Ashfall (12 page)

“Mally, don’t let this…” He gestured. “Don’t let what’s happened take everything away from you.”

“Everything?”

“This situation. Long Valley.”

She tossed a smirk at him. “When did you get so damned well adjusted?”

“I’ve got my faults.”

“Such as?”

“I’m flattered they aren’t readily apparent to you.” When she smiled but said nothing, he said, “I’m stubborn as hell. Got that one from my father and my mother. I’m a stickler for being on time.”

“Even though you were late calling me on the radio?”

“Yep. I hate being late, and I’ll admit that I get impatient when other people are.”

She could admire the being on time part of the equation. “What else?”

“I’m a little too obsessive compulsive when I load the dishwasher. I’ve got to unload it and reload it because almost no one does it right.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Really? I don’t care about stuff like that. What else are you obsessive compulsive about?”

“Not much else. At least not pathologically.”

“So where did you get this obsessive compulsive thing when it comes to loading a dishwasher?”

He shrugged. “My mother was worse. She ironed sheets and the bed corners had to be squared off and shit. The list is endless. The military sort of compounded that impatience with things not being in order.”

“Wonderful.”

“The last few years I’ve worked some of it out. Hell, what am I saying? I’ve worked a good chunk of it out. You can’t be in pararescue and not have flexibility.”

She nodded. “Makes sense.”

He frowned. “I’m still not happy with you going out with us when it comes down to it.”

Her eyebrows went up. “What?”

“I mean the idea that you’re out there with us in danger.”

“I’m going out again tomorrow.”

“I know. Doesn’t mean I like it. But you were fantastic today.”

“Flattery, sir, won’t necessarily get you everywhere.”

He laughed, and the sound vibrated deep. “My grandmother always said to live by the Golden Rule.”

“Do unto others as you’d like them to do unto you?”

“That, too.”

Another chuckle left her. “Okay, there’s another golden rule?”

“Yeah. When you can’t think of a damned thing to do, just dance until the idea comes to you.”

His eyes softened, a look in them she couldn’t define, but that set her on fire. She wanted to eat him up but without all the consequences that would come with such a drastic step.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and she took advantage of the sound to stand and go to the window. Drizzle ran down the glass. She heard a shuffle behind her and Adam turned on an MP3 device he’d docked into speakers on the desk. Soft classical music came out.

She rubbed her neck as he turned around. “You okay?”

“I’m stiff. Sore.”

“You need to let off some steam.”

He fiddled with the MP3 player until she asked, “What are you doing?”

“Gotta find something just right.”

“For what?”

“Dancing.”

Discomfort spiked inside her. “I don’t dance.”

“Who says?” He threw a smile over his shoulder.

She heaved a sigh. “I don’t dance because I suck at it.” He fiddled with the MP3 player and found a song she didn’t know. “Some kind of hip hop?”

“Yeah. One of the few I like. It’s called Pony by Guinuwine.”

“Never heard of him.”

He threw a grin back at her. “Song came out over twenty years ago. Are you offended by explicit songs?”

“No.” She couldn’t resist. “Bring it on.”

She took inventory of his ripped frame. His broad back made an inverted triangle down to a trim waist and those jeans molded perfectly against an incredible butt. She liked that his jeans fit right—they weren’t gangsta sloppy nor too tight.
Just. Right.
A hot tingle coiled in her belly.

He started to move, and from that point she couldn’t stop staring. Smooth and intricate, he made each dance step in sync with the throbbing beat. She’d always envied people who possessed a sense of rhythm and timing, who could dance with a confidence she’d never known.

She felt the music, the thump and grind in her heart. In her skin and bones. He pumped his hips. One. Two. Three times. Heat vaulted into her center. The lyrics, with their subtle but impossible to misunderstand sexual connotation added to the excitement racing into every happy place in her body.
Oh, my God.
Mally thought she’d explode. She didn’t
want
to want him, but she did. Reality screamed loud and clear. Whether she admitted to it out loud or not, this man was hot. She bit her lower lip as he executed an acrobatic move she couldn’t have described if her life depended on it. He stopped dancing suddenly and grinned as he headed for the fridge and found another water.

“That’s amazing,” she said. “You’re very good.”

A sheepish grin passed over his mouth. “Thanks.”

The little boy smile got to her and she said, “Are you showing off?”

“For you. Yeah.”

For you.
So he wanted to impress her. One part of her mind couldn’t wrap itself around the idea. That meant this totally ripped, drop-dead hunk cared what she thought of him. It didn’t matter how many times he told her, showed her. If it was possible to feel both powerful and humble at the same time, she was feeling that now.

“Why would you do that?” she asked.

“Because I think you’re interesting. Hot. Totally annoying.” He threw a grin into the mix. “Because you’re making me crazy.”

“Annoying? Crazy-making?” She laughed softly. “I suppose I am.”

He placed his water bottle on a table. “What is it? Did my dancing freak you out?”

She swallowed hard. “Yes. I mean…no. You’re an incredible dancer. Where did you learn all those moves?”

“When I was in high school I belonged to this glee club where we sang and danced. Kept me out of trouble.”

Her mouth did pop open then. “Seriously? I never would have pictured you in a glee club.”

“Yep. I always liked to sing and dance. I got a lot of ribbing from the football team. I was a member of the team, too. Some guys called me gay because I was in glee club, which was bullshit.”

He found a low, throbbing jazz song that spelled sex in each second.

He strolled toward her and held his hand out. “Come on. Let’s dance. Pretend the world outside is a lot more hospitable.”

Mally’s fingers slipped into his light grip, and she allowed Adam to draw her into his embrace. Though his arm went around her waist, he cupped her other hand against his chest. Heat flickered just under that subtle, undemanding touch. He held her lightly, and she appreciated that. Looking up into his eyes, though.
Oh, wow.
That was hard. His gaze told her one thing she knew without question. He wanted her in the most carnal tangle of lips and limbs. A parade of sensual need coaxed her to follow his lead, to swing and sway. Still she kept her emotional distance. She couldn’t afford to become too attached to him. Attachment to anyone right now wouldn’t make sense when danger rode high and hard and fast.

“Would the General approve of this?” she asked, only half kidding.

He frowned. “I don’t know, but it isn’t his business.”

“Two of his contractors doing the two step? Doesn’t he have a policy against it?”

A smile warmed his face. “This isn’t the two step darlin’. But to answer your question, I doubt he’s thought about his contractors mixing it up on the dance floor.”

“Okay. It’s shuffling along the floor. A barely moving hug.”

“No.
This
is a hug.”

Before she could blink he slipped his right arm more firmly around her waist, and with his other hand he cupped the back of her head and drew her to his shoulder. His fingers slid into the hair at the back of her neck, cradling and cupping. He pressed a soft, sweet kiss to the side of her forehead. She melted and slid her arms around his waist. He felt so good. Every hard, powerful inch of his body touched her. She closed her eyes and enjoyed it. Moments later she eased back and looked up into eyes hot with need. It was then she thought about it. Thought of closing the gap, of throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him. The kisses they’d shared before had soaked her in desire, had made her body tingle and yearn. But she’d resisted a lot of temptation in her life, sexual and otherwise. She could resist more. His lips were so close to hers, his breath fresh and his masculine scent heady to her overheated senses. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d felt this safe, this wanted.

“You all right?” he whispered the question.

“Oh yes. More than all right.”
Oh. That came out more breathy than I wanted.

“You still don’t trust me, do you?” The low rumble of his voice tickled her senses, flirting relentlessly with Mally’s desires.

How did she answer that? “It’s not that I don’t trust you. I…”

“Yeah?”

Oh man.
He hadn’t put an inch between them. So she did. Mally wriggled a little and increased the distance between her and Adam. He released her. She headed to the window and looked out at the rain. Maybe if she didn’t see him, she wouldn’t find him so damned compelling.

“You can deny it all if you like.” His words were even and cool. “There’s something between us. But I made a promise I wouldn’t kiss you again. I won’t.”

Time for some honesty. Or not. “I’m tired. I’ll see you tomorrow. Eight o’clock sharp.”

He took his MP3 player and a bottle of water with him, and when he left all he said was, “See you tomorrow.”

When the door closed she locked it. Not because she worried about what he’d do. She half feared she’d wander down the hall to his room and…well, who knows what would happen then. She decided not thinking about hotter-than-sin Adam Becker was a better idea.

She returned to staring at the rain and pondering everything that had happened since she’d arrived. How long would she need to stay here? When would martial law be dropped? Ever? At some point she’d have to return to her compound to see if her home stayed intact.

In the meantime she’d roll with the punches and keep her hands off the delectable Adam Becker.

Adam groaned as he opened his eyes to a new day. Lying in bed, he shifted and felt each last ache as it penetrated his muscles. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt like this. Yesterday had kicked his ass, and it didn’t make a damned bit of sense. He rolled to his left and checked the clock. Five fifty.

“Damn.” The alarm was set to go off at five. What the hell had happened?

He checked the settings on his phone. He’d forgotten to set the alarm last night. Pissed at himself, he closed his eyes and counted to ten. Naked, he stood slowly.

“Shit.” He rubbed the back of his neck and wandered into the bathroom.

The mirror told a significant story. Dark circles under his eyes. Light perspiration on his forehead. He took a quick shower and dressed, his body telling him the best tactic. He could return to bed and go on sick call. Instead he powered through the weakness. He rummaged through his gear until he located his first aid and medical supplies. He checked his blood pressure and pulse and everything was normal. His temperature checked out at one hundred. Well, that explained a lot.

A knock came on the door, and he went to answer it. Mally stood there, dressed and looking concerned.

“Hi.” She frowned. “You didn’t come down to breakfast yet and I…Mark wasn’t worried but I…”

When she faded off he gave her a half-assed smile. “I overslept. I didn’t set the alarm.”

She peered at him closely. “Is something wrong?”

He considered lying, but brushed off the idea. “I’ve got a fever of one hundred. But I’m good.”

Worry touched her face. “You should stay in bed.”

He shook his head. “Nope. I’m not letting you and Mark go out there alone today.”

For a second she looked as if she would argue, but then changed her mind. “Okay. I’ll see you downstairs.”

He joined Mark and Mally downstairs at breakfast. He gobbled up scrambled eggs. He didn’t talk much either, but then neither did they. By the time they piled into the SUV and took off to patrol, the silence in the vehicle sounded like the inside of a tomb.

“Don’t everyone talk at once,” Mark said from the back seat.

Adam grunted.

“Okay.” Mark laughed. “What about you, Mally? Did you guys argue or something?”

“No.” Mally’s answer was firm. “He’s the one that’s not talking.”

“Okay, kids. Time to get along,” Mark said.

Adam grunted again, not in the mood. “We need to keep our attention on the road and what’s happening around us. Not making small talk.”

Adam glanced in the rear view mirror in time to see Mark’s eyes roll.

“We didn’t argue.” Mally’s voice held amusement. “But I’ll ask some questions. How’s it going with that firefighter you were talking to the other night?”

“What?” Mark sounded surprised.

“The woman. Didn’t you get her name?” Mally asked.

Silence. Then Mark cleared his throat. “No.”

“Lost your chance,” Mally said.

“I didn’t lose my chance. I mean, there wasn’t anything…there,” Mark said.

“Yeah, right,” she said.

Mark made a choked sound. “There wasn’t.”

Adam groaned and glanced over at Mally. “What the hell are you two talking about?”

“There was a spark between them when Mark met her. I saw how they looked at each other,” Mally said.

“You noticed how they were looking at each other?” Adam asked in disbelief. “While we were in the middle of working.”

Mally said, “Yes.”

“Sounds like a girly thing to me,” Adam said.

Mally chuckled. “It is. But in case you didn’t notice, I’m a woman.”

Hell yeah, I’ve noticed. Every minute of every damned day.

“You’re just deflecting.” Mark’s voice was defensive.

“About what?” Mally asked.

“How you feel about Adam,” Mark said.

Adam almost growled. “Shit, O’Day. Did someone cut your balls off? Talk about girly.”

Mark said, “Yeah, yeah. Screw you, Becker.”

“Like
you
said before,” Adam said dryly, “you’re not my type.”