Page 6 of Harry

Now he was really laughing. “It’s cute. I like you, Rory. I mean, I know we just met, and we don’t really know each other, but I have this feeling about you.”

She shook her head and sat back. “Boy, you either are a really good smooth talker, or you’re for real. I can’t figure out which one you are.”

He leaned in a little, his eyes staying on hers as a serious look came over him. “I’m for real. I’m very simple and straightforward. I won’t lie to you about my feelings or what I think.”

She sat back, wondering if she could believe him. “I haven’t had too many people in my life be real.”

“I know we haven’t spoken about our jobs or things we’ve lived through, but I think we’re moving in that direction.”

She narrowed her eyes, taking him in. When she’d first met him, she’d figured he wasn’t military. He just didn’t fit the regulations. Now, she wasn’t sure. He didn’t work with one of the alphabet agencies. That was fairly obvious. Now that she’d spent some time with him, she realized he was too regimented to be a civilian.

Dating military men was difficult. She liked her job and didn’t want to leave it just because someone she was dating had to move to a different base. She could end this now. But did she really want to end something that seemed to have the promise of a good future?

Chapter 4

Harry was intrigued by her intense scrutiny. He’d given nothing away about who he was or where he worked. He told her he lived in one of the high-rise condos, which most women assumed meant he had money, but she’d brought a coupon for breakfast. She hadn’t asked him about money or for money. Maybe this woman was really different.

“You’re looking at me awfully hard,” he said.

Her lips screwed up on one side. “Your hair isn’t regulation.”

He smirked, then shrugged. “I can’t decide about yours. With women, it’s hard to tell if the hair is regulation or not since you can wear it up.”

“Touché.” Her lips spread into a wide grin. “So, should we give our branch in rock, paper, scissors style on three? You know, around here, you could be anything.”

“Most likely Marine or Navy, though,” Harry said.

She nodded. “True. But there are some facilities here that house all branches of service.”

“Maybe we should play a guessing game,” Harry said as he ate the last of his biscuits.

“That would be fun,” Rory said. “But to make it more difficult, how about we try to guess not only which branch of service but the other person’s job, too?”

Harry really liked this woman. She was fun to be with. “Okay. So the winner gets something. What would be something we could award the person who guesses the closest?”

“Nothing monetary. Nothing that would get either of us in trouble. How about the winner gets a shoulder rub?”

“Oh, that’s good. Why don’t you go first?”

She tapped her chin like she was really thinking about it. “Are we doing this twenty-question style? But twenty questions are a lot. Maybe more like five questions, then you have to guess.”

“Sure. Five questions, but no direct questions about a specific branch until you’re done questioning and ready to guess for real.”

“Agreed,” Rory said. She went back to studying him. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips thinned. Being serious only made her look cuter. “Have you…” she trailed off, and he thought he would have to prompt her, but then she spoke again. “Have you lived on a ship of some sort for more than six months?”

“Yes,” Harry said. His first assignment had been on one of the huge carriers. He’d loved living on that ship. It was fun. Just thinking about it brought back warm memories. “Do I get to ask your first question now?”

Her head cocked to the side a little. “Sure. Why not.”

“During basic training, did you live north of the Mason-Dixon line?”

“Oh wow, that’s a great way to ask that question. And the answer is no.”

Harry couldn’t help the huge smile, and he was sure he looked like a fool. He was Navy, and she was a Marine. His rule of never dating a military woman seemed to be something he was willing to ignore for the right woman, and he really believed that Rory was the right woman.

“Now it’s my turn.” Rory licked her lips as she thought about her next question. “At some point after basic, did you spend twenty-four weeks in Coronado for training?”

He sobered. “You’ve found me out in two questions?”

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