Her Kind of Man: Navy Husband / A Man Apart / Second-Chance Hero

“I…I’m—” Shana hesitated when she saw Jazmine staring at her with pleading eyes. She’d folded her hands as if in prayer, and Shana’s resolve weakened. “I’ll need to check with Catherine before I take a whole day.” Shana instantly felt guilty; she’d invested her life savings in this business and she shouldn’t be running off for a day of fun. She should be at work.

“Ask her,” Adam urged.

Shana turned away from the phone and came face-to-face with Catherine, who had her hands on her hips. “Go. I’ll manage just fine. It’s only one day, for Pete’s sake.”

“But…”

“Aunt Shana,” Jazmine said pulling on her arm. “Just do it. We’ll have a blast.”

Shana wasn’t nearly as sure. That night, long after Jazmine was in bed and she herself should have been, she e-mailed her sister.

Sent: June 24

From: [e-mail]

To: [e-mail]

Subject: Jazmine, Adam Kennedy and me

Dear Alison,

As you probably already know, I’m going off on a day trip to Victoria, British Columbia, with Jazz and Adam. Basically I got talked into it, and I’ll give you three guesses whose fault that is. Your daughter could talk circles around Larry King. Mark my words, that kid will have her own talk show one day.

Yes, Adam Kennedy will be there, too. I don’t mind having him around anymore. I put up a good fight, let him know I wasn’t interested in a relationship and even made a point of telling him about Jazz playing matchmaker. He listened politely and agreed with everything I had to say. The least he could’ve done was argue—just kidding! Without even trying, he’s worn down my defenses. I have to admit I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve spent with him. Twice now, after he’s visited Jazz, he’s stayed for a cup of coffee and we’ve talked. There hasn’t been a hint of romance, although, yes—I’m attracted. I definitely feel we have some chemistry, but I’m too preoccupied (and too scared!) to do anything about it.

Okay, I’ve bared my soul. It’s your turn. What’s up with you and this Commander Dillon? I know you, Ali. You wouldn’t have mentioned him at all if you didn’t care, so I repeat—what’s up?

It’s almost eleven and I should be in bed. Adam’s arriving very early. I offered to drive over to his place, but he said it was no trouble coming to get us.

Write soon. Jazmine and I both look forward to your e-mails.

Love, Shana

Less than twelve hours later, Shana was on a midmorning ferry that had left Port Angeles for Vancouver Island. An excited Jazmine jogged up and down the outside deck while Adam and Shana drank cups of coffee inside. They were seated on wooden benches, across from each other.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she muttered. The alarm had rung at four that morning and they were on the road by five.

“Did you see the Olympic Mountains?” Jazmine dashed inside shouting—as if they could possibly have missed them. “I learned in class that some of those mountains have never been climbed or explored.”

This was news to Shana, but she wasn’t much of an expert on Washington State history or geography.

“Do either of you know about Point Roberts?” Adam asked when Jazmine threw herself down on the bench, sitting next to Adam and across from Shana.

Both Shana and Jazmine shook their heads. “Never heard of it,” Shana said.

“It’s a little piece of the United States that is geographically part of Canada.”

“What?” Jazmine frowned. “I don’t get it.”

“The United States and Canada are separated by the 49th parallel at Washington and British Columbia. There’s a small point of land that drops below it. That’s Point Roberts. Maybe we can go there sometime.”

“So it’s in Canada but not really?”

“Take a look at a map and you’ll see what I mean.”

While Jazmine walked over to examine the wall at the other end of the ferry, where a map of Washington was posted, Shana sipped her coffee and smiled at

Adam. “She idolizes you, you know.” Adam shifted on the hard bench and crossed his arms. “As it happens, I think the world of her, too.”

It was confession time for Shana, although what she had to say was probably no secret to Adam. “I was jealous of that in the beginning.”

Adam’s gaze held hers. “And now?”

“Now…” She hesitated. “I appreciate the fact that she has you. She needs a strong male figure in her life, especially with her dad gone.”

“She’s come to love you, too, Shana. And it’s all happened in remarkably little time. That says a lot for you, I think. You’ve been patient with her and you’ve managed to find just the right approach.”

His praise brought a sheen of tears to her eyes. Embarrassed and wanting to hide the effect of his words, Shana quickly blinked them away.

“Listen,” Adam said, lowering his voice. “There’s something I should probably tell you. There’s a rumor floating around that several of us could be transferred to Hawaii. I’ve wanted to go back for quite a while—ever since I left, really. I just wish the timing was better. I should also tell you it could be soon.”

“No,” Shana cried, unable to hold back the automatic protest.

Everyone in the immediate vicinity seemed to stop and look in their direction.

Adam leaned forward and reached for her hand. “Dare I hope that response is for you as well as Jazmine?”

Shana ignored the question. “I guess I should congratulate you, then—since this is an assignment you want.”

“What about you, Shana?” he pressed. “Will you miss me?”

He wasn’t going to drop this as easily as she’d hoped. “Of…course.” The lump in her throat was growing as she dealt with the coming disappointment—her own and Jazmine’s. This would devastate her niece.

“I’ll miss you and Jazmine, too.” Adam’s eyes held hers, and he brushed his thumb over her hand. “I’ve enjoyed our visits. Especially those talks over coffee.”

As the old expression had it, hope sprang eternal. “It’s not a for-sure decision, right? I mean, there’s a possibility you won’t be going.”

“I wouldn’t count on it.”

“Oh, well,” she said, doing her best to seem nonchalant about this unexpected turn of events. He’d probably known for some time and was only now free to mention it. “I guess that answers that.” She tried to speak lightly, concealing her sense of loss.

He grinned sheepishly. “I have to admit that Jazmine’s matchmaking plans didn’t upset me nearly as much as they did you.”

Her responding smile felt a little shaky, which was exactly how she felt herself. During the last few weeks, she’d come to like and trust Adam, and just when she was feeling comfortable with him, he made this announcement.

Adam switched seats so that he was sitting next to her. “I probably shouldn’t have said anything about Hawaii yet, but I wanted you to know as soon as possible, so we can prepare Jazmine.”

“No—you did the right thing.” Until she’d learned that he might leave, Shana hadn’t realized how much she’d come to rely on Adam. She and Jazmine would be on their own for the next four and a half months, and just then that felt like an eternity.

“Hey, guys,” Jazmine said, running toward them. She flopped down on the wooden seat. “I found Point Roberts on the map! It’s really cool, isn’t it?”

“Really cool,” Adam agreed solemnly.

Shana didn’t know how a whole day could pass so quickly. Victoria was everything she’d heard and read. Although she’d never been to England, she imagined it must be like this. They explored the harbor, rode a horse-drawn carriage through the downtown area, had high tea at the Empress Hotel and toured some quaint little shops. In one of them, Shana couldn’t resist buying a made-in-England teapot covered in delicate little roses, while Adam got each of them a sweatshirt with maple leaves dancing across the front.

“I loved the carriage ride best,” Jazmine told them on the ferry ride back to Port Angeles. “I wish we had time to visit Butchart Gardens.” She waved a brochure she’d picked up. “The pictures of the flowers are so beautiful. I always wanted a garden.…” She leaned her head against Shana and closed her eyes. Within moments she was asleep.

Shana carefully eased the girl off her shoulder and gently laid Jazmine’s head down on the seat. Lifting the girl’s legs, she set them on the bench, then covered Jazmine with her jacket. Her niece looked angelic, and Shana’s heart swelled with love for this child. She felt protective and proud. Jazmine had taught her so many lessons about love.

Adam slid over so Shana could sit with him across from Jazmine. The day had been wonderful but, like Jazmine, she was tired. When Adam placed his arm around her, she gave in to the urge to rest her head against his shoulder. It was an invitation to intimacy, she realized, and she relaxed, comfortable and suddenly happy. “Thank you for such a special day,” she whispered as he twined their fingers together.

His hold on her tightened momentarily.

Shana turned her head to look up at him—and that was when it happened. She read the intention in his eyes and knew he wanted to kiss her. At first, she wondered if what she saw was a reflection of her own desire, but instinct told her he felt the same thing. For the briefest of moments, she had a choice—she could either pull away or let him kiss her. Without rational thought, she closed her eyes, lifted her mouth to his and accepted his kiss. As soon as their lips met, Shana knew she’d made the right decision. She felt his kiss all the way to her toes.

His lips glided over hers in a slow, sensual exploration that had her nerves quivering. Luckily she was seated; otherwise she was sure her knees would have given out on her. Then his hands were in her hair, his fingers splayed as he positioned his mouth over hers. When he finally eased away, she needed a moment to regain her composure.

“Wow,” Adam whispered.

“You can say that again,” Shana said, still caught up in the feelings his touch had aroused.

Adam slowly expelled his breath. “Okay, now what?” His eyes burned into hers, as if seeking answers to questions she had yet to form.

“Now…” Shana hesitated. “Now we know.”

“Do you want to play this by ear?”

She pressed her forehead against his chest. “I’m not sure I’ve had enough piano lessons.”

Adam grinned and kissed the top of her head. “Don’t worry, I’m in no rush. We’ll take this one step at a time.”

“First piano lessons, and now we’re out on the dance floor. Can’t you just hold me for a few minutes and leave it at that?”

“For now.”

For now, that was enough. As far as anything else was concerned, she’d have to see what her heart told her.

Chapter Twelve

Ali read her daughter’s e-mail a second time and smiled.

Sent: June 26

From: [e-mail]

To: [e-mail]

Subject: Guess what I saw

Hi Mom,

I had a great day and my favorite things were the carriage (our horse was named Silver) and having tea in a fancy hotel and watching Uncle Adam try to fit his finger in the handle of a little china cup. On the ferry home Uncle Adam and Aunt Shana sat next to each other and I was mostly asleep. They got real quiet and so I peeked and guess what? THEY WERE KISSING. Didn’t I tell you they were falling in love? I knew because Uncle Adam comes by almost every day he has off now.

It gets even better. On the drive home, Aunt Shana had her head on his shoulder and then she didn’t when I pretended to wake up. They were whispering a lot, too. I tried not to listen, but I couldn’t help it. They were talking about Hawaii and I think it might be where they want to spend their honeymoon. Is this cool, or what?

Love ya, Jazz

Ali leaned back in her desk chair, feeling satisfied and more than a little cheered. Her daughter was full of news about the romance between Adam and Shana, and gladly accepted credit for it. She seemed convinced that Shana and Adam were just days away from an engagement—or maybe an elopement. That certainly wasn’t the impression Shana gave her, but she could see real change in her sister’s attitude toward Adam.

In their last conversation, before Alison flew out of Seattle, Shana had told her she’d completely sworn off men. Apparently she’d reconsidered. This time, however, Shana had found herself a winner. Adam was as different from Brad as snow was from sun, and Ali hoped her sister realized it.

Her first indication of the possible romance had been the e-mail Shana had sent full of questions about Adam. Several more had followed the original; all had thinly veiled inquiries about him. Shana had become more open and honest, admitting she felt an attraction even if she hadn’t decided what to do about it. Despite that, Alison saw the evidence of a growing relationship with every e-mail.

Glancing at her watch, she turned off her computer. It was time to relieve Rowland in medical. As she checked her schedule, her gaze fell on her wedding band and she paused. Should she switch it to her right hand—or remove it entirely? She wanted to pass it on to Jazmine one day. Slipping the ring off her finger, she held it in the palm of her hand, weighing her options. No, she wasn’t ready to give it up yet. She placed it on her right hand, instead.

The very fact that she’d questioned wearing her wedding band was a sign. She would always love Peter but her life with him was over. She supposed her uncertainty about the ring had something to do with Commander Dillon, too. She didn’t want him to believe she was married, but it might be safest if he did…Still, moving the ring that represented her love for Peter to her right hand was a compromise.

As far as she could tell, this feeling of hers for Frank Dillon was completely one-sided. If he’d noticed her lately, he hadn’t given the tiniest hint. He couldn’t. One thing she knew about Commander Dillon was that he lived and breathed for the Navy. He wouldn’t go against regulations if his life depended on it, and Alison wouldn’t want him to. But it made for an uncomfortable situation as they pretended there was nothing between them. Perhaps there wasn’t. She couldn’t be sure, but in her heart she felt there was.

Commander Dillon was still recuperating in sick bay. He hated it, longed to get back to work and he was undeniably a pain in the butt. Her colleagues made their feelings known on a daily basis, but Alison simply didn’t acknowledge his bad moods. As a result, the cantankerous commander didn’t know what to think of her, and that was just fine with Ali.

While others avoided him, she saw as much of him as her busy schedule would allow, which was never longer than a few minutes at a time. Her feelings for him grew more intense with each day.

When she stepped into the infirmary, Lieutenant Rowland handed her his notes. “You’re welcome to the beast,” he muttered under his breath. “He’s been in a hell of a mood all day. Doc says he’ll have him out this week, but I don’t think that’s near soon enough to suit the commander.”

That went without saying. When he’d first arrived at the infirmary Frank Dillon had been in agony, which meant his attitude was docile—at least compared to his current frame of mind. After reading Rowland’s notations, Alison pulled back the curtain surrounding him. The commander sat up in bed, arms folded across his chest. He scowled when he saw her.

“You’ve become a rather disagreeable patient, Commander.”

“I want out of here,” he barked.

“That’s no reason to yell. I believe you’ve made your wishes quite clear.”

He narrowed his gaze.

“As it happens, Commander, you aren’t the one making the decisions. You can huff and puff all you want, but it isn’t going to do you a bit of good.” She reached for his wrist and found his pulse elevated. Little wonder, seeing how agitated he was.

“How much longer is this going to take?” he demanded gruffly.

As the lieutenant had reported, their patient was in a foul mood. Having her around hadn’t eased his temper, either. “I understand you’ll be released this week,” she said as she lowered the bed so that he was flat on his back. She needed to examine his incision. By now he knew the procedure as well as she did.

Ali carefully peeled back the bandage to check for any sign of infection. With the tips of her fingers she gently tested the area while the commander stared impatiently at the ceiling.

“This is healing nicely,” she assured him.

“Then let me get back to work.”

“It isn’t my decision.”

He sounded as if he was grinding his teeth in frustration.

“I can’t stand wasting time like this,” he growled.

“Can I help in some way?” she asked, thinking she could find him a book or a deck of cards.

“Yes,” he shouted, “you can get me out of here!”

“You know I can’t do that,” she said reasonably. “Only a physician can discharge you.”

“I’ve got to do something before I go stir-crazy.” He grimaced with pain as he attempted to sit up.

“Commander, you’re not helping matters.”

He glared at her as though she was personally responsible for this torture. “Just go. Get out of my sight. I don’t want you around anymore, understand?”

She hesitated. “I’m responsible for your care.”

“Get someone else.”

“Commander,” she tried again, but he cut her off.

“Get out!” He pointed at her. “And that’s an order.”

Alison swallowed down the hurt as she walked out of his cubicle. His words, harsh and vindictive, rang in her ears during the rest of her shift. He didn’t want her anywhere near him and he wasn’t afraid to say so. Her stomach twisted in a knot, and she felt like a fool for having made assumptions about mutual feelings that obviously didn’t exist. Not on his part, anyway.

She didn’t blame Frank for wanting to be back on duty, but he’d taken all his resentment and anger out on her. That wasn’t fair, and it added to the hurt Alison felt.

Silently she watched as the corpsman delivered his dinner tray. Dillon glanced at her, then turned away, as if he found the sight of her repugnant.

Thirty minutes later, when she walked past, she noticed that he’d barely touched his meal. She considered reminding him that he’d need his strength, but he wouldn’t want to hear it. And she wasn’t willing to risk another tongue-lashing.

Twice more during the course of her shift, Ali resisted the urge to check on him. Frank had been very explicit about the fact that he didn’t want her company.

When she’d finished, she returned to her quarters and curled up on her bed. After her shift she usually wrote Jazmine and her sister, but not tonight. Instead she reviewed the conversation with Frank.

She told herself it was silly to have her feelings hurt by his rudeness, that he didn’t mean it, but she couldn’t help taking it personally. Earlier she’d always shrugged off his abrasive manner, and she couldn’t understand why today was so different. Probably because she’d let her attraction to him get out of hand.

Ali wouldn’t be surprised if he was released the next morning, which was just as well. In a little more than four months, she reminded herself, she’d be home with her daughter and soon after that she’d be a civilian. This was an unsettling thought because Ali loved the Navy, but her resignation was necessary. Jazmine needed her, and Alison had given the Navy all she had to give, including her husband.

As she’d suspected, Commander Dillon was released the following morning. Alison hated that his last words to her had been spoken in anger, but she tried to forget it. She wished him good health, but he was out of her life now, and it was unlikely they’d see each other again. Perhaps in another time or place they might have made a relationship work. But not here and not now.

Of more interest was the romance developing between her sister and Adam Kennedy, and as soon as she could, Alison logged on to the computer to check her e-mail. She could count on hearing from Jazmine at least once a day.

To her delight, there was an e-mail from Adam, too, but as she read it, her pleasure quickly evaporated. Adam feared that now his shoulder had healed, he was about to be transferred. He’d told Shana, but didn’t have the heart to mention it to Jazmine until he got his papers. Almost in passing, he added how much he’d enjoyed getting to know Shana.

This was dreadful! Jazmine would be devastated if Adam was transferred out of the area, and she wasn’t the only one. Shana was going to be just as disappointed.

With a heavy heart she read her daughter’s chatty e-mail next.

Sent: June 30

From: [e-mail]

To: [e-mail]

Subject: Update—sort of

Hi Mom,

Aunt Shana said we could plant a garden! She said we could grow vegetables and flowers. I don’t want to plant green beans because then I might have to eat them. Zucchini would be all right, though. Will you give Aunt Shana your recipe for baked zucchini? Tell her to add more cheese than what the recipe calls for, okay? You had a good recipe for green peppers, too, didn’t you? I could even eat those raw, but I like them better stuffed.

I think a garden will be lots of fun, don’t you? Uncle Adam said he’d help. Isn’t that great?

See you soon.

Love, Jazmine

Alison didn’t know where Shana would find time to start a garden. As it was, her sister worked from dawn to dusk, but the plans for this latest project showed her how hard Shana was trying with Jazmine. Somehow, the two of them had managed to talk Adam into helping. How much he could do was questionable, since he couldn’t risk damaging his shoulder again, but he seemed a willing participant.

The last e-mail came from onboard ship. Not until she opened it did she see that it was from Commander Dillon. Ali stared at his name for a moment before she read his message. Five words said it all. Thank you for your excellent care. Commander Frank Dillon.

“No,” she whispered. “Thank you, Commander.” She had much to be grateful for. Because even if this was as far as it went, Frank had shown her that her heart was still alive.

Sheer weakness had prompted him to send Alison Karas that e-mail, Frank thought as he returned to his stateroom at the end of his shift. Frank was not a weak man, and he was irritated with himself for more reasons than he wanted to count.

He knew he wasn’t a good patient. He just couldn’t tolerate lying around in bed all day. He wanted to be back on the job, doing what he enjoyed most, contributing his skills where they were needed. If his appendix was going to give out on him, he would’ve preferred it to happen while they were in port.

The worst part of his ordeal wasn’t his ruptured appendix and the subsequent surgery. That he’d come through with only minor difficulties. But he wasn’t sure he would survive Lieutenant Commander Karas. After all these years on his own, without female companionship, committed to the Navy, he was finally attracted to a woman. Strongly attracted. She invaded his dreams and haunted his waking moments. Every day for damn near a week she’d been at his bedside.

He didn’t like it. Just when his mind had started to clear and his system was free of those drugs they’d given him, he saw something he hadn’t noticed earlier. Her wedding ring. It shook him.

That first time they met, Alison Karas hadn’t denied being married and she’d worn a wedding ring—on her left hand. He stared at the computer screen. Married.

He’d forgotten about it until this week. Then, when he’d remembered—and realized he was fantasizing about a married woman—he’d lost it. Even worse, she’d moved the ring to her right hand. What did that say about her? He’d been impatient to get back to his duties before, but after he saw that wedding band, he was downright desperate to escape the infirmary. There’s no fool like an old fool, as they said.

His anger had turned on Alison and he wanted her as far away from him as possible. Later he regretted that outburst. She’d done nothing to deserve his tonguelashing. But he found it difficult to be civil, and all because he’d realized there was no hope of any kind of relationship, let alone a permanent one.