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belt as
well. Do you really want this to turn into a cage match? Because I guarantee
you, you’ll go home bloody and have to explain that to your wife.”
    Obviously the realistic odds that he would have the crap
beat out of him started sinking in and Mark backed up. He glared first at Mary
Ellen, then at Ariel before muttering, “Wouldn’t have been worth it,” and
stalked off toward the bar.
    “Oh, it would have,” Mary Ellen shot
back under her breath before she turned to their savior. Over the man’s
shoulder, Ariel caught the tell-tale gleam in her friend’s eye. The man might
as well have a bull’s eye painted on his forehead, because when Mary Ellen got
that look, the man it was aimed at was a goner.
    “Ellen. Nice to meet you, White Knight.” She stuck out her
hand, giving him the name she always gave men in bars, following her
never-too-safe plan. Their mystery man shook her hand and she kept hold of it
while nudging his shoulders her way. “This is my friend Mackenzie.”
    Ariel had to bite back a smile. Mackenzie was her middle
name. She wasn’t as cautious as Mary Ellen, but she went along with the rules
to make her friend feel better.
    Mary Ellen released the man’s hand long enough for Ariel to
shake it. Strong grip, which she appreciated. He wouldn’t be treating her like
a wilting flower. “Thank you. Mark’s been bothersome before, but usually leaves
before embarrassing anyone.”
    “Not a problem.” He flashed her a smile, white teeth against
tanned skin. “Never fails to piss me off when a man can’t respect the word
‘no’. Either he hasn’t heard it enough, or he’s heard it too much.” With a wry
glance over his shoulder toward the bar, he added, “I’m guessing the married
guy’s heard it too much.”
    Mary Ellen laughed and tugged on the man’s upper arm, urging
him to take one of their empty chairs. When they were all seated, Mary Ellen said,
“We didn’t get your name. And we can’t keep calling you White Knight.”
    “Call me Goodwin. Not that I mind the nickname. But it could
get old,” he said with a smile. “You ladies need another round? Or am I
breaking in on some girl time?”
    “Nope, not breaking in at all. I know I’d like another
round. How about you, Mackenzie?” Mary Ellen raised a brow and Ariel knew it
was not-so-subtle code for “Is this one worth keeping?”
    She took a quick peek at Goodwin out the corner of her eye.
Handsome, probably in his late twenties, though he had a sort of boyish quality
that could make him appear twenty-one for years to come. And he seemed to have
serious eyes for Mary Ellen. He wasn’t exactly Ariel’s type, someone she’d
pursue, preferring taller men with lighter hair. But he was good-looking, nice
and had come to their rescue in a time of need.
    All in all, excellent qualities for a night of scratching an
itch.
    She nodded to Mary Ellen. “Yeah, I could use another beer.”
    Goodwin caught the eye of a server, pointed to Mary Ellen’s
beer then held up three fingers. The server nodded in understanding, leaving to
fill their order.
    “Where were you ten minutes ago?” Ariel mumbled, then shook
her head when the other two turned to stare at her curiously. “Nothing. So you
said something about the Corps?”
    Goodwin grinned easily. He had a good mouth for smiling.
Even when he wasn’t smiling, the corners of his lips turned up slightly, like
one was hovering, just waiting for an excuse to come out. “Ten years now, and
going strong.”
    “Must be rough, especially now. We keep hearing how everyone
deploys too much, too often,” Mary Ellen said, taking a large swig of the new
beer the server had slipped in front of her. “I can’t imagine.”
    “It can be rough.” He shrugged his shoulders. “But let’s not
go there. No need to depress two beautiful ladies gracing me with their
presence.” He chuckled, then said, “I was about to ask if you guys came here
often, but I realized that was a cliché,