Loving An Airborne Ranger (4 page)

Another week went by with no sign, so Lisa began making her plans to move.  She still didn’t know where.

One of Lisa’s friends invited her over for dinner.  She got a sitter for Kyle and drove to the friend’s home.  When she arrived, she was greeted at the door, exchanged hugs and air kisses with Susan.  “Come on in.  There’s someone I want you to meet.” 

Susan’s husband Bill stood and hugged her.  “How are you doing?”

“We’re doing fine.  She looked at the other guest.  “Hi, I’m Lisa Turner.”

“Tom Herndon.  Nice to meet you, Lisa.  Susan has told me about you.”

Susan walked into the room, “I see you two have met.  Bill is new to the troop and we’re introducing him to some of the old-timers.   Bill just got here from Fort Rucker.  Bill, Lisa’s husband was a Night Stalker.”

“Old-timer, am I?  Thanks a lot, Susan.  I never get mad, but I will get even.”  Everyone laughed.

They had dinner, then coffee, and everyone sat around talking about people they knew, places they had been and so on.  Glancing at her watch, Lisa said, “It’s a school night, I’d better get back and let the sitter go home.”

Tom stood and said, “I’ll walk you to your car.”

“It isn’t necessary but thank you.”

“I could use some air anyway.”  He walked with Lisa to her car and held the door for her.  As she got in, he asked, “Could I give you a call sometime?”

“Tom, I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t go out with pilots.”

“Oh, I understand.  I didn’t know.  You be careful and it was nice meeting you.”

“Thank you,” was all she said.

When she got home and let the sitter go, she automatically checked Chuck’s house.  There were no lights.  The evening had opened her eyes to one thing.  If she stayed here, her friends were going to try matching her up with the single and divorced men.  This was not something she wanted.  She made up her mind.  She was moving back to Texas when the time came.  Knowing her mother would probably be doing the same thing Susan just tried wasn’t something she looked forward to, but at least they wouldn’t be pilots.

Two weeks later…

One afternoon she returned home from the Post Exchange and saw Chuck’s car in his driveway.  She felt relief, pleasure and apprehension all at the same time.  She was relieved he was safe; pleased he was home and apprehensive at what this would mean in their undeveloped relationship.

The evening passed and there was no call or visit. 
“Well, after all, you told him not to call,” her little inner voice said
.  
Well, he could be a good neighbor and let me know he’s back
. 
Would you listen to that?  Now I’m carrying on conversations with myself.  I need a shrink. 

The car was gone. 
“Good grief, I’m practically stalking him.  That’s it.  I’m crazy.”

The doorbell rang.  It was Chuck.  “Hi.  I picked up some barbecue and slaw and potato salad.  Would you like to join me?  I promise to behave.”

“I would love to.  What time?”

“Whenever you’re ready.
  It’s in plastic containers so it won’t take any time to prepare.”

“Kyle’s
taking a nap. I’ll be over when he gets up.”

“Okay.  See you then.”

“Chuck?”  He turned.  “I’m glad you’re back.”

“Thanks.”

She went through the usual cleanup of Kyle and freshened her makeup, grabbed the half empty bottle of wine Chuck had brought to her house, and went next door.  Dressed in shorts that revealed his muscular legs strengthened by training, and a “Go Army” tee shirt that revealed his powerful chest, he invited them in.  He had everything set up on the patio table.  The barbecue was covered with tin foil; the other food was in quart size plastic containers.

She asked how his mission had gone, and he said it was okay.  It was a prisoner rescue and that was all he could or would say.  She wanted to ask why he hadn’t called to ask her to look after his mail and his house but chose not to.  Conversation was not as lively as it had been in the past.  She had lugged a folding chair for Kyle but just let him roam free in the yard for the time being.

She helped uncover the dishes, and accepted the glass of tea offered.  They helped themselves to the food and with a minimum of conversation, began to eat.  Neither brought up the trip to Nashville, nor the ensuing events.

She told him about the dinner at Susan and Tom’s house and Susan’s attempt at matchmaking.  “Are you going out with him?”

She thought that question to be rather personal, but she said, “No, he’s a Night Stalker pilot.”

After several failed attempts at
attempting to jumpstart the conversation, she decided to be blunt.  “Why did you ask me over tonight?”

“I wanted to see you,” was all he said.

“But you’re not going to talk?”

“I’m talking.  What do you want me to say?  You sort of defined things and
I’m still in the Army so nothing’s changed.”

“We’re friends.  Friends talk.”

“I wanted to be more than friends, but I’m not going to leave the Army.  I like the Army.  It’s what I do and I’m good at it.  Not everyone gets to do what they like, so I consider myself fortunate.”

“I seem to be making you uncomfortable.  Would you like me to go?”

“If that’s what you want.  I’m not much for playing games, Lisa and I don’t understand this game you’re playing.  You’re not ready or willing to take the risk we might have something special in the making and I’m not about to give up something that I really like and am good at so that leaves us in a stalemate.”

“Thank you for being honest, even if it was rather blunt.  I appreciate it.”  She gathered her things and said, “Good night Chuck.”  He didn’t reply.

The next morning, Lisa went to Post Housing to discuss moving.  She was pleased to find the government would pay for moving her household goods, and also they would pay for storage for up to a year from the date of death of her husband.  If she wanted storage beyond the year, it would be at her expense.  When she moved back to her home town, she would have about three months to find permanent housing.  She decided to have the household items stored in Clarksville until she was permanently located.

She called her mother and dad that evening and told them she had tentatively decided to move back home.  They were very pleased and said, “We have plenty of room for you here. 
It’s will be so nice with you and Kyle here.”

“Mom, I want to get a place of my own.  We don’t want to put you out.”

“You won’t be putting me out, there’s plenty of room.”

“We’ll stay with you but only until we find a place.  It’s going to take me two weeks at least to get things ready to go.  I’ll let you know when I have a definite date.”

* * *

Chuck came home from work and the movers’ van was in front of Lisa’s house.  While he watched, men carried furniture out of the house and into the van.  He knew she
would need to move out, but he hadn’t thought about it recently so it came as a surprise.

They hadn’t spoken since the night she was over for barbecue.  She walked out of the house with Kyle in tow.  She saw him and walked over toward him.  “This is it, huh?  You’re moving,” he said.

“Yes, we’re going back home.”

“I’m sorry you made this decision, Lisa.  I really didn’t think this was what you wanted.”

“It wasn’t my first choice, but I finally had to make the call and this is it.  We‘ll stay in a motel tonight and get on the road early tomorrow morning.  It’s a long drive and I’d like to get there before dark.”

“Could I take you and Kyle to dinner tonight?”

“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”

“You’re the out
stubbornest one woman I have ever met.  What’s wrong with friends have dinner on their last night in the same place?”

She laughed.  “That’s one of my dad’s phrases.  It sounds funny coming from someone else.  There’s nothing wrong with having dinner.  Can we leave Gunner in your backyard and we’ll go from here?”

“That’s fine.  What time do you think they’ll finish up here?”

“It will
be six at least.”

“Then why not come to my house instead of making an extra trip to the hotel and back?” 

“We’re going to stay at IHG here on Post.  It’s no big deal.”

“Come on, Lisa.”

“Okay,” she said after a few moments’ hesitation.  “We’ll do that.  I packed just about everything fancy and we’d have to find a place friendly to kids.”

“What about Olive Garden? 
If that’s not okay, then Denny’s or IHOP.”

“Either of the three will be fine.”

“Then we can go to Olive Garden, all kids like pasta.”

“You mean busketti?”

“That’s it.”

“Okay, we’ll leave as soon as you get finished over there.  I’ll drop your keys off at Post Housing tomorrow.”

* * *

After a quiet dinner, the drive back was made in silence also.  Kyle had fallen asleep in his car carrier.  As they walked into Chuck’s house, Lisa said, “I’m afraid I wasn’t good company tonight,” she said.  “I guess it’s the anticipation of the long drive tomorrow?”

“You don’t have to go, Lisa.”

“Yes, I do.  I have to get some things straight in my mind and I can’t do that here.”  She put Kyle on the love seat in the family room and turned… right into Chuck’s open arms.

“I wish you didn’t feel that way.”  He bent over and kissed the soft, reluctant lips.  There was no response at first, then her lips parted to let the probing tongue in.  They kissed with a hunger that grew.  They broke apart and took two steps back and sat on the sofa.  He pulled her over to his lap and drew her close.  She kissed him fiercely, as her hands rubbed his neck, and felt the short hair from his military haircut, a soft moan escaping from her throat.  She became aware she was very moist as her juices flowed.

They broke for a necessary breath.  Lisa turned and with her arms around his neck she pulled him down for another kiss.  She
massaged his face.  The soft skin of her palm rubbed across the stubble of the beard grown out since his morning shave.

He looked into her green eyes as he unbuttoned the first two buttons on her top.  He slid his hand inside
the blouse and into her bra.  She felt the heat of his hand through the fabric of her bra.  He cupped her firm breast in his hand and bent to kiss her throat.  She trembled and arched her back, as he took her breast into his mouth and ran his tongue around the nipple.

“Can we go into the other room?” she asked nearly out of breath.  In answer, he picked her up effortlessly and carried her into the bedroom and put her gently on the bed.  He lay beside her and unbuttoned the other buttons on her blouse.  She bent her head as he pulled the blouse over her head and onto the floor.  She returned the favor and unbuttoned his shirt and rubbed her hands over the strong
, rippling chest muscles and the six-pack of abdominal muscles.  She reached back and undid her bra.  Her breasts sprang free, nipples erect.  She raised her hips as he slid her skirt and half-slip down her slender legs.  She kept her hips elevated as he slid her panties off also.  She lay still, revealed  before him.

He began to touch the
smooth soft skin that had been protected from the sun’s rays.  There were no blemishes.  “I knew it.  You have the most beautiful body I’ve ever seen. I could look at you all day.”

“
It that all you want to do?,” she said as she reached for him.

“
Wait,” and he bent to slide his socks off.  He stood, unbuckled his belt and trousers and stepped out of them.  Likewise his trousers.  As he slid his trousers off, his manhood, fully erect, hard and stiff, leaped out and stood at attention.  Then he turned back to the bed, lay down and gathered her in his arms.

Facing each other, they came together for a kiss.  As they kissed, he slid his hand down, brushing the small but firm breasts, pausing briefly to massage the nipple
.  He moved her breasts together and took both in his mouth.  A moan escaped from her throat, deep and filled with longing.  His hands moved on down the firm belly.  He traced the edges of her navel and moved down to the moist, warm opening to her core.  As he inserted his middle finger, she gasped.  Hastily he withdrew.  “Did I hurt you?”

“No, no, you didn’t hurt me.  I haven’t felt this way
for so long I was surprised.”  She clasped his straight, fully erect member, and massaged the head, and slowly moved her hand up and down. 

“Easy there.  You don’t want to do that too much.” 

She laughed playfully and pumped it two more times.  He said, “Let me get some protection.”

“You don’t need it.  I’ve been back on the pill for three months, since the first time you kissed me.”

“You little minx.” 

She drew him into her.  “You’re big!”  She began to move against him.  She thrust
her hips upward to get it all inside.  He was moving in and out when suddenly she tightened from the shoulders to the toes and cried out, rising up to meet him.  One last gasp and she went limp, momentarily.