Navy Rescue. Geri Krotow

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СКАЧАТЬ she turned her head into his shoulder. Fear raced through him. This exhausted, drained Gwen was not the proud woman who’d left on deployment eight months ago. Not the good friend he’d had on island over the past several years, the one he’d split the vet bills with.

      “I never doubted that you’d survive this, Gwen.” He couldn’t resist planting a kiss on her head before he lifted her chin to let her see he meant it.

      “Liar.” Her mouth tilted up in its lopsided grin. God, he’d missed her. He couldn’t stop himself from stroking her cheek before he stepped back. He still kept his arm around her, in case she needed the support. His fingers tingled. Her skin, even after months on the run and recovering from the brutal conditions she’d endured, was still the softest thing he’d ever touched, at least in the places the sun hadn’t reached.

      “Maybe I was scared you’d been killed, but I knew if anyone could get out of that hellhole alive, it was you. I never gave up hope, Gwen.”

      Her gaze measured him and he had no doubt he didn’t make the grade. How could he? He’d begged her to leave the navy during her department head tour, the ticket to her XO/CO tour.

      Back off. You’re friends.

      “Homecomings always stir up emotions. Once you’re back on your feet this will feel like a dream.”

      The spark in her eye extinguished and she looked exhausted. “You’re right, of course.”

      Guilt ran a knife through him, leaving another invisible wound. He’d been safe and warm in his bed, working in his office, living on the island Gwen loved so much while she’d battled a monsoon, a missile, terrorists. Yet she’d come back. And she’d saved the lives of her crew, and—

      “The baby. When will you get to see the baby again?”

      “You know?” Her eyes were wide, her mouth open. Her soft, sexy mouth.

      “Of course I do, Gwen.”

      “I’m not sure when. It may be a long while. I can’t believe you already found out about him.”

      He sighed. “I was still listed as next of kin on your Page Two. Because everyone knew we’re still friends, the command kept me informed pretty much every step of the way. Ro gave me any information I wasn’t officially cleared for.” He nodded in Ro’s direction. “Without her I wouldn’t have known you were safe until a day or so later.”

      He also knew that she’d told Ro she didn’t want any visitors at the Madigan Army Hospital, not even her best friend. Certainly not her ex-husband, no matter how solid their friendship was. She’d requested that everyone wait to see her until she got back to the island.

      It had nearly killed him to wait, not to drive down on his own and burst into her hospital room.

      He had a lot of ground to cover if he was going to make things right with her. Although it was nothing like the horrors Gwen must have gone through, during the past six months he’d lived in his own kind of hell. Trying to persuade her to get out of the navy and settle down into his idea of the perfect life had been his biggest mistake. He’d paid for it with their broken marriage. But at this point all of that was inconsequential. Except for his deep desire to make it up to her, to be anything but the pain in the ass he’d been for too long. Gwen’s independence was so important to her that she’d left their marriage rather than rely on him to meet her emotional needs. Needs he hadn’t been capable of meeting, not then.

      The least he could do now was be a real friend—with no expectations.

      “Drew, thanks so much for coming today.” She put her hand on his forearm. “I’m sorry I didn’t want anyone to visit right away, but I thought it was best. I was looking pretty rough when I first got back.”

      He shook his head. As if he’d ever thought she was anything less than beautiful! “Don’t you remember how awful I looked when I got back from downrange ten years ago?”

      “You were tired. And the nightmares weren’t exactly fun for you.” A glimmer of fear flickered in her expression.

      “Gwen, you’re going to be okay. You’ll get through it—I did.”

      “I don’t want you to think you have to take care of me just because of that time, Drew. We’re not married anymore. I’m not your responsibility. About the baby—yes, I found a baby while I was on the run.” She faltered, her eyes downcast and her shoulders slumped. “I want to go home, um, to the house, and talk about it there. Not here.”

      * * *

      “You’re free to leave, Gwen. No one’s going to ask any more of you than you want them to.” He glanced over at the commodore, Ro and Miles. They were huddled in a group several feet away, trying to look as though they weren’t studying every aspect of their reunion.

      Some reunion. He hoped they hadn’t expected a passionate embrace. He and Gwen hadn’t kissed that way since they were both younger, still married, still in love.

      God help them both get through the next few days.

      * * *

      THEY DIDN’T TALK on the drive to the house. Gwen couldn’t get past the weight of exhaustion that pressed on her bones, and thankfully Drew didn’t attempt conversation.

      You’re going home. You’re almost home!

      As much as she told herself the house would never be home again, not with Drew, it was how she felt as he pulled into their driveway. As if she were returning from a regular deployment, home to the safety of their marriage. She’d always felt safe with Drew, regardless of how ugly it got between them.

      “Here, I’ve got your bags.”

      Drew grabbed the two small overnight bags—one she had from the embassy in Manila and the one Ro had sent stuffed with new clothes and cosmetics.

      “Ro went overboard—she bought me so many outfits and girly stuff. I need to thank her and pay her back.”

      “You know she’ll never take any money from you. She was worried that you were living in Madigan Army Hospital gowns and sweatpants from the embassy store in Manila.”

      Gwen laughed as she climbed the wooden steps to the front door. “It was pretty bad, at first, but the embassy staff found clothes that fit me, and as you know, there are some wonderful markets in the PI. They outfitted me with all kinds of summer clothing.”

      “It’s a little too chilly for that here.”

      “Yes.” Actually, she hadn’t paid much attention to the weather or the temperature—she’d been focused on Drew. Early spring on Whidbey was typically windy and chilly. Today the air was still and the sun shone, making the grass sparkle. She’d missed the deep emerald-green unique of the Pacific Northwest. Gwen soaked up the scenery, let it lift her spirits.

      “The door’s unlocked.”

      Of course it was. Drew didn’t see the need to lock the door, ever. It’d always bothered her, his view that if thieves wanted in, they’d get in.

      “So Nappie’s still guarding the place?” They’d shared the dog, a hound mix, along with the parrot, when she’d СКАЧАТЬ