Targets Entangled (7 page)

“Tami, is everything okay?” Ferrin passed her clipboard to Jerry, knowing full well he’d need the information contained on it to answer the Chief’s question. She didn’t take her eyes off of her friend’s gloomy face. The petite blonde looked as if she hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep last night. Ferrin could relate since she hadn’t slept too well since this cruise had been put to sea either and when she did manage to fall into a light slumber, Daegan was waiting for her in her dreams. “I get off shift in a few minutes.”

“I’ll wait,” Tami replied, not her usual upbeat self. “I think I really messed up this time.”

Tami’s words had Ferrin intrigued and she quickly ran through the pass down with Roger, retrieving and passing on the clipboard from Jerry to Roger, even mentioning her discussion with Chief Jackson today. It wasn’t long until she signed out of the shift log and was officially off duty. She joined Tami out into the passageway. Ferrin removed her glasses and then started toward her cabin, wanting to change into her workout clothes.

“So what happened?” Ferrin asked, leading the way. She glanced back at Tami and noticed that there were slight blemishes underneath her eyes. “You look exhausted.”

“I think I’m in love,” Tami blurted out, running a hand through her short blonde hair. She acted like this was the end of the world. “I’m too young for this. It was just supposed to be a brief affair at sea, not turn into something like this.”

Ferrin was momentarily speechless, so not having expected something like that from her friend. She thought of what to say, but everything sounded too cliché. She started with the obvious and the most evident.

“Tami, are you talking about Chuck?” Ferrin didn’t want to appear as if she thought Tami was overreacting, but she and Chuck had technically just met. Tami was spontaneous, but falling in love with someone you didn’t really know? “We’ve only been aboard for a week. I’m sure it’s just because he’s the only one you’re seeing at the moment and you’re infatuated. Trust me, it happens.”

“He’s so…he’s everything that I truly want in my future husband.” Tami didn’t seem happy about that, and in fact, she seemed on the verge of tears. Ferrin tried not to think of Daegan as she continued to listen to Tami talk. “I’m not ready for this. Not yet. Ferrin, I’m young. I’m carefree and I am certainly not going to pick a man to spend the rest of my life with based on the fact that he’s the best sex I’ve ever had. Not that I’ve sampled that big of a selection. Not compared to some.”

Ferrin had to laugh at the horror on Tami’s face and as usual, realized that her friend was being a little overdramatic. They’d arrived at Ferrin’s cabin and she entered first, not surprised to find that Nina had already left and started her shift. The third bunk was empty so far. Nina and Ferrin were splitting the extra storage space and utilizing the lower bunk as additional seating. She placed her glasses on the book she’d been trying to read last night, having done the same thing that Tami was doing now…worrying over something that in the end would turn into nothing more than a blip on their radar.

“You’re infatuated,” Ferrin said, unbuttoning her blouse. Living in these close of quarters, one got used to dressing and undressing in front of another. She peeled off the material and replaced it with a soft cotton T-shirt that she’d use to work out in. “You’ll be wondering why you were even worried about this by the time we return to the States.”

“But he’s so talented with his—”

“As I said, you’re enamored with him. He’s a nice guy with some skills.” Ferrin sat down on the lower berth after tilting Nina’s berth up, wanting it back out of the way. She then worked out the laces on her boots. She didn’t need to hear the details of Tami’s sex life when she was frustrated from not giving in to having one herself. “Give it another week or so before we hit our destination and you’ll be laughing over the fact that you were even thinking such crazy thoughts.”

“I knew you’d have me seeing reason,” Tami said after having taken a deep breath. She pulled out and sat down on Nina’s desk chair while stretching out her short legs. “I found myself missing him after he left for his cabin in the middle of the night. I usually feel relieved when the man I’m sleeping with leaves.”

“We’re in the middle of the deep forbidding ocean, far away from normal civilization.” Ferrin pulled off her boots and then switched out her pants for her workout shorts. Although she was as tired as Tami looked, Ferrin couldn’t see falling asleep quite yet. A good run on the treadmill might discharge her batteries just enough for a few hours of sleep. “Of course you want a warm body beside you. Who wouldn’t, given the circumstances?”

“Exactly,” Tami said with a firm nod of her head, obviously feeling somewhat relieved. Ferrin was glad she could provide that to someone, because it certainly wasn’t working for her. “I haven’t seen you for a few days. Did you hear about the fire in the galley? I was there and let me tell you, we are lucky they caught it when they did. The chef pulled the halon release lever over the fryer before it got too big.”

“Do you know what started it?” Ferrin asked, remembering what Jerry had said earlier about the captain addressing the crew later that morning. It was undoubtedly going to be about the crew being more cautious and following the guidelines that had been set forth in each department’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) manual. “That’s a stupid mistake that could have cost someone their life or compromised the ship.”

“I don’t know. At least no one was hurt.” Tami stood after Ferrin had laced up her running shoes. It was apparent from the look on her face that she wouldn’t be joining Ferrin in the workout room. “I think I’m going to try and get some sleep now. I’m going on duty in eight hours.”

“Eight hours if Chuck doesn’t show up at your door with a stiff one,” Ferrin said with a smile, feeling somewhat uplifted that she’d been able to make Tami feel better. She needed to heed her own advice and remember that this mission would eventually end and she would be back on land where Daegan would find the next willing woman to be in his bed. “Go. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow since I have tonight off.”

“That’s what we need—some girl time.” Tami wiggled her fingers as she walked out of the cabin. “Wake me at zero nine hundred.”

“Will do.”

Ferrin took her time gathering her iPod and ear buds, leaving her glasses behind. She grabbed a large white hand towel, which only made her think of Daegan, and wrapped it around her neck as she headed to the workout room. She vaguely knew that his stateroom was located aft of Engineering and forward of the secure compartments containing the COC and the team room. She had to concentrate in order to keep on the path she’d set for herself. He’d left the decision in her hands and she couldn’t bring herself to take that step, even though they both knew that she wanted to be back in his rack.

‡

D
aegan was running
on too little sleep and he was also damned tired of the past consuming the present. He’d spent yesterday battling memories that shouldn’t have resurfaced. The facts were just that—these circumstances were dealt to him and he needed to keep his shit together until this mission was accomplished and they returned to their homeport. Ferrin had nothing to do with his past, regardless that she had like qualities that brought back emotions he’d rather forget. She was a different woman and one who he could make new living memories with, even if it was only for the short time this operation was in process.

The mission and only the mission would be his whole world once they transitioned in country. Similar to the zone he’d entered when his target was in his scope, only the environment and its effects on the round traveling down range existed when he became one with his weapon. His one God given talent—he could always shoot. It was time to try his hand at something more of a gamble.

He stood in front of Ferrin’s cabin and rapped on the hatch a couple of times, knowing she’d have just returned from the workout room if she’d stuck to her routine. He almost growled when Ferrin finally answered, fresh from her shower. She looked good enough to eat. Her hair hung down in damp waves, leaving wet spots on the front of her white T-shirt and showed him exactly what he’d come here to see. He held up a white paper bag that contained some still warm donuts and a tray of freshly filled paper coffee cups. He had all the fixings for an intimate midmorning moment between two mutually attractive shipmates.

“I thought you could use something to eat after burning all those calories,” Daegan said, searching Ferrin’s gaze for that tiny opening he needed to figure out what she might be thinking. She was so damn beautiful and yet so cautious it made him want her even more. She’d been a sight to behold when she had come undone in his arms and abandoned herself to their basic needs. He wanted to feel and hear that again. He
needed
to feel alive again and not stuck in the damned past. “Hungry?”

“Is that a double entendre?” Ferrin tilted her head to the side, her grey eyes becoming darker. Daegan didn’t take that as an affirmative answer to his question as of yet, but at least she hadn’t slammed the hatch on him at first sight. He did like this feisty side of her though and was grateful that she hadn’t kicked the hatch shut in his face. “I’ll definitely take whatever sugar coated treat you have in the bag, but you can leave if you think you’re getting anything in return for it.”

“I’ll take nothing less than a moment’s kiss for payment, but I think I’ll save it for when you have a little more sugar on those lips.” Daegan widened his smile when she stepped back with a smirk, allowing him entrance. He was already feeling better by just being allowed in her presence. “By the way, the coffee with the white lid is decaf. I wouldn’t want to be the cause of keeping you from your beauty sleep.”

The flush was light, but the rouge that touched her cheeks let him know that he wasn’t the only one affected by this attraction between them. That one weekend wasn’t nearly enough to get her out of his system. He set the bag down on what was obviously her desk in the small cabin divided into thirds, since the upper rack was made with precision and there wasn’t a piece of paper out of alignment on the desk’s surface. Her roommate wasn’t as obsessive with keeping her part of the room clean, for one could hardly miss the Hello Kitty comforter on her otherwise loose bundle of blankets designating her berth. The middle desk was overwhelmed by a TV/DVD combo entertainment center and the other had piled high laundry that needed someone’s attention. There was a chair pushed under each desk, so he took one and made himself comfortable.

“Only the one roommate then. That’s convenient. Have you had a chance to check in with your family?” Daegan asked, knowing she was very close to her sister and mother. They’d called a few times during the glorious days they’d spent together. “I called my parents a couple of days ago but my brother wasn’t at home when I tried to get a hold of him. I might need to stop by the radio room tonight now that we’re on different time zones.”

“I’m off duty this evening,” Ferrin said after having taken a bite of the chocolate donut. He didn’t reach for the other one still in the bag, not really hungry since he’d eaten his regular power breakfast with his team members earlier. He did remove the black cover on his coffee and took a drink, liking that she seemed more relaxed around him than she had prior. “Anything interesting going on at home?”

“Not really.” Daegan figured she was asking more about current events than his family, but he still followed up with the discussion he’d had with his parents. Ferrin scooted back a little on the lower rack until her back was resting against the bulkhead. She hadn’t shown this level of personal comfort around him since their time together and he wasn’t ready for that to end. “My dad drew up some plans to renovate the bar my brother owns. He was hoping I’d be back in time to help, but that’s not going to happen if the current mission tracks as we expect it to.”

“Callum, right?”

“Yes,” Daegan replied with a nod of his head. “He’s older and happens to be the one to take after my dad. Both have very deep roots when it comes to their hometown and while I understand it, I’m just not cut out of the same old pattern.”

“That’s right,” Ferrin said with a grin. She pulled another chunk of the donut off but didn’t put it in her mouth right away. Did she know that he was watching every move she made? “The adrenaline junkie. What do good old boys do in Nebraska for fun? I can only imagine it must involve guns and explosives.”

“Drinking at my brother’s bar, of course.” Daegan raised his glass in salute when he made her laugh. And there was the smile that he found so captivating. “Come on. You have to admit to loving that bike ride I took you on.”

Daegan had offered to take her home on his bike after they had been holed up for two days in bed. Much to his surprise, Ferrin had accepted. He’d made her wear a helmet, but the way her grey eyes sparkled when she removed it after he’d pulled up to her apartment complex had been well worth the nail indentions that she’d put into his sides. She might like her safe and orderly life, but underneath she had an underlying need for the spike of adrenaline she always claimed he lived for.