Friday Evening
1900 EDT
Victor Galindez's Apartment...

"I apologize for bringing you back here...that investigation with Colonel Mackenzie and Commander Rabb took longer than I thought it would," Victor said for the fifth time since he had escorted Austin into his apartment and offered her a seat on the sofa.

"I told you before it's fine," Austin assured him as she walked around the living room studying the few pictures and personal effects on the wall. She stopped in front of one of an older Hispanic woman surrounded by four beautiful women. "This must be your mother and your sisters."

Victor walked up behind her as he unbuttoned his uniform shirt and slipped it off. "Yeah, that's them...I took it over Christmas vacation last year. I don't get home to see them much and we were all together."

"It's a wonderful photo, you're very talented," Austin turned unaware of how close he was to her and stepped against his solid chest. She looked at the white cotton material of his T-shirt for a little bit then lifted her eyes to look at his face.

Victor smiled at her brushing a soft kiss over her forehead before he turned and left to go to the bedroom and change. He didn't expect Austin to follow him and it wasn't until he'd stripped out of his uniform and stood in his T-shirt and briefs that he noticed her in the doorway.

"Hey," he said softly feeling heat creep into his face as he fumbled to open his dresser drawer and get some jeans.

"Hey yourself," Austin's voice was soft and dreamy as she watched him. God he looked good. It had been a long time since her last semi-serious relationship and she wondered if that was why she was feeling the way she was.

"You can come in and sit if you want to...I just wanna grab a quick shower...I'm a little grubby."

Austin shook her head. "If I come in Gunnery Sergeant we are never going to make it to dinner."

He watched as she drifted away from the door and back into the living room judging by the sound of her soft footsteps. He didn't often consider sleeping with a woman so soon after he'd met her. His mother had raised him too well for that. Mama Galindez was no fool, she knew her son probably would not wait until he was married to have his first sexual experience so she had spent her time schooling him in being responsible. Part of that responsibility involved several strict lectures against casual sex.

"It's a moment meant to be shared by two people who love one another...don't cheapen it by making love to just any woman Victor," he muttered to his reflection in the bathroom mirror echoing his mother's words as he reached in to turn on the water in the shower.

One time he'd ignored her advice back when he was in boot camp and he'd regretted it deeply. His first leave and he'd hooked up with someone at a bar. After a few beers and some pretty suggestive talk he'd wound up in a dank, musty motel room with the woman. Neither of them had felt a thing and Victor had felt guilty about it for a long while.

After the water had reached the proper temperature he stepped under the warm spray letting the pulsing drops ease the tension from his neck and shoulders.

Meanwhile Austin settled back on the sofa reaching for the TV remote figuring she could catch some local news while she waited. Not that she was a big fan of what went on in the world, but it paid to be informed on occasion.

Ten minutes later Victor emerged smiling and even more handsome in a blue denim shirt and faded jeans. "Let's go...it's only three blocks from here: we can walk."

"Sounds good...it's beautiful night out there," Austin followed him to the door smiling when he opened it and held it for her while they talked about trivial things as they went to the lobby of the building and out onto the sidewalk.

Feeling brave Austin linked her arm through Victor's resting her hand on his forearm. "You don't mind do you?"

"Not at all Austin," Victor answered covering her hand with his free one.

"Good...maybe later I can collect on that hug you promised me Wednesday."

"You can collect on it now if you'd like," Victor offered stopping on the sidewalk.

Austin's stomach rumbled saving her from having to give a reason that she didn't want her hug right that minute. "Later would be better."

"I guess so..." Victor chuckled as he started down the sidewalk again.

"You'll love this place...it's got the best food," Victor promised as he held the door again while he ushered Austin inside the little storefront restaurant.

"It smells heavenly," Austin sighed slipping into the chair Victor held out for her.

"Since this is really kind of our first official date I think we're obligated to do all the first date stuff like tell about ourselves and have awkward pauses in the conversation," Victor teased as he took his seat across the small table from her.

"I don't mind telling you about myself, but I think we moved beyond the awkward phase when I followed you into the men's room."

"The head you mean?" Victor corrected making Austin roll her eyes.

"Do you know why it's called the head?? I asked Bud and he couldn't tell me. Usually he knows all that stuff," Austin demanded in a pouty voice.

"I'm not sure...I can find out though if you really want to know."

"Please: I want to know why I can't call it the bathroom like a normal person."

"You can call it the bathroom if you want," Victor soothed reaching across the table for her hand stroking the back of it gently with his fingertips.

"Sure I can. Every time I do you or Harriet correct me," Austin lost interest in her tirade at the feel of Victor's fingers on her skin and sighed deeply looking into his eyes as a small content smile formed on her lips.

Victor smiled back, seriously thinking about moving his chair around beside her when the waiter came to take their order.

"Trust me to order for you?" Victor questioned.

"Of course."

"Okay...we'll start with the Calamari...then the Szechwan chicken and shrimp platter...Pork Lo Mein and the Ginger beef."

"And to drink?"

"Just water for me," Austin answered. If she had any alcohol at all she was not going to be able to keep her hands off Victor.

As the evening progressed Austin was quite sure she wasn't going to be able to keep her hands off Victor no matter what she did. He told her about his mother and four sisters, his first stint in the Marines followed by his return to civilian life and his second career as a Deputy Sheriff in Taos New Mexico.

"I can't believe one of your own men really shot you in the butt..." Austin said lacing her fingers with his across the table. "It must have hurt so much."

"Only when I breathed...after that I enlisted again. Figured my fellow Marines were trained not to shoot their own. I was on my way to another cushy civilian job when I met Colonel Mackenzie...and she brought me before Admiral Chegwidden thinking I'd make a good Office Manager."

"I am going to have to send her flowers," Austin murmured.

"Why?"

"For bringing you into my life..."

"I think the person who should get flowers for that is Lieutenant Sims, Austin. What's say we pay and go buy some flowers for our favorite matchmaker?"

Austin nodded and got to her feet feeling a thrill of pleasure glide up her spine when Victor put his arm around her shoulder leaving it there as he paid the bill and they went back into the warm summer evening.

True to his word he took her to a flower shop and they picked out a nice arrangement of carnations for Harriet including a card that simply said Thanks.

They left the shop and Victor produced a single pink rose from behind his back handing it to Austin. "For you."

"Oh Victor...oh it's beautiful," Austin cooed beaming at the sweet gesture all the way back to his apartment.

"Do you want me to drive you home now?" Victor asked as he opened his apartment door for her.

"Not really. I noticed you'd rented the movie Double Jeopardy. Maybe we could watch that?"

"Sounds good to me...let me put your rose in some water," he said kissing the top of her head before he took the rose and went into his little kitchen.

He returned and smiled in bemusement to see Austin still standing by the door. "Everything okay?"

She nodded and he moved closer to her wrapping his arms around her pulling her against his chest squeezing just until he heard her soft sigh of pleasure.

"Consider yourself hugged Austin."

"This feels nice," she answered, her voice slightly muffled because her face was pressed against his chest.

He stepped back a little and hooked a finger under her chin tilting it up so he could see her face. "Anytime you need to be held Austin...I'll be there."

Austin smiled tightening her arms which were wrapped around his torso. "Right back at you Victor."

Victor kissed the tip of her nose before growling playfully "And if Tiner ever asks you out again I'm going to put his six over his shoulders."

"Right after I do," Austin retorted closing her eyes as his lips moved over her cheek toward her lips.

"Then we're in agreement?"

"About that...yes," Austin mumbled in between kisses. "We can negotiate the rest of it later on."

"Aye Ma'am...now let's get to the movie."


*************************The End...for now :)*************************