of Nevada at Las Vegas weekday mornings. The redhead said she’d been seeing a banker several months ago, but no one since. Cole already knew she had a soft spot for homeless bums. And one other thing he’d picked up last night: when he’d told her he’d wait with her until her bus came, the look on her face had left him…aroused.
Unfortunately, tonight that shocked and vulnerable look was nowhere to be seen. As soon as Jordan spotted him waiting for her in the parking lot behind the bus stop, she called out to him.
“I don’t need a bodyguard, Major. Really, it’s fine.”
Cole raised a brow, shoved the kickstand down and got off his Harley. “Maybe.” He closed the distance between them. “Maybe not.”
Damned if she didn’t look sexier in her civilian clothes. Her teased hair and showgirl makeup seemed out of place with the faded jeans, denim jacket and worn sneakers.
She crinkled her brow, and then checked the street. “I wait here every night. I’m perfectly safe.”
“Would anyone stop to help if you got mugged?” He grunted. “Maybe, maybe not.”
A withering sigh escaped her as she turned back to stare at him. “So, is this what you do? Ride around all night patrolling the strip looking for damsels in distress?”
“Used to patrol the Baghdad strip, does that count?” A smile tugged one side of his mouth. “Look. Maybe we could just talk until your bus gets here.”
“At two in the morning, you want to have a stimulating conversation about…?”
“About you.”
“Why?”
“You interest me. Is that so hard to believe?” Unbelievably, it was true. She was fascinating. He wanted to know everything about her.
“Yes.” She glanced along the street again, as if willing the bus to hurry. Damn, that was rough on a guy’s ego.
“You think you know me, or my type.” It wasn’t a question, but he wanted to see what she’d say. He stepped closer, and she instinctively took a step back. He cocked his head. “Are you afraid of me?”
“No. I just don’t trust you.”
He didn’t blame her. “Fair enough. In your line of work, you’ve probably dealt with your share of jerks. You think I’m only after sex?” Wasn’t he?
“Aren’t you?”
“I could get that anywhere in this town.”
“Then go for it.”
The challenge flamed in his chest. “I don’t want anyone else.”
“So, you admit you want to get laid.”
He blinked. She was no shrinking violet, was she? But there was no reason not to be honest with each other. “What red-blooded man doesn’t?” he said with a shrug. “I never claimed to be celibate.” He folded his arms. “Look, I won’t deny the minute I saw you, I was attracted to you. And it’d be great if we got together. But you’re…interesting. I haven’t asked you up to my hotel room, or tried to put my hands all over you. I just thought I’d get to know you.”
She frowned, and something about the look in her eyes made him think she might be wavering.
“Here’s the deal,” he said. “You ask me something about me, and then I get to ask you a question.”
“You assume I want to know you.”
“Fine. We’ll stand here avoiding each other in awkward silence until your bus comes.”
She surprised him by letting out a frustrated half growl, half groan. “All right, Major. You’ve seen combat?”
“Call me Cole. And yeah. Served one tour in Afghanistan and two in Iraq.”
“And you’re going back when your leave is over?”
Back into combat? Not likely. The thought of a desk job, or—even worse—a medical discharge, made his throat close up. And knowing he’d never fly again was a physical pain in his chest. But he couldn’t talk about it.
“My turn.” He studied her intensely for a second. What did he most want to know? “What’s your favorite time of day?”
She looked puzzled. Good. He’d caught her off guard. “Early mornings.” She cleared her throat. “Your injuries.” She gestured toward his neck. “Were you…shot down?”
He kept his features blank as he nodded, then smiled and stepped closer, wanting to catch a whiff of her unique scent. “Yoga at sunrise and herbal tea, am I right?”
She shook her head and barely stopped a smile. “Pilates and diet cola. At nine. Did you get a Purple Heart?”
He grimaced. “Not yet.” And he wasn’t likely to since he’d disobeyed orders. “What’s your favorite dessert?”
“Now why,” she frowned, “would you waste one of your questions on something like that?”
“We didn’t put a limit on questions.”
“Hmm. Maybe we should have.”
In answer he merely raised a brow.
Then she actually, finally, smiled. “Okay, okay. Ben and Jerry’s Oatmeal Cookie Chunk.”
Man, she was beautiful. And real, somehow.
“Let’s see…” She put her finger to her lips and studied him from head to toe. “Any brothers and sisters?”
He nodded. “Two of each.”
“Wow. Four siblings? I always wanted a brother or a sister.”
“Believe me.” He moaned and shook his head, recalling all the torment he’d lived through as the youngest of five. “Count your blessings. Five kids. One bathroom. You’re the math whiz. What were my odds?”
She laughed and something eased inside him.
“You’re calling me a math whiz? I know what kind of intelligence it takes to become a fighter pilot.”
Taking a half step toward her, he reached out with one finger and touched her cheek. “You have a beautiful laugh.”
Her smile dropped, but she didn’t push his hand away. If he moved one millimeter closer, her nipples would brush his leather jacket. She licked her lips and he couldn’t stop a raspy sound from escaping his throat as he caught the action. What could she do to him with those lips?
“Whose turn is it for a question?” she asked quietly.
His mouth hovered above hers. Had she leaned toward him? He lowered his head a fraction more. “Mmm. Mine.” His lips brushed the corner of her mouth. “When’s your next day off?” he mumbled against her cheek, then nuzzled along her jaw.
