Page 5 of Curves and Courage

I let the ocean air wash over me as I stand there, watching the waves roll by, the safety of solid ground disappearing beyond the horizon. There are dozens of people surrounding me as I grip the rails, unable to shake the feeling that I’m lost. Not just lost at sea, but lost in my own life.

Everything I worked for, everything I built… it’s all slipping away, and I’m powerless to stop it.

The encounter with that woman keeps playing in my head, like a loop I can’t escape. Maybe she’s the road that leads me back to the real world. Her smile, her nervous laugh, the way she looked at me like I was just another man—not a broken soldier.

It should have been easy to forget, but it’s not.

She’s different, and that scares the hell out of me.

I lean against the glass, and my stomach growls. Fuck. I’ve been so busy distracting myself that I haven’t eaten since breakfast. With my mind currently in a state of constant spiraling, a nice quiet meal alone sounds like exactly what I need to clear my head.

I steady myself on my stiff leg and wobble towards the familiar smell coming from the Sapphire Seas Steakhouse. My belly rumbles louder as I step inside and take in the elegance of the restaurant. There are a few empty tables and I step up to the stand and greet the hostess with a smile that barely reaches my cheeks.

“Good evening, sir,” the hostess smiles, her red lipstick shining brightly.

“Just one please,” I reply, my voice gruff.

“Sure. And how many can we expect in your party?” she asks, her eyes scanning the space behind me.

If she’s expecting more, she’s wrong.

“No. Just onetableplease. It’s just me.”

Her smile falters slightly, but she quickly recovers. “Of course, sir. Right this way.”

She leads me to a quiet corner, away from the bustle of the main dining area. I sink into the chair and she fetches me a bottle of water. I collect the menu and feel my taste buds come to life as I decide on the cut of steak and which sauce I want.

I’m not used to eating alone. At least, Iwasn’t. Not until the accident. I mean it when I say it changedeverything.One minute, I’m enjoying a meal with my unit, the next, I’m alone in hospital, eating bland sludge just so the painkillers had something to grip onto.

A heavy sigh leaves my shoulders as I recall eating with my unit while we were on mission. It’s times like that that I missthe most. The camaraderie. The togetherness. It’s as close as I’ve ever come to having a family.

I close the menu and wait for the waitress to come back over. When she does, she has a polite smile on her face and a question on her lips. You get to notice things like that when you’re in the military. You learn to read people, and right now, I don’t like the look in her fucking eyes.

“Excuse me, sir. The restaurant is quiet busy tonight. First night of the sailing and all,” she says, trying a mood-lightning giggle. But it doesn’t work. “Um, right, well, I was wondering if you would mind sharing your table with another guest?”

Fuck. The last thing I need right now is small talk with a stranger.

I’m about to say no when I catch a glimpse of her – a flash of caramel colored hair, blond streaks through it in a way that makes it look like its glowing. She’s wearing a sundress that looks familiar, the curves that flow beneath drawing my eyes and making my cock stir in my pants.

My heart skips a beat when my unwanted table guest comes into full view. Her honey-brown eyes catch mine and I feel like my entire world turns upside down in this moment.

It’s her. The woman from earlier.

The one that came crashing into my life in the best possible way.

“Is this seat taken?” she asks, her voice soft, but there’s a hint of something playful that almost makes me smile. Almost.

“Go ahead,” I say, my throat suddenly dry.

She smiles and I have to look back at the menu slipping in my sweaty hands just so I don’t stare at her.Fuck. She’s gorgeous. She makes every other woman on this ship look like the dirt I scrub off my worn-out old military boots at the end of a mission.

She pulls out the chair and runs a hand down her dress, flattening it as she sinks down opposite me. She getscomfortable and I can only stare over the top of the menu, watching as her dress dips to reveal a deep cleavage that I just want to shove my face between.

“Oh, I thought it was you! It is, isn’t it?” She smiles at me, lifting a glass of water to her lips. “I’m Stella, and I’m pretty sure my make-up ruined your shirt earlier.”

She takes a sip and all I can do is stare at the moisture on her perfectly pink lips. I want to lean over and lick it off that pouty bottom lip.Stella.I’ve never wondered about the name of my future wife, but damn. There it is.

Fuck, she’s so goddamn sexy. I just want to pick her up and take her back to my penthouse right fucking now. I have this sudden urge deep inside my body that I’ve never felt before. Like she’s meant to be here with me, like she’s my soul mate or something.

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