Simple as pie.

After all, he'd been in the United States Army Special Forces, fuck you very much. You might take the man out of the SF, but you couldn't take the SF out of the man. He'd been up against some of the world's meanest and toughest. So, goddamn straight he could work his way around one young woman.

Right? Right.

Outside, he approached Betty, pointedly avoiding looking at the hood. And wasn't his inability to keep his gaze away just a slap in the pants? Jesus. But, whatever. It was fine. He had a plan, and all he needed to do was stick to it. It shouldn't be that hard.

Chapter Four

Alyssa arrived at Whiskey's feeling like she could climb Mt. Everest. The hotel had given her a late checkout so she'd had time for a swim in the pool. Laying on a lounge chair for a half an hour, she'd even gotten the hint of a tan. And she'd see Marco again. How could the day get better?

Well, if Pete let her wait her own tables., that would be better. Then she'd make enough tips to stay checked in at the hotel until payday. Which meant she needed to talk to him straightaway.

She pulled into the staff lot at the rear of the building, her eyes immediately scanning for Betty. There she was in all her gleaming black glory, along the fence at the rear where Marco had parked yesterday. He was going to let her drive that car. He just didn't know it yet. The thought made Alyssa smile.

With a spring in her step, she opened the back door-and nearly walked right into Eric, two big bags of garbage in his hands. "Damn, sorry," he said, almost hitting her with one of them.

"Oh, no, my fault," Alyssa said. "Here." She held the door open for him, noticing for the first time how tall he was.

He smiled as he passed by. "Someone got some sun."

"Beautiful day. I couldn't spend it all inside, now, could I?"

"Nope," he called as he heaved the bags into the Dumpster. He dusted off his hands and brushed his brown hair back off his face. "You here early?"

"Yeah. I wanted to talk to Pete for a minute before things get busy." They headed inside, the air-conditioning soothing Alyssa's warmed skin as the door closed behind them.

"I think he's in his office." Eric paused at the door to the kitchen. "But, hey, if you have time, stop back by in half an hour or so. Pete asked me to show you how we set up the spread in the green room. We need to get done in there before the band arrives."

Alyssa nodded, excited to see that space. Yesterday, the band had arrived early, so Pete had skipped it during her tour. "Would love to. Thanks, Eric."

He winked. "You bet, Scotty."

Alyssa groaned. "Oh, no. Tell me you're not a Trekky. The 'beam me up' jokes aren't coming next, right?"

His expression froze, amusement mixed with uncertainty. Truth be told, Eric was a cute guy. Not breathtaking like Marco, but he wore a smile and a pair of jeans nicely enough. And even though he seemed a little shy, he was funny.

Alyssa burst out laughing at his deer-in-the-headlights imitation and started down the hall. "What is it with boys and Star Trek anyway?"

"James T. Kirk was a god among men," he called after her.

"Oh my God. Your inner geek is safe with me." She threw him a smile as she turned down the next hall.

And crashed right into Marco. She squeaked as her body collided with his from hips to nose. His arms came around her back, steadying her while she regained her footing. Her apology died in her throat as his scent and heat and touch overwhelmed her.

He nearly jumped away from her. "You're here early."

Was she having deja vu? It was running into Eric all over again, although Eric had sounded way happier about seeing her than Marco did. She shrugged, finding it hard to focus on words when the black button-down he wore emphasized the broad expanse of his chest and the bulk of his arm muscle underneath the rolled cuff. "Just wanted to be prepared," she finally managed.

He pressed his lips into a line and shifted his feet. His gaze made a quick scan from her toes back to her eyes, and her body came alive, stomach flipping, heart tripping over itself.

Damn, if a simple glance-and a scowl, at that-could elicit such a strong reaction, imagine what it would feel like if he ever looked at her with lust, or love. She shivered. "Well, uh..." She stepped past Marco. "I'm gonna go drop off my stuff."

"You do that," he said in a low voice.

What the hell? She'd let yesterday's gruffness go unexplained, but no way she was accepting this-whatever it was-as their new normal. She turned back to him. His blue eyes went wide, and it drew her attention to the dark circles under them. Something was wrong. Really wrong. The memory of the enormous sadness that had swamped her as they stood in this same hallway last night returned. She stepped up to him and had to tilt her head back to meet his wary gaze-it was the only way she could describe how he was looking at her-but she couldn't help herself.

Slowly, she reached up and cupped his cheek, her fingers extending into the soft edge of his dark hair. She brushed her thumb once, twice over those worrisome dark shadows. "Are you okay?" she whispered.

His gaze bored into hers, so pained, so intense, she struggled to resist averting her eyes.

Marco grabbed her hand and pulled it away. For a long moment, he gripped her fist between their chests. Expressions she couldn't read played across his face, which was as troubled as it was gorgeous.

"You could tell me," she said.

"Yeah?" he asked, his eyebrows lifting.

Alyssa nodded.

"And why would you understand?"

Alyssa's stomach dropped. For all the world, she didn't know why this suddenly felt like a test, but it did. "Because I'm your friend." And because I love you. It took everything she had to hold in those words. Only the feeling it would be a monumental mistake to say them now gave her restraint.

Van rounded the corner. "Hey, guys." His expression darkened, then turned into an outright grimace as he glared at Marco's grip on her hand. "You all right, Alyssa?"

Marco released her and she said, "Yes, of course."

Then Marco was gone, disappeared around the corner from where she'd come moments before. From down the hall, there was a thump against the back door as if it had been punched open. A moment later, the click of it shutting echoed just loudly enough for her to hear.

What just happened?

All at once, she became aware of Van staring at her. She attempted a small smile and continued down the hall to the locker room.

He followed and entered right behind her.

"Are you sure you're all right?" he asked as he worked at his combination.