Page 16 of Ford
Honestly, how could she not have feelings for a guy like Ford? Dark hair, pale green eyes, a sort of get-’er-done cowboy aura about him that only sparked the competitor inside her. He pushed her to be her best, but, yeah,You look beautiful, Red.
She couldn’t escape the memory of his low-toned tenor, the hint of appreciation in his voice when he’d seen her in a dress.
Sheesh, she’d practically melted into a puddle at his sweet words, spoken to her as he escorted her to a fund-raising gala for vice presidential candidate Reba Jackson. Of course, they’d really been on site to stop a bombing—andhoo-yah,mostly succeeded—but still, his compliment fell through her to her bones and settled there.
He cleaned up pretty well himself in a gray suit, gray tie, spiffy and smart.
My, my.
So, yeah, she might have dragged out her memories of watching her mother put on makeup and dabbed on some mascara, a little lipstick, and for Pete’s sake, she was pitiful.
She was not her mother. She did not need a man to make her complete or fulfilled or happy.
Scarlett reached into her backpack, pulled out a tissue, and wiped her lips.
Better. Normal.
Just friends.
Beside her, a motorcycle pulled up, parking in the stall next to hers. She recognized the Native American master chief even before he pulled off his helmet. Tall, handsome Chester Nez bore the regal appearance of his Navajo ancestry. He was named after his grandfather, a windtalker with the Army back in the Second World War, but the man was easily forming his own legendary status inside the SEAL community.
He stowed his helmet in the seat of his bike, and it brought to mind riding behind Ford on his Kawasaki Ninja. Just a short hop to a barbecue that Cruz had been hosting, but she’d never forget wrapping her arms around Ford’s lean, strong torso.
Just friends. Mmmhmm.
Nez noticed her, leaned down, and tapped on her passenger side window.
She smiled at him and rolled the window down. “Hey.”
“Hey. You okay?” He wore a gray T-shirt and his B-NWU pants. It only accentuated all the hard planes of an active-duty SEAL. “I just heard you got personal leave.”
“Had a family thing. Still working it out…” She sighed, glanced toward the shed. Back to Nez. “You were out of country?”
His lips made a tight line of non-commitment.
“Berkowitz has been talking.”
“Oh.” He frowned. “He shouldn’t be doing that.”
“He just said that there was an incident. Everything okay?”
“Just the usual. But, yes. Mission successful, and we all came back in one piece.”
Seagulls stalked the parking lot for tidbits, and the sea had rolled in the scent of brine, seaweed, and saline. A bright sun suggested a beautiful day.
She should take a swim. Especially since she still had two weeks on her personal leave, if she wanted it. Get in the best shape of her life before she started swim school…
“You okay, Scarlett? Ford tried to get ahold of you after the political rally, but your instructor told us you’d been fast-tracked to Pensacola. I figured your leave was to get ready for your intake.”
“My mother was killed in a car accident—I had to figure out what to do with my half brother.”
That admission, bold and brutal in the light of day, had her looking away from Nez. When she looked back, his dark eyes were on hers. “And what are you going to do?”
She blew out a breath. “I’m not sure. Social Services took him. Said I needed to provide a more stable home environment.” She didn’t know why she was telling him all this. Maybe in hopes that Ford would drive up any moment. She glanced into the parking lot as a truck pulled in, her heart falling a little when she spotted Sonny at the wheel.
“Yeah, that’s a tough nut with the Navy.”
“I’m thinking of separating. My ETS is coming due, so it’s time to sign a new contract or walk away…”