Page 136 of The Marine

I know he’s a US Marine.

And the man I love.

Then he makes me squeak by tugging off his T-shirt and lying down. I turn and stare at him as he lifts his sunglasses and winks at me.

“What are you doing?” I ask, bewildered. He’s just turned up here, in the middle of my spiritual crisis, and made himself at home.

“Getting a tan.”

My mouth falls open.

One quick look around and, yup, half the beach is staring at his ripped eight pack and military physique.

“You have a tan. Go away...I’m in the middle of something.” I tell him, even though I do not want him to leave.

Aidan drops his glasses and continues tanning.

“Lie down, Briar.” His rough voice instructs me a minute later.

“No.”

He pulls at my bikini strap, and I fall back with an oomph. I try really hard not to smile, but this man... damn him.

Still, I turn my head for a moment until it fades.

We lie there for a long moment while I chew my lip and think of a dozen things I should say, but eventually I just relax.

I want him here.

Aidan’s hand snakes out, and he threads his fingers into mine and suddenly the world feels right again.

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AIDAN

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Ialready knew shewas in the hotel by the time she strode out. Between speaking to the front desk and having Thomas hack their system, I found her.

So I got comfortable and watched Briar from a distance. I wanted to see what her peace of mind was like before approaching.

Not that I could know completely, but she didn’t look distressed.

She didn’t even look lost.

I always loved being at the beach with her. We spent many hours swimming and playing volleyball. Briar made friends with people everywhere we went.

The night we spent atCasa de Venice,though, I had her all to myself.

“How did you know I’d be here?” she finally asks.

“If I’d known, I’d have been here yesterday,” I say, my eyes still closed.

Damn I want to pull her into my arms and scoop her up. But I don’t. I need to take this step by step.

“I’m glad you weren’t. I needed to think,” Briar says, and her voice feels a little far away.

My eyes open and I lift up on one arm, twisting to look down at her. “What happened?”

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