Page 9 of Securing the Odds

A hand landed on the bare skin of her thigh, right above her knee, as Jake leaned over to speak into her ear. “What do you want?”

Tammy drew a blank. All she could think about was his deep, gruff voice whispering in her ear and the tingles it caused, and the heat coming from that hand on her thigh and how it wouldn’t take much effort for him to slide that heat up her leg. Her sex perked right the heck up, aching and throbbing, and she squirmed in her seat, trying to alleviate the sensation.

She tried to concentrate. She really did. “Um…”

“Um’s not an answer.” His warm breath hit her ear again, and her sex clenched.

Holy moly, she might have an orgasm on the spot. And for the life of her, she couldn’t remember his question.

“I can’t think with your hand on my leg.”

“This hand?” And then he did what she’d been hoping for, sliding it up farther.

She stared blankly at the booth in front of them, not seeing a damn thing.

He took pity and ordered for her, saying to the waitress, “A glass of the house white wine and a beer. Whichever lager you have available.”

But she didn’t lose his hand. And after the waitress left, he put it to good use, skimming her inner thigh, the light fabric of her dress slowly inching up with his ministrations.

“You’re not wearing pantyhose.”

Though more an observation than a question, she shook her head, answering anyway. “I never do. They make my legs itch.”

He didn’t comment other than issuing a low growl deep in his throat. Why was that so sexy?

The waitress returned with their drinks, and Jake took a swig, scanning the room again as he did. She noticed his eyes never strayed to the stage, and a secret smile tugged at her lips at that realization. As wonderful as he seemed to be, she wondered how he was still single.

“Have you ever been married?” Tammy asked after taking a healthy sip of her wine. Not the best she’d ever had, but surprisingly good for a strip club—light and fruity with just a hint of tart.

“Nope.”

She set her glass on the table and turned to face him fully. “You’re a good-looking guy and not a jerk. I’m surprised some woman hasn’t snatched you up by now.”

His eyes swung back to her, and he set his beer down. “I had a dangerous job that landed me in different locations at the drop of a hat.” His eyes fell to her lips and stayed there when saying, “Never met a woman I liked enough to selfishly subject her to that lifestyle.”

The blazing intensity of his gaze on her lips made them feel suddenly dry, and her tongue was sneaking out to wet them before she could stop it.

His eyes flashed, and she couldn’t help but prod, “You’ve been out of the military a long time. Still haven’t found anyone?”

“I did. Two years ago. I’ve just been waiting ‘til she’s ready for me.”

Their silence stretched for a full minute after Jake’s revelation. She couldn’t guess why Jake turned quiet, but hers was from a slight state of shock.

He’d already hinted he’d been interested in her two years ago, but she hadn’t known he’d been waiting for her.

For two years?

He stood suddenly, placing his beer down on the table, gazing her direction but not meeting her eyes. “I’m going to question the bartender. Be right back.”

He was gone before she could say anything. She watched his retreating back, wondering if his admission had made him uncomfortable. She knew how that felt. During her marriage to Kevin, she’d slowly changed from a person who’d bared their soul into someone who guarded their feelings. And over time, she’d shut her feelings off altogether so she wouldn’t get hurt. It was only recently that she started seeing her old self peeking through.

Is that what Jake meant when he’d said he’d been waiting for her to be ready? Did he recognize she’d been a shell of a woman two years ago?

Her musings were interrupted when a jean-clad crotch topped by an oversized gold belt buckle blocked her line of sight to Jake.

“Can I buy you a drink?”

The voice was deep and rumbly, and Tammy had to crane her neck back to see the face that accompanied it. A cowboy hat shadowed most of his features so all she could make out was a stubbled jaw and a pair of smirking lips.

---