Chapter Three

Chapter Three

J oey locked the door just as another loud burst of laughter sounded from the bar. She grimaced before turning around. Stewart…Papa…whoever he was, hadn't left all night. He'd spent his time reminiscing with Sam and Thelma. It was good to see her bosses so happy for a while, but she wanted the Marine gone. Away. So she wouldn't drool over him.

With reluctance, she made her way to the bar. Studying the trio, she wondered what the attraction was about. She'd been working at the bar for about two years and had never had an issue with Marines before. Sure, she was able to admit that she was attracted to the physique. What hot-blooded American girl wasn't? Add in the service before self, especially after the last few years, and she found most of them damned admirable. But this one…he pulled at her. Every now and then she would find him watching her before he had a chance to look away and part of her was intrigued. Joey knew she shouldn't be. She'd learned her lesson several years ago about pretty men. They were smooth and shiny on the surface…to hide the fact they were monsters beneath.

Before the dark memories could pull her back into that nightmare, she pushed them away and started to wipe down the bar.

"Joey, sweetie, go on up to your room. You have an early day tomorrow," Sam said.

"I'm just wiping down the tables. You and Thelma have to drive home."

He shook his head. "Go on. Hey, Stew, why don't you walk Joey to her apartment."

Apartment was a stretch. It was more of a studio above the bar. The Jacksons had allowed her to stay there and almost free of rent. If it hadn't been for that, she wasn't sure if she would have made it the last year.

"Uh, I can walk myself. Like I do every night."

And she didn't like the idea of the Marine walking her up to her apartment. But, apparently, he did. He was already off his stool and walking over to her. Dammit. Butterflies erupted in her stomach. Not the kind that spelled trouble but the ones who fluttered at the anticipation of being with him. Alone.

What the hell was wrong with her?

"It's better to just go along with Sam and Thelma," he said with an understanding smile.

He was right. When she first met them, Joey had tried her best to keep the relationship professional, but Sam and Thelma adopted people. They had taken her on as a waitress and as a part of their family. Now, she couldn't imagine a day going by that she didn't talk to them.

"Give me a second."

He nodded and went to what she assumed was parade rest to wait for her. She untied her apron and headed back to the office. After the day she had, she really didn't need this kind of irritation. She was pulling out her tip money when Thelma slipped into the office.

"What's got you in such a bad mood?"

She sighed. She loved Thelma like a mother, but the woman drove her crazy at times. She knew right now Thelma wanted Joey to date Santini. It had been months since she had attempted the insanity of dating. She'd been so uncomfortable with the very safe accountant that she had decided to give up on all dating. The idea of going out with a big, hulking, pretty Marine left her unsettled.

"Nothing. I'm just tired."

Thelma knew better. Joey could tell just from the way the woman was eyeing her. Thankfully, though, Thelma knew not to push it.

"Okay. You need to take it easy every now and then, Josephina."

"I would love to, but I want to have the money to start school next semester. I want to be able to just work here and go to school. That's not going to happen if I start to take it easy."

The older woman nodded. "Yeah, of course."

She slipped her tips into her wallet, then stood. "There will be time for fun later on."

Thelma shook her head. "You're way too serious for someone so young."

"Of course I am. Someone around here needs to act like an adult."

Thelma barked out a laugh. Joey loved the sound of it. It was like a fog horn and loud as one. Some people might call it obnoxious, but Joey found it comforting. She gave Thelma a kiss on the cheek.

"See ya tomorrow."

Then she slipped out of the office. It was best to pretend she had no idea what her employer was up to. If she confronted Thelma, she would just deny it and become sneakier.

When Joey returned to the bar, Santini was standing there waiting for her. Lord, he cut a fine figure. People could say whatever they wanted about Marines, they definitely knew how to keep in shape. She'd love to sculpt him. And that was odd enough because that wasn't her regular medium.

"He was afraid you slipped out the back," Sam said with a chuckle. Santini shot the older man a nasty look then turned back to her.

"Ready?"

"As I'll ever be. Night, Sam."

"Night, Joey."

They said nothing to each other as they walked out of the bar and into the night. It might be close to Christmas, but Jacksonville wasn't exactly a wintery place. They'd had a bit of a December heat wave of sorts, leaving the air heavier with humidity. The balmy night air refreshed her, at least enough to walk the few steps it took to get to her apartment.

"The answer is no."

He said nothing as they kept walking a few more steps; the only sound was their feet against the gravel.

Finally, he said, "I didn't ask anything. Yet."

She sighed. "I know Thelma means well and I've heard her mention the Santinis a time or two. Still, I don't date. I don't have time for it."

Joey sensed his nod. "Doesn't mean I can't at least try."

Lord, a stubborn one. She really didn't need that right now. She was so close to getting enough money to make the commute back and forth to Greenville. Being distracted by Papa wasn't a good thing. It was better that she let him know exactly where they stood. When they reached the steps that led to her apartment, she stopped. Turning to face him, she looked him directly in the eye.

"I don't date. I don't have time."

He rocked back on his heels as he studied her. She wondered how much he could see of her feelings in the dim streetlight. As a woman with good reason to be wary of men, she realized she didn't feel any of her usual anxiety with him. She was relaxed. Well, as relaxed as she could feel with ten thousand butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

That was enough to worry her.

"What makes you think I want to date you?"

His face was completely void of all expression. She snorted, then started laughing. He joined in and the ball of worry that had been building in her stomach loosened.

"Then why did you walk me to my apartment? It's not like I haven't done it every night."

He cocked his head to one side. She didn't like the way he studied her. It was as if she were some kind of puzzle he wanted to assemble. Joey knew from experience a man like him would not be happy with the end product.

"This isn't the safest part of Jacksonville to walk around at night by yourself."

She sighed. "Don't worry, Santini. I can take care of myself."

"I bet you can."

Joey rolled her eyes. "And don't use that patronizing tone men use with women."

"I was not using a patronizing tone."

"Believe me, I know how the handle things if it gets tough."

Again, he was quiet, then he leaned forward and brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. She couldn't fight the shiver that stole through her, or the heat it left behind.

"Some day maybe you'll believe me that you don't always need to deal with the tough times alone." Then he dropped his hand. "Go on up the stairs so I can tell Thelma you made it upstairs okay."

She couldn't really come up with a response to that, so she turned and did as he suggested. Unlocking the door, she looked down at Santini.

"You can go now."

It was dark but she could see him smile, and knew those damned dimples were flashing at her. "As soon as you lock the door, I'll be on my way."

She didn't even respond to that. She slipped through the door then shut it behind her.

"Goodnight, Joey," he said, just loud enough to allow his voice to drift up to her. She didn't respond. She couldn't. She thought for sure he had planned on making a play for her, even if he just tried to kiss her. But he didn't.

And now she wanted to know why—and that bothered her more than anything else.

She pushed away from the door and was about to go jump in the shower when she heard the whistling. And of course, it was The Halls of Montezuma . She rolled her eyes and chuckled to herself.

"Damn Marine."