Page 22 of Operation: Valiant Angel

Her face took on an impressed expression. “Reading and interpreting gamma-ray radiation and other high energy phenomena. We need to look at different spectrums of measure, as I believe we’re missing signals that we should be studying.”

“That’s quite interesting, but I won’t pretend I understand any of it. If you can dumb any of it down, I’d love to hear more.”

“You would?”

“Yes, I would. I take it most of the men you meet generally don’t show an interest?”

“I don’t think most believe me and if they do, I think they’re intimidated by it.”

“Well, my mom always said if you want to meet a nice Christian woman, go to church, not a bar. So, I suppose the same holds true for finding an intelligent, interested man. You’re probably not going to find him in a bar, either.”

“Present company excluded,” she said. “You seem quite intelligent. Your friend glossed over my question regarding your jobs.”

Wilson signaled their server. She came right over. He ordered another round of drinks for everyone. Tessman and Jackie halted their intensely intimate conversation just long enough to place their dinner orders.

“So, your job?” Tanya asked after the server moved away.

Wilson thought about his answer for a moment. Usually, it was military or unspecified law enforcement. He tended to keep it simple and vague. “You’re not going to believe me,” he answered, borrowing her original answer.

“Try me,” she replied with a smile.

He flashed her a coy grin. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter. “Federal law enforcement.”

“You carry a badge and a gun?” she asked with her eyebrows raised, the volume of her voice matching his.

“Yes, ma’am.”

She shook her head. “You don’t look the part.”

A smirk formed on Jimmy’s face. “That’s the point.”

“You do undercover work,” she stated in an even quieter voice.

Wilson gave her a small shrug and then took a drink. He noticed that Tessman and the blonde were in their own little world and weren’t paying any attention to them. That was a shame. Jackie looked as though she could be one of those women who got turned on by the assumed danger of their job. Of course, as cozy as they looked, Tessman wouldn’t need any added incentive to score with her tonight.

Tanya, on the other hand, was one who would never become involved with a man who did a dangerous job, wouldn’t want the worry that came with it. She was level-headed and analytical. He wasn’t sure how his teammates’ wives handled it as well as they did. And he was even more baffled why he was considering any of this. He had no real interest in Tanya beyond the physical attraction, not that a vacation fling would develop into anything. Plus, it was the last night on the island for the ladies. Their vacation would be over the next afternoon when they caught their flight home to Atlanta.

His thoughts and his discussion with Tanya drifted to many other topics after their meals arrived. By the time they’d all finished their dinners, Tessman and Jackie had become a bit more engaged with their table mates, but soon thereafter announced they were going for a walk on the beach. Both Wilson and Tanya knew was code for going back to his room to fuck.

“I wouldn’t mind a walk on the beach,” Tanya said after Tessman and Jackie disappeared from view. “But I have to tell you, I’m not a hook-up kind of girl. A walk. That’s it before I go back to my room to read and have an early bedtime. We were drinking in the sun most of the day and I’m really tired.”

Wilson grinned. “I have some reading I need to get to as well.” He signed the bill, charging it to his room. Tessman would pick up other costs. That was never an issue. “But I’d enjoy a walk on the beach.” Not that he’d mind some meaningless sheet time with Tanya. He may not be interested in her or any woman for a relationship, but he was human and male, and he rarely turned down sex with a woman he was attracted to.

“Thank you for dinner,” she said, nodding to the bill.

“You’re welcome.” He finished his drink, noticing that she’d finished hers and also deposited her napkin on her plate.

He stood. “That walk?”

She rose and took his offered hand. The sun had set nearly an hour earlier. The moon shone brightly over the water, illuminating their way. The beach was crowded near the resort, but the farther they walked, the fewer people they encountered. Knowing how the evening would end made the time together comfortable with no pressure or guessing, would they or wouldn’t they end up in his bed.

He noticed how she stared at the night sky with a peaceful look gracing her beautiful face and, for the first time that evening, really considered what holding her and kissing her would feel like. “When you look up there, you see things the rest of us don’t,” he said.

“I’m sure I do. Or at least I think about things not many other people do.” She pulled on his hand, stopping them both. She spun to face him. “You seem like a good person, Jimmy. And you’ve been a gentleman in every way. I appreciate that. I’m not going to bed with you tonight, but I wanted to do this.” She rose up on her toes and leaned into him, pressing a kiss to his lips.

Wilson was momentarily surprised by her kiss, but that didn’t stop him from returning it and deepening it, his tongue dueling with hers and exploring her mouth for several wonderful minutes. Of course, his body reacted, but she pulled away too soon.

She retook his hand and stepped back the way they’d come. “Let’s head back.”

---