“Honey, this is Masters. He’s the lucky bastard that got Fort Bragg,” Patterson said.
“Oh, that’s where my family is,” his wife said. “You’ll love it.”
The pit in my stomach formed like it did every time I thought about it. But I’d made my choice, and I’d report after the New Year.
“You’ll love Colorado,” Jagger offered. “I went to college there, and it’s gorgeous.”
Paisley shot me a look that told me that’s where I should have chosen. No shit. But there was nothing I could do about it.
“And you guys are headed for Fort Campbell, right?” Wallace asked.
“We are,” Paisley replied as Jagger kissed the back of her hand.
As the waitress took our drink orders, I motioned to the setting next to me. “Actually we won’t be needing—”
“Oh, but we will,” Paisley said with a smile to the waitress, who then moved on.
“You want to explain?”
She full-on grinned. “I may have called in a favor with a friend when I knew Grace couldn’t make it.”
My jaw clenched. God love well-intentioned Southern ladies. “I’m not sure tonight was really the night to set me up on a blind date, Paisley, though I’m sure your friend is lovely.”
“Oh, hell yeah, she is,” Jagger said, looking over my shoulder.
My muscles tensed one by one. This was bad enough without Grace, but a stranger?
“She came a long way, Grayson, so play nice.” Paisley gave me her serious face, and then tilted her chin to motion toward the door behind me.
I turned in my seat slowly to see her walking down the stairs.
My breath rushed from my lungs, and my jaw dropped more than the self-respecting amount. Her hair was up off her neck, and her strapless blue dress hugged every curve, accentuating her tiny waist before it fell to the floor. She was so damn beautiful. My Samantha.
I’d damn-near sprinted to her before I realized I’d even gotten out of my chair. She paused halfway down the staircase with a wide smile but wary eyes. She’s afraid you don’t want her here.
By standing a few steps beneath her, we were almost equal in height. “Samantha.”
“Stop.” She put her hand out. “This is a Cinderella thing.”
One of my eyebrows drifted higher. “As in you came in a pumpkin, or you’ll be losing a shoe? Because either way, I can deal.”
The smile that spread across her face cracked open my chest, and my heart started to pound. “As in I’m only here until tomorrow afternoon. I have to leave after graduation.”
“You’re here for graduation?” Holy shit, I sounded like a five-year-old who just found his Christmas presents.
Her fingers swept down my cheek. “I promised I’d pin you, right?”
My mouth dropped open again. She remembered.
“I mean, if you made other plans, I totally understand—”
Not giving a fuck about her lipstick, I surged forward, took her face in my hands and kissed her. In public. In public. In public. My brain chanted to remind me to keep my tongue in my mouth and my hands on the outside of her incredible dress. “You’re perfect,” I managed to say.
“No sex.”
I froze. “You’re seeing someone?”
She shook her head. “Of course not. I just need you to promise me.”
“Can I kiss you? Was that okay?” She’d been in the same room for less than five minutes, and I’d already mauled her when I had zero rights to her body.
“Hell yes. Kiss me all you want, but that’s as far as it goes.”
Fear streaked across her eyes, and I nodded slowly. “No sex.”
“No matter how loudly I beg,” she whispered.
Holy shit, I was about to embarrass myself in the middle of this ballroom if I didn’t get my dick under control.
“Grayson, swear it. On your honor, or I walk out this door.”
“I want you for more than your body, Sam. I don’t care if we play Scrabble all night. Not having sex is fine.” It fucking sucked, but if that was the price for having her with me, I’d be celibate for the rest of my life.