Page 21 of Fight for You
“Okay, thank you. Dinner sounds good. After I shower, should I, uh, pick another room? You have lots?”Yes,this was a test. Two could play that game for as long as it took my guard to fall.
“No.”
My heart deflated.Alright, he’s like Katlego.
“I haven’t slept in a bed in over six years.” Jamie started toward the open living room kitchen.
Following after him, I stared at his back, muscles moving in fluid motion while he’d already started for a sleek cabinet—that was so not a cabinet. It was a custom refrigerator. “What? Why?” I asked.
“Got comfortable on cots, tents, in the elements of the Indo-Pacific Command. If you prefer to sleep under the stars, we can do that too.”
“Oh, no.” My chin jutted to the glass wall as he placed a handful of colorful vegetables on the island. “What you saw was just a free woman’s rite of passage.”
An hour later, I’d showered and dressed in Old Navy pajamas. Maybe that was why I adored Katlego. He allowed me to wear more thanfreak ‘emattire when I accompanied him to greet his citizens. Although I’d never shopped at Old Navy, a part of me had a desire to dress like a nun. The store’s mannequins seemed like the closest I could get.
Strolling into the kitchen, I touched my hair, which felt like tiny crunchy tresses. Uncooked ramen noodles. “I knew I should’ve bought some real hair products,” I muttered.
“Should’ve what?” With a raised eyebrow, Jamie wielded his chopping knife like a hatchet.
“Don’t worry about it. But do you belong in the kitchen?”
He glanced at me, those soulful teal eyes that could make me obsess over this man locked onto mine. King Katlego 2.0, be damned. Jamie laughed. The carefree sound did more than please my ears. It was a double whammy, with his eyes lancing me straight to the heart. I knew I shouldn’t desire this man. Not so soon after he set me free—ifhe had freed me—and not when I didn’t even know … me.
Gosh. My mind was a mess. Though playful, I rolled my eyes. “Get out of the kitchen, Jamie.”
He smiled, letting me push him. I was secretly appreciative of it, too, because I imagined it looked like I wanted to move a tank without it being in neutral. All on my lonesome.
Jamie went around the island and snorted. “You don’t think I can cook?”
“Did I say that?” My hand dropped onto my hip as I glanced atthe bell peppers. All the shapes and sizes—julienne and non-julienne. “If this is any indication, I imagine you can catch a chicken, pluck it, and place it over an open fire while backpacking across the world. Hell, even I can’t do that.”
“Y’know what?” Jamie rubbed his jaw. “Maybe I should’ve further elaborated about my willingness to sleep on the floor. Yeah, I wanna protect you. But I wasn’t just some rich boy backpacking across the world. I was a Marine Raider.”
“A Marine what? What in the Indiana Jones are you talking about?” I glanced up from the vegetables that needed my attention.What a mess.
“Marine Raider. Why do I have to explain myself?” Jamie rubbed a hand through his hair.
I shut my mouth from asking if he hid the good conditioner because his hair floated down perfectly over his shoulders. My eyes landed on the olive oil. It would work for my hair, my skin … and the chicken breasts—that could become drier than my hair if I didn’t give them the love and attention they deserved. I tuned into Jamie, and he was muttering under his breath.
I arched a brow. “What?”
He sighed and said, “Okay, I’ll ask? You’ve heard of a Navy SEAL?”
“Sure have.” I smiled. “From nonfiction to fiction. Love them.”
“But you haven’t …”
My brow lifted. “Heard of a Marine Treasure?—”
“Raider.”
I chuckled. “I’ll let you tell me a story sometime.”
“Fair enough. We have all the time in the world, right?” He sat, his elbows on the marble, chin in his hands. “Do we have all the time in the world, Jordyn? Or will you be running off every time you’re confused?”
“Excuse me?” I glanced down at the knife in my hand, halfway done adding conformity to his butcher work. “How about we sticka pin in analyzing me?” A destructive animosity, capable of demolishing a skyscraper, washed over me. Stabbed my veins, resulting in unrestrained truth. “Oh, so we’re at the part where we discuss the rules, which means I can’t run off, but you can get rid of me?”
“Jor—”
