by Jo Leigh
Luke understood his gift. Understood the ease with which he could pull people in. It came as naturally to him as breathing.
And for the first time in seven years, Sara understood that for her, Luke had been and would always be the one. For Luke, she was and would always be one of many.
Nevertheless, she would put her career on the line. Because the other thing she understood was that being around Luke made her foolish. It didn’t seem to be something she could control. Better that she leave him now, before he became far more than a friend with benefits.
LUKE SAW SARA LEAVE the auditorium. He’d just said something to the crowd. No idea what. “Sorry, lost my place. Anyone remember?”
A kid stood up. He was skinny, smiling, and had one hell of an impressive Afro. “You were saying that the food sucks, the hours suck, it’s mostly waiting around, then waiting some more, following rules and taking orders, and doing all that while sitting inside a really big, sandy toaster oven where a lot of people would just as soon kill you as cross the street.” The smattering of laughter was good; it helped get Luke in gear.
“Right,” he said, grinning. “That was great. Maybe you should take it from here.”
More laughter from the crowd, and he was back. Nothing else was in his head, just this, these kids.
“God, I miss it,” he said, and he wasn’t lying at all. “Because with all that crap and inconvenience, the mind-blowing insanity and real, honest to God, freeze-your-blood terror, there’s a bond that I guarantee you have never experienced before in your life. Even if you play for a team that’s tight, even if you have friends that mean everything to you, even if you think you know what it’s like, it’s not like that. The best description I’ve heard is a band of brothers, but that’s because there aren’t words in any language to convey the full truth.”
He paused. “I mean what I’m about to say in a literal way. No bull. I mean it.”
Another pause, but this one was for him to take a breath. “It is an honor and a privilege to be in this uniform.” It was no use, he had to pause again, let the catch in his throat ease up. Images flashed through his head, of his unit, of his WSO, of his folks and the house where he’d grown up. And as always, of Sara. If this was his last time up on this stage, he wasn’t going to waste it.
“There are two things in this world that I’m one-hundred-percent grateful for—that I’m allowed to serve, and that as a result of my service, I’ve learned what truly matters.”
He walked to the very edge of the stage and he looked into the eyes of the boy who’d spoken, of the girl next to him, and on down the row. “Most people,” he said, his voice a little shaky, “most people don’t find out what matters their whole lives. They go from job to job, one relationship to another, and they wonder, what’s it for? Why am I here? What can I do, I’m just one person? I don’t have to ask any more. I know. You can know, too.”
15
THE WHOLE TIME Luke was answering questions from the Pierce College kids, he tracked Van Linn. She was outside the auditorium fielding questions like the rest of the team, but her laughter carried across the grass. She was obviously enjoying her moment. But not for long.
Luke had come to his decision during the talk. His priority was clear. Absurdly simple. It was Sara. She’d become his priority after he’d survived the crash. She still was, and now that he’d fallen in love with her all over again, the stakes were even higher.
“I’ve heard it was better than sex.”
Luke’s attention jolted back to the young man standing to his right, the one with the big grin on his face. “That depends,” Luke answered. “There are very few things that can match the thrill of strapping an F-15 between your legs, but better than sex?” He smiled. “Not if it’s sex with the right person.”
The small group around him laughed, which gave him an excellent exit strategy. “Everybody have recruiter cards?” When there was no response, he backed up. “Do yourselves a favor. Check it out. You’ve got nothing to lose. Everything to gain. Thanks for coming tonight.”
He turned, found his target. There were two students still with her, both of them guys, no surprise. When Van Linn turned it on, she was one hell of a compelling woman. Why she’d become so insecure was something Luke couldn’t guess at.
When Van Linn caught sight of him standing in the shadows, her smile became smug. He approached the trio, and something about him must have alarmed the students because they scrambled the second he reached her.
“Captain Van Linn. Just the woman I was looking for.”
She faced him, legs shoulder width apart, hands on her hips with her elbows wide, chin jutting forward. She wanted this confrontation; she’d been looking forward to it.
“I didn’t want to have to do this out here,” he said, “but then again, I figure I’m better off having witnesses. You being so quick with reports.”
“You brought this on yourself, Solo. So don’t imagine you can intimidate me.”
“Intimidate you? I wouldn’t think of it. You’re going to tear up that complaint of your own free will.”
She inhaled, puffing up her chest. “Oh, please. Don’t try that macho crap with me. I’ve made tougher men than you beg.”
“You’re a hell of a speaker. And I imagine you’re terrific at your job. I really think it’s in your best interest to let this thing go.”
“Just like that.”
“Before it gets out of hand.” Luke saw from her viciously pleased reaction that he was going about this the wrong way. It could only be a fight if both people swung. “Look, Terri, I’m sorry we got our signals crossed. I never meant to hurt you in any way. But come on, this is between the two of us. It never had anything to do with Sara.”
His tactical shift seemed to throw her. “Oh, don’t flatter yourself. I don’t think you’re God’s gift to the world. I’m just sick of you and your biggest fan hijacking this tour.”
“Is that what you think’s going on here?” He had to be missing something, because what the hell did that night in the park have to do with hijacking the tour? With Sara?
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hanover walk over to Tritter, Pearson and Franks. They were hanging around the minibus, and while they made no bones about staring at him and Van Linn, the four of them remained out of earshot. Luke looked back at her, determined to get to the bottom of this puzzle. “Whatever’s going on between me and Sara has nothing to do with the tour.”
She barked out a laugh. “You think screwing the CO isn’t hurting the integrity of the mission?”
“I know Captain Weston has always put the tour first and foremost.”
“You mean she’s put you first and foremost.”
“You want more stage time? Is that it?”
Whoa, he’d hit a hot spot. Van Linn’s body went from confident to livid. It was obvious from the tightness of her jaw to the fury in her eyes. Suddenly, it all became clear. This whole mess was about power. Van Linn had been the diva of the show, then he’d come along and overshadowed her act. She couldn’t handle sharing the limelight. No wonder she’d been so pissed off in the park. It hadn’t been about sex at all. How had he not seen it? This was his old act, right down to the ego as big as the great outdoors.
“Hey, you want to be last speaker of the night?” he said, keeping his voice low and unthreatening. “You want all the interviews? They’re yours.”
“Yeah, right,” she said. “The damage is already done. Graves thinks you’re the goddamn chosen one, and the rest of us are bit players. Weston did that. Since the moment you got here. What’d she do, bribe you into coming on the tour so she could get you into bed? Oh, man, she is going down. Don’t think I can’t do it, either. I know people, Carnes. Powerful people.”
Luke was taken aback at the vehemence of her attack. Even at his most narcissistic, he’d never been willing to trash someone else’s career. This was way bigger than wanting to be the star of this show. The woman needed help, and he might have
been willing to give her a break if she hadn’t gone after Sara. “You honestly think I’d let that happen.”
She smiled. “You don’t have a choice.”
“I could leave the tour. Take away all your ammunition.”
“Too little.” She shrugged, certain of her triumph. “Too late.”
“Have it your own way, then. Here’s what’s going to happen. First thing tomorrow morning, I’m putting in a call to my friend Colonel Graves. The one who personally asked me to sit next to him at dinner.”
She blinked and he saw it. The tiny crack in her armor. She didn’t know what was going to happen next, just that the game was about to change.
“I’m going to let him know I’m leaving the tour. He’ll want to know why, and I plan to tell him.”
“And risk your slot on the F-35? I don’t think so.”
Luke smiled. “I doubt it will come to that, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
Van Linn looked at him with renewed confidence. “You’re crazy if you think I’m going to believe that. I know fighter pilots. There’s nothing you wouldn’t do to keep your ride.”
Luke took in a deep breath, released it slowly. “You’ve never been in love, have you, Terri?”
She snorted. “Love. Isn’t that precious.” She smiled as if the battle was over. “I’m sending the complaint tonight.”
He took a step closer to her, right into her personal space. “Don’t for one minute think you’ll come out of this smelling like a rose. What will Graves think about you when he realizes this whole mess comes down to petty jealousy? Does he seem like the kind of officer who’s gonna let that slide? Did you know this recruitment tour is his pet project? To say he’s invested in the outcome is an understatement. Yeah, he’ll probably be delighted to see a formal complaint come through channels.” Luke shook his head, but he never let go of her gaze. “Colonel Graves knows people, too, Captain Van Linn. Powerful people.”
She stepped back. “I have proof, Carnes. Dates. Times. You made out in public, for Christ’s sake. You know as well as I do that all it takes is the perception of favoritism and your captain is reassigned with a very black mark on her record. If Colonel Graves tries to hush this up, I’ll go above his head.”
He stared at her, surprised that she’d made it this far in the service without sabotaging her own career. The woman was so accustomed to having her way, she didn’t know how to cope with losing. She hadn’t even considered how this would look on her own record.
He hadn’t wanted to use his trump card, but she’d left him no choice. “When you start going up the list above Graves’s head, be sure to include the President of the United States. He’s the one who’ll be pinning the Air Force Cross on my uniform in about three weeks.”
That stopped her dead in her tracks. The AFC was the highest honor in the air force, awarded for extraordinary heroism. It might not be familiar to most civilians, but in the service, getting the AFC was a major damn deal. She might have connections, but he was a bona fide war hero, which meant he held all the cards.
Luke lowered his voice. “Don’t do this, Terri. It’s not worth it. You won’t win.”
She’d stiffened with panic. He could practically see her scramble to find another gambit to get out of this on top. When she looked over her shoulder to see the rest of her team, none of them willing to stand with her, the fight drained out of her. When she turned back to Luke, her lips trembled. “Fuck you, Carnes.”
Luke bit back the easy reply. “I hope you find what you need,” he said firmly. “I mean it. Anyway, there’s a bus waiting for us.”
SARA EYED THE COFFEE on her desk, far too buzzed up to drink any more. Instead, she went to the laser printer, picked up the letter she’d written and took it to her desk.
It was late, the minibus should have been back by now, but they could have been delayed. The team never left before all the students had their questions answered. After hearing most of Luke’s speech, Sara had no doubt there would be a large post-show crowd.
She’d been tempted to go to the motel parking lot to wait, afraid that Luke would get to Van Linn first, but they were both on the bus and he wouldn’t talk to her there. Besides, the driver had been given instructions to call Sara five minutes from time of arrival. Sara would meet Van Linn in the lobby and escort her back to the office.
Her gaze went to the letter addressed to Colonel Graves. It was her formal resignation request. If necessary, it would be her final solution.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for Sara to quit; she had to make sure Van Linn didn’t send in the report. Luke’s reputation was at stake. So before Sara brought out the letter, she would offer Van Linn the thing she wanted most—to be the star. She’d have the final speaker’s slot, Sara would make sure she arranged some kind of television promo, and Tritter would do an in-depth video of Van Linn on the tour and on the job back at Andrews AFB. It would be Van Linn’s wet dream, with the added benefit of getting to lord it over Luke and Sara for the duration of the tour.
If that wasn’t enough, she was prepared to throw herself on her sword and beg. The letter was just humiliating enough to appease a woman like Terri Van Linn. Sara had admitted that she’d crossed the line with a member of her team. She hadn’t mentioned Luke, and wouldn’t, but she’d treated herself unmercifully. She still had another year to go on her service obligation, but the request would be granted, Graves would have no choice.
Her cell rang. The team was five minutes out.
LUKE SAT IN THE FRONT SEAT of the minibus, Van Linn in the back. The team had exchanged lots of meaningful looks, but no one spoke during the ride.
All Luke cared about was getting to Sara. He couldn’t call her until he was alone, back at the motel. He would head straight for her room and hope he found her there.
Instead of winding him up, the confrontation with Van Linn had left him oddly calm. For the first time since the crash, he felt whole again, fully himself. Not at all the man he’d wanted so desperately to become. Probably for the best, he thought with a wry smile. The old Luke was far too much like Van Linn.
If the woman was crazy enough to pursue the complaint, he’d do what was necessary. If that meant losing the F-35, so be it. It would hurt like hell, but not as much as losing Sara. Though it was a distinct possibility he’d already lost her. He would cross that bridge if he came to it, but now he could be satisfied with the fact that he’d done the right thing.
Alf would be proud, Luke thought. The little guy was all about doing the right thing for the right reasons. He didn’t go for any of that ends-justify-the-means crap. Nope, when Alf talked about honor, it was from the ground up.
Annoying little… Luke rested his head against the window. They were almost at the motel, and he was so tired he felt as though he could sleep for a week. But nothing mattered except making sure Sara was okay.
SARA DUCKED BEHIND one of their half-ton trucks as Luke headed for the motel. She dialed his cell, heard it ring just before he got to the entrance.
“Hey,” he said. “Where are you?”
“I’m finishing up some business. Meet me at my room in ten?” She hadn’t lied. Her business with Van Linn could be over in a few minutes.
“I’ll see you then,” he said. He sounded exhausted.
Sara disconnected, wishing it was over already. She waited until Van Linn got off the bus. Last. The woman didn’t look like someone who’d scored a coup. In fact, she seemed wired, upset. She walked quickly, and Sara followed, keeping just far enough back that Van Linn wouldn’t notice. As soon as Van Linn got in the elevator Sara took the stairs to the second floor. She waited until Van Linn was in her room, then followed.
At her knock, Van Linn ripped the door open immediately. She appeared taken aback to see Sara, but her expression hardened quickly. “I’m off the clock.”
“I know. I won’t take up much of your time, but I’d appreciate a word.”
“Why?”
Sara blin
ked, confused. “I have a proposition for you. I think it would be better if we talked inside.”
Van Linn gazed at her as if Sara was crazy. As if she hadn’t instigated this whole fiasco. “What is it, Captain?”
“About your complaint—”
Van Linn gave a furious shake of her head. “Your errand boy took care of it.”
Sara frowned. “You mean Luke?”
“I don’t know what the hell I was thinking coming on this tour. I have more important things to do. A real job. This goddamn dog-and-pony show has been a waste from day one.”
“Wait. What do you mean, he took care of it?” Sara asked, holding down her temper until she heard more.
“Huh. I guess he decided to swoop in and play the hero. Getting that medal must have gone to his head. I still don’t believe for a second that he’d actually give up the F-35. No fighter pilot would.” She tried to shut the door.
Sara prevented her. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Van Linn groaned, so furious she shook. “You won, okay? I’m leaving. The report won’t go in, and you’re going to come up with a damn good reason why. Just don’t get in my way again. If you’d pulled this shit with anyone except Carnes, you’d be looking for a new career.” She slammed the door in Sara’s face.
Sara stood rooted to the spot. Van Linn’s speech had her reeling. Luke had offered to quit the F-35 program? And what medal? No doubt he’d accumulated a few, but which one had scared off Van Linn? What the hell was going on here? This was still her command. She was in charge, and she didn’t need anyone to come to her rescue. Not O’Malley and not Luke.
Sara realized she was still standing at Van Linn’s door, staring at it like a damn fool. She turned, only to stop again when she saw Luke, two doors down, watching her. How much had he heard? It didn’t matter. She was still angry.
