MEEKS
21
“Why you ask?” I was curious to know the answer.
“I believe in being a student of the woman I’m trying to get to know.” There was an unmistakable twinkle in his eye.
I hesitated, debating whether to tell him about my last on-the-job relationship, but when he looked at me with those dark intense eyes it was hard to resist.
Howard nodded. “I want to learn everything I can about you. That’s how I determine if I want to know more.”
“A student, huh?”
He nodded and stretched his legs out in front of him. “You’re the first woman I’ve met who’s caught my attention in a long time.”
I stuttered at his words. “I-I’ve never had anyone tell me that before.”
“Next time you’ll get to be the student.” He licked his lips. “I can think of quite a few things I can teach you.” He was ridiculously handsome and distracting. My insides got all warm.
Howard gestured with a sweep of his hand. “C’mon, cutie pie. Get to talking.”
I dragged my left leg up against my chest, rested my chin on my knee, and said, “He was military and married.” I expected to see a judgmental look but there was none, so I continued. “They were separated.” I was trying to justify my actions. “I put my heart on my sleeve, but his family needed him and eventually he went back home because he owed it to them to try and make it work.”
Howard shook his head. “No, he went back home because he wanted to go home. He owed it to himself.”
I sighed. Howard was right. I often wondered if Dame had loved me more would he have chosen me over his family.
His eyes were studying me. “May I ask what made him leave in the first place?”
“While he was deployed his wife had an affair with his First Sergeant.”
“Oh damn. How’d that turn out?”
“The First Sergeant got demoted and received an Article 15. Dame waited until he caught him off base, after hours, and beat his ass.” I shrugged. “It was never reported.”
“With every decision there are consequences.”
So true, which was why I didn’t want to date someone in my unit again. The consequences would be great. “Anyway, he finally found it in his heart to forgive for the sake of the children and went back home.”
“Sounds like despite his wife creeping, he loved her.”
I shook my head, dismissing the word, love, and yet he was right again.
“How was that for you?” Howard asked and looked completely interested in hearing about my life.
“It was hard at first, but I respected his decision,” I grumbled. “I wanted all of him. Not part of him and I knew that I would’ve had to share him with his family.”
“I don’t believe in sharing,” he muttered, and I felt a thrill of pleasure heating between my thighs.
“Me, either, so I eventually applied for this job and you know the rest. Okay, so enough about me. What’s your story?”
“The last serious relationship I had was with my ex-wife and the same situation. She messed around and I left, but I never went back.”
“Did you ever think that maybe you made a mistake?”
“Yes, not long after I moved out, but I was too hurt to forgive or forget.” He gave a strangled laugh. “Since then I’ve dated lots of women but—”
I cocked a brow at him. “Lots?”
He laughed again. “Yes, I’ve had my fair share.” His eyes fell to my mouth. “But no one who’s made me want to be a student of her life...until now.” The way he was staring at me was so hot and intense that it had all my girlie parts heating up.
Oh boy. I really was in trouble.