Streamline (43 page)

“And Jason wants to marry Cameron, but he can’t afford a ring,” she continued. “I think they make a lovely couple.”

“Sounds like you’re moving on without me.” Bitterness spiked his words.

“James — ”

“Mary, listen to me. I want you back in our home. Audrey will be leaving soon, and it’d be ridiculous for you to continue living at Denny and JoAnne’s. And I don’t want our house sitting idle for three months while I’m away.”

“This isn’t about a house, James. It’s about a marriage.” Her eyes welled up, and she turned away.

His heart thudded.

“I don’t know if I love you anymore,” she rasped.

She was throwing him overboard. “Don’t say that,” he pleaded. “I can’t lose you. You saved me, Mary…You’re the only reason I graduated from the Academy. You’re the only reason I get out of bed in the morning. Don’t take my will to live.” She sat for a moment. “You’re making this all about
you.”

Her eyes flared, then softened with pity, and James felt disgusted with himself.

Mary sighed and touched her wedding ring again. “I haven’t made up my mind yet, and I can’t be rushed simply because you’re headed to the Gulf. There
is
one thing you can do for me, for our family, that’ll make me promise not to initiate divorce — in the next few months at least.”

“Tell me what it is, Mary. I’ll do it.” She explained what she wanted and seemed surprised when he readily agreed.

After another moment, she gathered herself out of the chair.

James also stood. He placed his hands in his pockets and looked down. “Can I…can I hug you?”

She froze. After an eternity she nodded.

He folded her into an embrace, and Mary began to sob. He touched her soft hair, contemplating their past and their future. He was going off to war, and they seemed at war as well.

“Be careful, James.” Tears distorted her voice.

Leo saw Audrey on T-court before she could see him, and she’d never looked prettier.

She’d pulled her thick auburn hair up high in a ponytail, and a sleeveless white shirt accentuated the soft curve of her breasts and hard definition of her arms. Eyelets and tiny sky blue flowers detailed the shirt, which she’d tucked into a navy blue miniskirt. Beaded sandals completed her cool summer ensemble. Already sweating in his whiteworks, Leo’s body temperature rose further just looking at her.

Ignoring his mother and her companion, he ran toward his unsuspecting girlfriend. At the last second Audrey noticed him and gave him a dazzling smile. He scooped her up, twirling her around.

In that moment, Leo finally released the tension he’d been holding throughout Plebe Summer. It was now Audrey Summer, and the hairs on his body stood at attention as he held her tight.

“I missed you
so
much,” Leo whispered into her ear, cradling the nape of her neck.

“I missed you even more than that!”

“Good to know you’re still competitive.” He smirked, holding her face next to his, cheek to cheek. Eventually Leo let go to greet his other visitors.

He grinned at his mother, but his smile faded as he noticed Mr. Shale standing next to her. Leo knew his father had been deployed to the Gulf, but he hadn’t anticipated Mr. Shale taking his place. He hugged his mother then reached out to shake his hand. “Thanks for coming, sir.”

“I hope it’s okay I’m here,” Mr. Shale said. “We didn’t want Audrey driving thirteen hours all by herself.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Leo, you must be the handsomest plebe ever to wear that uniform,” his mother said.

He dipped his head, then peeked at Audrey, studying her reaction.

“Do you, uh, do you think my uniform looks dorky?”

“
Dorky?”
Sneaking a glance at his mother, she stammered, “Ah, no, um, you look, um, just fine.”

He’d have to follow up on
that
when they were alone.

“This is a beautiful campus,” Mr. Shale said. “How do you like it here?”

Seeing him reminded Leo again of the pain medication under Benito’s bed. No matter how busy he was with studying, drilling, PT, or trips to sea on patrol craft, part of Leo’s brain was constantly aware of the medication just sitting there, waiting. “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” he said. “I go to bed each night completely exhausted, physically and mentally, having no idea if I’ll make it through the next day. I love it.” His mother and Audrey looked at each other. “Yep, he’s definitely warped.” Audrey smirked.

“Hey! Are you guys ganging up on me?” Leo reached over to tickle Audrey, and she shrieked as his hands groped her midsection.

Pulling her close, Leo sobered. “I better not grow too attached to this place. I almost got kicked out of here already by my company officer.”

“Who’s Second Company’s officer?” his mother asked.

“Lt. Darnell Keaton, ma’am.”

“You’re kidding me. She used to serve under your father in V-Four.”

“She did?” Leo asked. “I didn’t know that. She doesn’t seem to like me much.”

“Darnell’s rather young,” his mother mused. “I think she’s only about twenty-six. I bet it’s difficult for her here as a young, pretty officer. She probably has to act like a tough witch.” Leo shook his head. “That’s
no
act, believe me.” They chuckled.

Glancing at her watch, his mother said, “There’s an informational session for parents soon, and after that I want to show Marcus my old engineering stomping grounds in Rickover Hall. Why don’t you take Audrey around the Yard, and we’ll meet for noon chow?” Leo loved that she was instantly at home at the Academy again.

“Sounds good, Mom.”

The group parted ways, and Leo draped his arm over Audrey’s shoulders as he led her down the sidewalk. When they approached an officer, Leo let go of her and executed a sharp salute. She shook with suppressed laughter.

“What’s so funny?”

“I’m loving Lieutenant Leo.” Her eyes gleamed.

“That’s Midshipman Scott to you, ma’am.” He grinned. “And you better get used to it. I probably salute officers like twenty times a day.

And there’ll be a lot more middies to harass me once the Brigade returns in full force next week.”

On their way to the chapel, Leo cursed under his breath as saw Mr. Sour approaching. The detailer halted, and Leo braced to attention.

“Introduce me to your guest, Midshipman Scott,” Sour commanded.

“Yes, sir. Squad Leader Sour, I’d like to introduce you to Miss Audrey Rose.”

Whiskey shook Audrey’s hand. “You must be Mr. Scott’s girlfriend — the one he talks about constantly.”

“Yep, that’s me. He better not be talking about any
other
girlfriend.” Leo said nothing, not allowed to be part of the conversation as a lowly plebe. Nevertheless, watching Audrey and Whiskey smile at each other, Leo felt grateful he’d given him another chance.

Mr. Sour looked down the sidewalk. “Time to harass another plebe now. Enjoy your stay, Audrey.”

“Thanks.”

As Whiskey walked away, Leo exhaled. “He doesn’t like me very much.”

“He’ll come around. Everybody loves Leo.”

“You obviously haven’t met Lt. Keaton. C’mon, I’ll show you the crypt of John Paul Jones.”

“Oooh.” She batted her eyes in mock anticipation.

“You only wish you went to the Academy too,” he said, smirking.

“I
do
wish I could see you every day.” She snaked her hand around his lean waist. “Especially in this uniform. Yummy.” He slung his arm back over her shoulders. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

“Want to see Herndon Monument?” Leo asked after their tour of the ornate chapel.

“How about your dorm room?” she countered, ogling his uniform.

He sighed. “No visitors allowed in Bancroft Hall. Sorry.”

“Oh.”

“But I can introduce you to my roommate. He’s hanging out at our favorite spot by the water today.”

“Isn’t he with his family?”

Leo grasped her hand and they headed toward the Severn River.

“He’s restricted to the Yard with no visitors. He got fried.”

“Fried?”

“It means he got in big trouble. He’s in the system now, and they might kick him out if he keeps getting in trouble.”

“That’s awful.”

“Yeah. Poor Benito. It would do him good to see his family.” As they neared a hidden cove, the sun glinted off the water, almost blinding Leo.

“Wow, how’d you find this place?” Audrey asked.

“Ah, CS told me about it,” Leo stammered. “He used to come here…with my mom.”

“Oh.”

Once he stepped into the shade of an overhanging ridge, Leo’s eyes adjusted, and he saw Benito. Leo recognized the midshipman manual
Reef Points
in his lap.

“Whatcha studying, buddy?”

Benito jumped to attention, his voice mocking. “Sir, the Honor Concept of the Brigade of Midshipmen is ‘Midshipmen are persons of integrity; they stand for that which is right.’ Brigade Honor Committees are composed of elected upperclass midshipmen, responsible for education and training in the Honor Concept — ”

“Okay, okay,” Leo interrupted, laughing. “Sorry I asked.” He drew Audrey closer. “Benito, meet Audrey Rose.”

“Hi, Benito.” Audrey smiled shyly.

“Well, you’re even prettier than your picture.” Audrey blushed.

“Es una langosta hermosa,”
Benito told Leo, admiring Audrey as she brushed past Benito to step inside their hideout.

“Thanks for calling me beautiful, but I’m not a lobster,” Audrey replied, turning to face him. “Lobsters swim backward.” Benito bit his lip, startled.

When it clicked for Leo, his chest tightened. “Take that back,” he said, crossing toward Benito.

“I’m sorry Leo. I didn’t mean it.”

“What’s going on?” Audrey asked. “Why are you mad, Leo?”

“Tell her why you called her a lobster.”

“No, just forget about it,
hombre
. It was stupid.”

“Tell her!” Leo barked.

Audrey flinched.

Benito looked down. “We sometimes call girls lobsters.” He sighed. “Because all the meat’s in the tail.” After a moment of awkward silence, the lovely sound of Audrey’s laughter filled the air. She shook her head. “Leo, chill out. I already know the Navy is testosterone city.”

“Didn’t that upset you, what he said?”

“I thought it was funny.”

“I really am sorry,” Benito insisted, looking miserable. “Restriction’s making me
loco
, and that was a dumb thing to say.” He scooped up his books and muttered, “I’ll be in Mother B — give you two some privacy. Whiskey’s probably hunting for a plebe to humiliate.” He slunk away.

Audrey laced her hand into Leo’s, unfurling his fist. “You’re scaring me again. I hate to see you so mad. It wasn’t a big deal.” Leo covered his face with his hands. “I guess I’ll have something to discuss in therapy this week,” he said from behind his palms. He crouched to sit cross-legged on a tattered tarp and thumped his hands in his lap, looking down. “I’m sorry I scared you.”

“Stop being so hard on yourself, Leo.” Without thinking he said, “Yes, ma’am.” Audrey giggled.

“Oooh, I like that.” She snickered. “Call me ma’am again.” A mischievous smile surfaced. “I misbehaved, ma’am. I should be punished, ma’am.”

“We can arrange that,” Audrey countered. “On your feet, Midshipman Scott!”

Leo scrambled back to standing. Audrey prowled around him, sliding one finger across his chest. “You’re so hot in that uniform, Mr. Scott. You’re even fitter than the last time I saw you, which is hard to believe.” Her finger slid up and caressed his face with the lightest touch. She gave a dramatic sigh. “My boy is becoming a man.” She tossed her hair. “But how could you almost
golpear
Benito? Make love, not war.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She leaned in close, her mouth inches from his ear, and he could smell the hint of sweetness in her perfume. “You’re the hottest plebe I’ve ever seen.
Caliente
. Sizzling hot. You’re forcing me to break all rules against fraternizing.”

“I won’t report you, ma’am.”

“You better not report this, either,” she added, and shoved him down on the tarp.

He smiled, surprised by her aggression.

“Remove your
camisa
, Mr. Scott.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He yanked off his tunic.

“Now lay back.”

She climbed on to straddle him. The places where their skin touched grew warm. Audrey unbuttoned her shirt and tossed it aside, leaving only her lacy bra.

“Eyes forward, mister.” She crawled up to hover over his face.

Holding her lips tantalizingly close to his, she whispered, “Now kiss me.”

Leo lifted his head and once their lips locked, the force of Audrey’s longing pressed his head back to the tarp. Their legs tangled as he drew her body to his, making it hard to breathe. But he didn’t care.

She was his breath, his life.

Audrey lingered in their kiss as he kneaded the fine muscles of her back, stroking her silky skin.

“Keep…doing…that,” she ordered, between kisses.

“Yes, ma’am.”

His hands slowly traveled south, cupping her bottom as she rubbed against him, making him crazy with desire. Her mouth lowered to press soft kisses on the expanse of his chest, and he could feel his heartbeat skip.

“We have to make this last till Thanksgiving, ma’am.” She paused to look up at him with a smolder in her copper eyes.

“Then you better make it good, sailor.” The tarp transformed into their reunion cruise, and they christened its maiden voyage with tender caresses.

“I’m great at following orders,” he whispered a while later, stroking her back.

“Then I order you to love me like this forever,” she said. Her body had responded to his, sensuous and warm. “I order you to never let me go.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He closed his eyes, pressing her to his chest, reveling in their closeness. Obedient to a fault, he vowed to follow her wishes.

Stationed on the deck plate in the middle of his dorm passageway, Leo shouted a rapid fire chow call on his designated day. “Sir, you now have seven minutes until Noon Meal Formation! Noon Meal Formation occurs outside. Firsties carry swords. The uniform is summer working blues.”

Ms. Nevington stood about fifteen feet away, observing him with her arms crossed over her chest. Those upperclassmen not scurrying to their rooms congregated in the passageway around Leo.