Chapter 5
EIGHT MONTHS AFTER DELPHI
The Branagh Alumni ate lunch weekly at the Pentagon food court, usually organized by Brit. On Mel’s third day, Brit showed up at Mel’s office to personally enforce her attendance. Mel grabbed her lunch out of the fridge and followed Brit’s prattle as she led her to the cafeteria.
Mel trailed behind Brit as she navigated the rows of tables. They came to a large, round one in the far corner. Mel recognized about half the people. Two men in Air Force camouflage had their backs to her, deep in conversation.
“Everyone remembers Mel Vong-Martin, right?” chirped Brit. Waves and hellos greeted her in response.
When the two airmen turned around, Mel’s jaw hit the ground. She didn’t recognize the one on the left, but Shawn sat on the right. He launched himself out of his chair, a wide grin on his face. He swept her into a hug that made her feel like a marshmallow, fresh from a campfire.
Brit must have known. Looking back at Brit, her friend unsuccessfully hid her smile. “Shawn swore me to secrecy,” she explained.
“Our mission ended early. I PCSed here last week,” he said.
Mel’s lungs expanded with bubbling joy. He was stationed here! A warning voice cautioned her not to get too excited, but she could only let it temper the thrill so much.
Shawn pulled back to meet her eyes, his filled with affection. Her heart leapt, and she remembered his parting declaration of love. “I was hoping to settle in before seeing you, but I saw you on the calendar invite and I couldn’t wait.”
Mel opened her mouth to speak. Behind him, every pair of eyes watched them, several eyebrows raised, appreciating the drama.
Their embrace was anything but professional, and far too familiar for most friends.
The excitement turned to ice at feeling on display.
For a building that represented both of their entire careers, this was not the right place to climb him like a koala. Mel shrank out of his arms.
“I’m very glad you’re back,” she croaked. Ugh, that sounded so tepid. His expression drooped. “More than you know,” she added quickly.
“Are you two going to sit down and eat lunch with us?” Brit interrupted. “Go make eyes at each other later.”
Shawn grinned at Mel. “You can ‘make eyes’ at me anytime. Can I take you to dinner?”
“Tonight?” Mel asked, terrified he would make her wait. She wanted to bolt right now, new job be damned.
“I can leave here as early as five,” he said. “I’ll pick you up from your office. But now, lunch.” He turned and pulled out the chair next to his.
“Chivalry! You are a knight in shining armor,” Mel said.
“You’ve seen my armor,” he replied. “It’s all matte black and desert camo. I had to leave the steed at the last post.”
Mel laughed. When Shawn settled into his chair, his hand fell on her knee under the table. He leaned in and whispered to her. “I can’t wait to pull you down off that pedestal and drag you off to my bed.”
“Who’s to say I can control myself that long and we won’t find a supply closet?” she hissed back.
“Don’t tempt me,” he growled.
Lunch was agonizing, in that prying her attention away from Shawn made her physically ill, but she didn’t want to be rude.
His hand on her knee helped somewhat. Finally, everyone began to make excuses to return to their desks, and Mel rose, too.
Shawn stayed by her side and they walked to the escalators out of the cafeteria.
“Unfortunately, I was kidding about the supply closet. My office only has cabinets,” she said, standing on the stair above him.
“Mine, too,” he said. Someone passed the escalator next to them, reminding them how publicly visible they were.
Then he lowered his voice so only she could hear him and added, “But I’m dying to kiss you.
” Another person shoved by. “I don’t think I can stop at a quick peck.
Please tell me your office is on a half-corridor or in one of those side hallways. ”
“I wish. I’m on the second floor of the A ring.”
Shawn sighed. “I’m right next to the health clinic.”
“Guess we’ll have to wait for tonight,” Mel said. She would accomplish nothing this afternoon. Even now, she couldn’t think of anything on her task list. Just him.
“I’ve been waiting for eight months,” he lamented, a hint of a whine in his voice. They stepped off the escalator and continued on toward the windows that looked out onto the center courtyard.
“I’ve been too afraid to hope I would see you again,” Mel admitted as the crowd thinned.
“And now?” he challenged.
Mel might as well go out on that limb. “You said in Delphi that you wanted to know where this goes.”
“I did.” The conviction in his voice brooked no argument. But he didn’t elaborate.
Her office was coming up. A few more yards. Mel swallowed, terrified of the answer to her next question. “Do you still?”
Shawn grinned, shining eyes lighting up his whole face. “More than anything. A week with you will never be enough.”
Mel’s heart practically burst. Not caring about the audience— coworkers or cameras— Mel pulled him into her arms and kissed him.