“This is going to make it hard to eat,” I said.
“I’ll feed you.”
“Yeah, no,” I said with a laugh.
Boxer grinned and winked at the waitress who handed us our menus. She blushed and mumbled, “Something to drink?”
“Linden?” Boxer prodded.
“Coffee, please.”
“Same. Thanks, darlin’.”
The young woman flushed even redder and scampered away.
“You’re cruel,” I said. “You embarrassed that poor girl.”
“Didn’t mean to.” He leaned close to my ear. “You know the real reason I wanted to sit this close to you?”
While he was talking, his free hand that wasn’t draped around my shoulder wandered across my thigh toward the seam of my legs. When he grazed the fly of my jeans, it caused me to jump and bump my knee underneath the tabletop.
It rattled the creamer and salt and pepper shakers, and the noise caused heads to turn in our direction.
“Boxer,” I hissed.
His grin was cheeky and full of trouble.
I was glaring at him when the waitress returned to the table with our coffees. I hadn’t looked at the menu yet, but Boxer ordered while I scanned it.
A few minutes later, we were alone again.
“You can touch me, you know,” he said. “I won’t object.”
“I didn’t touch you enough this morning? Or last night? Or in the shower?”
He looked deep into my eyes and said, “It’ll never be enough.”
I sighed and then snuggled deeper into his embrace.
“Don’t you guys look cozy,” Zip said suddenly.
I jumped again, hitting my other knee. “Son of a…” I muttered, rubbing my stinging kneecap.
Joni elbowed Zip in the ribs, causing him to grunt. “Sorry,” he apologized.
“It’s okay. You guys want to join us?” I asked.
“We don’t want to intrude,” Joni said.
“Intrude, please.” I grinned. “And maybe your presence will help keep Boxer in line.”
“Yeah, right,” Zip said. “I’ve never known anyone to keep him in line. I was hoping you’d be the woman for the job.”
Something inside of me settled at his words. He was accepting me in his own way. I was humbled. And comfortable. Like just maybe, for the first time in my life I’d found people I could let my guard down around.
Joni and Zip took the seat across from us. Zip angled his body close to Joni and absently brushed a kiss to her hair.
I grinned to myself. I loved that the Blue Angels were not afraid to show affection to their women.