It’d begun to rain, and the cool, heavy drops fell over me. Feeling like a balm over my skin and hiding how hard I was sobbing.

Thankfully, I could let the tears run and no one passing me was any wiser.

Cars jetted by now and again but a particularly loud one slowing down behind me, drew my attention.

I looked over my shoulder and saw an expensive looking silver car with sharp lines.

It growled as it veered over the passenger door was tossed open.

“Get in.” He ordered. Leaning over the console to talk to me.

“I’m soaking wet.” I gestured down my length. Objecting to ruining his fancy seats.

“I see that. I said get in.”

I was too exhausted to argue. Giving him a pensive look, I slid into the seat.

“Probably going to ruin it.” I muttered, working hard not to look at him.

“It’s leather. It’ll be fine.” He was staring through the rivulets of water rolling over the windshield. Casting shadows over his hard features.

He was wearing a leather button up with the sleeves rolled. Unbuttoned to the middle of his chest. Showing the tattoos on that warm, tanned skin when he moved.

Why was I always so mesmerized by that?

Disbelief. I decided. Tattoos. On Porter.

He shifted gears and guided the car. His leg moving as he clutched in black tactical pants.

“Already ready for work tonight?” I asked.

“Yep.”

“Were you waiting at the hospital.”

“No. I was going by. Figured you’d try to head to your apartment, knowing you.”

That had been the direction I was travelling, but that was more because it was mindless. And I’d just wanted time to breathe.

Porter glanced at me and glanced again. I felt his eyes.

He suddenly guided the car back to the edge of the sidewalk. Staring at me a long moment. “Are you okay?”

I sobbed at the question and had to put a hand over my face to stifle more sound.

“Thought you said surgery went okay?” He asked softly. Flipping open the console and pulling out a handful of Kleenex to hand them to me.

I dabbed my eyes and blew my nose. Embarrassed by the amount of makeup smeared on the Kleenex and how not put-together I was right now.

“It did. I was just worried about her.”

And I don’t know how things are going to go in the apartment with you. But I wasn’t going to say that.

I could go to prison for larceny. I pushed my wet hair back from my forehead and dropped my head back on his comfy headrest. Noticing he’d pulled out a cellphone in a white case and was hitting buttons with his thumb.

Sending a text.

I looked from the cellphone to his green shirt. “I thought everything you owned was either black or white. Except your accountant clothes.”

He tugged his collar pointedly.

“I know. I’m surprised.”

“Surprised? Or impressed?” He dipped his head forward and turned it to look at me. Whatever he was thinking was beyond me.

Before I could respond, his phone made a low buzz and he glanced at it. Nodding in satisfaction before he shifted gears and started the car again. Pulling into a lane and aiming it for his apartment.

As he guided the wheel, my eyes fell to the bulldog centered in the dark lines wrapping his forearm.

“Marine bulldog?”

He glanced down at it. “Good eye.”

“You were one?”

“First, just a military brat. Then a marine.”

“So you grew up in the culture?”

“Yes.” He said a bit quietly. And I noticed there was something akin to pain flickering over his face.

“Why aren’t you now?”

“I got my fill.”

“I didn’t think marines ever did?”

“I did.”

Something happened.

Now I was curious. Curious beyond belief. “What happened?”

He was quiet so long I thought he wasn’t going to answer me. But after a time, his lips parted as though he’d speak. He hesitated as he spun the wheel, to guide the car onto his lane. “My brother and I both enlisted. Trained together, worked together, fought together. We were both on the same convoy, he was in the HumV behind mine when the shell hit.”

Uh oh. I stiffened. Seeing where this was going.

“He didn’t…”

“Make it.” Porter filled in. “It lost its shine for me, after that.”

“I’m sure that was painful.”

“Likely as painful as watching my only family going through cancer surgeries, might be.”

I grimaced. “How’d you get all that?”

“Google.”

“You internet stalked me?” I was somewhat flattered, he’d taken enough interest to know.

“Researched.” He corrected.

“Why?” I asked out of curiosity.

“I’ll tell you that eventually.”

Oh, now that made me itch with desire to know.

But from the look on his face, he had no intention of telling me anymore on the topic.

We walked into the building.

He greeted Josh, the guy at the counter and went to the elevator.

I walked next to him, hiding the urge to try to hide my face. Afraid Josh would think I was just another of Porter’s conquests.

Porter’s conquests? I couldn’t even believe I’d thought that. This is still Porter.

I think…

***

Once in the elevator, I was surrounded by the deeply masculine smell of his cologne. Making me want to tilt sideways and sniff his shirt.

“What are you thinking?” He asked.

“Nothing really.” I sighed.

Not about to admit what had been on my mind. And relieved that the pain of earlier had washed away some. Just being around company seemed to be helping.

Even if it is just Porter.

“I doubt that.” He turned the knob and walked in. Absentmindedly, tossing his keys in a checkered black and white dish on the bar counter of the kitchen. He didn’t even look at it. But it landed dead center.

I looked at him as he rounded back to me, to take my hoodie and bag. “Are you bad at anything?”

“Yes.” He said in his usual decisive tone. “Relationships.”

“Why?” My brow furrowed. He didn’t look like he’d be bad at relationships. My eyes roved freely over him while he was busy hanging my sweater on a hook. Along with the thin strap of my small purse.

It looked like he’d be really, really, good at them.

“Don’t know much about women.” He shrugged. “And as you can see, I’m a fantastic communicator.”