Erica groaned as the ringing of her phone dragged her from an awesome dream starring a certain sexy Marine.
Squinting at the clock, she grimaced to see it was only a few minutes after seven. This better be good. “Yeah?”
“Are you still asleep?” Warm, rich laughter followed Linc’s question. “Half the day is gone.”
Okay, yeah, this was worth answering the phone for, but still. “It’s Saturday.”
“I thought you could take me to breakfast. I mean, you got forty bucks because of me,” Linc said, and Erica laughed. “Is that a yes?”
“How can I resist such a charming offer?”
“I thought it would work.”
After giving him directions to her apartment, Erica jumped out of bed and into the shower. Standing under its warmth, her stomach did flip-flops at the thought of seeing him again. Resisting the urge to linger in the shower, and maybe indulge in some shower massage enhanced fantasies of Todd Lincoln, she was quick to wash up.
As she dried off and then dressed, Erica was glad she’d cleaned her apartment before going out the night before. Unlike most people her age, she didn’t have any roommates, and she liked it that way. It meant she had a smaller apartment, but it was worth it. She preferred not to have to worry about sharing her space, or the bills, with someone else. Besides, Cory and Veronica spent so much time over there she never really got lonely.
Erica had just finished winding her hair into a tight bun when the ringing of her doorbell made her heart beat faster and her stomach jump.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her nerves before pulling the door open, but it was no use. The minute she saw him, her nerves, along with her libido, kicked in to high gear.
Something about Linc made it seem as though he filled her whole apartment. Erica couldn’t get over how handsome he was in the full light of day. His blue eyes were so bright it was as though they glittered.
Linc was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. Both were form fitting without crossing the line from flattering to obscene. No doubt he’d earned that taut body thanks to the rigorous physical fitness training of the U.S. Marine Corps, and she wanted to find his commanding officer and say a heartfelt thank you.
“This is nice.” Linc reached up and touched the bun in her hair.
Erica smiled. “Are you this forward with every girl you meet?”
“Um, no,” Linc mumbled, dropping his eyes.
“Should we get going?”
“Yeah, sounds good.”
Erica grabbed her purse and her keys, pausing to lock her front door before leading Linc to her car.
“Nice car,” Linc said.
“Thanks, it was my mom’s,” Erica said, as always feeling the need to explain why she drove a ten year old Camry. “I got it when she got her new car.”
“That’s cool.”
“So, where do you want to go?”
“Anywhere’s fine. I’m not picky.”
Erica opted for Dolly’s. It was small, but that was one of the things she liked most about it. The people were friendly in a way that seemed more genuine than you’d get in the chain restaurants.
“Is this place okay?” Erica asked as she pulled into the parking lot.
Linc smiled. “It’s great.”
When they entered the restaurant, there was no missing the bright smile the hostess aimed solely at Linc. Not that Erica blamed her. Linc was by far the best looking guy in the place, but he seemed oblivious to it.
They’d been seated only a few minutes when the waitress sidled up to their table. Like the hostess before her, the waitress gave Linc an appreciative smile, despite looking old enough to be his mother.
“I’m Sheila, and I’ll be serving you today.” The waitress kept her gaze trained on Linc. “Can I start you off with something to drink?”
Linc smiled up at her. “Coffee for me please, ma’am.”
“Make that two,” Erica said.
“You got it,” Sheila said, winking at Linc.
“I think she likes you,” Erica said.
“Nah, she’s just being polite, giving good customer service so she’ll get a good tip.”
Erica smirked. “I’ll bet I know just how she’d like to service you.”
A blush crept up Linc’s neck and Erica laughed. That had to be the cutest thing she’d ever seen. Most guys would have had no problem agreeing with her assessment or making some sort of crude comeback.
Sheila returned to deliver their coffee, and Erica tried not to laugh at the way Linc shifted under her enthusiastic service.
“So,” Erica began and then paused to take her first sip of coffee. “Tell me about yourself.”
“What do you want to know?”
“I don’t know. How long have you been a Marine?”
“I just finished boot camp.”
Erica frowned. Linc had to be at least twenty-one years old to have gotten into the club last night, unless he had a fake ID. If this guy was eighteen, this was going to be their first, last and only date. At twenty-two, she wasn’t ancient or anything, but she could not handle dating an eighteen-year-old, even one as sexy as Linc.
“How old are you?”
“I’m twenty-two,” Linc answered. “I know I joined late, but after my brother and I watched the towers come down on TV, I felt like I didn’t have a choice. I had to join.”
“Did your brother join too?”
Linc laughed. “Nope, Gabe’s only fifteen.”
“That’s a pretty big age difference.”
“Yeah, our parents call him their gift from God, probably ’cause it’s nicer than admitting he was a surprise,” Linc joked. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“Just one brother, Aaron, he’s three years older than me.”
“That’s cool. I’ve got two older sisters, Mary and Sarah,” Linc answered. “They’re both married. Mary’s got two kids and Sarah’s only got one.”
“That must be nice. I always wanted a sister.”
“Mary’s bossy as hell sometimes, but Sarah’s cool, really funny.”
“Aaron used to boss me around when we were kids. Maybe it’s an older sibling thing.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
There was a break in the conversation when Sheila returned with their food. While Erica had chosen pancakes and bacon, Linc had a giant whipped cream topped waffle in the middle of his plate.
They took turns drizzling syrup over their plates before digging in.
“I wanted to ask you something that might sound kind of weird, but I was wondering what religion you are.”
Erica frowned as she swallowed her first bite of sugary pancakes. “I guess I’m Christian. I don’t go to church or anything, but I believe in God.”
“That’s good to hear,” Linc said, smiling.
“Why is that good to hear?”
“My father’s a Baptist minister.”
Erica’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never even met anyone who went to church let alone had a dad that was the minister,” Erica tried to explain. “Hey, is that why your friend called you Preacher last night?”
Linc grinned. “Yeah, there’s this old song, Son of a Preacher Man, by Dusty Springfield and since I’m, you know, the son of a preacher, the guys thought it made sense.”
“Did you sing in the church choir?” Erica teased.
“Nah, I’m not much for performing in front of people,” Linc told her softly.
Watching him turn red, Erica wondered if he’d done that much blushing in the club last night. Maybe he wasn’t as confident without being under the cover of darkness.
“So, you don’t dance, you don’t drink, and you don’t sing,” Erica said. “What exactly do you do, when you’re not busy being a Marine?”
“I like to go to small town night clubs and talk beautiful women in to buying me breakfast.”
“That makes you sound like a man whore. Not good for the preacher’s son.”
“The truth is I don’t pick up women all the time.”
“Is that because they pick you up?”
“Nah,” Linc dropped his eyes. “I’m not that kind of guy.”
“What kind of guy are you?”
Lifting his eyes to look directly at her Linc replied, “I’m the guy that always drives his drunk buddies home because he never drinks. I’m the wing man who makes it possible for his buddies to meet girls without ever meeting a girl of his own.”
“You did a pretty good job of meeting me.”
“You met me, remember?”
“True, but my point is that you weren’t exactly impervious to my advances.”
“Impervious?” Linc repeated with a sly smile. “So, you’re smart and beautiful?”
“Straight A student,” Erica quipped. “Don’t try to change the subject.”
“I told you last night you were different.”
“How so?”
“I can’t explain it.”
“Try.”
“Erica, my whole life in everything I’ve ever done, I’ve felt like a boy. Last night when I saw you standing in front of me, I felt like a man for the first time ever.”
Linc had taken her hand and stared directly into her eyes when he made this proclamation. Erica stared back at him, mouth agape. Probably not a pretty picture given all the pancakes she’d been shoveling into it for the last few minutes.
“Say something.”
“For the guy who never gets the girl, you’re one smooth talker.”
Erica was glad when the waitress came to refill their coffee. It gave her a chance to collect herself. Linc had a way of pulling her into a reality that consisted of just the two of them, a prospect that was as frightening as it was thrilling.
“Do I scare you?” Linc asked once the waitress was gone.
“No, but you’re not like any guy I’ve ever met before.”
“You’re not like any girl I’ve ever met. You make me feel different.”
“Different how?”
“I told you already.”
“Is that all?”
“I’d tell you, but I don’t want to freak you out anymore than you already are.”
“Who says I’m freaked out?”
“I can see it in your eyes.”
“Okay, this is a little weird,” Erica admitted, “but I’m not scared. I feel like I can trust you.”
“Because I’m the preacher’s son?” Linc laughed.
Erica gave him a wry smile. “I can see it in your eyes.”
“You’re pretty smooth yourself.” Linc grinned back at her.
“There’s something about you that makes me more confident than I usually am.”
“What is it?”
“I have no idea. I’m not usually so at ease around good-looking guys.”
“You think I’m good-looking?” Linc asked, his blush returning.
“I think you’re the best looking guy I’ve ever met.” Erica couldn’t believe how bold she was being.
“Don’t get out much, do you?”
“Don’t have much self confidence, do you?”
“I told you, I’m the wing man.”
“I think it’s you that’s freaked out.”
“Tell you what? I’ll tell you exactly how you make me feel different at dinner tonight.”
“Two dates in one day?” Erica asked, smiling. “Do I have to buy dinner too?”
“No, but you can cook for me,” Linc suggested.
Erica hoped he wasn’t under the impression she would sleep with him already. That would be disappointing and make him like every other guy she’d ever met.
“I promise I’ll be a perfect gentleman. You can trust me.”
Once again, she could feel his eyes searching her soul as he stared at her. Although she had no idea why, Erica truly did believe she could trust him.
“Okay, dinner at six at my place.”
“Great!”
Breakfast wasn’t even over, but she already found herself looking forward to dinner.