Page 94 of Down and Dirty

“I wish I had met you long ago. Afore my life path was set in another direction.”

“What life path?”

“The one that dictates I be a warrior. Not a wife or mother. Oh, do not get your loincloth in a twist. I am not suggesting you would want me for a wife.”

“Don’t make assumptions about me, Britta. And I don’t accept that life paths, or fate, or destiny can’t be changed. In fact—”

Just then, he felt a vibration in his back pocket. He pulled his beeper out and couldn’t believe his eyes. He was being called to active duty. Glancing around the bar, he saw his fellow SEALs doing the same thing. It must be something really critical if they were willing to overlook his recent transgressions.

“Uh, I have to go, Britta.”

“Go? Where?”

“That was my beeper. I’m on active duty, as of this minute.” He took her hand and led her over to the table.

All the guys were there watching JAM, who was already on his cell phone to the command center. JAM was nodding his head and saying, “Yes, sir. Sly, Cage, Geek, and Pretty Boy are here with me. I understand, sir. Right away, sir.” JAM handed the phone to Zach. “He wants to talk to you.”

“What’s your home situation, Lieutenant?” the XO asked him. “Are you able to go on a live op?”

“Yes, sir. A contingency plan is in effect.”

“Good. See you in two hours for the predeployment workup. Geared up. No uniform.”

Zach closed the cell and handed it back to JAM.

He was elated. He was back on call. Maybe his life would get back to normal now.

The guys were already leaving, paying their bills, saying good-byes to the women, and heading for the door.

“What is happening?” Britta asked him.

He realized that he was still holding her hand. Lifting their clasped hands, he kissed her knuckles. “We’re to report for duty. Walk me out to my car?”

She nodded.

With his arm over her shoulder and her arm around his waist, they walked outside and toward the back lot. Since he’d arrived late, he hadn’t been able to find a parking space anywhere close to the entrance. She was a little wobbly on her feet, the high heels digging into the gravel, so he held on extra tight, inhaling the smell of her apple shampoo.

But he was distracted, his mind racing with all he would have to do before going wheels up. He didn’t know where they would be heading yet, but that didn’t matter. The security force his father had hired for him would continue to watch over his home, and a female guard would stay inside. Sammy wouldn’t be a happy camper, but he would be safe. Zach kept his weapons in good condition… broken down, cleaned, and lubed on a regular basis. No problem there. His will and other legal documents were stored at his lawyer’s, just in case.

They were almost to his car. He hadn’t realized it was this far back. He would drive Britta around to the front when he left. No way would he let her go back alone, not with a tavern full of half-drunk horndogs.

He noticed her staring at him then… and that she was especially quiet. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she said. “I am just thinking.”

“Uh-oh.”

She didn’t smile… or smack him upside the head. “Where you are going tonight… will it be dangerous?”

“I won’t know till I get back to the command center, on a need-to-know basis. But yeah, there’s always a risk of danger on any mission. You know that.”

She nodded. Still serious. Still staring at him in the strangest way. “Dost know how long you will be gone?”

He shook his head, frowning now.

Suddenly, he knew.

Holy shit! Britta is planning to offer me a pity fuck. Or more precisely, a good-bye fuck. He shouldn’t be surprised. Women got all teary-eyed and softhearted when a soldier was about to deploy. Yo-yo panties were the norm on any military base the night before the troops went off to war. Men had been taking advantage of that perk since the beginning of time.