The Goodbye Girl

by Angela Verdenius

Refocussing on the task at hand, Bree pulled onto the driveway. “The plan is we find somewhere to park and wait.”

  “That’s the plan?”

  “That’s always the plan.”

  “Huh.” He looked out at the darkness through the door window. “No hunting through the bushes with that electro thing?”

  Bree grinned. “That may still happen.”

  “Good. Just what I want to do on a wet, cold night.”

  She glanced at him. “You don’t have to come. I’m fine on my own.”

  “And I’m happy to come with you.”

  “But you don’t want to crawl through bushes on a wet, cold night.”

  “It’s not on my top ten favourite list, but for you I’ll crawl anywhere.”

  “That’s sweet in a creepy kind of way.” Bree flicked her gaze between the road and the sky.

  “It’s also kind of interesting to watch a pro at work.”

  “I’m definitely not a pro. I just like the hunt.”

  “I read you.”

  Remembering that Nick had probably done hundreds of hunts in his job, dangerous hunts, Bree murmured, “I guess you do.”

  There was a comfortable silence between them as the road passed beneath the van. It was broken by the mobile ringing.

  Bree switched it on. “Hello.”

  “How’s the weather?” Jackie asked.

  “Wet and cold. Dark.”

  “No lightening?”

  Secret code again. “Not one iota.” Bree glanced to where Nick rested comfortably in the seat beside her. “There is a little spark present, though.”

  There was an ominous silence from the mobile, and he looked from it to her questioningly.

  “A safe spark,” Bree added. “His name’s Nick. Say hello, Nick.”

  “Hello,” he dutifully said.

  “You sure the way is clear?” Jackie asked.

  “Trust me.”

  “Last time you said that, I ended up in gaol.”

  “Minor offence.” Feeling Nick’s gaze on her, Bree added for his benefit, “Look, you said if we were spotted in that No Trespassing zone, to each run for their lives, no stopping for anyone. I did that.”

  “You were on watch, Bree.”

  “And I didn’t spot the security guard until too late. I yelled a warning and ran like you ordered us to before the hunt. I obeyed your commands. Man, you do carry a grudge. Besides, you only got a fine, remember?”

  “I just know the government is watching me.”

  “Where are you now?”

  “Are you insane? Someone could be listening in.”

  Yeah, Nick was, and going by the amusement on his face, he was enjoying it.

  “Right. Sorry.” Bree angled the van around a bend in the road, slowing down when the headlights revealed a couple of kangaroos feeding on the side of the road.

  “Besides, you were supposed to contact me prior going out.”

  “I was going to.”

  “But you’re on the hunt now. How many did you say was with you?”

  “Just the one, Jackie.”

  “Contact me at twenty one hundred.” Jackie hung up.

  Hands on the wheel, Bree waited for Nick to start asking questions. It didn’t take long.

  “Interesting friend,” he commented.

  “You have no idea.”

  “Touch of paranoia?”

  “That’s putting it mildly. Mind you, nowadays you never know who’s watching and listening.”

  “You’re not as paranoid as your friend.”

  “How would you know? Maybe I tape all our conversations on the phone and keep it for future reference.”

  “I’d know because I put a listening device in it.”

  “Now you’re pulling my leg.”

  “I’d like to pull it around my hips.”

  “What?” Startled, she looked at him.

  He pointed to the windscreen. “Road. ’Roos.”

  “What did you just say?”

  “Never mind. So, did your friend inform you of these lights?”

  “Yes. She got reports from various people of these sightings.”

  “Over Whicha?”

  “Oh, I didn’t actually fill you in, did I?” she realised.

  “Nope.”

  “Right. Jackie phoned me earlier. She had reports from various places about unidentified lights in the sky seemingly heading this way. By tracking the times they were seen and the directions they were appearing, the team estimated the lights would pass over Whicha around twenty hundred hours.”

  “You do realise that airplanes could be passing overhead around the same time?”

  “Jackie left me a message on email to say that no planes would be passing overhead between nineteen hundred and twenty four hundred hours. Don’t ask me how she gets her information, I have no idea and she’s always right. Any lights will be unexplained.”

  “Unless some farmer decides to start crop spraying while drunk.”

  “A farmer wouldn’t crop spray at night in the rain, drunk or not.”

  “Duly noted. So what is the plan if or when the lights appear?”

  “We record them. Got the camcorder in my backpack.” She glanced at him. “What’s in your backpack?”

  “Weapons. They come with probes, I come with guns.”

  “I’m hoping you’re not serious.” Because she really wasn’t certain.

  “Wait and see.”

  “Nick!”

  He laughed. “Relax. It’s just a snack, a hot drink, torch, a few bits and pieces.”

  “You are quite the little boy Scout, aren’t you?”

  “I’m always prepared, honey. For anything.”

  She couldn’t help but wonder if he carried condoms. Man, she was getting it bad for him. Just the thought of him pulling out a condom from his pocket with one hand and reaching for her with his other was enough to make her almost dizzy.

  Maybe she was becoming a little obsessed about Nick.

  “I see you got the new door,” he said. “Frank did say it was coming soon.”

  “You checked up on it?”

  “We were already in there to pick up some parts for Paul and I asked at the same time.”

  “That’s so sweet.”

  “You can reward me when we park.”

  That had her going all warm in places that had no business going warm on a UFO hunt. “You do realise we’re parking and watching, not parking and necking?”

  “I can multitask.”

  “And I admire that. But no, no necking while hunting.”

  “I’m crushed.”

  “If you’re a good boy on this hunt, I’ll give you a little kiss when we get home.”

  After a full minute of silence, he asked, “What’ll you give me if I’m a bad boy?” His voice practically oozed dark sensuality.

  Hoo boy. Her hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Behave yourself.”

  “Come on, Bree. What’ll you do?”

  “We are not having this conversation right now.” Not when she had to concentrate on driving.

  “Want to know what I’ll do to you if you’re a bad girl tonight?”

  “If you don’t want me to run up a power pole, you’ll stop right there.”

  “Am I affecting you?”

  “Damn it, yes.” No sense pretending otherwise.

  “Ah.” With that cryptic comment, Nick went silent.

  Bree glanced sideways at him. He had his head turned to the side window, looking out, elbow on the windowsill, one hand at his jaw as he stroked it thoughtfully with long fingers.

  So what was he thinking? What he’d like to do to her?

  Pondering that had her heart bumping a little crazily in her chest, not to mention thank God he couldn’t see her jumper under the jacket. Her nipples were trying to burst free, they were poking so hard at the front of it. How could the man get her all worked up with just a few suggestive words and - oh, don’t forget, an unmistakeable sexy thread in his deep
voice.

  Oops, there went the warmth at her loins.

  Focus, Bree, focus!

  Taking a deep breath, she spotted the parking bay she’d designated as Point One and indicated, turning into the bay and parking behind the shelter of trees. During the day cars parked there were easily seen, but the darkness helped cast shadows and unless spotlights fell full upon them, they were almost invisible in the rainy weather. Good cover all the way around.

  Turning off the engine, she unclipped the seatbelt and stood up, moving between the seats to get to the back.

  She almost jerked upright when she felt a hand on her backside.

  “Sorry,” Nick said from behind her. “Just trying to steady you.”

  “I don’t need steadying.” No, she needed something to slow her jumping heart.

  “Just call me chivalrous.”

  “More like handy.”

  “In more ways than one.”

  “Yeah, I got that.” Grinning, she knelt down and fished inside the backpack, pulling out the camcorder.

  “Just to make it clear, I’m sorry I startled you. I’m not sorry I touched that curvy backside of yours.”

  She nearly dropped the camcorder.

  “Just so we’re clear.”

  Ignoring her warm, tingly parts, Bree managed to frown at him, which she was sure was lost in the gloom of the van. “I don’t think you’re taking this seriously.”

  “Honey, I’m serious about you and your safety. About this hunt, I’m serious about ensuring your continued safety.”

  “You just don’t believe, do you?”

  “Never said I did.”

  “One day you’ll see something you can’t explain and you’ll have a heart attack.”

  “No, I’ll have my back to the wall protecting certain parts of my anatomy.”

  “There’s a bit of anal obsession going on here, Nick. It’s not healthy.”

  “You don’t say.” Laughter was definitely edging his words.

  Pushing to her feet, bent over slightly so that she didn’t hit her head on the roof of the van, Bree slid open the side door. “I’m going out to see if I can spot anything.”

  Nick was out of his door like a flash. The man could move fast, no doubt about it, not to mention soundless. And not to mention protective, standing right beside her, his hand in the small of her back as he looked around.

  “It’s safe,” she told him.

  “You don’t know who could be lurking out here,” he admonished her.

  “I know there’re no aliens.”

  His gaze dropped down to hers.

  “One look at you, soldier boy, looking all deadly and aggressive, and they’ll run a mile.”

  “I’m going for a quick look around. Stay here.”

  “I’m not one of your soldiers, Nick.”

  “No. You’re my woman.” With that unexpected response, he walked away and vanished in the darkness, leaving Bree gaping after him.

  Wow. ‘You’re my woman’. That just had her tingling in all the right places. Okay, it might sound caveman but it sure did it for her. The warmth that went through her, the feeling of being cared for, well, hell, it had her standing there with a silly grin on her face before she got her wits back and shut the sliding door.

  Like it or not, the last thing she needed was for Nick to return to find her still standing there looking like a love struck fool.

  Moving away from the van, she gazed up at the night sky. It was black with clouds, the rain holding off for now but threatening to let loose at any minute. Perfect for spotting UFOs if they flew low, bad if they flew above the clouds. Unless they came through the clouds and lit them up, that would be something to record. It wouldn’t be the first time well-lit clouds were photographed, except unbelievers immediately claimed it was lightening flashes…even when there was no lightening reported.

  Sometimes you just couldn’t convince some people that there were more things in the world and beyond than what they just saw.

  Slowly she turned, keeping her gaze on the sky. Nothing so far. But just in case she missed something the eye couldn’t see, she flicked the camcorder on, held it up to her eye and did a slow turn, stepping carefully further from the van to ensure she had a good view.

  Now to check the other side. Lowering the camcorder, she moved back, nearly shrieking out loud when she collided with a hard body. Spinning around, she let out a huge gasp of relief when she recognised Nick.

  Standing behind her, he blended in with the night in his dark clothes. She had the sudden sensation that she was standing next to a predator, someone far deadlier than she’d given him credit. Silent, watchful, there was an alertness evident. She couldn’t see his eyes but she felt his gaze.

  Call her a ninny, but she couldn’t help but be glad that he was her predator. If he was her enemy she’d be crapping her pants. It was a reminder of what he was, what he did for a living.

  “You scared me,” she said.

  “It’s safe,” he stated quietly.

  “I know you’re safe. For me, anyway.”

  His teeth were a flash of white in the dark. “I meant, the surroundings are safe.”

  “I’ve just realised that I’ve got Rambo by my side. It’s the aliens who have to be afraid.” She started walking around the van.

  He walked beside her, dogging her every step, never far from her and always silently watchful as she scanned the skies with the camcorder, ensuring she had a good coverage.

  Lowering the camcorder, she returned to the van, leaned back against the driver’s door and breathed deeply, watching Nick as he towered over her. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  Curiously, she folded her arms, holding the camcorder in one hand. “What’s it like over there? In battle?”

  He was silent for so long that she wondered if he’d even heard her, but then he answered quietly, “It’s not always a battle, but we know we’re facing the enemy. Sometimes we laugh. Sometimes we cry. Sometimes we’re angry. You can’t serve a tour in some of those places and remain unaffected in some way. But we have a job we are trained to do, and we do it to the best of our ability.”

  “Do you ever relax?”

  “In the camps, yeah. But you’re always aware of where you are, that things can happen.”

  “Do you like it?” She stopped, considered. “Well, you must do, because you’ve been a soldier this long.”

  Nick shifted to lean against the van beside her. Lifting one arm, he slid it around her shoulders and tucked her into his side, which was nice, because his body exuded warmth like a slow burning fire. Plus it was nice to feel cared for, she had to admit.

  “I’ve been a soldier for seventeen years. I’ve liked it, the lifestyle, the family. The Army has been my life since my parents died, and the Army has done well by me.”

  “So you must be looking forward to going back.” The thought had her feeling strangely sad. Damn it, it wasn’t like she didn’t know he only had four weeks to go. He’d already been here for three. Time went too fast.

  “To be honest,” he replied slowly, “I’m not sure how much longer I’ll stay in the Army.”

  Surprised, she looked up at him, but it was hard to make out his expression in the dark so she returned her gaze to the bushes in front of her. “Really?”

  “Yeah. It’s been on my mind for awhile. I never really had anywhere to go when I was on leave, I used to just go with a couple of mates to different places for holidays, see other parts of the world. But the last few years I’ve come here to Whicha with Alex, and it’s been like coming home, you know?”

  Bree nodded. Yeah, she did, it’s why she had set her own roots down in the small town. Realising he might not be able to clearly see her movement, she replied, “Yes.”

  “Each time it’s been harder going back. I still like the Army, still believe in it, but…”

  Patiently she waited as Nick stared into the darkness. Or maybe he was scrutinising it, waiting for anythin
g threatening, but he remained relaxed by her side, warm and strong, though there was still an alertness about him.

  “I have to decide whether to resign or leave by the end of the year.”

  “And you’re undecided.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Have you thought what you’ll do if you leave?”

  “I’ll set up my own business - general handy-man, repairs, building. Maybe learn a couple of other trades as well, such as laying down floors, lino and carpet and stuff. Be a good all-rounder.”

  “I can attest to the fact that you’re a good handyman.” Resting her head on his shoulder, she glanced up at the sky. It remained dark, the scent of rain strong in the air. “And if you decide to remain in the Army?”

  “Then I need to start concentrating on furthering my career, getting serious about promotion, going higher up the ladder. There are opportunities.”

  “So you need to decide which way you want to go.”

  “Yep.” He leaned down to press a kiss on top of her head. “Any advice?”

  “You’re asking me? Geez, Nick, I don’t think-”

  “It’s important to me.”

  “Really?” Tilting her head back, she looked up to find him watching her.

  Could he see her more clearly in the dark than she could him? Possibly. He probably had twenty-twenty vision whereas she’d soon be needing glasses for long distance.

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay.” She took a deep breath. “Nick, you need to decide based on what you want.”

  He was silent.

  “I mean, you need to think about what you give up if you leave the Army - your way of life, your friends, your career options, the orderly life, all those years you put into it. Then you need to think what you’ll have if you take up civilian life - you’ll pay your own medical bills, get a mortgage, and battle it out in the world of small business.”

  “You make it sound so inviting.”

  “Ah, but you also get to make your own daily decisions, have the satisfaction in working with your hands doing what you like, and you’re free to move if you want, to where you want. You’ll be responsible solely for yourself.”

  “Now that sounds more inviting.”

  And she’d get to see him every day. She wouldn’t have to say goodbye to him when he left.

  Almost immediately she scolded herself. She couldn’t let her own wants influence him, it would be so unfair. She’d hate it if it was done to her, and no way would she do it to him. “First and foremost, you need to make this decision for yourself, no one else. It affects your whole life. You have to be happy with your decision.”