“All right, fine. I’ll go.” What could she say? He’d backed her into a corner of her own making.

“I hear fear again,” he goaded.

She made a face at him just as the alarm on his watch sounded. He silenced it and said, “Time for you to go back to work.”

Where had the hour gone? she thought. She kissed her baby and was about to kiss Jack, when she caught herself.

“Got to go,” she rushed to say, and stood. Jack gathered up the baby and followed her into the house, then to the door.

“Diana will be here when you get home. I’ll pick you up at seven.”

Melanie didn’t argue. She’d already learned that Jack was a determined man. She was losing every battle with him.

It was just plain weird to be this nervous, Melanie thought, checking her appearance in the mirror again. She wanted to look good. No, great, she amended, smoothing the line of her green tank dress. She hadn’t worn this since before she was pregnant and was pleased it still looked good. The simple lines were overlaid with a layer of chiffon flecked with gold, dressing it up a bit. Then the doorbell rang and her heartbeat danced a fine tune that told her this night meant more than just Jack’s getting his way.

When she came out of her room, Jack was talking with Diana. Wearing a navy sports coat, khaki slacks and pale-blue shirt, he looked more like a college professor than a member of an elite commando team.

His gaze moved over her from head to toe and back up. “You look incredible.”

“Thank you.”

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He smiled, hoping she believed him. “Ready?”

She glanced hesitantly at the baby and Diana.

“Oh, go on, we’ll be fine,” Diana said, nearly pushing Melanie toward the door.

After Melanie kissed the baby, Jack steered her outside to the car. A few minutes later they were pulling into the parking lot of a quaint restaurant on the waterfront.

“I forgot this place was here,” she said after the waiter had seated them.

“I bet there’s a lot of things you’ve forgotten since you had a baby.”

She had her face in the menu, a defense tactic, he decided. He liked that she was nervous. His own heart was beating double time.

“I haven’t forgotten anything, just lack the time.”

He pushed down the menu. “Didn’t you used to paint?” When she nodded, he added, “When was the last time you did that or went out with a girlfriend? Or soaked in a tub for an hour and painted your toenails or whatever it is that women do to look that great.”

She blushed, unable to be defensive when he complimented her like that. “When I didn’t have someone else to think about,” she said, and met his gaze over the menu. “Are you going to spend the evening showing me the error of my ways—or are we going to have dinner and be adults?”

Jack’s smile was slow in coming and he sat back in his chair, ordered wine and nodded. The rest of the evening swept past them in a delightful blur. They talked of everything except marriage and their baby. They debated politics and she learned more about the Armed Forces and the restrictions it puts on the men and women who serve. He told her about his teammates, and of the few who were married, he mentioned their wives. He spoke quietly of an old mission, leaving out a great many details, she knew, but it was nice to have him confide in her at least that much. His face lit up when he talked about Lisa, his mother and late stepfather, but when it came to his real father, he changed the subject to woodworking. He wanted to show Melanie some of the things he’d made, but they were in storage, along with his tools. It made her see that other than his bachelor-officer’s quarters he had on the base, he had no real home. It left her stinging inside, because he was a good man and deserved more than he had right now.

She told him how she’d handled her broken engagements, how hurt her parents had been that she’d been betrayed, then she scolded Jack for calling her father.

“He already likes you,” she admitted. “Though when I was pregnant, he was ready to hunt you down.”

Jack just smiled, unaffected. “With a gun I’ll bet.”

Melanie didn’t respond to that, not wanting to ruin the evening. “Whatever you said to him, he’s keeping it secret. He won’t tell Mom or me.”

“Good. It’s between us.”

Melanie’s look was wary, but Jack wouldn’t give an inch.

“A guy thing,” she said at last. “Okay. I won’t pester.”

“You wouldn’t get it out of me, anyway. I’m trained to withstand pleading and tears.”

Melanie laughed at his teasing, dined on incredible seafood and drank a little too much wine. When the meal was over, they decided to skip the movie and take a walk on the waterfront. The gnarled oaks were dripping with Spanish moss and lit with tiny lights, the wind warm and balmy as it rolled off the river.




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