Free Jane's Long March Home by Susan Lute Page B

settling down type. Hell, none of them were.
    Russell on the other hand had responsible written all over his fine form. That was her problem. It was like putting nectar under the beak of a migrating humming bird.
    “Sergeant Scott Boone, this is Dr. Chase Russell.” She wasn’t ready to go into the details of her situation with Russell. “He owns this ranch.”
    The men eyed each other warily.
    Jane stepped between them. “How long can you stay?”
    “A few hours. I have to report in by eighteen-hundred tomorrow.”
    A stab of jealousy attacked her. While she was stuck here, Boone was heading to a new assignment. “How about some coffee?”
    “That would be great.”
    In the kitchen, Russell waved her off. “I’ll get the coffee. You go visit.”
    She flashed him a smile, then settled at the table across from the Sergeant. Boone lounged comfortably in the chair, his elbow hitched over the back rail. He studied her with a deceptively casual look. “What are you doing here?”
    Her gaze darted to Russell. He cocked his head sideways, waiting to see what she was going to tell her buddy. 
    The long, awkward silence stretched out. What was she supposed to say? I’m a nut case, so I’ve been marooned here until I get better?  
    Boone caught on without words, and quickly picked up the slack. The sympathy in his too knowing eyes made Jane want to strike out. Good thing she was past that kind of behavior, she sneered.
    “So, Friday night poker isn’t the same without you. Bear’s been on a roll. Can’t beat the dude.”
    Russell put steaming cups in front of them, then retreated to the other side of the island that separated the kitchen from the dining area. He leaned against the counter, his own cup in hand. Jane followed his movements before jerking her attention back to Boone.
    “How?” She swallowed at the amusement in her buddy’s eyes. She wanted to deny any perceived attraction to Russell, but she knew Boone, the player, wouldn’t believe it. She cleared her throat. “How are Bear and Lacey doing? Any more incidences after-”
    Boone shook his head. “No. It’s been quiet since you left. Took awhile to get things cleaned up, but we’ve kept security tight, and the dust has settled.”
    Jane divorced herself from her role in the bombing; let the warm memories of being with her comrades roll over her. The conversation shifted to safer ground.
    Three hours passed too quickly. Through it all, Russell hung out in the background. She was oddly comforted by his presence.
    Before she knew it, Boone was climbing back into his rig. He hesitated before strapping himself in. “Stop blaming yourself for what happened, Gunny. And, don’t stay out here too long. Lacey said to tell you she hasn’t had a decent game since you left. She wants to plan a weekend in Vegas as soon as she and Bear get stateside.”
    “I’ll see what I can do.”
    He gave her his charmer's smile, the one he used on all potential girlfriends, but it did nothing more for Jane than make her think of the man in the house whose grin was a killer.
    Pulling the door closed, he tossed her a jaunty two-fingered salute. “Stay in touch.”
    “Will do.” For the first time, she meant it.
    During Boone’s short stay, he’d reminded her she wasn’t as lost as she thought. She had good friends who weren’t blaming her for what happened.
    As the silence of the night closed around her, the constant anxiety she’d been carrying for so long eased just a little.
    *
    Over the next couple of days, Chase made sure he had no opportunity to be alone with the enticing Marine. It was an easy task since it seemed she’d didn’t want to be alone with him either.
    He couldn’t explain it. He’d wanted to kiss her. Despite his better judgment. And, to heck with the rules. If it hadn’t been for the arrival of her fellow Marine, he just might have given into the overwhelming desire to drag her close; take in her sweet scent; explore the soft skin right