Page 5 of Fall of the Trident
“You’re not making any sense.Start from the beginning,” Genevieve demanded.
The beginning?Marta had to think about that.She’d been attracted to the Vice Admiral since the day he had shown up to take command of all Navy SEALs worldwide.He’d been so nice to her, a true contrast to his predecessor who had been married but had been cheating on his wife and expected her to cover for him.When she refused, he threatened to fire her, and she threatened to tell his wife and the Inspector General.He had retired soon after at the suggestion of the Secretary of the Navy.
The beginning for her was much more recent than Trevor’s arrival.“Do you remember telling me two weeks ago that I needed to put myself out there again?”Ever since Genevieve had fallen in love again with her ex-husband, she’d been pushing Marta to find love.
“Yeah, it was right after yoga.We had just gotten our iced coffee and I was pointing out several possibilities in the shop and as men walked past.”Thank goodness Genevieve remembered.“You said someone had already caught your attention…oh my God.You were talking about Trevor.”
“See, this is your fault.”She put her car in gear and started toward the base gate.
“Fine.It’s my fault.I need details and make it quick.I expect Ian to wake up any minute.”
Without giving any operational details, Marta explained the excitement in the room and how Trevor had picked her up off her feet in an enthusiastic hug and kissed her quickly.
She relayed his apologies in the conference room, “I told him that I wasn’t a damn bit sorry, which I am not, then I sashayed out of the room.”Maybe sashayed wasn’t the right word but she was sure Genevieve understood.
“So, that’s where it ended?But I thought you said there were two kisses.”
“I went back to my desk, and he called me into his office a few minutes later.”She wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but for a minute there, she thought she might be getting fired.She’d never spoken to any boss so boldly in her life.On the flipside, she hadn’t felt this connection to anyone in years.
“There were a few awkward moments in there, especially when he seemed to be off in neverland, not responding at all when I called his name.I guess he was just trying to decide how to approach our kiss.So, I pinned him.I asked him if he enjoyed the kiss.”
“Oh.My.God.”Genevieve sounded as excited as Marta.
“He wouldn’t answer the question.So, then I asked what his answer would be if I weren’t his administrative assistant.”Marta let out a long sigh.“That’s when he pointed out the truth.I am his administrative assistant and then he apologized again and pointed out that I could report him.Like I’d ever do that.Hell, I’m just as much, if not more, to blame.Then I reiterated that I wasn’t going to apologize for hugging or kissing him.Instead, I thanked him.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“I most certainly did, right after I kissed him.”She thought it was important to add, “It wasn’t like a real kiss.I just brushed my lips into his.And I’ll tell you, it felt so damn good.”
“He didn’t kiss you back?Grab you and pull you up against him as he ravaged your mouth?”Genevieve suggested.
“No.I turned around and walked out of the room, closed everything down for the night and left.”Marta was so proud of her dramatic exit.Happy, too, that she’d rewarded her employees.
“Are you headed this way?”
Marta looked around.She’d been driving on mental autopilot.As always, her gaze automatically went to the ocean.She was almost home.“No.Thanks for the invitation, though.It looks like the tide is coming in, so I think I’ll grab my board and catch a few waves.”She loved to surf.It was just her and the water.Her skills against whatever Mother Nature threw against the shore.
“Why don’t you come over for supper?”Genevieve invited.
“Thanks, but I’ll take a rain check.Besides, Evan will be home soon and you two haven’t seen much of each other in the past week.”A giggle slipped out.“Enjoy your husband.I’m glad somebody’s getting laid.”
When Genevieve and Evan got back together shortly after their daughter had died in childbirth, her friend had confessed that sex was even better with him the second time around.Maybe it was because they were fucking like newlyweds.They acted like it, too.
Lieutenant Dylan Chaney, their grandson’s father, had become the son-in-law they didn’t have.Since he’d never been told of Kylie’s pregnancy, they had never married, but Genevieve and Evan had taken the young SEAL into their family.
Marta and John never had children.They always thought there was plenty of time.Each wanted to be well-established in their career before they brought babies into their lives.Every time Marta got to babysit for Ian these days, freeing Genevieve and Evan for a few hours while Dylan was deployed or away on assignment, it was like a gift.She would never have grandchildren because she’d never been blessed with children.
Letting out a deep sigh, she pulled into the same neighborhood where Genevieve used to live before she gave the house to Dylan after moving into base housing with Evan.
Twenty minutes later, Marta dumped her beach gear on the same patch of sand she’d been using for decades.She waved to some of her fellow surfers as she jogged to the water’s edge, the board under her arm.Perfect timing.The tide was about to peak.
She’d caught several waves and felt wonderful.Free.Exhilarated in a way nothing else could give her.She wasn’t as young as she used to be, so she rehydrated and rested a few minutes on the sand warmed by Southern California’s sun, enjoying a rare midweek day off.Before the tide went out, Marta returned to the chilly water.Even in the summertime, the water temperature rarely reached seventy degrees Fahrenheit.
Grabbing her board once again, she paddled out beyond the rollers.Her attention was on the swells behind her, judging which one would give her the best ride.
“Hey, Marta, you got a new man?”Zelle, an afternoon regular, shouted over the crashing waves beachside.
“What?”How could the thirtysomething girl know about Trevor?She couldn’t.She must be talking about something else.
