All the Right Moves(34)
“I haven’t been a girl in a decade.” She decided she didn’t want to shake his hand but she wouldn’t be rude. “I’m Cassie,” she said, then glanced at John. “Devil?”
“Call sign.” His grim expression made it clear he didn’t want to explain further. Not now anyway. “His name is Kevin.”
Kevin set his glass on the bar, then somehow stumbled over his own foot, nearly knocking the glass over. He just laughed and said, “Scotch-rocks for me, bartender.”
John cleared his throat. He didn’t seem upset, just trying to keep a straight face. “You driving?”
“I’m not drunk, so don’t worry about it.”
“There you are.” Nancy came from behind Kevin and slipped her arm through his. “I haven’t talked to you all night.”
“Nancy.” Kevin gave her a sloppy grin. “My favorite hostess. Where’s that son-of-a-bitch husband of yours? I hope far away.”
“I’m a bit warm. Mind if we sit inside?” She smoothly steered him toward the glass doors and mouthed a thank-you to John and Cassie.
John waited until they were in the house to turn and catch Cassie’s arm. His kiss surprised her. It was brief, but no less shocking. Someone had to have seen them. Speechless, she gazed at him, and he looked as if he might’ve surprised himself. “You really do look beautiful.” Lowering his head to peer at her through his lashes, he said, “Believe me?”
“Hmm, not really. You may have to repeat it.” Her bluff would’ve been more effective without the nervous laugh.
Amusement gleamed in his eyes. “Now or later?”
Neither of them had checked to see if anyone was watching.
She elbowed him, then sipped her drink. “This is good, by the way.” She glanced at the sliding doors, hoping Nancy’s evening hadn’t been ruined. “Does Kevin work with you?”
“Indirectly.” His expression tightened. “He doesn’t fly anymore. In a few months he’ll have put in his twenty and he’s out.”
“I thought he looked older than the rest of you.” She glanced across the pool. Funny how the guys all seemed to share a certain image—physically fit, yes, but also the way they carried themselves. Nobody would mistake them for ordinary airmen. Kevin was different. He looked...soft. “Would you say most people retire after they reach the magic number?”
“Not necessarily. Depends what their military job is and whether they have something else lined up in advance.” He sipped his beer, and she followed his gaze toward the backyard.
A willowy blonde wearing tight leggings under a filmy tunic waved to him. She’d been one of the women who’d sporadically kept an eye on John.
Like the men, the women shared a particular image. And like Kevin, Cassie was odd person out. She wondered if John was thinking the same thing.
“I know it’s early but do you have plans for a second career?”
“I don’t want to talk shop, you mind?”
“No, of course not. I shouldn’t have asked.” She knew better. Talk about ignoring social cues. His body language had shifted and tension had transformed his expression. Though that might still be a reaction to Kevin.
“Hey, you can ask me anything.” He shrugged. “I may not have an answer, but I’ll tell you what I can. Come on, we should go mingle.”
She was not looking forward to rubbing elbows with the beautiful people. No offense to them. Maybe if she weren’t wearing jeans... No, that had nothing to do with it. But these were his friends and his party, and she’d signed up for date duty the minute she agreed to come. With a smile, she said, “Lead on.”
“Thanks,” he whispered.
Cassie had no idea what the gratitude was for, and she didn’t care. Especially not when his big warm hand closed around hers.
9
JOHN DISCREETLY CHECKED his watch. How could they only have been here an hour? It didn’t seem possible. But then he was impatient to be alone with Cassie, so yeah, time was dragging.
Since she seemed to be enjoying herself, he hadn’t suggested they leave yet.
As they mingled, sipping drinks, stopping for introductions and hellos, he couldn’t help notice the reactions being sent his way when Cassie wasn’t looking. Frankly, he was getting annoyed with the inquisitive eyebrow lifts from his fellow pilots and their plus-ones.