Are we gonna kiss to seal the deal?” she asked shyly.

“Yes. But not right now. I’ve moved things fast enough. You need time to absorb what’s happening between us.”

“Oh.”

The disappointment in that one word almost made Baker lose the tenuous hold he had on his control. “We’ll get there, Tink. There’s no rush.”

“I just…” She shook her head. “It’s hard for me to believe that we’ve gone from casual acquaintances to…whatever we are.”

“We were never really casual acquaintances, and you know it,” Baker said.

She stared up at him and nodded slightly.

“A walk,” Baker decided, reluctantly dropping his hand from her neck. “It’ll help me keep my hands to myself.”

“I like your hands on me,” Jodelle admitted.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Fuck. She just laid it right out. No games, no being coy.

“Baker?” she asked in concern.

His eyes opened and he stared down at her. “I like my hands on you too,” he said. Then he stood. “Come on. Polo Beach isn’t that far from here, it’s usually not very crowded and it’ll be a good place to walk off some of that pasta.”

Jodelle stood with a smile and asked, “This isn’t going to be a forced march, is it? Because I’m full. And I might puke if you make me walk too fast.”

Baker chuckled and wrapped his arm around Jodelle’s waist. “We’ll go at your pace, Tink.”

“Thanks. Your legs are a lot longer than mine, and with your training, you’d outpace me in seconds.”

“You think I’d leave you behind?” he asked as he steered them toward his front door.

“No. But I have a feeling you were a tough team leader. I can picture you barking at your sailors and telling them to get their shit together and get a move on.”

Baker laughed because she wasn’t that far off the mark. He wanted to pull her against his chest and kiss the hell out of her, but he settled for leaning down and kissing the top of her head instead. “Promise. This is a lazy after-dinner stroll. Nothing more.”

“Okay. Baker?”

“Yeah?”

“This is weird. And really unexpected. But I’m not upset about it.”

He beamed. “Good.”

He let go of her long enough to open his door, and once it was closed and locked, Baker was thrilled when Jodelle shyly reached for his hand. It was crazy how simply holding her hand made tingles shoot up his arm. He was fifty-two, and for the first time in his life…he was almost giddy about being with a woman. He wasn’t sure if he should be concerned about that or just go with the flow.

Jodelle looked up at him, smiled shyly again, then turned her attention back to the sidewalk in front of them.

Baker decided to go with the flow.