Maybe she’d better walk. She picked up the bag she’d dropped when the taxi took off and marched down the lane.
“Where are you going? Sarah!” Dan jogged up beside her. “Come on, let’s talk this through.”
“I’m done talking. I’ve heard everything I need to know.”
“Well I haven’t said everything I’m going to say.” Dan grabbed her arm. She instantly slid into a Krav Maga evasive technique but Dan was on to her methods and countered it. Sarah hit him with an elbow strike, but Dan countered that too, catching her off balance and thumping her to the ground. “Damn it, hold still so I can talk to you.” But Sarah wouldn’t hold still for anything now. They scrapped for several minutes before Dan managed to sit on her and pin her in place. His cheek was bleeding from where her fist had connected with his face and he touched his fingers to it. “Son of a bitch.”
“You’re such an ass.”
“I probably am.” He was as mad as she was. “That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t talk this out.”
“What on earth is there to talk about?” The minute she was out of here she was going to start to pound calories and bulk up. It burned her that Dan could use his superior weight to his advantage. Just let him try it when her scale topped two hundred and fifty.
“Us. The training program. Us.” He wiped his cheek with his arm, smearing the blood. “You should have said you were interested.”
“Of course I’m interested. I’m leaving the military. I don’t know what else to do.”
“You never said that. All you did was try to prove you were better at everything.”
“So did you.”
Dan took a deep breath. “I guess I did. I was afraid you thought my plan was a stupid idea. To be honest, I don’t know if it’s going to work.”
Sarah flopped back, all the fight drained out of her at his admission. “Are you kidding? It sounds like fun—except for the part where no one will take me seriously.”
“Of course they’ll take you seriously. You’re one of the best soldiers I’ve ever met.”
“Right—a soldier. Not a SEAL. Not a member of the Special Forces. You sure as hell haven’t taken me seriously.”
Dan slid off of her and helped her up. “Sarah Metlin, you have no idea how seriously I take you.” He moved closer. “You don’t have to prove anything to me. You’re as capable as anyone I know.”
“I’ll have to prove myself to everyone.” She brushed the snow off her jeans, using the movement as an excuse not to look at Dan. She was still looking for that stamp of approval, wasn’t she? When would that ever stop?
“I guess you will. But we all will, to some extent, right? In every group there’s going to be some idiot who thinks he’s better than us.” Dan smiled. “We’ll let you sort him out.”
“Thanks a lot.”
Dan took her hands. “I’d protect you from all the idiots if I could, but somehow I don’t think you’d like that either.”
She shook her head.
“Look, you convinced me. You have no idea how much respect I have for you.”
“Really?” She allowed him to encircle her with his arms. He dropped a kiss on her lips that made her ache for more.
“Absolutely. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have as my partner.” He kissed her again. A deceptively soft kiss that soon deepened into something that showed her just how much he wanted her. When he pulled away, Sarah was dizzy and put a hand out to brace herself against his chest. When she looked up he was gazing at her in wonder. “How can someone so soft and beautiful be so strong and capable, too? I don’t think the government could design a better weapon than you. They’re going to be sorry when you leave the Army.”
She smiled at his praise and leaned against him.
“Sarah.” Dan’s breath puffed against her neck and sent delicious shivers down her spine. “I’d like more than a business partnership with you. Can you handle that?”
She pulled back in confusion. “Handle what?”
Dan ducked down to kneel in the snow and a chill ran from the crown of her head down to her toes. Her lips parted but no sound came out. She couldn’t breathe.
“This isn’t a proposal—I don’t have a ring. We’ve barely had time to get to know each other, either. What I’m asking you is, will you allow me to propose to you when we do know each other better?”
Her silence stretched out as Sarah thought she would never forget this moment. The crisp snow underfoot. The wide blue sky overhead. Their friends all crowded onto the porch—
Sarah’s eyes widened. When had everyone come outside to watch? A glance down told her Dan was waiting, too, growing impatient.