Chapter 2 #2
“They should be here any minute,” April said without looking up from her phone.
“If we get this right, they’ll be kitted out in Sperantes equipment by the end of the summer.
The commissions will be huge.” Only April worked on commission.
Quinton and the Joshes grunted noncommittally, not contradicting her.
April didn’t say anything more, all focus on her phone.
The fog whipped and scattered. Four small vehicles that resembled dune-buggies launched out of the darkness. April looked over her shoulder at her team and beamed triumphantly, her over-whitened teeth gleaming in the light of her screen.
Tires ground against the pavement as the vehicles halted. The MRZRs were the newest Special Forces equipment, fresh off the assembly line.
“Who the fuck are you?” barked the passenger of the lead vehicle, ripping off his headset. This was definitely a bad idea.
The airman climbed out and rose to his full height, Mel wondered how he had fit in the tiny vehicle. With all his equipment, he practically needed his own Humvee.
April stepped forward. “The comms officer said to meet him here,” she said, raising the pitch of her voice to seem sweeter.
Mel had to let them be fooled. She ground her molars together.
“My engineering team is testing a bleeding-edge encrypted radio designed for…” April paused for dramatic effect. “…operations like yours.”
“Yeah, okay. He’ll be here in a minute,” the giant grunted. Sticking his thumbs in nylon webbing over his chest, he planted his feet, body language warning against any sudden moves.
“It’s fine, Lemon,” Shawn said, hopping out of the third vehicle. Black clothing and armor made him unidentifiable, but Mel would recognize his voice anywhere. Three other airmen followed him, and the others stepped aside for him.
A tingle skittered up Mel’s spine at Shawn’s approach. His commanding posture made her mouth water, his arms reminding her of how tight his earlier hug was. Mel shook head to clear the stars from her eyes.
April offered a hand, and Shawn shook it. “You must be Major Walker,” she said. “April Rolfe. Vice President for Elite Solutions at Sperantes. Lieutenant Diaz must have mentioned us to you.”
With the beams from the vehicle headlamps illuminating the airfield, Mel could make out more details around her.
She couldn’t help but to study Shawn. He stood with his hands folded over the armor and radios across his chest. Though politely attentive to April’s aggressive sell, he stood like a statue.
He leaned back enough to be open but not engaged.
April would just take it as a challenge. Mel bit back a groan.
“Boss?” said the man next to Shawn. “Bravo Team is having mechanical trouble. They’ll be awhile fixing it.”
Expletives muttered all around.
“Sorry, Ma’am, but you’ll have to reschedule time with my comms officer,” Shawn said.
“We do so much more than comms,” April said smoothly, about to re-launch her business spiel. The engineers slouched as they prepared to listen to the pitch for the thousandth time. “Since you have some time to kill, I’d love to find a way we could help each other.”
At least two of the engineers rolled their entire heads with their eyes at the double entendre.
Mel raised her hand to pinch the bridge of her nose but stopped and scratched her forehead instead so April wouldn’t see.
Shawn did, though. A smile played at the corner of his mouth for a split second before he shook his head in gentle refusal.
“Ma’am…”
“You know, last time we were here,” April began, waving at the nearest MRZR, “the Marines gave me a ride,” April said.
“I bet they did,” Quinton murmured.
Mel squeezed her lips together to suppress a snicker. One of the Joshes wheezed and fell into a coughing fit. April fixed him with a withering glare. Shawn turned to the first vehicle’s driver.
“MacDuff, you heard the lady. She wants a ride.” He gestured toward the open seat. “Ma’am.” Mel bit her lips to avoid bursting into laughter.
“I didn’t mean me,” April giggled demurely. “Mel here needs some excitement in her life. I want to speak with Lt. Diaz as soon as he arrives so you can get on with your night.”
“I don’t want to impose,” Mel said quickly.
“She’s always trying to pretend she isn’t a stick in the mud,” April giggled. Mel took a deep breath to avoid rising to the bait.
“It sounds like fun,” Quinton said quietly.
“Get in,” Shawn said. “I’ll take Mel myself. Anyone else?” Mel really hoped no one would accept the offer. Without coworkers lurking within earshot, they could truly catch up.
The others only blinked.
“Suit yourself.” He offered Mel his elbow. She stepped forward and took it. Warmth flooded her chest as he led her to his MRZR. Yup, this definitely felt like a teen crush, even though she was thirty-one.
Mel got in and began to connect the seatbelt straps. Shawn took over securing the buckles above and below her breasts. Deft fingers tugged on the free ends to tighten the webbing, and she couldn’t help imagining them sliding into her shirt, caressing, pinching, and exploring.
“Here,” Shawn said. Mel jolted, her fantasy falling away. Shawn held out goggles, and she took them, grateful that the darkness hid her flaming red cheeks.
The other vehicle had disappeared into the haze by the time Shawn threw the vehicle into gear.
“Let’s a-go,” Shawn said in an exaggerated Italian accent.
He slammed the accelerator, and the MRZR lurched forward.
Clouds churned around them as they raced across the field.
Instead of following a wide arc around the field and returning to the start, Shawn veered off onto the grassy embankment.
They crested a steep hill, then dropped down faster than Mel’s stomach could keep up. She shrieked in delight.
Shawn reached over and grabbed her hand. “You okay there?”
Mel squeezed his fingers. “Go faster!”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Shawn squeezed back before returning to grip the steering wheel.
They zoomed through the forest. When the trees parted, the lake stretched before them.
He punched the gas and accelerated. Just before they careened into the water, he wrenched the wheel to the left, kicking up sand and gravel.
They skirted the shore until they came to the far side of the lake.
The moonlight was bright enough to see water rippling, the cattails swaying in the wind.
Shawn cut the engine and climbed out. Mel extracted herself and clambered to her feet.
Shawn leaned back against the brush guard and stared at the lake.
Mel did the same. A breeze whispered through the air, and Mel shivered, though more from uncertainty and awkwardness.
Shawn removed his goggles, and she did the same.
“So… six years,” Shawn started. “What, uh, have you been up to?” He sounded nervous. But he could also be listening to the radio feed in his ear.
“I got into R&D. Cellular, satellites, radios.” Mel was not going to ruin the light mood with mention of her recent divorce in her life synopsis. “I play soccer on the weekends, and I have a cat. I live in Columbia Heights.”
“Still?” He sounded surprised.
“I love it!” Mel defended. “I left for a few years, but I moved back a year ago. Andi is trying to get me to move to Virginia. She just moved in with her fiancé in Old Town Alexandria.”
“I like Old Town,” Shawn said. “What else?” He did not respond to the mention of Andi.
“No fair!” She smacked his arm. “Your turn.”
“Three tours of Afghanistan. Iraq twice. A few places I can’t mention. Today I’m here.” He shrugged. She hadn’t mentioned being divorced, so she couldn’t fault him for not hinting at his relationship status. But she was dying to know.
“What about your social life?” Mel pressed.
Shawn rubbed his neck. “I don’t really have one.
I’m away too much. I spend too much time playing video games and drinking on the beach with my unit.
” He paused, but he looked like he wanted to say more.
Mel waited. “It sounds pretty lame when I put it like that. I’m not unhappy.
I picked this life. I get to do cool things like take beautiful women out on joyrides. ” He grinned at her.
Mel grinned back. “Oh? You do this a lot?”
“Mostly with Lemon. He’s not nearly as pretty.” They both laughed at his joke.
“No girlfriend?” she finally dared to ask. “Wife?”
Shawn shook his head. “It hasn’t worked out that way. You?”
“Do I have a girlfriend?” Mel teased.
Shawn wrinkled his nose.
Mel burst out laughing. “You look like you swallowed a slug. No, I’m not seeing anyone.” Even with her cat, it was lonely.
“Those stuffy DC suits don’t know what they’re missing,” Shawn said. He sounded almost wistful, but that couldn’t be right.
“Neither do those over-tanned Florida girls,” Mel retorted.
Shawn’s eyes met hers. His intense expression stirred something in her chest. His gaze skated up and down her face, on the brink of a decision.
She hoped he was deciding whether or not to kiss her.
Though she had promised herself this was just a silly little crush, Mel’s heart plummeted when he turned and reached around the steering wheel.
“I have a surprise,” Shawn said. The grin spreading across his face held so much hope. “When Diaz said you were coming, I planned ahead.” Out of nowhere, he produced the package of Twinkies. Mel’s heart soared right back up in delight.
“Shawn!” she exclaimed. Shawn opened the wrapper and handed her one. She let her fingers brush his, sneaking a touch. Her arm sizzled with excitement. Mel chided herself that her excitement was just over her favorite snack, not her growing crush on the man next to her.
Shawn mocked a toasting gesture with his and tapped the yellow cake against hers. Raising the snack cake to her lips, Mel’s mouth watered even before the spongy, sugary delight hit her tongue. Mel closed her eyes and moaned. “Shawn…Oh…my… god…”
Shawn dropped his head back. “In all the years imagining you moaning my name like that, it was never over junk food.”
Mel laughed, almost spitting out the bite.
He imagined her moaning his name. For years.
Maybe he had been thinking about kissing her.
Heat roared up her neck in a fit of self-preservation, and she decided not to seize on that tidbit.
“Sorry to disappoint,” Mel said. “If you have a protein bar around here, I’m sure I could fake it. ‘Oh, God, Shawn, kale chips!’”
He let out a despairing groan, probably a reaction to the bad joke. “It sounded better when you were making obscene noises about junk food.”
Mel took one last bite and moaned again, mostly to twist the knife.
His closed eyes were almost a wince, and she hoped she was rattling him— in a good way.
Linking one arm under his, she patted his chest with the other.
“Your armor might be matte black and not shining, but you are my hero. Thank you.” She leaned her head on his shoulder.
He tilted his head to rest on top of hers. “The MRZR isn’t exactly a noble steed, but I’m sure there’s a white horse around here I can borrow.”
“You don’t need to sweep me off my feet,” Mel said, the words a whisper.
He stiffened slightly, and alarm washed through her. Had she said something wrong? Did he think she was letting him down?
Shawn turned toward her, sliding his arms around her waist. “Yes, I do. My biggest regret is that I should have taken my shot with you all those years ago.”
“You say that like I didn’t also miss that chance,” Mel shot back.
Shawn’s eyes blazed, crinkling around the corners.
Relief, joy, and desire warred on his face.
He opened his mouth to speak, but then he flinched like he’d been shocked by a live wire.
The thrill of the moment disappeared. His eyes flicked from her face to a vague spot in the distance.
Shawn stood up straight, his hands falling from her body.
Fucking radio. Someone was talking to him.
He stepped back, and the fog slithered into her soul, carrying disappointment with it.
This was ridiculous. He had clearly intended to kiss her, but it would have been just a kiss, no matter how hot.
Nothing more would come of it. The man was married to the Air Force and lived a thousand miles away.
So why did it feel like finding coal in her Christmas stocking?
She was probably just feeling lonely and nostalgic. She’d blame the moon and the humidity.
“Copy,” Shawn replied to the voice in his ear. Shawn’s attention turned to her. “We have to go back.”
Mel returned to the MRZR— which she now thought of as Shawn’s noble steed— and climbed back into the passenger seat. This time, he did not buckle her in, and she had to do it herself. Had she misread things? Had the interruption diverted them from an awkward moment, rather than a kiss?
Shawn started the engine. Placing a hand behind her headrest for leverage, he watched behind them as he reversed away from the lake.
He re-traced the path around the lake into the forest. Mel realized, belatedly, that she was an adult.
A full-grown, red-blooded woman. If she wanted to kiss him, she could!
Why wait for him like some sort of meek heroine in a chaste romance novel?
But the moment for her to act was gone, ripped away by the breeze as they sped across the sand.