Mitzi's Marine

Except in the bedroom.

Knowing that he couldn’t have her didn’t stop him from wanting her.

She stopped at the foot of his bleachers. “Do you need help getting down?” What made that question worse was the sincerity in her voice.

“I’m not a cat stuck up in a tree. You don’t have to call the fire department, Chief.”

“Allow me to rephrase my question, Calhoun,” she said with equal sarcasm. “Are you coming down? Or am I coming up?”

“Suit yourself.”

She tossed her overcoat, her hat and everything else she carried onto the bench at the bottom. Then she removed her pumps to carry them as she climbed the bleachers in her prim and proper uniform skirt. He leaned back on his elbows and stretched out his good leg as she made her way toward him.

The bleachers were steep and she was afraid of heights. “How’d you ever climb aboard a Seahawk?”

“They’re on the ground when I get in.”

But helicopters weren’t designed to stay on the ground. She had to jump out over water to do her job. And at some point she had to get herself and her casualties back into that hovering helo. There was a lot to admire about a woman who wasn’t afraid to conquer her fears.

When he wasn’t pissed off at her.

CHAPTER FIVE

“WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME?” Bruce asked once she’d reached the top. Mitzi sat next to him, so close they were almost touching. He shifted forward uncomfortably.

“I’m sorry.” She dangled her black pumps out over knees pressed firmly together.

“We spent the entire day in each other’s company. And you never once thought to say, ‘Calhoun, you might want to polish up your brass and head over to the high school tonight.’”

“I said I’m sorry.” The color Dan had put in her cheeks turned to an angry red.

“I’m wearing sweats—”

“It’s not always about you, Calhoun.”

“Then what is it about?” He held her clear blue gaze until she was the one who had to look away first. It was about something more complicated than he could put into words. But it wasn’t like her not to have a few choice ones for him if she was that mad. “He was my best friend, Mitz—”

“He was my brother.” Her uniform jacket hummed. She heaved a weary sigh. “I’m glad you found your way here. I should have told you.”

“That a cell phone in your pocket? Or are you just happy to see me?”

She frowned as she reached into her pocket and pulled out her BlackBerry. “It’s Dan,” she said, checking the number.

“By all means.” Bruce waved her to answer it. The guy had just headed to the locker room a few minutes ago. Had he even left the building yet?