arms around her middle and shoulders, and the hand that cradled her head, kept her from a total loss of consciousness as sparks spewed in front of her vision.
“Stay with me, Ro. Are you okay?”
She blinked at the all-too-familiar baritone. A groan made its way past her clenched teeth. Only one man fit the bill of hero and rescuer, and had that deep sexy voice to match.
Navy Chief Warrant Officer and Explosive Ordnance Expert Miles Mikowski.
“Miles?”
“You scared the shit out of me, Ro.”
Her breath came back in gasps. Anger began to warm her from the inside out.
“What the hell are you doing?”
His face was a mere inch from hers, his weight hard but hot in contrast with the frigid ground beneath her. She’d never seen his eyes this close—his pupils were pinpoints of black heat in his steel blue irises as his breath warmed her wind-burned cheeks.
“Ro, it’s okay. I’m here, and you’re not alone.”
“Alone in what?” Their physical proximity started to register across all her senses and she squirmed. “Will you get off me?”
Had he lost his mind?
Slowly, as though she were a hand-blown Easter egg, he inched up and off her, all the while retaining a firm grasp on her arms, her hands. He rocked back on his heels in a crouch and pulled her up to a seated position.
The sound of car engines and the call-outs of drivers forced Ro’s glance away from Miles and to the highway.
“What’s going on, folks?” A uniformed state trooper stood on the street next to them. “Are you okay, miss?”
Ro looked at the officer, then at Miles.
“I’m fine, Officer. At least I was, until my...my colleague seemed to think I was in trouble. Miles?”
He shook his head.
“Tell me you weren’t about to do something really stupid, Ro.”
“The only thing I was going to do, I did. I tossed my old engagement ring.” She stood up and ignored the sharp cries of pain from her battered bones. She was going to kill Miles when she had the chance.
He stared at her as if he was seeing a ghost.
“Sir, are you okay?” The trooper turned to Miles, a hand on his hip.
“Yes, I’m fine. Sorry about any confusion, Officer.” Miles ran his fingers over his chin and Ro caught the grimace he was trying to hide.
Miles, embarrassed? This was new.
“I was in the war, and since I’ve been back a lot of vets have, ah—” he glanced past the trooper, to the vista of the Strait of Juan de Fuca “—I’ve seen a lot of vets with PTSD. I acted on instinct when I saw Ro on the bridge, in these winds, at this hour.”
“That true, miss?” The trooper deferred to Ro.
“Yes, yes. Miles is my work friend. He’s a good man, Officer, and wouldn’t ever do anything to hurt me.” She looked the trooper straight in the eye. No matter how much Miles drove her to distraction with his steady, determined attempts to date her, she knew he’d never act on anything other than honorable motives.
“Okay. I got a call from a concerned driver who saw you both take a tumble, and I had to ascertain that it wasn’t assault or a suicide attempt.” He paused, a slow grin overtaking his face. “Since you were just throwing away an engagement ring, we’re fine. I won’t write you a citation for littering, but toss the next ring into the trash can, all right?”
Ro smiled at him.
“No worries—there won’t be another ring.” Not for a very long time.
* * *
“GET IN BEFORE we cause an accident out here.” His booming voice brought more goose bumps to her arms than the Whidbey wind ever could.
She skirted behind his red Ford F-150 pickup truck. Sure enough, the morning commuters were already lining up behind him. Most were headed to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, where they would put in a full day’s work for their country. They were going to start honking their horns at any moment.
Her fists ached to punch the tailgate, kick the tires. Instead, she pulled the passenger door open and slid into the leather seat.
She slammed the door shut, as much as one could slam such a heavy piece of metal, and turned to glare at Miles.
“Just drive to the pull-off and let me out so the traffic can get by.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I didn’t ask for your help, Warrant.”
Light-headedness wasn’t familiar to Ro but sitting next to Miles Mikowski made her feel as though the air had been sucked out of the truck’s cab. The leather interior of the huge vehicle was roomy, even by American standards. Except when the likes of Miles took up the driver’s side. His long, lean yet muscular physique filled every inch. He had to be at least six feet four inches tall. Whenever she stood near him, which wasn’t often, he towered over her five feet six inches, normally a respectable height for a woman.
“You didn’t ask in words but being out on this bridge in these winds is begging for help, Roanna. Then to see you stopped at the high point like that.” He slapped the dashboard.
Guilt licked up her stomach and to her neck. Nausea threatened to overtake her anger. She had really frightened him. Miles, the man who’d already been through hell and back in the war.
“I know you like to run in the mornings but maybe you should check the weather report before you run onto the bridge in near-gale-force winds.”
His frequent use of her given name instead of her rank irked her. They were both officers, so of course it was okay to address each other by first name. Miles always addressed her as “Lieutenant Commander Brandywine” in public. Privately he used her name but only when he asked her out. And she’d always refused.
It’s not that he uses your first name. It’s how he says it.
The way her name sounded on his lips made her think of sex. Her awareness of him annoyed her, to say the least....
“I’m not an idiot, Miles. I’ve lived here long enough to know I need to be careful. I’m on my way into the base, anyway. I’ve finished my run. I was cooling down.” He stayed silent. “My car’s right over here in the parking lot.”
You’re starting a new chapter today. Be nice.
“I didn’t realize you live off-island.” She referred to the fact that he was driving toward Whidbey.
“I don’t.”
No other explanations. She squirmed. What he did in his personal time was his business.
