Page 7 of When I Found You

“About eighteen months or so. But I’ve been gone the last six months, deployed in Afghanistan. My unit just returned a couple of days ago. I went on leave as soon as we were cleared after returning and as I said before, I came down here as soon as I could to spend time with him, and see some old friends while I’m at it.”

Chapter Three

PEYTON

God,she’s beautiful. And obviously talented.

When I got to the bar earlier, Ethan doled out introductions. I greeted everyone with a smile and a nod, but when my eyes landed on Stacey, my pulse kicked up and my dick hardened against my zipper of my jeans.

As luck would have it, I ended up sitting right next to her, and not two words into our conversation, I immediately made an ass of myself.

I don’t know what it is about her, but she’s got me tongue-tied and my brain is foggy. It’s like I’ve never spoken with a beautiful woman before. Post-deployment horny has apparently taken on a whole new level if she’s got me this tied up in knots.

“So, where are you from?” I ask, taking another swig of my beer. I’m willing my erection to die down just a bit so I can focus on my conversation with Stacey.

“Born and raised in North Carolina. What about you?” she asks.

“I was born in Colorado, but we moved around a lot due to my dad being in the Army, so I never really had one place I considered home. The most memorable station was up in Alaska. I loved the four years we were up there. My dadand I would go fishing, hunting, hiking or something different outdoors almost every weekend. We lived there from around the time I turned ten until I was fourteen. I’d gladly take an assignment of my own up there anytime.”

“Sounds fun. I love how your eyes light up every time you’ve mentioned your dad. I can tell how much he means to you.”

I try to hide the blush I can feel creeping up my cheeks behind my beer as I take another drink.

“Yeah, he’s my best friend. I’d be lost without him in my life,” I tell her honestly.

“I love that. Shows you just might have a sensitive side underneath all that muscle,” she says, squeezing my bicep.

I smile again at her words and my skin is on fire where her fingers just touched. Even through the barrier of my shirt, I feel like she’s branded my arm with just one touch. I lean in closer, bringing my lips to the shell of her ear before I speak again.

“Something like that. My dad will always be one of the most important people in my life. We’ve been through a lot together, the hardest being when my mom walked out on us when I was just eight years old. I wouldn’t be the man I am today if it wasn’t for him.”

I notice the shiver that runs through her body as my breath rolls over her skin. She turns more into me, bringing her side and shoulder flush with my chest. I don’t know what it is about this woman, butI’mdrawn to her. There’s a pull between the two of us, like two ends of a magnet being drawn together.

Our intimate moment is interrupted by a loud clap of laughter from the rest of the table. We fall into conversation with everyone else for a while longer, but neither one of us makes any effort to move away from each other. So, while I talk and have a good time relaxing with Ethan, the heat radiating off of her body is soaking right into mine, making me want her even more than I did when I sat down.

Chapter Four

STACEY

I finishoff my final drink for the evening as Ethan, Cam, Reese, Peyton, and I continue to chat and hang out. Lee called it a night an hour or so ago, as he had to go pick his wife up from the airport, who was returning from a work trip.

“Well, I think I’m going to head out,” Reese says to everyone as she slips her phone into her clutch.

“Thanks for coming out with us tonight!” I say, standing to give her a hug.

“Anytime,” she replies. “Are we still on for Monday?”

“Absolutely. I’ll see you at the studio,” I tell her before she says goodbye to everyone else at our table and makes her way out of the bar.

“Did I understand correctly that she’s engaged to a hockey player?” Peyton asks.

“Yep, Austin Jones. He plays for the Indianapolis Eagles. They are just the cutest couple ever! He proposed to her on stage at one of her concerts earlier this year. Totally surprised her! It was epic.”

“Sounds like it. Reese appeared to be a pretty cool chick. Laid-back and wasn’t offended that I didn’t know who she was or what she sang.”

“She’s one of the most laid-back people you’ll ever meet. She’s down-to-earth and hasn’t let the celebrity status go to her head. We met years ago, when she was first starting out, after she’d won the singing competition TV show she was on, and she’s pretty much the same exact way now. Just a little stronger of a backbone, after all she’s been through.”

“I think we’re going to take off, as well,” Cam says as both she and Ethan stand.

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