Read Serving the Soldier - Part 2 (An Alpha Military Romance) for Free Online

glanced out his window, then mine, and then pointed.
    “Turn onto Mooring Buoy and then take a left on any of the streets you want. The beaches down there are all perfectly fine.”
    I followed his directions and we eventually ended up on Bass Head Beach. We’d just passed the Marriott Resort and Spa and the Omni Oceanfront Resort, along with other gorgeous properties that I could only imagine in my most outrageous dreams.
    I parked the SUV in one of the resort hotel parking lots, where it tended to blend in with other guest vehicles. As he slowly climbed down from his side of the large car, I got out and then opened the rear passenger door and reached for my makeshift picnic basket.
    No wicker baskets to be found in Jax’s home, which had not surprised me a bit. I had substituted by placing our food into Tupperware containers that I then stacked into plastic grocery bags. I grabbed both the bags, loaded with food, wine, and paper and plastic eating utensils, including two plastic wine glasses. Last, I pulled out an old, rather threadbare blanket that I had found in one of the hall linen closets.
    By the time I closed the door, Jax had ventured around to my side and held out a hand.
    “Here, let me take those.”
    I shook my head. “Didn’t the doctor give you a weight limit?”
    He swore. “Do I look like a baby to you?”
    I smiled. “Not in the least, Jax, but doctors set weight limits for a reason. Any extra pressure added to your spine might cause injury, or at the very least delay healing.” He frowned. No, that was a downright scowl. I shook my head. “Deal with it, Jax. I’ve got it. Now you do your job and find us a nice spot to have a lovely picnic dinner and enjoy the evening breeze like you promised.”
    After muttering under his breath, Jax finally turned, scanned the beach, and then pointed to a spot about fifty yards to the south of the parking lot.
    “That looks like a good spot.”
    I gestured and he led the way, walking slowly over the mounds and dips of sand. He had picked a spot near some sand dunes. The sea grass growing on top of them and along the sides blew gently in the ocean breeze. The sound of the water rhythmically cascading onto the beach made me smile. It was amazing how close I lived to such beauty and yet I rarely got out to enjoy it. I had always loved going to the beach as a child, but I hadn’t been in years.
    Jax took his time navigating the uneven sand, which I was glad to see. I knew that he was still in pain, but what level I didn’t know, and he was too stubborn to comment on it. Maybe later I’d ask, if he was in a better mood.
    We found a suitable spot in the shade of one of the sand dunes. I spread the blanket down on the sand and he slowly sat down and then stretched out, leaning carefully back onto his arms, his legs outstretched. He wore cargo shorts, a t-shirt, and slip-on canvas shoes. I wore a pair of loose salmon-color linen pants and a white, sleeveless, button-down linen top.
    As we got settled, he stared off at the ocean. It looked to me as if his thoughts were a million miles away. I began to take the Tupperware containers out of the grocery bags, making sure to weigh the empty bags down with the containers so they wouldn’t blow away. In addition to the bottle of wine he had requested, I had also packed a couple of water bottles.
    When I turned to glance at him, I was startled to find him watching me. Carefully. “What?” I asked.
    He shook his head. “Nothing, just watching.”
    I smiled. “You hungry?”
    “Always.”
    In a matter of moments, we both had a paper plate in front of us, loaded down with fried chicken, potato salad, and some raw mini carrot sticks. I pulled the plastic wine glasses from another bag, filled them half way with the Merlot, and then carefully set the bases into the sand so they wouldn’t spill. I also handed him a bottle of water and kept one for myself. I had no intentions of getting drunk out here on the beach with Jax