He laughed. “Better than how some guys think we pilots get paid—by the length of something else,” he wryly answered. “C’mon, you got a bag checked?”

Dar nodded. “One, yeah. I was going to carry it on, but the flight was so full, they made everyone check everything.” She followed his striding form toward the baggage claim, dodging the crowd headed in all directions.


Tropical Storm 395

“How’s Gerry doing?”

“Dad’s great,” he answered, with a sunny grin. “He can’t wait to see you, either. He was really rocked that you decided to take him up on the invite. So was Mom, she was busy quizzing him on what stuff you liked. He had no idea, so we called your secretary.”

Dar burst out laughing. “Oh god, I’m in trouble. She probably told your mother I like broccoli and spinach greens—she hates the way I eat.”

He grinned. “Exactly. She did, and Mom got kind of suspicious—

remembering you like she does. So she called around some more and somehow got hold of an assistant of yours.”

“She did, huh?” Dar bit back a grin. “Bet that was a different story.”

“Heck, yeah! And, boy, was I glad, ’cause I hate broccoli,” Jack replied.

“Candied sweet potatoes are much more my speed.” He parked himself next to the belt and crossed his muscular arms. “Point it out.”

Dar dutifully did so, allowing him to lift the leather duffel from the moving belt and shoulder it. Chivalry always amused her, and Jack’s was the genuine kind. He took her bag because he knew it was his privilege and right to do so, not because he was showing off, or making a point, or any of the other reasons someone like, say, José would have.

It was a guy thing, and, like opening doors, saying ma’am, doffing his hat, or holding a chair, it came utterly naturally to him. He would be utterly bewildered if she’d accused him of chauvinistic behavior of any kind, or protested that she was capable of handling her own baggage. It was an appealingly sweet innocence, and one of the things Dar most liked about the pilot. The fact that he was ruggedly good-looking and had a charming sense of humor didn’t hurt, either. He had blond hair and interestingly dark blue eyes, and when he was being particularly silly, he’d waggle his ears, which were prominent against his crew cut. “So, what’s been up with you?” Dar asked, as they walked towards the entrance. “I hear you got carrier duty?”

He rolled his eyes. “Oh yeah, I sure did. USS Nimitz. I fly out there after Christmas and join her at sea.” He exhaled. “I had to do a nighttime qualification last month, and let me tell you, Dar…that’s the most scared I’ve been since I fell out of that treehouse when I was ten and nearly busted my neck.”

Dar laughed a little. “I can’t even imagine that—landing on that tiny deck at all. But in the dark?”

“In high seas.” Jack shook his head. “I almost lost my lunch through body orifices I didn’t even know I had.” He went out the door and held it open for her, grinning wryly seeing Dar wince at the cold wind that hit her. “Not used to this stuff, huh?”

Dar fastened her jacket and lifted her collar. “You got that right,” she muttered. “I was sitting outside under the stars in my Jacuzzi last night.”

“Well, you’re just a delicate hot-house flower there, ma’am,” Jack drawled, his eyes twinkling. “If you want, I’ve got a heavy overcoat in the car.

That jacket doesn’t cover much.”

Dar tugged her sleeves down and gave him a crooked grin. “Thanks, I’ll live. I think I remembered to pack my gloves in there.” She was glad she’d chosen to wear her heavier jeans and a pair of boots, and made a mental note 396 Melissa Good to add an extra layer of clothes when she changed.

They got into Jack’s car, a maroon Ford Explorer with comfortable leather seats. He hit a switch on the dashboard as he closed Dar’s door, then walked around and got in, settling his big body in the driver’s seat and starting the engine. “Heated seats. “ He indicated the switch, then he winked at her.

Dar felt the warmth begin to seep through her and she relaxed, stretching her long legs out and gazing at the now impotent weather. “They don’t sell those in Miami,” she commented with a sigh. “You looking forward to carrier duty?”

He nodded. “I am. It means not seeing the folks for a while, but it gives me a chance at some action.” He glanced at her. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m not looking to go drop bombs on someone, okay?”

Blue eyes flicked to his face, and Dar let a tiny, understanding smile cross her lips. “I know.”

“But you train, and train. It would be sort of nice to be able to use that, you know? It’s like if all you could do is run a test-pattern all day, that’d be kinda boring.”

“That’s true,” Dar acknowledged quietly. “I guess it’s just that we all hope all that training won’t be put to use. Even though it’s looking more and more likely that we’ll just end up being the world police force.”

Jack looked at her before returning his attention to the road. “You don’t like that idea?” he asked curiously. “I never thought you had a problem with the use of force, Dar.”

She thought about the question. “You know, I never thought I did either.

God knows I was anxious enough to go into the special forces. I know I wouldn’t have been behind a desk there.”

“You’d have been a rocking SEAL, Dar.” Jack grinned. “Kicked their stuffed-up blue butts, I bet.” He glanced at her. “No offense to your daddy.”

“Maybe.” Dar smiled quietly. “It’s an attractive thought, to have that kind of power—might makes right, all that kind of thing. I think I could have done it.” She remembered wanting to…remembered the taste of blood on her tongue when she’d fairly bitten through it, when her father’s last effort at getting her into the program had failed. She’d been so close. So close to being allowed to join that fraternity. She knew most of the guys, she knew she’d even have had a chance to break down the walls of that male-only thing, because they knew her, they knew her father, they knew her capabilities. They knew she could stick it out when the hard stuff came down, and put a knife where it needed to go.

Instead, stunned and angry, she’d turned her back on the service, and gone a different route. A path no less dangerous, with enemies just as sneaky, but with one major difference. There, she would have been a killer. Here, she was not. She had no idea why, all of a sudden, that mattered.

Jack pulled into the driveway of the Easton family home a few minutes later, the tires crunching on dead branches that lined the pavement. He got out and retrieved Dar’s duffel, then joined her on the walk up to the front door. “We’ve got a surprise inside,” he murmured, his blue eyes lighting up.

“I think you’ll like it.”

Dar eyed him suspiciously. “Jack, I hate surprises. You know that.”


Tropical Storm 397

He grinned, and opened the door. “G’wan.”

Warily, Dar entered, getting an overwhelming draft of warm cinnamon and baking bread that made her remember she hadn’t eaten all day. The inside of the Easton home was large and spacious, a huge entryway leading off into a sunken living room, and directly ahead, the kitchen, where all the nice smells were coming from. Mary Easton poked her head out as she heard the door open. “Dar! Lookit you! C’mere!” She hurried out, sticking a stirring spoon in her apron pocket and smiling. She was a short, round woman with a friendly, open face.

“Hello, mamma Mary.” Dar had to smile back, getting her arms open in time to receive a fragrant hug.

“My gosh, did you get taller?” the tiny woman demanded, looking up at her. “Honey, you look wonderful. You been out on vacation or something?”

“Nope.” Dar chuckled pushing her hair back a trifle self-consciously.

“Just had some time out in the sun recently. We have that down there, you know.”

“Jack, set that bag up in the guest room, then c’mon down and show Dar your new friends.” Mary’s eyes twinkled. “I got some fresh apple bread, you want a slice?”

“Sure, it smells great,” the taller woman replied, setting her laptop down on the low table near the couch and unfastening her jacket. “It’s great to see you.”

“C’mon with me.” Mary latched onto her arm and tugged her towards the kitchen. “I’ve got a dozen things going. I am so glad you let Gerry talk you into coming up here.” She bustled into the large open room, mostly white with blue checkerboards around the edges, and went to the cooling rack near the stove. “Here, put your teeth in this, I know you like it.”

Dar chuckled. “Ah, yes. I hear my staff’s been snitching on me.” She settled on one of the stools and glanced around, appreciating the workmanlike efficiency of the space.

“Now, don’t you be mad at them.” Mary laughed as she handed a slice of the warm, spicy bread to Dar after spreading a bit of butter on the top. “And, honey, I have to just tell you something. That assistant of yours down in Miami is just the sweetest person I’ve ever talked to in my life.”

Dar smiled around her mouthful of bread and chewed a moment, swallowing before she answered. “Kerry?”

Mary nodded. “Yes, what a nice woman. And you know, I mean, I realize it’s a business, and you people don’t probably even talk to each other outside the building, not like we do here in the service, but I think she really likes you.”

“Oh really?” Dar’s eyes twinkled. “What makes you say that?”

Mary beamed at her. “Just her voice…when she said your name, you could tell she was smiling all the time.”

Dar grinned a little. “Well, yes. Kerry is a very, very nice person, and in fact, we’re pretty close friends outside work, too.” Little fink, she didn’t even mention Mary had called. I’ll have to think up something suitably sneaky to do to her in revenge. “Glad you liked her.”

Jack came back in and tugged Dar’s jacket. “Hey, let me take that for you, 398 Melissa Good and c’mon with me.”

The surprise. Dar amiably stood and shrugged out of her jacket, letting Jack fold it over his arm, then followed him out the back door to the kitchen and down two steps to a utility room. “You ready?” he whispered mischievously.

Dar could hear some small, muffled noises behind the door she was in front of, but she couldn’t quite make out what they were. “Um, sure,” she replied uncertainly, stepping a pace back as he opened the door and moved aside.

A living tide of fur engulfed her legs, and her eyes widened. “Good grief!”

Nine squirming, stumbling, squeaking puppies were clustered around her boots, tugging at them and sniffing her with wildly wagging taillets.

“Go on, say hello.” Jack grinned. “They’re Alabaster’s.”

Dar looked up before she allowed herself the indulgence of dropping to one knee and sorting among the puppies. Alabaster was Gerald’s staid, dignified Labrador Retriever, an animal so pale she was almost white, hence the name. “They’re gorgeous.” The puppies scrambled up her leg, crying, and she slid down into a seated position, letting them climb all over her. “Damn, they’re so cute.” She picked one up, a tiny boy who wriggled frantically as she brought him close, then nibbled on her ear. “Yow.”

Jack set her jacket aside and sat down next to her, attracting his own mini-herd. “Aren’t they?” He scratched a large female behind the ears.

“They’re five weeks old. We’ve got homes for some of them.” He paused, watching the puppy snuggle down in Dar’s arms and gaze up at her adoringly. “Which one do you want?”

Dar looked up from where she was playing with a puppy paw. “No, sorry, I…” She fell silent for a moment, thinking. “Are you serious?”

Jack cocked his head at her. “Sure. Dad and I talked about it. He worries about you, y’know. He thinks a Lab would be perfect for you.” He scratched a puppy’s chest. “They’re loyal, friendly…obedient. You could take them on walks. It would be good for ya.”

Dar didn’t answer for a minute. She gazed down at the small head now nuzzling her chest, its tiny black nose sniffing interestedly at her hair.

Innocent brown eyes blinked up at her, and the small muzzle opened, to reveal a soft, U-shaped pink tongue. First fish, now a puppy? What in the hell’s happening to you, Dar? “Let me think about it,” she finally said, looking up with a wry smile. “I…really appreciate the offer.”

Jack grinned, then turned as Alabaster entered, sniffing after her puppies with a worried Labrador frown. She spotted Dar and whuffed in amazement, then plowed her way through the herd and proceeded to lick Dar’s face in a thorough, professional manner.