Page 34 of Cowboy SEAL Christmas

“Somehow less of a travesty than a gift card?”

“Yes. Picking out a book for someone shows that you know them, and you have someclueas to what they like. It shows you’re paying attention, and that you like them.”

“So, what book are you going to get me?”

She tapped her chin, pretending to ponder it. “Maybe I’ll find one on the great art of narcissism.”

He chuckled good-naturedly.

“You can stay here and play your video games.”

“Nah, I’ll look at books.”

So they walked over to the book section of the store, and Monica tried very hard to concentrate on finding a book that her mother would like, and then her father. It was admittedly hard to concentrate with six-foot-something of former Navy SEAL just…lurking.

Which was silly. She was used to tough military men in her life. She’d beenraisedwith one, then married to one, and none of that lurking had ever affected her. Not like this.

Sex camel. Sex camel. Only one cure for a sex camel.

“Hell,” she muttered.

“What’s that?”

“Nothing. Nothing. I think I’m going to have to order something for my dad. None of this really works. Besides, it’s nearly five, and we should head over to the florist.”

“Here. Try this one.” He handed her a book.

She took the heavy, dry-looking tome. She wrinkled her nose at the black-and-white picture on the front. It was some complicated-looking nonfiction book about the role of presidents during wars of the twentieth century.

Damn Gabe Cortez.

“How did you know he’d like this?” she demanded.

Gabe shrugged, taking it upon himself to push the cart toward the front of the store while she trailed behind.

“Marines are all the same. Like all that bullshit about politics and war. Like it’s complicated and not always a dick-measuring contest.”

“Is that all war is?”

“Is to me.”

“I don’t believe that.” He looked sharply over his shoulder at her, but she simply held his gaze. “You don’t join the military if you think that.”

“First of all, you don’t know the first thing about why I joined the military. Second, a lot of guys think it once they’ve been through one. Because you don’t come out unscathed from that. You either double down on what you believe, or you realize it’s all a bunch of bullshit.”

“So, you’re the enlightened, I suppose.”

“No, it’s not enlightened. It’s just how you deal. One way’s not better than the other.”

He always managed to surprise her. She was used to uncompromising military men, and there was an element of that to him. But it was somehow…open-minded. There was a lack of judgment. Gabe seemed to believe in survival however you managed it. Considering that was at the heart of her therapy mission, it was impossible not to admire him for it.

“So why did you join the military?” she asked, unable to resist. It wasn’t a therapist’s question either. No, this was a Monica question.Shewanted to know, as a person, about his person.

She wasn’t sure what to do with that, but he smiled. Not those bitter ones meant to push her back a few paces, but one of his charming smiles. The ones he flashed her before he said something…suggestive. Her cheeks heated against her will and that foreign flutter from last night was back in full force.

“Sorry, sweetheart. That’s not a question I answer for just anybody.”

“Oh,” she said, trying to sound calm and not at all affected as she started putting her items on the conveyer belt of the checkout line. “What would an anybody have to do to become a somebody?” She steeled all her courage and calm and self-possession and looked pointedly at him.

---