Off Limits Marine. Kate Hoffmann

the music stopped, she quickly stepped out of his embrace and clapped politely. “Thank you,” she murmured.

      “I haven’t had any cake yet,” Gabe said. “Would you like to join me? I think we left your plate over there.” She opened her mouth to speak, but he placed a finger over her lips. “Before you say no, remember that we have a lot to catch up on.”

      “All right,” she finally said.

      They found an empty table, and he pulled out her chair and waited for her to sit. “Can I bring you anything else?” he asked. “Champagne? Or some punch?”

      “Punch,” she said. “No, champagne.” She forced a smile. “I better stick to punch.”

      “I’ll bring you both. Be right back.”

      Lisa and Nellie were standing near the cake table as he stacked a few more pieces on Annie’s plate. Each of the four layers was a different flavor, so he chose a variety. “Great cake,” he said.

      “Have at it, buddy,” Nellie shouted.

      Lisa sent him a knowing smile, as if she’d been watching the two of them. “Be nice,” she warned, handing him a cold bottle of champagne.

      He stopped at the punch bowl and balanced a cup on the edge of the plate, then returned to the table. He carefully set the plate in front of her. “I didn’t know what flavor cake you liked, so I brought all of them.”

      She stared silently at the plate for a long moment and he realized that bringing her so much might seem like a comment on her eating habits. Jeez, when was he going to learn to think before he acted?

      “Didn’t you bring yourself a plate?” she asked. “What are you going to eat?”

      He pulled out a chair and plopped down next to her, chuckling at the cool look she cast his way. “I thought we could share.” Gabe speared a bite of carrot cake, then popped it in his mouth. “Good cake. So, how have you been?”

      “Good,” Annie replied. “Most of the time. The sailing school is doing pretty well. We had a record number of students register for the summer. I had to build a new bunkhouse. We added a couple more programs and brought in some great mentors for the students to work with. But it’s never going to make me rich.”

      “I’d like to stop by and see it,” he said.

      She gave him a sideways glance. “Why would you want to do that?”

      “You rent boats. I might want to go sailing. I’m going to be moving to the area in a few weeks. I’ve been temporarily assigned to do some consulting on new avionics software at Pax River. I’m going to be working with Nellie.”

      “So you’re making a career of the Marine Corps?”

      “That’s always been the plan. Unless NASA comes calling. I’m thinking I’d like to fly the new space shuttle.”

      “You have some big dreams,” she said. Annie picked at her cake, then set her fork down and pushed the plate away. “Can I be completely honest with you?”

      Gabe nodded. “Absolutely.”

      “If you’re thinking there might be something between us, you need to know that I’m never going to be with you. I’ve decided that I need to find a man who isn’t in the military.”

      “Yeah, that’s a good idea. There’s just one problem with that.”

      “A problem? What problem?” Annie asked.

      “I’m in the military. And you already like me. I guess, if we’re going to hang out, you’re going to need to change your plans. I mean, you might just start to think of me as more than just a friend. I like to keep an open mind about things like this.”

      Annie shook her head. “You’re very sure of yourself.”

      “When I see something I want, I don’t stop until I get it.”

      “And what do you want?” she asked.

      Gabe shrugged. “Lots of things. But a summer on the Chesapeake would be a good start.”

      Annie pushed to her feet. “I should probably get back to my duties as matron of honor.”

      “And I’ve got a long drive back to Pax River. It was nice talking to you again, Annie.” He leaned over and brushed a kiss across her cheek. “I’ll be seeing you.”

      He walked away from her without looking back, knowing that he was risking it all by playing it cool. Gabe wandered over to the bride and groom and promised that he’d be back for another visit now that they’d be residing on the same side of the country again.

      When he leaned in to kiss Lisa’s cheek, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Don’t give up on her,” she said. “You two would be great together.”

      “I’ll be seeing you next month,” Nellie said. “Try to keep yourself out of trouble until then. I’m counting on you to make me look good to my civilian bosses.”

      As he walked out to his car, Gabe smiled to himself. He’d looked forward to reconnecting with a few old friends. He’d never expected to run into Annie Jennings. But he’d managed to piece together something that a simple kiss had nearly destroyed over a year ago.

      “Mission accomplished,” he murmured.