Page 29 of Sloane

Another reason I’d never had a girlfriend. I didn’t want to have to worry if there was someone else keeping her bed warm while I was away. It was just easier not to be in a relationship.

“For you, too.”

I reached for her hand and smiled. “Letters help.”

“So why don’t you think your letters would help the other person?”

I recognized she was talking about herself, even though she didn’t say so, and I wondered if I was keeping her from dating other men.

I kind of hoped so.

Was that selfish?

Probably.

But I really liked her.

“Maybe they would,” I gave her a pointed look. “For the right woman.”

~~~~

A small cluster of brass walked in the conference room not long after I did, and I stood to salute.

Lieutenant General Thompson nodded his head at me, “Captain Davidson.”

“Sir.”

“Have a seat.”

I surveyed the bars and stars on the men’s uniforms. I’d been expecting my lieutenant, and maybe a major general. The number of high-ranking men in the room, including General Thompson, had my spidey senses tingling. Something was up.

I guess I should have known when I was summoned stateside three weeks earlier than I’d planned. But, in my defense, it wasn’t the first time I’d been called home before my men for a debrief that could have been done over satellite communication.

But as the commanders laid out the upcoming mission, I understood why I’d been summoned in person.

This shit was going to be dangerous. There was going to be no room for error. And it wasn’t something you sent over electronic communications.

“So, we’ll get you on a transport back Monday morning,” General Thompson said as they stood.

“Sounds good, Sir.”

I saluted again, but as I dropped my hand to my side, I knew it was anything but good.

Once they left the room, I slumped back into my chair.

The timing of this mission couldn’t be worse. For once in my life, I had someone I wanted to come home to and there was a real possibility I might not.

Why did I have to be overseas now?

As soon as I thought it, I conceded that if I hadn’t been overseas, Ashley never would have written to me in the first place, and we would have never met. I had to take the good with the bad.

A first lieutenant who I knew lived off-base offered me a ride back to Ashley’s. I tried to engage him in conversation as we drove along the highway, like a civilized person would do when someone was doing them a favor, but it was hard. My thoughts were all over the place.

One minute I was cursing my luck.

The next I was chastising myself. Danger was synonymous with my entire company’s existence—especially where we were in the world. This wasn’t new.

But this new mission for a few elite squads was. And the risk level even more elevated.

---