Off Base(12)

Beck’s gaze met hers, one dark blond eyebrow cocked as if she’d voiced the thought aloud. Could this man read her mind? Back in the living room, she’d gotten that sense. Best to remember he was apparently one of the Army’s sharpest minds. Not just a peach farmer who not only remembered the manners he’d been taught, but stuck to them like Gorilla Glue.

“Are you sure you won’t stay past Wednesday night’s ceremony, Major Collier?”

The mind-reading major gave a reluctant head shake. “Much as I’d like to stay a while, sir, I need to be back in Georgia. My grandfather is getting on in years and needs help around the farm, harvesting the peaches and such.”

Her father wiped the corners of his mouth. “I try to imagine a mind like yours going toward peach farming and I just can’t. We need you training new recruits, here at Black Rock, passing on your problem-solving ability.”

“All due respect, sir, I put in my time.” His smile matched his good-natured tone. “I think you’d be surprised how much strategy goes into farming. My mind won’t be wasted; I’ll just be switching focus.”

Kenna took a long sip of her Diet Coke, watching Beck over the rim of her glass. No matter how personal or unintentionally condescending her father’s questions became, he kept his cool. Not a stutter or hesitation. He didn’t have to think about his answers because he was telling the truth. Somehow she didn’t have a single doubt of that. Not for the first time since they met, she wondered who would land this man. How easy it would be to trust him if a woman allowed herself.

During the course of the meal, she’d learned more about Beck’s time overseas. His ability to find patterns and devise unique and often diplomatic ways to ended crises. He’d had the option of coming home more than once, but had turned it down. Although Beck had mentioned to her father that going home and leaving behind his fellow soldiers hadn’t felt right, Kenna had a feeling it was more. While the major might be unassuming, she had a hunch Beck knew his talent made a difference. The kind between life and death.

“There’s a ceremony coming up?” Kenna asked, surprising herself. She hadn’t spoken since they’d sat down, unable to fit in a word edgewise around her father.

Beck looked uncomfortable for the first time that night. “There’s a medal ceremony I’ve been asked to attend—”

“Asked to attend?” Her father interrupted with a rumbling laugh. “He’s the honoree. Major Collier is being presented with a Silver Star.”

“Oh,” she whispered, wondering why he’d never mentioned it. Wasn’t an impending honor something a soldier would be proud of? Why did he look so uneasy? “Congratulations, Major.”

“Yes, congratulations,” Tina echoed with a smile as she rose from the table. Kenna stood to help her father’s wife remove the empty plates, but the older woman gestured for her to sit back down. “More whiskey, gentlemen?”

Kenna noticed Beck frowning at her nearly empty Diet Coke. “No, ma’am,” he said. “One was enough for me. It might be a short drive back to the barracks, but it’s still driving.”

Her father leaned back as Tina took away his plate and disappeared into the kitchen. “Have another, son. Kenna can drive you home. It’s on her way to the garage.”

While her pulse began pounding in her ears, Beck’s frown only deepened. “Garage?”

“I live in an apartment above a garage on the south perimeter of base,” she explained, before her father could jump in. “They let me use an empty warehouse downstairs for my work.”

“What work is that?”

Had his voice gotten deeper? Kenna suddenly felt like they were the only two people in the room, everything else blurring into nothingness as he zeroed in on her. Held her still under his regard. Oh God, she was going to drive him home. Just the knowledge that they would share the enclosed space of her car once more made her thighs squeeze together. “I’m a welder. I create metal sculptures.”

The right corner of his mouth lifted. “Yeah?”

Before she could answer, Tina stuck her head out from the kitchen. “Joseph—I mean, Lieutenant General—there is a call for you. Colonel Wheeler.”

“I’ll take it in the study.” Her father slapped his chair’s armrests and stood. Beck immediately followed his lead. “I’m afraid this man is as long-winded as they come.” He nodded at Kenna. “It could be a while, so I won’t keep you sitting here. Both of you get home safe.”

Beck saluted her father and the older man followed suit before leaving the room.

Then they were alone again. The table seemed to shrink between them, as if tempting her to do as she craved—crawl across it and launch herself at Beck. He’d managed to hide every trace of desire for her during dinner, but how would he fare if they touched?

His easygoing demeanor had departed the room with her father. His cheekbones appeared more pronounced and tinged with red, his hands curled into fists.

“Ready to go?” she asked, inwardly cringing at the breathless quality of her voice.

“No.”

“No?”

His eyes cut to the side, then back. “If I stand up, you’re going to see what happens when you look at me that way for over an hour, Kenna.”

“What way is that?”