Free Taming Her Navy Doc by Amy Ruttan Page B

Navy brat, but my
mamère
—my grandmother—lived in the bayous of Louisiana and I was born there.”
    “A Southern girl.”
    “Yes, sir. Though don’t ask me to do a Creole accent or drawl or whatever. I don’t have one. I was born in New Orleans, but I didn’t live there very long. I was raised on the Eastand West Coasts. Except for a three-year stint in Arizona.”
    “Yet you blurt out some Cajun every once in a while.”
    “A bit. I spent a lot of summers with Mamère.”
    “You’ve been all over.”
    “Yes and working on a medical ship helped with that.”
    “I bet.” He put the car into drive. “You haven’t seen Okinawa yet.”
    “No. I haven’t.”
    “You’re in for a real treat, then.”
    He signaled and pulled away, down the road to the base’s entrance. They signed out with the Master of Arms on duty. Once the gate lifted they were off down the road toward the city of Ginowan. The wind blew in her hair and she could smell the sea. She took a deep breath and relaxed. It was the first time in a long time she’d actually sat back and relaxed.
    “Where are we headed?” she asked, not that she really cared where they were going. She was just happy to be off the base and seeing the sights.
    “There’s a temple in Ginowan that’s pretty. Thought we’d stop there first. Maybe we can spot some Shisa dogs.”
    “What are Shisa dogs?”
    “They guard the island. There are stone carvings of lion dogs hidden everywhere.”
    “Neat.”
    Thorne nodded. “Not much of the original architecture remains. Most was destroyed in 1945 during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II.”
    “I did know that. My grandfather fought during that battle, actually.”
    “With the Navy?”
    “No, the Marines.”
    “Did he survive?”
    Erica chuckled. “Of course, or I wouldn’t be here talking to you today. My father was the youngest of seven children and he wasn’t born until 1956.”
    Thorne laughed. “Good point.”
    “Did any of your family serve?”
    Thorne’s easy demeanor vanished and he visibly tensed. His smile faded and that dour, serious face she was used to seeing around the halls of the base hospital glanced at her.
    “Yes. My brother.”
    “Navy?”
    “Yes.” It was a clipped answer, like he didn’t want to say anything further, and she wasn’t going to press him, but she couldn’t help but wonder where his brother was. Did he still serve? Was Thorne’s brother in the SEALs?Maybe that was why it was a bit of a sore spot for him.
    Either way, it wasn’t her business.
    Just like her past wasn’t his business.
    “So, tell me about these dogs.”
    Thorne’s expression softened. “I’m no expert on Okinawan history. Your best bet is to ask Scooby.”
    “Oh, yes? The man who supposedly doesn’t know English? ‘That’ll be no problem’,” she air-quoted.
    Thorne laughed with her. “Again, sorry about that.”
    “I know, I know. It was all a part of my initiation. I’ve had several now; I should be used to them.”
    “Scooby wants to warn you off of me and vice versa.”
    “Vice versa?” she asked. “Why? What have I ever done to him?”
    “He thinks we’re both too pigheaded and stubborn to get along well.”
    Erica chuckled. “He could be right. I am stubborn, but not without just cause.”
    “So I’ve heard.”
    Now she was intrigued and a bit worried. “From who?”
    “My commanding officer. He said you were quite adamant that I not be removed from theship, even if the orders came direct from the White House.”
    She laughed. “That’s true. When it comes to my ­patients. Some find it annoying.”
    “Not me,” Thorne said and he glanced over at her quickly. “It’s the mark of a damn fine surgeon. Which you are.”
    Heat flamed in her cheeks. “Thank you.”
    “There’s no need to thank me. I’m speaking the truth. I don’t lie.”
    “That’s funny,” she said.
    “What?”
    “That you don’t lie, when you
clearly
did.” She regretted the words the