The Power of a SEAL

by Anne Elizabeth

  “Of course,” said Kerry brightly. Yay, management! Damn.

  It didn’t look like being an hour early to work was going to impress him. Ugh. This was awful, and not how she wanted to begin her day. She needed this job. She couldn’t afford to stay in her condo without it. She’d loathe having to go back home to her mother or one of her sisters with her tail tucked between her legs. And what about her beloved dolphins? She couldn’t leave them, especially with the newly approved funding.

  Kerry’s chin dropped as she silently followed him into the main facility and through the open corral of desks to his glassed-in cube. As he closed the door behind them, she resisted the urge to claw at her throat; the sensation of claustrophobia was so keen. Instead, she held one hand with other and squeezed tight. To her boss, it probably looked as if she were praying, but she knew this was the only way she wouldn’t run out of the room screaming. At least, not yet. She’d hear the man out first.

  Gellar sat down behind his Nordic, minimalist desk—probably the only thing that would fit in here, she thought—and leaned on his elbows. The gray MMP hoodie lay on the side of the desk along with a pair of sunglasses. “I heard about yesterday.” His voice sounded calm, but she knew the truth. This man regularly lied with his mouth and told the truth with his body. She hated that kind of duality. Didn’t people like that know how easy they were to read? She supposed not—otherwise, why would they continue the masquerade?

  A muscle ticked in Gellar’s jaw, and his hands trembled briefly before he got them under control. His nose wrinkled as if he were breathing in something foul, and his forehead was so wrinkled with disdain, it could have been a sunshade for a family of four. “I need you to pay attention to what I’m about to say.”

  Kerry nodded. She didn’t need to mask her emotions. She didn’t give two hoots about anything the man was going to say, so she wasn’t going to say a word. Nothing would make her incriminate herself. Rather, she would sit and wrestle with her true fear: claustrophobia. God, she hated cramped places.

  “I know you’re aware that I’m frustrated with you for breaking the rules. I need to set an example, so you’re going to be on weekend duty for the next month.” He waited for her to react.

  After several seconds, she asked, “Days or nights?” Not that it mattered either way—she was often here long hours. The Marine Mammal Program was her entire life’s focus.

  “During the week, you have your normal day shifts with one rotating day off each week, and then you will be on night shift from midnight to 6:00 a.m. You can be on the water, the docks, or in the office, but you are on call.” He frowned at her and shook his index finger as if scolding a child. “If I find out that you do not take my reprimand seriously and that you aren’t showing up for each and every shift, well, then your pay will be docked and you will go before the Board of Directors. After that, your case will go up the DOD chain, and ultimately, I believe you will be fired.”

  Kerry pursed her lips. Really? Bastard. Nothing is going to hurt me, if I have anything to say about it. Look at my record. Look at what I do around here. It’s not like I stand on the dock and scratch my butt. These mammals are my life.

  Besides, she was a marine mammal vet whose area of expertise was nephrology with a specialty in kidney-stone prevention. There were only a handful of people like her in the country, and this program needed her help. Since the dolphins weren’t out catching fresh fish each day, they had less hydration than normal. Thus, staff would tube-feed the dolphins with extra liquids, and the dietary changes she’d implemented would isolate the incidences of kidney stones to only a handful of older dolphins. It was practically a freaking miracle. She doubted that she would be going anywhere without the Marine Mammal Foundation pushing back on her behalf. But Kerry couldn’t deny the Program Director his power or dignity, so she replied politely, “Understood.”

  Gellar let out a sigh of relief. Tension lifted from his shoulders, making his muscles dip and slump downward. He waved her off. “You can go back to work, Miss Hamilton.”

  That’s “doctor,” not “miss.”

  “Oh, and I saw you conversing with Boscher. Remember, he’s not your boss. I am.” Gellar’s eye twitched.

  She wanted to grab the gray sweatshirt off his desk and smack his sour face with it or maybe snap those fancy sunglasses in half. But she wouldn’t. Instead, she seethed inside, silently berating him.

  Jealous? No doubt. Well, if Gellar had even an ounce of Boscher’s humanity…I wouldn’t be aching to wring his neck right now. Unclasping her hands to keep herself from doing anything rash, Kerry stood. She paused as she stared at the Program Director. She wanted to say something snide, but she didn’t know what. Instead, she gave him another nod. Her mother had always told her that silence is golden—or did that adage belong to someone else? Well, her mom had made it her own, and right now, it seemed like good advice. She needed to get out of trouble, not wade deeper into it.

  Gellar returned the acknowledgment and then picked up a stack of papers on his desk and began sorting them. As he separated the pages, she turned away.

  When she opened the door, a wave of fresh air greeted her. She waved to one of the interns and headed back through the now propped-open double doors and down to the dock. Halfway down the ramp, she keyed in the code that allowed her access and strode to the end of the gangplank, turning right and heading all the way down to Juliet’s pen.

  Sitting down on the dock, she placed her hand in the water and flicked her fingers.

  The dolphin came gliding by for back rubs.

  Kerry felt her body relax. Why could she could barely stand being around humans, for all the stress it caused, but when it came to mammals, she was at peace? Was I a dolphin in a former life? God, I hope so.

  “I’ll be back, my friend. We’ll check your vitals and then feed you. You’re going to enjoy my new creation. Salmon gelatin. Yum.” Kerry stood.

  The dolphin fluttered her left fin as if to say goodbye before swimming into the next pen to play with the juveniles while she waited. The mammals had the right idea. Play. Celebrate. Live.

  If only she could master those basic choices, it would change her life.

  * * *

  Standing in the shower of the locker room at the Marine Mammal base after a long day of work was blissful. Kerry wished the smell of rotten fish guts didn’t turn her stomach. She rarely slipped into the waste vat. If she’d been paying better attention, and not thinking about the materials order for her new tank design or how odd a few of the dolphins were acting or the fact that Leaper hadn’t called her once today… Damn, she was getting attached after only one kiss. “Turn off the brain. Steady on with the task at hand, lady,” she said to herself. “Get the fish guts out of your hair and get dressed. Besides, he’s just a guy—a guy with a tight ass and a lean, muscular body.”

  Fudge! I’m too flipping eager. But how can I deny my primal nature? Isn’t that the truth of who we all are? Food, clothing, shelter, mate…or at the very least, it would be nice to have a date.

  Adjusting the temperature setting to cold, she dosed herself with some humility and patience. She counted to fifty, felt more contrite, and turned off the tap. Goose bumps covered her skin, and her body shook as she stepped out of the shower stall.

  Toweling herself dry, she was grateful for the warmth and promised herself that she would concentrate on her own well-being by treating herself to a nice dinner and a good book. Wasn’t there a new Joanne Fluke book on top of her to-be-read stack? She loved murder mysteries, especially when the author made the heroine so smart and savvy.

  Rummaging around in her gear bag, Kerry found a yellow short-sleeved dress with small white flowers. She remembered adding it to the bag two months ago when she had taken a trip to Oahu. She’d never worn it. There hadn’t been time. She’d worked day and night on an urgent case and had been so relieved when the dolphin survived that
she’d slept for two days.

  Today, this dress was the perfect thing to match her mood. Let’s celebrate me—a new me. Independent, someone who doesn’t need a kiss from a handsome stud to tip my world off its axis.

  As she slipped the dress on, she knew the outfit wasn’t practical for a night at home, but who cared? She was dressing to impress herself; this was a date with the most important lady in her life.

  With that thought in mind, she stopped at the mirror and added a dash of pink lipstick. Now, that looked super. Fluffing her damp hair, she felt significantly better than when she’d entered the locker room.

  She hoisted her gear bag onto her shoulder and left the compound with a bounce in her step. Exiting the main set of gates, it took her a few seconds to notice the man standing next to the edge of the building. As her mind registered that it was Leaper, dressed in a gorgeous fitted shirt and holding a stunning bouquet of roses, she stopped abruptly in front of him.

  She was giddy with delight and found herself slightly breathless. “H-h-hi.”

  “Hi, yourself. Fancy some dinner?” he asked as he presented the flowers to her.

  It was impossible not to beam at him. This was such a sweet gesture. Now she knew why he hadn’t called all day. He’d wanted to surprise her. Well, that was certainly a very classy move.

  “Yes,” she replied. “I do.”

  * * *

  Leaving the active base for the quiet streets was relaxing. Along the way, Kerry saw several people fishing from the bridge. They looked happy as they chatted.

  Though, for a brief second, she could have sworn she saw Boscher, or maybe it was just someone with his size and shape wearing a Marine Mammal hoodie. The person handed a package to a very skinny man, who was fishing.

  Wait, didn’t Gellar have a hoodie just like that too?

  It’s probably nothing important.

  The images sped by and she shrugged them off. What did it matter? Everyone should be able to enjoy a night like this, however it brought them joy.

  Poehe’s was lovely. This Coronado restaurant was designed for lovers, with its subdued lighting, wonderful smells of delicious dishes cooking in the open kitchen, and private seating. Kerry almost gasped nervously. She hoped she wasn’t jumping the gun. How obvious was she being, about her interest in Leaper? She was definitely physically attracted to him, and she wanted to know him better on an emotional and mental level too. Kerry bit her lip. She didn’t want to blow this opportunity, and yet if she persevered and overshared with a personal moment, and he stuck around, would it cut through the bullshit? Why don’t men come with instructions?

  “You look lovely,” he murmured in her ear as they walked arm in arm.

  She stopped herself from leaning into his touch. She wanted him to make the first big move tonight. That would ease her anxiety greatly. For now, she’d just go with the flow. “Thank you.”

  “I’m glad you were free this evening. I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind all day.” Leaper’s voice had a sexy timbre, like a bass being plucked during a jazz solo. It sank low in your gut.

  Frankly, Kerry was now grateful she had given into her whim to don the yellow dress and add a dash of lipstick. Living and working in bathing suits, sweats, or scrubs had pretty much dominated her appearance as of late, and it was nice to know she could clean up well enough to hold someone’s attention.

  It had been ages since she’d met anyone worthwhile. Most of the guys around the bases were meatheads looking for hanky-panky before they shipped out. Not that she was searching for a ring or even long-term commitment, but a decent chat and a strong connection would make her night. Then, if there was chemistry…well, she’d let nature take its course.

  The hostess, Becky, led them to a table next to the water. It was a lovely view of Glorietta Bay.

  Leaper pulled out her chair, and Kerry smiled at him as she sat down. Good manners. You’re scoring points, buddy.

  Becky filled their water glasses. “Your waiter is named Bill, and he’ll be with you shortly. If you have any problems, please ask for me. Enjoy your evening.”

  “Thank you,” said Leaper. He began cracking jokes and chatting nonstop about topical things, from food to the floral arrangement on the table. She found herself laughing easily. Though it was pleasant, she wasn’t sure how to go deeper into any topic, but she craved an opportunity. “So, you work with marine mammals,” he said. “Do you prefer one species over the others?”

  “Dolphins,” Kerry said without hesitation. “I adore them. I’m fascinated by their biology and their echolocation. The fact that they can navigate and identify so much with their unique system of clicks and echoes—it blows me away.” Kerry grinned. “What about you? How long have you been a SEAL?”

  “Over twenty years. I could retire, but I’m not sure what else I’d like to do with my life.” Leaper drained his water glass. “So, what’s your favorite color, music, or movie? Sometimes I think these answers tell us more about each other than anything else.”

  He really wanted to know her. This was it. The moment she’d hoped for. She knew what to say. She took a deep breath. “This might be an overshare, but it’s… Well, here it goes. Otto Preminger’s Laura is one of the most memorable movies I’ve ever seen. I watched it with my big sisters. It was the first time I was allowed to stay up late. We were dressed in our winter sleepwear: Lanz flannel nightgowns. Mine had red bows with bouquets of little blue flowers and a lace collar. All three of my older sisters had solid colors for their nighties, and I wanted so badly to be a big girl like them.”

  She tilted her head to the side, contemplating. “They were so much older back then—twelve, ten, and nine years older. At five years old, I felt so small next to them, and I wanted to be just like them. I wanted to date boys and wear pretty grown-up dresses with silky stockings. And yet when my sisters gave in to my begging and let me dress up, my mother balked. That night was the only exception, maybe because Mom didn’t want to be alone. There was a storm outside, and she made popcorn with lots of sweet butter, and we all sat around watching this old black-and-white movie, Laura, about a supposed murder. I remember my mother saying that much of life was like the movie: perception, how you perceive an individual and an individual perceives you. Rarely do these two versions match, and knowing that early on is useful.”

  Her eyes filled with tears. She hastily wiped them away. “Sorry. It’s just…that was the night my father was late coming home. Lightning filled the sky, and the thunder felt like it was beating directly on top of the house. I could imagine how big the waves were. Mom had this tight smile on her face when she shared how Father’s boat partner, Warren Kant, had stayed home to take care of his wife, who was sick with the flu. My mom kept saying that Father was an excellent seaman and everything would be fine. I fell asleep before they came to the point in the movie where they found Laura alive. But, I do remember dreaming about my father and how he liked to read the newspaper to me and the feeling of safety and warmth it gave me.”

  She coughed softly. “In the morning, I learned Father had been killed. The Coast Guard wasn’t sure if it was an accident or a murder. There was blood—only his—on the deck of the boat, but no other signs of foul play. To this day, no one ever explained how he died.” She sighed sadly. “Things weren’t the same around our house after that. My sisters didn’t go out on dates anymore, and they stopped dressing me up or even playing with me. Everything…changed.”

  She gave Leaper a weak smile. “Maybe I shouldn’t list that as my favorite flick, but at the time I began watching Laura…Father was still alive, and I was a member of a happy family. Life was normal, and my childhood was untainted. After that, every experience was measured against this yardstick of definable moments from wonderful to horrible.”

  “Is that why you are so fascinated with sea life?” Leaper leaned forward, and Kerry could see she had his full atten
tion. When was the last time a man truly listened to her? She couldn’t remember. “Because of your father?”

  “I think so. There are pictures of me in diapers, holding a fishing pole, or toddling around in the boat. I feel…more like myself when I’m in or around the water.” Kerry hadn’t meant to go that dark with her reminiscence, yet she was relieved Leaper could handle it. It said a lot about a man’s staying power if she couldn’t scare him off with that story. It screamed daddy issues, loss, grief, and pain. Some guys couldn’t handle significant conversations, but Leaper seemed…different, and she liked his quirky manner. The way he had protected her in the ocean, returned the boat, and…well, tonight, he’d acted like a gentleman. The old-fashioned kind that held doors and pulled out chairs. Now, if she could just dig beneath the surface, what would she find there?

  “I get it,” Leaper said. “My old swim buddy, Declan, could spend hours in the water. I guess I feel at home whenever I’m in motion—being active, doing something. Doesn’t matter where—whether it’s the land, sea, or air, I just prefer adventure.” His fingers toyed with the stem of his water glass. “I haven’t learned to be still.”

  She nodded her head. “Me neither. That’s something we have in common: keep moving, and you keep in step with the changes of season and with life in general.” Lifting the water glass to her lips, she took a long drink and then lowered it to the table. “What’s your favorite movie?”

  “Ghostbusters, the original one with Bill Murray. It always makes me laugh, and I appreciate laughter. I make it a point to laugh every day, or to bring a few guffaws to others.” Leaper looked up at the approaching waiter. “Should we order?”