Fuck, I want these guys to succeed.
“Look me in the eye and tell me you can’t do this.” Leaper knew it was too hard to ask a trainee to look him in the eye with this weather, but he was doing it anyway.
“Sir, I can’t see a damn thing. What if—”
“What if! Who gives a shit about what-ifs? Shut off your damn panic button. You have other senses. Use them.” Leaper lowered his voice, so only his guys could hear him. “Listen up, all of you. Sometimes life is scary. You don’t know where danger is coming from.
“Instead of panicking, settle down. Be calm. Take in your surroundings. Hear the sound of your own breath and that of your Teammates. Find peace in the ebb and flow of the water around you. Allow yourself to act and react as needed. When you feel something come toward you, something you know in your gut is not friendly, face it. Respond accordingly and with the force necessary to defeat it.
“Sometimes you need to punch a shark in the nose to realize that fear isn’t being paralyzed; it means acting with intention and awareness, with an appropriate amount of force and then you must reset yourself for the next event. Being calm, logical, and ready, with an instinctual ease, is the key to survival.” That was the life lesson of the day. If these men got this message, they might survive some of the crap coming their way.
Leaper’s crew seemed to take the words to heart as they stilled in the water. Leaper felt the change. Instead of using energy fighting themselves and their own fear, his boys were floating, relaxing. “Bravo Zulu,” he said softly, which means the job is done well.
Moving methodically around each recruit, he reached out and touched them, moved them, or signaled to them until they were following him at an easy, effective pace. When they resumed their original position, everything had changed.
“Now you understand one of your most important weapons: inner calm. If you need to strike out, make sure your aim is true.” With that, Leaper turned suddenly and slammed his fist into the nose of a tiger shark, landing an elbow in the eyeball as the creature turned away in startled, pained frustration.
“Awareness and inner calm are important states of mind, and crucial tools for survival. It protects you and your Teammates,” Leaper said as he swam back to the boat and heaved himself up and over the side. He lay on the floor of the boat, catching his breath and staring up at the heavy marine layer.
He reached for his shirt, mopped his face with it, and pulled it over his head.
“I’m getting too fucking old to be teaching life lessons and wiping asses and pampering them with diapering,” he murmured to himself before he hauled himself into a sitting position to resume watching over his flock. “Okay, men. Now, for the next step.”
* * *
At the Marine Mammal base of Operations, Kerry’s morning was busy with vet checks and preparation time in the feeding shack. She divided her ingredients into piles for a healthy, digestible dolphin meal. She sliced and diced and laid out the rest of her bounty. Then, stirring sheets of gelatin into hot water, she watched them melt. It was all rather soothing.
Her mind wandered for a few seconds. Last night with Leaper… Goodness, it had been mind-blowing. The sex, the companionship, the connection. He was seriously rocking her world.
Her fork pinged against the side of the tin as she stirred, reminding her to check on its progress.
The mixture was almost complete. Touching the side of the tin, she gauged the heat level and added a small amount of cool water before she added the fish.
It didn’t bother her in the slightest that he’d had to leave in the middle of the night. Somehow it gave her time to think and be present in his space, like a free pass to explore and absorb without observation or comment.
Now all she had to do was sniff her arm and she could smell his soap on her skin. It was a nice reminder to carry through her day, especially for her libido. But it was work time, and she needed to concentrate on what was at hand. There were issues to be dealt with and mysteries to solve.
Kerry was concerned about one of the older dolphins. Merry, who was blind and deaf, was exhibiting signs of a kidney stone. If Kerry could find the right dietary mix, it could ease her symptoms.
Merry had spent most of her life as a member of the program, and she was one of the sweetest dolphins they had. Even without two of her primary senses, Merry still enjoyed activity and responded instantly to any vibrations in the water. She was often bouncing her favorite toys around her pen and was happy to have someone join her in a game.
Sometimes a kidney stone could become stuck, and Kerry and the workers would do their best to aid in its passing. Adding several drops of oil to the gelatin mixture as a home remedy, Kerry stirred everything one last time before placing it into the refrigerator. She added a label with Merry’s name and the time it was supposed to be given.
She planned on taking two blood samples today too. Their laboratory wasn’t picking up anything unusual, but Kerry had a strange feeling something was wrong, and she planned on sending the second sample out to another facility to see what they came up with. Her gut told her the dolphin was not well.
As she cleaned up her mess, Kerry heard someone walk up behind her. A voice spoke hurriedly. “I’ve got ten minutes before I have to give my next tour. With three interns out with the flu, I’m in charge today, and let me tell you, I’ve got stacks of paperwork to catch up on. Now, give! Share the details about that deliciously hot man who dropped you and Juliet off at the dock and returned the boat.”
Kerry smiled secretively. She turned to her closest work friend, Emme Marie Stanley, and shook her head. “Can you be more specific? I couldn’t possibly share everything in ten minutes.”
“Seriously, Kerry!” Emme said exasperatedly as she towered one foot taller than her friend. “Get out more and we wouldn’t have to do these info dumps. Being married means I’m living the single life through you, though it’s more like Friends or New Girl.”
“All right, I get it,” said Kerry as she pulled her friend closer. “You have to promise that you won’t tell anyone else.”
Emme stomped her foot. “Nine minutes and counting. Spill!”
“I took Juliet out to give her a bit of exercise and to try out a new set of auditory signals. The wild dolphins, the ones I call the bad boys, came around and took Juliet out. I freaked and tried to follow her by diving into the water. The current caught me, and I ended up four miles from the boat. This…amazingly sexy man dove into the water and rescued me, and I can’t stop thinking about him. He has so much personality. I find myself smiling, just ’cause.” Kerry sat down on the nearby stool and sighed.
“Well, well, I’m upping your status to Rules of Engagement. I’m happy for you, my friend, but be careful you don’t set yourself up. Don’t let your hormones lead the chase instead of your heart and brain, unless all you want is a bit of bump and grind. Never anything wrong with that, as long as you’re sexually safe.”
“Ugh, Emme!” Heat rose in Kerry’s cheeks. “I’m a grown woman. Can’t you think about anything besides sex?”
Emme checked her watch. “Nope. So I still have a few minutes left. Tell me more.”
“He’s totally my type: athletic, tall, lean, and muscular. And his smile…man, it makes me grin too, just thinking about it.” She arched her back. “Between us, I even pulled out my favorite lacy bra-and-panty set. It’s in my bag.” Waving a hand in front of her face, she added, “Your point is valid. I don’t know a lot about him. Maybe I should slow things down and get to know him better. My libido is not thrilled with that idea, because his kisses could melt the polar ice caps.”
“Kerry, just think how much better it will be with more information. You fall too quickly. You tend to think every man you date is a keeper, and in truth, they’re pretty much all visitors, not ‘the one.’ Think about it. They check out the goods, take a sample, and keep on moving.” Emme
checked her watch. “Okay. I have to go. Time to give a tour. Stay strong, girlfriend.”
“Wait, Emme—don’t you think you’re being a tiny bit cynical? Leaper didn’t strike me as that kind of guy.” Kerry felt in her gut that he was different. But maybe I’m being biased. We barely know each other. I don’t want to build him up in my mind, make him into a paragon, and then be disappointed when he falls from the pedestal.
“With a name like Leaper, I’d imagine I’m dead-on with my description.” Emme patted Kerry’s back. “Hang in there, Kerry. I could be wrong.” She paused at the door. “Oh, my brother is arriving from New York City today. Let me know if you want a hookup there.”
“No, thanks.” Kerry swallowed the knot of indecisiveness in her throat. “Have a great night.”
“You too.” Emme departed, the door banging closed behind her.
Kerry rushed her actions, and her mixture squirted her in the face. “Yuck.” She wiped her face on her sleeve.
“Fine. I will take my time and go somewhat slower.” Kerry’s shoulders slumped. Nothing about that declaration was pleasing. Her gut churned with discontentment. “Well, hell, even my body is discouraged by the pace. But it can’t be helped. This is for the best.”
The rest of the day was uneventful, though she helped Special Funding Director Joshua Boscher carry four large boxes to his car. He was helping her seek money for several pet projects, and Kerry was happy to lend him a hand.
“What do you have in here, rocks?” she teased.
“Something like that,” Boscher acknowledged with a slight smile as he secured the boxes in his vehicle. “We should be hearing about several of your applications any day now.” He slammed the lid of his trunk shut. “Just remember, if you need help with anything else, please don’t hesitate to ask me.”
“Thanks. I appreciate the help you gave me on the forms and proposals,” Kerry said. “I hope the Department of Defense and several of the sponsors think my projects are worthwhile.”
“They’d be fools not to,” said Boscher grimly. “Have a good evening, Dr. Hamilton.”
“You too.” Kerry watched the Director drive off, wondering what Boscher did in his free time. He was a friendly guy, but he never spent time with any of the staff outside of work. Maybe he had a family or other pastimes. Checking her watch, Kerry realized Leaper would be on the way to her condo soon. She had to hustle.
She turned the engine over, pulled out of her parking spot, and headed home.
* * *
Her condo was very close to water and Kellogg Beach in Point Loma. It made the commute to work short and sweet. Kerry cued Aretha Franklin’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and stripped off her clothes. She danced around as she straightened the clutter and put on clean sheets. Then she took a shower and shaved her legs, knowing it would increase her odds of having sex. Who was she kidding—Leaper would probably have sex with her even if her body was stinky and her legs were stubbly.
Ugh! Gross.
She picked out a casual outfit with an adorable bra-and-panty set for underneath and got dressed, deliberately adding only a touch of mascara and lipstick. She pursed her lips as she looked in the mirror. “That works. Now to finish straightening up.”
Fetching a handful of disinfectant wipes, she hurriedly dusted the apartment. Heavens, she wished she had more time to straighten before Leaper arrived. There were piles and stacks of research material everywhere, which suggested a strategy. Most of what she’d learned in life came from books. Could she approach a relationship in the same way? Research it and plan it, plot out a perfect romance in a step-by-step manner? This was a new concept to consider.
Kerry walked over to the bookcase and reviewed the contents. She had an entire shelf of how-to books on romance, and the rest of it overflowed with murder mysteries. Pulling several books from the pile, including Walsh’s VAK Self-Audit and Chapman’s The Five Love Languages, Kerry sat down on the floor and paged through them.
“Okay, show me your power.”
Her phone buzzed and she looked at the emails. Two different groups—one in Japan and another in Russia—were offering her a job as the director of their marine programs. She couldn’t take either one. Leaving the creatures here… It was too much. She loved her dolphins, and now there was Leaper to think of. Wasn’t that how things happened? One minute life is quiet and normal, and then it explodes with activity.
The books fell from her lap. She picked them up and resettled herself to peruse them. Right, she thought. No more work. Think about relationships and men.
* * *
To quote Kerry’s mother—and most etiquette books—“Punctuality is a sign of good manners.” Leaper arrived precisely at the scheduled time, and she had to smile. Wasn’t it a sign that he was excited to see her too?
“Welcome to my condo.” It was a tiny one bedroom, but it fit her perfectly. There was a small patio out back, and being on the ground floor was wonderfully convenient when it was grocery day. “How was your day?”
“Better than I anticipated. My trainees survived.” Leaper pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Yours?”
“Busy. Good.” She appreciated that he was a man of his word. Keeping someone waiting was so disrespectful. She stepped back from him, knowing that if she stayed in his arms for too long, she wouldn’t have the willpower to stick to her plan.
He looked at her, puzzled. She could feel his eyes tracking her to the small open kitchen. “Kerry, I like your place. Water theme. Nice. There have to be at least a hundred shades of blue and white in here.” Spying the stack of books on the floor, he zeroed in on the only messy spot in her home: her beloved bookcase.
“Can I get you anything? Would you like something to drink?” she asked, standing next to the open refrigerator.
“Water?”
Kerry took two bottles out and closed the refrigerator. She walked back over to him and handed him a bottle. “What do you think of my treasures?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Should I be concerned that you’re going to murder me in my sleep or rope me into a relationship?”
“Hopefully neither. I believe in free choice.” Kerry tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “But…I do think we should get to know each other better. I, uh, have some questions I’d like to ask you.”
“And you think these questions, undoubtedly from these books, will make the difference,” he said skeptically.
“It’s a place to start.” She touched his arm. “For me. Please, Leaper.”
“Sure.” Leaper nodded and sat down on the far end of the couch. It gave him an unobstructed view of the front door. It didn’t surprise her that Leaper was one of those men who didn’t want to be ambushed from behind. She’d remember that next time they ate out.
“Hit it. I’m ready.”
“Thanks,” she said. The stress that had twisted her gut into knots all day long began to slowly dissipate.
Sitting down next to him, she kicked off her shoes and tucked her legs beneath her, shifting her body so she was facing him. She picked up a pencil and a pad of paper with her notes from all of her research and smiled.
* * *
What a bust! She knew she’d been too clinical in her approach to relationships and romance. Sure, she learned a few things, but there was nothing natural about the information process. She could have been taking a history before his prostate exam…not that she was that kind of doctor.
“What’s the verdict? Do you know me better now?” Surprisingly, Leaper wasn’t mocking her. He’d answered her questions honestly and without hesitation. Now she just felt like a jerk for pushing the idea.
“Uh, somewhat.” She sighed. Frustration at herself filled her tone with drawn-out, elongated answers. “Communication, you respond optimally with the application or use of physical contact versus abstract or direct direction. You
like quality time rather than any material possessions or gifts, and you prefer auditory stimulation versus visual and that’s most likely how you learn best.” Kerry tapped her pencil against the pad of paper she’d been taking notes on.
“Makes sense. We use physical touch when we’re drawing closer to a target and use hand signals quick a bit. And, I’ve always preferred phone sex to, ah, porn, but I’ll amend those words if the striptease was someone special and happening in person.” Leaper’s mouth drew in a slow grin. “Just thought you should know, full disclosure and all.”
She could feel the blush start in her toes and practically burst out of her cheeks. The heat was intense and spreading to several wonderful places.
He winked, then tapped his head and pointed at her. “Right, my turn to sum you up. Let’s see, you prefer acts of service to positive reinforcement or affirmation, and quality time to gifts. I’m guessing you’re a visual learner, not auditory. By the look on your face, I believe I nailed those observations.”
She couldn’t fault him. He’d gotten to the heart of it.
“Do you want to try out my auditory learning?” He inched closer. “Talk dirty to me.”
She laughed. Placing the pencil and pad on the coffee table, she held up her hand to stop his movement. Then, thinking better of it, she crawled toward him. In her best sultry tone, she said, “I’m hungry. Are you?”
“Always,” he replied, reaching for her. “Wait, do you mean for food?”
“Yes.” She laughed. “Let’s get out of here and go get something to eat.” She kissed his chin and nose and then nuzzled his cheek. “Feed me.”
“Uh-huh.” He stood up and offered her a helping hand. She took it, and he pulled her to her feet.
He held her close for several seconds. It was so warm, seductive, and flat-out nice.
His voice ruffled the hair near her ear as he spoke. “Just for the record, this was interesting, but I’d like to state that I believe the best way to get to know someone is to spend time together. Throw in a few unexpected experiences, and that’s a pretty thorough learning curve.”
The Power of a SEAL Page 8
