Page 24 of Love Me Knot

All of us migrate toward the helipads. Seeing Chelsea approach the first one, I jog in that direction, only to see several of my platoon do the same. By the time I reach the bird, Fish loads in, filling the last spot. Chelsea gives me a little wave, and with a wink, Fish shuts the door in my face, leaving me with no choice but to ride in one of the other helos.

So. Chelsea wants to make this battle public? Bring it on.

I end up riding to Norfolk with Bandaid and Skin, along with several PMCs, including Sadie and Aaron. The rotor engine starts, and Skin smacks my arm. “So, how’s_”

Bandaid slaps the younger man on the back of the head. “You never learn, do you? Do not bug a man about his woman.”

The second we touch down, I rip open the door and look for Chelsea. The rising sun is just beginning to color the sky, so I search the parking lot using the security lights. I spot Chelsea quickly and sling my bag straps over my shoulder. I’m hoofing it toward her in the next breath and don’t even care who notices. “Danforth!”

She’s nearly to a silver Honda when I catch up to her. Chelsea glances around, gauging our audience. Unfortunately for her, I don’t particularly care who witnesses this confrontation.

Chelsea reluctantly turns when I reach her, and her mask slips into place. “Yes, lieutenant?”

“What are your plans for today?”

“Oh, I have to practice my Oscar acceptance speech. I did give one hell of a performance yesterday.”

I shouldn’t be surprised by her smart mouth. I respond, not hiding my disappointment. “Will we ever get past this?”

Chelsea rolls her eyes. “I’m sorry you don’t approve of my personality.”

I reach for her hand, surprised when she doesn’t recoil. This is only the second time I’ve touched her, and I’m already addicted. Ignoring the urge to stroke her cheek, I say, “There’s nothing wrong with you being a comic. Or a smartass even. Just… Do you ever turn off the sarcasm and jokes?”

She doesn’t answer, telling me I’ve hit a nerve. “Chelsea, I’m not attacking you. I just want to talk without the smokescreen. Be real. Please.”

Chelsea looks at her feet as every bit of her bravado drains from her body. “I…can’t.”

“You can. You know I’m chasing you. I’ll stop if you ask, but I need to hear it. Tell me straight. Don’t play games with me, and don’t be amusing.”

“I have to be amusing,” she whispers as if she hadn’t meant to say the words.

Too bad. I heard them and can’t let them go. The SEALs in the choppers are ready to go home, but they can wait. Chelsea turns to leave, but I refuse to release her hand. “Why?”

Her silence stretches for a long moment. I reach out to lift her chin with my free hand, but she jerks away. I break a dozen personal rules when I yank her against me and forcibly tip her face upward. “Chelsea, why do you have to be amusing?”

The sun’s first light flickers in shame-filled eyes. Still, she won’t look at me. “When you grow up the fat kid, you learn real fast to be entertaining and accommodating or else you become the punchline.”

“No, you learn how to hide instead of making people accept you for who you are.”

Now, Chelsea looks at me. With eyes on fire, she cools her expression and taunts. “Thanks, Freud. I’m cured. Send me your bill.”

Chelsea breaks free and spins away, but I rush around her, meeting her face-to-face again. “You’re still doing it. Despite all that you’ve become and accomplished, you’re still hiding. I understand now.”

“You understand nothing. You don’t know me,” she snaps.

I crowd her, bending until we’re nose to nose. “I know plenty. You’re so used to hiding your feelings that real emotions scare you. The more you feel, the more you clown around. And baby, you joke the loudest when you’re around me.”

Her eyes widen, and I can practically hear the wheels of her mind turning, analyzing every encounter we’ve had. The horror on her face confirms her worst nightmare. Still, she brushes me off. “Nah. You justifying my actions just means you’re having trouble with rejection. That’s all.”

Laughter bubbles up from my gut, throwing Chelsea off balance. “That’s cute. You’re playing fast and loose with the whole rejection claim, considering how you reacted to me in that truck.”

Chelsea’s eyes narrow, but she’s all out of points to refute what I’m saying. That’s proof enough for me. “Give me your phone,” I command.

“What? Why?”

Holding out my hand, I repeat the order. “Give me your phone, Chelsea.”

The woman clenches her jaw but shocks the hell out of me when she yanks the device from her bag, unlocks it, and drops it into my hand.

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