Free The Gauntlet by Lindsay McKenna Page B

course.”
    “Who taught you that?”
    She glared at him. “My mother.”
    “Test pilots by nature are self-protective, Molly. They’ve got egos as big as the Chesapeake Bay. Martin’s record is impeccable. He’s a hotshot jet jock and knows it.”
    “I don’t care if he thinks he’s God. He’s not! He made mistakes up there in the air today, Cam. I was there. I saw it happen!”
    “Prove it to me,” he goaded her softly.
    “I tried today.”
    “By acting like a cream puff in debrief? Give me a break, Molly. Why didn’t you demand that Norton view the video? I haven’t seen it, either, and it may or may not prove a thing, but at least it would put Martin on notice that you’re going to start protecting
your
territory.”
    Molly scrambled to her feet. “I will not play these little-boy games, Cam! We’re supposed to be mature adults.”
    “Martin was a six-year-old squalling like a scalded cat in there this afternoon,” Cam drawled, holding her furious gaze. “Who do you think won that battle in your personal war with him? Who did Norton believe? Who got the better grade?”
    “You gave him an eighty-five!” Molly flung heatedly. “I didn’t!”
    “You didn’t give me a choice.”
    “I what?”
    “Come on, sit back down. We’re not done talking.”
    Breathing hard, Molly sank back to the sand, her fists clenched in her lap. “I wasn’t aware I had anything to do with Martin’s grade. You do.”
    “You’re wrong. I assess my student in three areas. First, how he presents his report of the flight. Second, through the video analysis. Third,” Cam drilled her, “the flight engineer’s report. You think Martin’s the only one who’s going to try and make you look bad when he blows a test? Every man in there will do it, Molly. And if you don’t want to get washed out in the first month, you’d better start defending yourself.”
    Molly felt at a loss. Hanging her head, she mulled over Cam’s suggestions. “I won’t become like them,” she said finally. “I refuse to lower myself to their level of infantile behavior to get some notice or a better grade.”
    Without meaning to, Cam reached out, his hand settling on hers. “Who taught you not to fight for yourself, Molly?”
    His hand was firm yet comforting on hers. A lump formed in her throat. “My mother never raised her voice to my father.”
    “You don’t have to be exactly like her.” Cam ached to lean closer, frame her face and kiss her pursed lips. Her face was filled with such pain that he felt tears come to his eyes. Tears! He hadn’t cried in nearly six months. Reluctantly, Cam removed his hand, realizing he was becoming too involved with Molly. If he was going to help her, he had to remain distant and objective. There was danger in allowing her to affect him.
    With a shrug, Molly whispered, “You think I’m a wimp.”
    “No. I don’t think your family gave you the support or the tools for learning to stand up for yourself.” His voice became lined with emotion. “Molly, if you really want to make the grade at TPS, you’re going to have to start defending yourself.”
    “I’m not going to yell or curse to achieve it.”
    “You don’t have to.”
    Lifting her chin, Molly looked at him miserably. “Isn’t this sad? Why can’t the world get along without all this ridiculous drama and clash of egos? Why can’t everyone behave like well-mannered adults?”
    “Just because you can, doesn’t mean everyone else does.”
    “You never raise your voice. At least, not that I’ve heard.”
    Cam’s mouth curved into a slight smile. “Wait and see. Some of these jet jocks have to be brought down a peg or two when they start trying to run over the flight engineers.”
    His smile sent a sheet of warmth and hope straight to her injured heart. The entire shape of his face changed, and Molly’s breath snagged. How handsome, how approachable Cam looked when he smiled, even if it was just a sliver of a smile tugging at one