Page 78

There was a kind of stillness that came over him and she leaned in to press a kiss on his back.

“Unless you want me to,” she sighed, “but right now, let’s just make sure that you’re not bleeding out.”

She stepped back and pulled the waistband down to see his skin.

“Well?” He prompted her. “What does it look like?”

“Not bad. Not bad at all.” Mari grinned and lifted the waistband again and a few inches from his waist she let go to let it slap against his waist.

“Hey!” He reached around to grab her, and she almost stepped back out of his reach.

Almost.

He grabbed her around the waist with one arm and picked her up off of her feet and carried her out into the main room, both of them laughing.

BUCK

Later, while he was waiting for Hoss to amble over to the car so they could head back to the base, Buck looked up at the doorway at the top of the steps and saw Mari framed in the doorway just behind the screen. She lifted her hand and waved.

He nodded in reply and watched her disappear into the shadows with a smile and a moment later something hit the floor.

Startled, he took a step in the direction of the door before he heard, “Damn it, Ebi! You’re a fucking menace!”

Buck snorted a laugh and shook his head.

She was right. Ebi was a little menace.

He heard soft footfalls moving through the grass and turned his head.

Hoss was smiling with a kind of quiet satisfaction as he buttoned his shirt.

Buck raised a brow at the action, waiting until his friend was almost to his side before making a comment.

“Just getting dressed now?”

Hoss finished the last button on his shirt and shook his head. “My clothes just came out of the dryer a little while ago. They were too hot to put on until now.”

Buck crossed his arms across his chest. “What were you wearing while they were in the wash?”

The smile fell off of Hoss’ face, and the usually calm and laid-back Marine lifted his chin and squared up to him. “A towel. A big beach towel. Is that okay with you?”

Buck held his hands up between them. “Sorry. Really. I was just joking.”

Hoss nodded. “I get it, man. I just…”

He lowered his hands to his sides and rubbed his palms on the thighs of his jeans.

“She’s…” Hoss bit into the corner of his lip. “I…”

“You don’t have to explain.” Buck put a hand on Hoss’ shoulder and gestured with the other toward Mari’s house. “I’m tied up in knots over her, too.”

Hoss smiled at him, his shoulders relaxing. “Well, we should head back to Lanikai before we report to base tomorrow.” He reached for the handle on the door and paused.

Buck felt the other man’s curious look land on him.

“You’re not ready to go?”

Honestly? No.