He waved at the group. “What do y’all do?”
“Marine biology. Currently, we’re studying changes in migration habits of whales.”
“Interesting,” Jay said. “You, too, Paulo?”
“Nah. I play volleyball with Toby. We’re on a competitive team in the Cal King tournament.”
“Everyone ready for a veggie burger?” Toby asked.
The food was served and Jay found himself sitting on a large blanket with Alysse on one side and Paulo on the other. The group was all sitting fairly close together around the fire.
“Are you a baker like Alysse?” Paulo asked, after taking a huge bite out of his veggie burger.
Jay shook his head. “No, sir. I’m a Marine.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Does that seem hard to believe?” Jay asked.
“No, it’s just that I never thought a military man would be Alysse’s type,” he said.
“I guess I am,” Jay said. Focusing on his plate.
“I meant nothing by that comment. I was in the special forces before we moved here. Have you been to Iraq?” Paulo asked.
“Yes,” Jay answered, and saw the other man in a different light. They started talking about their respective deployments and places they’d been to. Paulo had gotten out and no longer did anything vaguely resembling what he had in the past.
“How do you like being out of the military?” Jay asked. He wanted to know how other people made the adjustment. It would give him some ideas on how he’d be able to do it if he decided to leave the Corps.
“I love it. But I went in because I’m the second son in my family and I was expected to have some military training. Though I play volleyball with Toby on the weekends, my real career is in wine. My family owns vineyards in Spain and here in California,” Paulo said. “Is it like that for you?”
“I am just a military man,” Jay answered. “Don’t have anything waiting for me outside the Corps.”
“I don’t know about that,” Paulo said, glancing around him toward Alysse who was having an animated conversation with Molly.
“It’s complicated,” Jay said. He didn’t want to discuss his brief marriage to Alysse with a man he’d only just met. In fact, Jay knew he never wanted to discuss that one week in Vegas with anyone, ever. But he did like the thought that other people looked at him and Alysse and saw a couple.
The thought pleased him more than he’d expected it to. This night, while wildly different than any other he’d spent with her, was turning out to be really enjoyable.
“I’m not surprised. I liked the order of military life,” Paulo said. “The discipline I learned there has helped me in my business. And I found that I liked stepping out of the traditional role my family had planned for me.”
“Where is your vineyard?” Jay asked.
“Temecula. Have you been down there?”
“No. I pretty much stay near the base or go into San Diego,” Jay said.
“You should take Alysse to Temecula and go up in a hot air balloon. You will get a nice view of the entire valley. If you do this, you call me and we will treat you to lunch at the vineyard.”
“I will do that,” Jay said, wondering if he could convince Alysse to take a balloon ride with him. He wasn’t good at making romantic gestures and he wasn’t even sure that she’d welcome them.
“Do what?” Alysse said.
“Bring you to my vineyard for lunch,” Paulo said.
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Frida agreed, joining in the conversation.
“I guess that’s decided then,” Alysse said. “When?”
“We’ll have to discuss the details later,” Jay said feeling a wave of panic washing over him. He was still struggling to figure out him and Alysse. Adding more people to the mix right now might be too soon.
“Alysse has my number. You will call me, yes?” Paulo said.
“I will,” Jay agreed.
Toby stood up and everyone finished up the last of the dinner and joined him. “Jay hasn’t been paddleboarding before so I’m going to give him a quick lesson. Anyone else need one?”
Frida raised her hand. “I’m afraid I’ve never done it before either.”
“Follow me,” Toby said.
Jay glanced back at Alysse and she just smiled at him. He knew he was making her happy by doing this and even though it was outside his own comfort zone, he followed her brother down to the water. He wasn’t sure when it had happened but he’d come to realize that he’d do anything to see Alysse smile.