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it wasn’t her fault. And this man, this wonderfully complex man in front of her, was anything but dull.
    She needed a sign that her sudden and unexpected impulse to take the Marine home was the right one. Just one little teensy sign.
    He lowered the bottle, the light in his eyes dimmed a bit. And she knew. For tonight, she could give him comfort and give them something they both needed. An escape.
    â€œWhat if I just offer to take you upstairs to my apartment? I bet if we think about it, we can come up with something to do that would make us both feel good.”
    The pulse in his neck sped up, otherwise, he didn’t move. He eyed her speculatively. “You seem like a nice girl. And I’m not going to lie. Going to bed with you would be the best thing that’s happened to me in months. But I feel like I’m taking advantage. I’m a little old for you.”
    Surprised laughter burst from her. God, she liked this guy. If his words had been a sign they would have been neon green. She was definitely making the right choice. “You’re what, twenty-nine?”
    â€œTwenty-eight,” he replied almost defensively.
    â€œSix years, Marine.” She waved to the space between them. “All that separates us is six years. And I told you. I’m a woman not a girl. But I am nice. Very nice. And I think you could use that tonight. Whadaya say?”
    *   *   *
    N IALL STOOD AT parade rest in her tidy bedroom waiting for Hannah to come out of the bathroom. The walls might have been white but there was color everywhere. Tie-dyed curtains. A hand-braided rug straight out of the 1970s covered the faded hardwood floor. Watercolor paintings of sunsets, beaches, and blue owls gave the space a rich personality. Hannah’s decorating style was eclectic and eccentric. Niall really liked it. It felt more homey than any place he’d stayed since he’d joined the Marines ten years ago.
    The bathroom door opened. The light casting Hannah in silhouette didn’t disguise that now she wore only her tight black T-shirt and panties. Hands at her sides, her fingers playing with the hem of her shirt, she said, “So . . .”
    Don’t change your mind. Oh, please, don’t.
With his head buzzing from the two shots of tequila—he hadn’t had the heart to tell her he really didn’t drink—he might just get down on his knees and beg if she changed her mind.
    â€œSo,” he replied. He wanted to go to her. He hadn’t even kissed her before accepting her invitation. And tasting her ranked high on his list of things he’d most like to do.
    â€œHey, Marine?” She closed the short distance between them. In her bare feet, she had to tip her head way back to look at him. It made him feel too big. Her, too small. “You plan to get undressed anytime soon? Or do you just plan to drop trou and do it with your boots on. ’Cause hot as that sounds, I was kind of hoping for something that would last a little longer than fifteen seconds.”
    Niall frowned and relaxed his arms, tucking his thumbs in the pockets of his cargo pants. But her words baffled him. “I don’t think I’ve ever had sex end in only fifteen seconds.”
    â€œYou’re so literal. No, I bet you haven’t.” She laughed while twisting her pink braid between her fingers. “But I bet if we get naked, you could go all night. Wanna find out?”
    Her words were brazen but her cheeks glowed red. For all her bravado, she was obviously not in her comfort zone.Not that Niall was either, but damn, he wanted to be. He wanted her, but not if she was nervous to be with him.
    Niall opened his mouth to suggest they slow down—
goddamned moral code
—when she grabbed her shirt by the hem. In one fluid motion, she whipped the shirt over her head, sending it and his resolve sailing to the floor.
    Then she stood before him, wearing only panties. Her