He turned in the doorway, and for an instant she saw an expression in his eyes—a combination of agony and hope—that gave her courage. “What is it?” he asked, glancing toward the Humvee, where the two soldiers sat waiting for them.
“Chase … about last night … I know you think it was a mistake, but you’re wrong.”
Something twisted in his face as he looked back at her. “Kate. Last night was … well, it was incredible. Would I like a repeat performance? Damned straight.” He muttered a curse beneath his breath and raked a hand over his hair. “But Jesus, Kate, there’s no future in it, and I can’t—I can’t—” He broke off and turned to stare out the door toward the street, where vehicles drove past and several soldiers walked by.
Kate stared at his rigid back, and then took a step toward him, but didn’t dare touch him. “What?” she asked softly. “What can’t you do, Chase?”
He turned around and Kate took an involuntary step backwards at the expression on his face. “I can’t be around you without wanting you. It took all my strength to leave you last night, but it can’t happen again, Kate. It’s not fair to you. Or to me.”
“Chase, I know you didn’t want to escort me around, and that you have more important issues on your mind—” He started to interrupt and she held up a hand to forestall him. “But last night meant something to me. And I think it meant something to you, too.”
Chase made a growling sound of frustration. “It doesn’t matter if it meant something to me or not. Tomorrow your focus will shift to your sister, which is great. That’s your job. But five days later, you’ll be gone.”
Kate took a step toward him. “Then we shouldn’t waste any time.”
Reaching out, she put a hand along the side of his jaw and reached up to press a lingering kiss against his mouth. He resisted for several seconds, and then with a groan, his arms came around her, and he lowered his head, covering her mouth with his own. Kicking the door shut, he walked her backward until the backs of her knees bumped against the sofa and she sat down. He followed, pushing her against the cushions, his lips still fused to hers.
Kate welcomed him, winding her arms around his neck and pulling him down on top of her. He kissed her deeply, spearing his hands into her hair.
“God, you taste good,” he muttered against her lips. “I still think this is a bad idea, but I have no willpower where you’re concerned.”
Kate smiled against his face. “And here I was beginning to think that you might not like me.”
Chase groaned, and planting another kiss on her mouth, pulled her with him to a sitting position. “My problem has nothing to do with not liking you, and everything to do with liking you too much,” he growled.
“Then find a way for us to be together tonight,” she breathed, searching his eyes. “If this is the last night we have alone before I go home, spend it with me. This base is huge. There must be somewhere we can go to be alone. You know you want to.”
He gave her a tolerant look and stood up, rubbing a hand across the back of his neck. “Jesus, Kate, it has nothing to do with what I want or don’t want to do. Last night was different. We were in the middle of a monsoon and there was no chance that anyone was going to catch us together in that tent. But things are different here. Neither of us has our own unit, and even if there was a place that we could go, you can be sure that someone else will already have found it.”
Kate nodded. “Okay. I would never want to get you in trouble. I just want to spend time with you before I leave.”
“I want that, too, believe me.” He glanced out the window at the waiting Humvee. “But if we don’t make an appearance within the next minute, those soldiers are going to start getting ideas about what we’re doing in here. In fact, I’m pretty sure they saw you kiss me before I shut the door.”
“Oh.” Kate glanced toward the closed door. “Then we should definitely get outside before your reputation is completely ruined.”
Chase gave a rueful laugh. “Too late, darlin’. I think my reputation was destroyed the moment I laid eyes on you. I haven’t been able to focus on anything but you since I first saw you standing in the terminal at Bagram.”
“Well, considering I’m your current assignment, you should be focused on me.”
“Yeah, well, let’s get back to the vehicle before I become so focused on you that I forget everything else.” He opened the door and placed a hand at the small of her back, indicating she should precede him.
As she climbed into the backseat, Kate didn’t miss the knowing look the two soldiers gave each other before they stoically fixed their attention straight ahead. But as Chase climbed in beside her, he covered her hand with his own and squeezed her fingers, letting her know that even though he might be on duty, he no longer considered her to be his duty.
AFTER A LONG day of visiting the concert sites, meeting with the USO representatives, and exploring the small bazaar at the center of the base, Kate returned to her housing unit after dinner to find it occupied by her two roommates. Both women were in their forties, and welcomed Kate with a mug of hot tea brewed in an electric kettle that sat on the small side table. The women played characters on a popular sitcom. Kate knew she should recognize them, but she rarely watched television, preferring movies or books when she had any spare time.
“So, what brings a pretty young thing like you out here all by yourself?” asked Jessica Cochran.
“You have to ask?” Marion O’Connell gave a suggestive wink. “Have you looked around here? There are literally hundreds of good-looking, hard-bodied young men running around. I’ll tell you what. If I was as young and attractive as Kate, I’d be looking for excuses to come over here on a regular basis!”
Kate laughed. “Well, I agree that some of the guys are pretty amazing, but I’m hoping this will be my first and last visit.”
“The USO said you’re a singer?” asked Jessica, sipping her tea.
“Not me,” Kate said quickly. “I’m Tenley Miles’s publicist. I came over a few days early just to check things out and make sure everything’s ready for her. She flies in tomorrow.”
“Tenley Miles?” Marion’s face lit up with recognition. “My niece adores her. But wasn’t she involved in some recent scandal?”
Kate took a gulp of hot tea, hoping to avoid answering, but Marion was going through her mental Rolodex of celebrity scandals until finally her expression registered recognition.
“I know,” Marion declared in triumph. “She made some disparaging remarks about the military. I’m surprised she wants to come over here and entertain the troops, considering some of the negative things she had to say.”
“Yes, well that’s why we decided to come,” Kate admitted. “Tenley’s only eighteen and she can be impulsive. She doesn’t really mean what she said, and we’re hoping that this tour will help to demonstrate that.”
Jessica shook
