Page 43 of Holding Out

“Griff.”

He shook his head.“I’m nobody’s role model.I’ve been here two years and I still don’t know what the fuck I’m supposed to be doing with my life.”

Jake raised his eyebrows.“It takes time.You know that.”

“Yeah, well.I don’t feel like I’m making much progress.”

“If you’re beating yourself up about the job at Harbor Grill, you can quit that crap.You left because they treated you like dirt.That’s not washing out.”

Jake was referring to one of the two times Griff had tried to leave R&R and find a civilian job.But Griff hadn’t been thinking about Harbor Grill.He’d been thinking about theotherjob that hadn’t worked out, at the new hotel.The one he’d gotten fired from.He hadn’t told anyone how that gig had ended.Not even Jake, who he’d trust with his life.

“I can’t keep depending on you to create work for me forever.”

Jake shrugged.“There’s always work here for a good man.”

Griff’s impulse was to push the compliment away, but he just said, “Thanks.”

“Speaking of work,” Jake said.“We’re going to need to hire again soon.I can’t keep making Sibby do double duty on the reception desk and event planning.She did the Memorial Day picnic planning, and now she’s jumping into the Fourth of July picnic and Fun Run.I either need to hire someone who can do event planning, or I need to just let Sibby run wild with the events and put someone else on the desk.”

“I can help with whatever you need,” Griff said.

“Thanks,” Jake said.“Might take you up on that, until I can find a permanent solution.I know you don’t love the desk stuff, though.”

“I’ll do whatever you need.”

Jake gave him a look.“I need you to think about what I said earlier.About leading the group sometimes.Just sleep on it, okay, man?”

Griff nodded, but he was full of shit.He had no intention of sleeping on it.That would presume he was capable of sleeping at all, but between war nightmares and memories of a certain hot blonde moaning his name, he’d given up on the notion completely.

20

Becca strolled into Julia’s Day Spa and Salon with her big handbag slung over her shoulder and her lunch in hand, set both down on the floor behind the front desk, and sat down to listen to the voicemails that had come in since the previous afternoon.

Hi there?This is Mary Rombard?I’m going to need to cancel my appointment today because my personal trainer can only meet with me between nine and ten and as much as I love my massages, I have to put my exercise first....

She copied down the number and the message, verbatim, because she knew Julia would get a kick out of it.As much as I love my massages, I have to put my exercise first.

Julia’s favorite of all time was when someone had canceled to take her dog to acupuncture.That had made Julia howl.

It was unfortunate that Becca had to find a new job in the next few weeks.She could probably land another salon gig, but the chances that her boss would be as sane and personable as Julia were slim.Plus, like she’d told Griff, the money and hours were about as good as things got in this industry.

Griff.

Since Saturday night when he’d driven her home, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him.What he’d done to her, yes, but also what had happened afterward.She couldn’t quite figure out how to make sense of both things.For that brief time in the hotel room, with his attention fully on her, she’d felt like the center of the universe, but—well, she wasn’t.Marina was the center of Griff’s universe.And she hated to admit how much of a slap in the face that had been.

It wasn’t that she’d thought there was anything special between her and Griff—

It just stung that it was sounspecial.

It was frustrating, in light of those mixed-up feelings, tostillnot be able to stop thinking about the sex.She’d be minding her own business, and then,whoosh,memories would wash through her mind and heat would flood her body.Depending on what she was doing and where she was, she’d either have to take a break and catch her breath, or ...

Yeah, she could admit it.She’d retreated to her roomtwiceon Sunday to rub one out.The second time she’d—

She blushed, thinking about it.

She’d put on the bodysuit.Remembered him down on his knees in front of her with his face against her pussy, licking her through the flimsy red lace.

Recalling it, she’d come so hard she’d bitten her tongue.

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