Debbie Macomber Navy Series Box Set: Navy Wife / Navy Blues / Navy Brat / Navy Woman / Navy Baby / Navy Husband

“I can’t let you go on thinking I could’ve touched another woman after kissing you.” His eyes filled with an emotion so powerful that Lindy couldn’t speak. Gone was the mask—lowered or destroyed, she didn’t know which—and what she saw in his wonderful eyes gave flight to her heart. His look was innocent, youthful almost. Seeking. He needed her to believe him, was pleading with her in a way she knew was foreign to this proud man.

Tears pooled in her eyes, and she nodded, silently telling him that she trusted his word.

The pad of his thumb wiped the moisture from the high arch of her cheek.

“Damn it, Lindy. We’re in one fine mess here,” he said, his voice gruff with emotion. “I want you like hell. What are we going to do?” His warm mouth, only inches from hers, brushed lightly over her parted lips.

Lindy just managed to stifle a groan and kissed him back softly, her mouth lingering over his own, needing his warmth.

By this time he’d wrapped her in his embrace. As though they had all the time in the world, Rush brought her lips down to his own with an agonizing slowness. The kiss was filled with such aching tenderness, such sweet torment that the fresh tears rolled unheeded down the side of her face.

“I should have trusted you,” she told him brokenly. “I should have known.”

“Lindy…don’t cry, please. It’s all right. It doesn’t matter.” He pulled her more completely into his embrace and held her tightly.

The memory of his look when he’d stumbled into the bathroom caused her to laugh and cry at the same time.

“Honey…please. I can’t bear the thought that I’ve made you cry. You are crying, aren’t you?”

Lindy laughed aloud, then sobbed. She reached for his hand to kiss his knuckles. “Did you burn yourself when you spilled the coffee?”

He looked at her as though they should give serious consideration to having her committed to a mental facility. “No,” he said tightly.

“I’m so sorry,” she told him, spreading kisses over the edge of his jaw. “Oh, Rush, I thought horrible things of you. I thought—”

“I can guess,” he muttered, cutting her off.

“But you’re good and honorable and I was so wrong.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “If you had a hint of what I was thinking of doing right now, you’d amend the honorable portion.”

It was difficult to read his expression, but what she saw there caused her to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him with a hunger that left them both shaking.

“Shall I tell you what I’m thinking, Rush Callaghan?”

Chapter 6 (#ulink_b0aa4d50-b9d6-5c7d-ae2e-68636d9d09c5)

“Rush, guess what?” Breathless with excitement, Lindy let herself into the apartment and stopped abruptly, swallowing the remainder of her good news. Another man was standing next to Rush, and it looked as though the two had been arguing, or at least heatedly discussing something.

For the first time in recent memory, Rush didn’t look pleased to see her. Apparently she’d arrived at the worst possible time. Her dark eyes met his and she offered a silent apology. His brief smile both reassured and warmed her.

After an awkward moment, Rush stepped forward. “Lindy, this is Jeff Dwyer. Jeff, this is Lindy Kyle, Steve Kyle’s little sister.”

Jeff resembled a fat cat who had just been presented with a pitcher of rich cream. The corners of his mouth twitched with the effort to suppress a smile, and his eyes fairly danced with mischief and delight. “I can’t tell you how pleased I am to meet you, Lindy.”

“Thank you.” Her gaze moved from Rush to Jeff and then back to Rush, who gave her a fleeting smile that revealed his chagrin. He wasn’t overly pleased about something, but he wasn’t angry, either.

“Since Rush didn’t bother to explain, I will,” Jeff went on to say. “We’re both officers aboard the Mitchell. Rush and I’ve worked together for the past four years.” He hesitated and rubbed the side of his jaw. “Until recently I thought I knew everything there was about my fellow officer, but I guess I was wrong.”

Rush placed his hands in his pants pockets, ignoring the comment. “Jeff and his wife Susan are visiting downtown Seattle this afternoon.”

Jeff couldn’t have looked more pleased. Lindy didn’t know what was happening between the two men, but she’d apparently loused things up for Rush.

“Sue’s having the twins’ pictures taken at one of those fancy studios,” Jeff continued. “She didn’t seem to need me, so I thought I’d stop off and see my good buddy Rush.”

Lindy nodded, not knowing how else to respond.

“How long have you—ah, been living here?” Jeff asked.

Unsure, Lindy’s gaze sought Rush’s.

“It’s not what you’re implying, Jeff.” Rush’s frown was fierce as he glared at his friend. “In case you didn’t hear me the first time, I’ll say it once more. Lindy is Steve Kyle’s little sister.”

Again the edges of the other man’s mouth moved spastically. Jeff looked to be exerting a good deal of effort to hold back his amusement. The more pleased the other man’s look became, the darker Rush’s frown grew.

“I heard you,” Jeff said.

“Isn’t it about time for you to pick up Susan and the kids?” Rush asked in an emotionless tone that was devoid of humor.

Jeff made a show of looking at his wristwatch. “I suppose,” he admitted reluctantly. His gaze drifted to Lindy. “It was a pleasure to meet you. A real pleasure. Next time, I’ll bring Sue along.”

“I’d like that.”

Rush was already standing next to the front door when Jeff left her. Lindy could vaguely hear the two exchange farewells followed by a couple of heated whispers.

“What was that all about?” she asked, once Rush had returned.

“Nothing.”

“Don’t give me that, Rush Callaghan. I know better.”

He lapsed into silence for a moment. “Jeff came over to investigate a suspicion.”

“Oh?”

“How did your day go?”

His effort to change the subject wasn’t subtle, but Lindy could tell pressuring him to explain what had been going on between him and Jeff Dwyer wouldn’t do her any good.

“Oh,” she said, her eyes rounding with excitement. “I nearly forgot.” Her hands eagerly started digging through her purse, tossing aside her compact and eel-skin wallet in her rush. Triumphantly she held up two tickets. “I got box seats for the Mariners’ game tonight.” When Rush just stood there staring at her, she blinked back her disappointment. She’d hoped he’d be as enthusiastic about attending the game as she was. “You do like baseball, don’t you?”

His nod was decidedly absent. “Box seats?”

“On the one-hundred level. A girl I work with got them through the office. She can’t go tonight, and asked if I could use them.” Lindy had been so eager she could hardly make it back to the apartment fast enough, convinced Rush would want to see the Mariners play as much as she did. But looking at him now, she wasn’t sure what to think. “Why are you looking at me like that?” she demanded, a little piqued.

“Like what?”

“Like that…. Just now.”