Page 40 of Legacy's Call

“You got it. Anything else?”

“Did you order more taffy? I have a feeling our stash is going to be gone soon.”

“Of course, I did.” Dude scoffed. “Did you think I’d forget your crack?”

“Just making sure. You know how cranky we get if we don’t have our sugar fix.”

“Boy, do I. Not fun at all. Take care of yourself over there. Oh, Tink said she sent you the report you asked for. It’s in your inbox.”

“Thanks, I’ll look at it tonight. I’m clear.” Ronan tapped his earpiece and stood up, again grabbing his helmet and rifle. Maybe he was being selfish, but then again, he didn’t care. He’d provide for the IDPs and make sure Fleur and Shelly had their tent. If Jug was half as deeply infatuated with Shelly as he was with Fleur, not having privacy would soon be a problem. Four days. Let the countdown begin.

CHAPTER 10

“Are you home?”

Fleur smiled and moved to the flap of her tent. She unzipped it and looked up at Ronan. “I am.” She extended her hand, and he grasped it, helping her out of her small tent. “Did Jug tell you about our excitement?” She bent down and rezipped the flap on her tent. When her backside brushed against him, he grabbed her hip, and she heard a stifled groan. She spun around. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that. I flirt, but that was going over the line, and I wouldn’t do that publicly. Unless you told me you liked it.” She glanced around and lifted her eyebrows several times.

“It’s all right. Accidents happen, and if they are helped along, who am I to complain?” Ronan said,putting his hand on her shoulder. He cleared his throat and then shook his head before saying, “However, I wanted to talk to you about the hole in the fence. You should’ve come to tell me as soon as you found out about it.”

“But it was fixed.” She frowned. “What difference would it make? It happened last night. Shelly was scared, though. She was going through her things, looking for a weapon if someone entered the medical tent. Jug was pissed.” She smiled up at him. “I think he likes Shelly and doesn’t know how to let her know, but that’s okay because she likes him, too.” Ronan stared down at her, and she blinked. Why was he giving her that look?Oh. “I’m blabbering, aren’t I? Sorry, I do that when I’m nervous.”

“Okay. Back up for a minute. First, you should have alerted one of us as soon as you knew about the security deviation, even if it was fixed. We’re in charge of security now. Second, she’s a doctor. Did she ever think about a scalpel? Third, what Jug does isn’t my business as long as the relationship is consensual, but yes, he was pissed, and he’s sleeping in the medical tent as a precaution until we get your tents.”

Fleur frowned. “Okay, I won’t make that mistakeagain. Two, no, I don’t think she thought of a scalpel, but I’ll mention it to her, and last, what tent?”

Ronan narrowed his eyes. “You can’t mix up first, last, and numbers. There’s a rule about that.”

She cocked her head to the side. “Is there?”

“Pretty sure.” He nodded.

“Huh.” She crossed her arms. “I had no clue.” She looked back up at him. “Are you mad?”

“Once again, the answer to that is no. How about I tell you if I’m mad? That way, you won’t have to keep guessing.”

“Oh, I like that idea.” Fleur smiled at him. “Tent?”

“I ordered fifteen. Ten as big as they make for the IDPs and five personal tents. I couldn’t remember how many you said had given up their tents for the camp occupants.” He looked around them. “Since all the space here is taken, we’ll put yours closer to our camp.”

“We will?” She smiled up at him. “That would be convenient.”

“Only if you agree.” His stare was intense, and she got the idea her answer was critically important. She stopped smiling at him and said as clearly as possible, “I want a bigger tent near your camp so you can visit me privately. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

His breath came out in a rush. “God, yes. It’s going to be a long four days.”

“Four days?”

He nodded. “I’ll return to Al-Tanf Garrison to pick up the supplies and six transport vehicles.”

“You’re starting the convoys?”

“We’re getting ready to do it. I need more information and clarification before pulling the trigger, but that’s the goal.”

She closed her eyes and tipped her head back to the heavens. “Thank you, God, for sending these men to us.”

“Can you drive a transport vehicle?”

She lifted her head and blinked at him. “Sure. Everyone here can. We’ve all been trained, and I’ve often driven across this country as part of the convoys. The locals don’t like it, especially the clans with religious affiliations. You know, we women aren’t capable of anything except caring for a home and raising a family, according to their beliefs, but we do what we need to do.” She shook her head. “Sometimes I worry about the world.”

---