Page 101 of Faking it with the Green Beret

“If you’re free tomorrow, would you go shopping with me? I need to outfit my kitchen. I don’t have plates, cups, silverware, pots, utensils. Basically, I need everything. I figure you have a good idea what and where to find what I need since you’ve done it for your house and all three at The Oasis. Plus, you’d make it more fun.”

“I’m happy to help. I’ll meet you at your house to save time.” Unless he ended up spending the night here. She’d see how things went first.

“Thanks. Now, I’ll do the dishes since you cooked.”

She knew better than to argue about it. Besides, there was something sexy about a hot guy doing the dishes in real life. She studied his butt. Why not? They were dating now. It wasn’t Captain America’s ass, but it was darn nice. She’d always been attracted to the swimmer’s build: broad shoulders, strong back and arms, muscular legs. Add in John’s handsome face and generous nature, and it was truly a miracle he hadn’t married. That he stood inherkitchen loading dirty dishes into the dishwasher was possibly a bigger miracle.

She hummed the chorus ofThe Sound of Music’s “Something Good.”

John started humming along while drying his hands.

“Really?” Though he was constantly surprising her, this was totally unexpected.

“The Sound of Musicwas my grandmother’s favorite movie. She had the soundtrack. At one time, I knew the words to almost all the songs.”

Elizabeth loved that he admitted that. “And did you change the words?”

“Me? Nah. Well, I couldn’t relate to the favorite things in the song. I mean whose favorite thing is a copper kettle? That might have been why I started changing the lyrics to what fit better.”

“What were your favorite things?”

“I don’t remember. I was like six or nine. Probably hot dogs and baseball. I can do a new version with dogs named Boss and . . .” he paused, his mouth and hand moving as he tried out lyrics in his head, “. . . counselors with blue eyes and sexy asses.”

She laughed. He had a knack for conjuring lyrics on the fly.

“It rhymed with the original.” He swaggered over and extended a hand, smiling as she rose into his arms. “If you want, we can switch toThe Sound of Musicfor our movie and sing ”Something Good” as a duet. It’d be very romantic.”

“Maybe next time.”

“Okay. ‘Do-Re-Mi.’ Don’t mind me.”

While John hadn’t put any pressure on her and certainly put her at ease with his teasing, she did want to try getting romantic. Getting to the next stage of physical intimacy was no laughing matter. If she couldn’t get there, she was going to have to end things before she fell completely in love with John.

And she was more than halfway there already.

* * *

“What movie are we watching?”John ushered Boss inside from doing his doggie business.

“Top Gun. The original.”

“Seriously? Navy jet jockeys?”

“Top Gun has good music, action, some comedy, and romance.”

“Fine. But we’re making out during the volleyball scene.”

“Okay.”

He looked surprised at her instant answer. “I was thinking, if it’s all right with you, I could angle the couch. Instead of sitting next to each other to watch, I can lean back.” He demonstrated, stretching his left leg nearly the length of the couch, his right foot on the floor. “And you sit here.” He patted the space between his legs. “I'll put my arms around you, and if there’s any place you want my hands, you can place them strategically—or move them if they wander someplace you aren’t ready for. How does that sound?”

“Very good.” Perfect in fact. Her body tingled at the thought of his touch.

“There’s another thing we need to address.” He cleared his throat and shifted on the sofa. “I think we need a plan that will give you control. That said, we are not having sex of any kind tonight.”

She could tell that pained him to say, but the pressure in her chest immediately lifted.

“I don’t know what’s going to work best leading up to our first time. Here at your house, where if things get uncomfortable, you can tell me to go. Or is that the worst place to try because if things don’t go well, then something about that room becomes a trigger for you? Maybe my place is better so you know that you can get in your car and leave, though I hope to hell that doesn’t happen. Maybe you want us to go away for a weekend to a hotel or rent someplace. Or will that make you feel trapped unless we drive separately?” He spread his hands helplessly.

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