Free One Star-Spangled Night by Rogenna Brewer Page B

slapped his cover against his thigh. “Good day.”
    Lindsey beat him to the door and barred his way with a crossed arm stance.
    “Lieutenant,” he said, calling deliberate attention to her rank. “Step aside. That’s an order.”
    Her short-lived career flashed before her eyes and she swallowed hard. She couldn’t keep him here against his will. Still, she could get her point across. “If it’s important enough to come here in the first place, it’s important enough to stay and talk.”
    “I’m not going to warn you again.”
    “Fine.” She edged away from the door. “But uncooperative is going in my counseling notes.” She tried to infuse a little humor into the situation that had quickly gotten out of hand.“You can write whatever you want, Chaplain. As long as you don’t share that information with anyone, I don’t care.”
    “It would be unethical for me to reveal any information about your visit.”
    “I’m counting on that.”
    He paused long enough to look her in the eye. She hoped he saw the disappointment reflected there because if ever a man needed her, Captain Doug Reese did. She couldn’t be expected to save the world. She just wanted to help one person at a time. Unfortunately, her heart took a hit every time she failed.
    Lindsey stared at his departing back. The man’s visit was obviously a desperate cry for help. Yeah, right. Captain Doug Reese looked about as self-sufficient as they came. It was her need to butt into everyone’s business that made her the desperate one. How many times had Brenda told her to get a life? How many times had Chaplain Elliot counseled her against getting overly involved?
    With a heavy sigh, she scooped up another stack of folders occupying the one remaining chair. She’d need both for her one o’clock. Her next appointment was a young couple in premarital counseling.
    No real problems there. In fact, the upcoming wedding on July 4th—her first as an officiate—was something she actually looked forward to. She’d met the bride-to-be. The intended groom was just back from sea.
    Lindsey stopped and let that sink in a moment. Followed by a quick glance toward the door. “Nah.”
    The bride was closer to Lindsey’s age, mid-twenties.
    The Captain had to be at least forty and most likely married.
    Not that a May, December…more like September, romance was out of the question. The Captain was fighter pilot fit and handsome to the extreme—despite the permanent case of indigestion apparent in his facial expression. What she couldn’t remember was whether or not he wore a wedding band.
    Which should matter to her, why?
    Arms full and looking for more nonexistent floor space, Lindsey noticed a folded piece of paper by the chair leg. Setting the stack back down, she picked up the missive and unfolded it. The letter was addressed to Captain Reese from COMCARSTRIKEGRU THIRTEEN, Commander Carrier Strike Group Thirteen (CCSG-13). She quickly folded it back up, but not before the word counseling jumped off the page.
    The good captain had been ordered into counseling.
    The shrill ringing of the outer office telephone gave her a guilty start. Brenda answered in quiet tones while Lindsey tucked the paper into her skirt pocket and grabbed her cover from beside the door.
    “Chaplain, it’s for you,” the RP called through the open door.
    “Take a message, Brenda. There’s something I need to do.” Like catch up with the Captain. She checked her watch. She had plenty of time before her next appointment.
    Brenda covered the mouthpiece. “It’s Rear Admiral Dunning.”
    “Commander Carrier Strike Group Thirteen?” Lindsey had never had the occasion to meet a flag officer before, let alone speak with one. “What could he possibly want...?” Her hand went to her skirt pocket. “I’ll take it in my office.”

 
    CHAPTER TWO
     
    “Captain on deck!”
    Doug fought the urge to snap to along with his men. “At ease,” he ordered. He’d never get used to it.