Chapter Seven
Warming Up
Jill’s face darkened, and Peace shook her hands gently. “Hey, I have a pretty good idea about forced captivity. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I know,” Jill replied, taking a deep breath. “They mostly just slapped us around, and humiliated us. They were mostly interested in the ransom.”
“Dan told us the negotiations had broken down, and people in the State Department didn’t think your captors would bargain anymore. They thought your group would be made an example of, to show the paramilitaries meant business. The State Department wanted an example made of them instead.”
“The State Department was right,” Jill nodded. “They had no intention of letting us go. How did you guys ever find out where we were?”
“I can’t answer that, Jill. I don’t really even know most of the details. My guess would be we had some assets in the area they passed through with your group.”
“That makes sense, because they moved us constantly. The last time they moved us I broke my ankle, and they made me walk the rest of the way on it, or they would have killed me where I dropped. Our shoes were almost rotted away, and we all had trouble walking. They gave me a piece of cord to wrap my ankle with.”
“Sounds like you were really lucky to only have a cast,” Peace replied. “You could have lost the leg due to infection.”
“They told me I might never walk right again,” Jill explained simply.
“You do pretty well now, even with the cast. I don’t think they’ll have to shoot you, Nelly.”
Jill laughed, enjoying the easy way Peace took her news. “I won’t ever be able to dance again.”
“Maybe not professionally, but you’ll be able to dance around the courtroom pretty well.”
“Always the glass half full guy, huh?”
“I’d say I was served a full one tonight,” Peace replied. “For a guy with a mug like mine, I can’t complain.”
“So, you’ll take care of me if no one else wants me after the cast comes off?”
“You have my word on it.”
They held hands through the rest of the songs without speaking. Gracie filled their coffee cups once more before the end of Peace’s musical selections, and gave Peace the bill. He set down the appropriate amount of cash with a generous tip. After helping Jill up, Peace handed her the cane, and turned to give her his arm. Jill clung to his arm tightly, and stayed close as they walked out of the restaurant with a wave to Gracie as they passed.
At her motel room door, Jill held out her hand to shake goodnight. Peace grinned, and shook her hand eagerly.
“Goodnight, Jill, nice meeting you, I had a wonderful time,” Peace said, releasing her hand, and turning away.
“Don’t you dare walk away from me, PP,” Jill ordered.
Peace turned back to enfold Jill in his arms. He kissed her gently. “When shall I pick you up tomorrow? I usually go over to Dan’s at five, when he invites me over for dinner.”
“Come over at four,” Jill replied.
Their next kiss threatened the scheduled night apart, as Jill could feel the attraction Peace held for her right through her clothes. She gave him no respite, thrusting against him, until he forcefully held her at arms length.
“That will be enough of that, young lady,” Peace whispered.
“What, no kiss goodnight?” Jill asked, just a bit breathlessly.
Peace released her, laughing and shaking his head. “Goodnight,
Pet.”
“Don’t go, Peace,” Jill said softly.
Jill watched him tense, as he had already turned and stepped towards his Buick. After a moment, he continued towards his car with a wave over his shoulder.
“Look at me, you big chicken,” Jill called out, watching Peace’s shoulders shake as he controlled his laughter. “I have to leave the day after tomorrow, you big goof.”
This declaration stopped Peace in his tracks; but a moment later, he opened up the driver’s side door of the Buick, and slid behind the wheel. Peace waved at Jill without turning, no longer trusting his ability to drive out of the parking lot if he looked at her once more. Jill waved, but she could see he did not turn his head. Sighing, she stepped into her motel room, knowing she would not be the only one having a hard time sleeping tonight.
__
“Okay, partner,” Bull said, slightly winded after the last of their sprints along the Coronado beach. “Spill it. You’ve been grinnin’ like the hound dog who nailed the neighbor’s lab, and made it back over the fence without leaving a trace.”
The other Seals, including Dan, laughed as they walked off the end of their day’s training together. The beach on the Coronado base, where they trained, still had a few other teams running on it in the heat of an April afternoon. Bull put his arm around a still silent Peace.
“Don’t make me have to hurt you, boy.”
“I told you, Bull,” Peace replied patiently. “Jill and I had coffee at the restaurant next to her motel, and then I dropped her off at her door.”
“Crapola,” Bull pronounced, giving Peace a push into JT, who steadied him.
“Leave him alone, Bull,” JT admonished, dusting Peace off, and pretending to look him over. “Can’t you see Master Peace is in love?” This brought on an even louder laughing binge at Peace’s expense. Peace took the abuse good naturedly, as his teammates had been skewering him ever since he walked into the locker room at a quarter till five in the morning. He had known they would be giving it to him, and it had been one of many reasons he had not stayed with Jill the night before. Knowing himself to be one of the worst liars on the planet with friends, he had avoided being caught in their no win interrogation. If he told them he had stayed, they would have been all over him like a cheap suit. If he had told them a gentleman did not discuss his female companion, they would have been all over him like a cheap suit all the same. The truth had frustrated them, especially Bull, to no end.
“He ain’t leavin’ until he comes clean,” Nick Turner stated, pointing his finger at Peace. “I didn’t even get to see the lady, and now I don’t even get to rag him about her.”
“That’s right,” Nick’s best friend, Tony Chin agreed.
The two youngest members of the team, Nick Turner, a six footer from Omaha, Nebraska, and Tony Chin, a Chinese American, two inches taller than Turner, from LaJolla, California, had been complaining all day about missing out on meeting Jill. Chin, the leaner of the two men, with a shock of black hair, cut in a short buzz, ran over to grab Peace’s right arm. The brown haired and huskier Turner, picked up on his friend’s thoughts, moving in sync to Peace’s left arm. For his part, Peace just sighed, and stood motionless.
“We have to have the truth, Peace,” Turner said solemnly, looking closely into Peace’s smiling face. “I must know all about this situation. After all, if I had stayed, Jill would have latched onto me. Everyone knows that.”
This brought on another bout of laughter, as the team all gathered around. Even the usually taciturn Lieutenant Righter seemed to be enjoying the razzing.
“So, Nick,” Peace reasoned. “You’re saying I owe my going out with Jill to you, because you were not around, right?”
“Now you’re getting it, Bub,” Nick agreed, nodding.
“Did it ever occur to you I was saving you from the embarrassment of Jill finding out what a pinhead you are?” Peace asked, as he broke their grips by pulling his arms straight up, and throwing himself backwards.
“Why you little weasel,” Turner said, moving quickly after a fast retreating Peace, as Chin was howling in laughter with the rest of the team at Peace’s comeback.
“Hey, quit grab assin’ around, you pansies,” a gruff voice called out from behind where the Seals were holding their roast of Peace.
This brought the entire Seal Team around to search out the author of the voice. On the sand, Ed Polasky was standing with his arms folded over his massive chest. Next to him, stood a smiling Jill, d
ressed in white shorts, and a maroon halter-top, her long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. To say she was stunning would have been a disservice. The Seals gawked at her, until Dan broke the spell.
“Well, Nick,” Lieutenant Righter said quietly, “you and Tony wanted to meet Jill, right? Come on, Peace can introduce you both. It looks like you have a visitor, Peace.”
Jill watched the men approach, with Bull and Peace bringing up the rear. They all wore khaki pants, combat boots, and black t-shirts. Jill shook hands with Dan, as Bull propelled Peace to the front of the group. Peace looked questioningly at Jill, and then at a smiling Polasky, who shrugged.
“The resourceful Jill here did some more detective work and corralled me at home, Peace. She wanted to come over when you guys usually finished,” Polasky explained. “I told her we were going to be late because you flakes never made it past noon.”
The team laughed at Polasky’s slight of their training stamina. Peace took Jill’s hand and pointed at Nick Turner.
“This is Nick Turner, and the skinny guy next to him is Tony Chin,” Peace said. “Guys, this is my friend, Jill Gregory.”
Nick thrust out his hand, a bit taken aback, now that he was face to face with the young woman they had been ragging Peace about all morning. “Glad to meet you, Jill.”
“Likewise, Nick,” Jill said, first shaking Nick’s hand and then Tony’s, “and Tony, right?”
Chin smiled, shaking her outstretched hand gently. “Nice meeting you too, Jill. I hear we all met under less happy circumstances once before.”
Jill laughed, nodding amiably. “We sure did. I have to go back to LA tomorrow, and I wanted to say thanks again, and meet the two team members I missed last night.”
“A wise decision, Jill,” Nick agreed authoritatively. “I should make up for Peace’s less than adequate escorting abilities, and take you around town tonight.”
“Back off, Turner,” Polasky ordered, as the others laughed.
“I’m sorry, Nick,” Jill smiled politely, “but Peace asked to take me over to Dan’s house for dinner tonight.”
“He actually spoke to you last night?” Bull asked, pretending astonishment, before draping his arm around Peace. “Peace, you dog you. Hey, we’re off tomorrow. I’ll be over at your place at six, bright and early. You better be there.”
“Now Bull,” Polasky sighed. “I just cleaned my 44 Mag. Don’t make me have to do it again so soon. If I see your big butt over at the house at any time tomorrow, Seal Team Six will need a replacement.”
Bull laughed louder than his friends, nodding and shaking hands with Polasky, as Peace moved next to Jill. He took her arm and led her away from the group, towards the ocean. Nick started after him, but Bull grabbed his arm, bringing him to a halt instantly.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going, Turner?” Bull asked, getting in his face, much to the rest of the team’s and Polasky’s enjoyment. “Did the Lieutenant or I give you permission to break rank, Pinhead?”
“But Chief…” Turner protested, as the others laughed at Bull’s repeat of Peace’s insult.
“I think you need another dozen sprints, Petty Officer Turner,” Bull joked, clasping his hands behind his back, as the others watched Jill and Peace move away. “What do you think, Lieutenant?”
“I think Nick here gets the message,” Dan laughed. He looked up at Polasky, who was also watching the couple walk away. “She actually came and recruited you, Ed?”
“Hey,” Polasky said, not taking his eyes off the two. “Jill came over, and sat down to coffee with Nancy and I. She asked about coming over here to the base. I changed the subject to avoid it, and ended up with a bruised ankle as Nancy kicked me like a mule under the table. Here we are.”
Polasky turned to look at Dan. “Kind of a strange couple, huh?”
Dan grinned at him, as Bull spoke up. “Ed, you are the master of understatement. Free lobster tonight for Team Six on you, right buddy?”
“In your dreams, Harold,” Polasky snorted, setting everyone off again, as he walked with them towards the locker room.
Jill glanced behind them again, and saw the team walking towards the locker room. “I think I know why you didn’t stay last night. You would have had to answer for it today. I’m impressed. You could have stayed with me last night, and came in and bragged about it.”
“What would I have had to brag about?” Peace needled her.
“You should have stayed, and then you would know the answer without asking,” Jill giggled.
“You look incredible, cane, cast, and all,” Peace whispered, leaning in close to her, and kissing her under the ear.
“Hmmmmmm…” Jill moaned a little, coming to a stop. “You… shouldn’t do that… I thought about you last night. Did you think about me?”
Peace straightened, pulling Jill along towards the beach. “Nope. I slept like a baby. Are you sure it wasn’t that cheeseburger and fries you inhaled, Pet?”
Jill gasped, turning towards her grinning companion. “Your obnoxious side is shooting through again, PP.”
“Sorry,” Peace said, taking her arm again. “You look so gorgeous,
I don’t know what to say.”
Jill laughed. “I really can’t let my guard down around you, can I? Where are we headed?”
“It’s only around three, so I thought we’d sit down by the ocean for a little bit, if it’s okay with you. I just wanted to get away from the guys.”
“Will Bull really be over to interrogate you tomorrow morning?”
“He knows Ed better than to do that. I will eventually have to just tell them to mind their own business. We usually don’t act like a bunch of high school boys. The unusual circumstances of your finding us last night, and pulling me aside, kind of set them off, especially Bull.”
“I didn’t mean to cause you so much trouble,” Jill said, leaning against Peace as they walked.
“What trouble,” Peace replied. “I’m actually the one they’re usually ragging on, so it’s not like they needed a reason.”
“They do? Why?”
“Because nothing bothers me, so they know I won’t get mad, and they know I laugh the hardest when they really nail me. Besides, we don’t do practical jokes or anything. We just kid around. I give as good as I get.”
“I bet you do,” Jill said, as they neared the coastline, where it bordered the base.
Peace led her over to a spot fifty yards up from the Coronado coastline. They sat down in the sand, with Jill wrapping her arms around Peace’s drawn up right leg, as he put an arm around her, pulling her close.
She laid her cheek against his leg, and looked back at Peace.
“Are you really going to come and see me?”
“Until you tell me to go away, I’ll be like your own personal stalker,” Peace replied, leaning in to kiss her lips gently.
“How did you guys get off in the middle of the week?” Jill asked.
“Bull meant we won’t be training tomorrow morning. We have other duties, but we won’t be starting until eight. I’ll be off duty by three thirty though. When do you have to go back?”
“I’m taking the bus at six.”
“Why not let me drive you home. I’ll have plenty of time to get back here. It’s only up to LA,” Peace offered. “I can find out how to get to your place too.”
“I live in the dorm, and I have a roommate,” Jill told him.
“Is it a she?”
Jill reached up and slapped him lightly. “Of course it’s a she.”
“Don’t pretend like you have never had boyfriends,” Peace laughed. “Say, your roommate wasn’t one of the other women down in Chili, was she?”
“No way,” Jill said emphatically. “Cindy told me I was an idiot for going down there. As to boyfriends, he was one of the guys your team rescued. He’s tried to talk to me since then; but I don’t want anything to do with anyone from that goofy campus group. We weren’t really serious anyway. You must think I’m some kind of
slut, huh?”
“I think you’re beautiful, intelligent, and fun to be around,” Peace countered. “You must have to fight the guys off at UCLA, or they’re all deaf, dumb, and blind.”
Jill kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he enfolded her in his. Peace matched her ardor. Jill lay down, pulling Peace over her. Peace kissed her for a moment longer before pulling away. He sat up again, looking around, as she turned on her side. She smiled up at him as she propped her head up with bended left arm.
“Hey, I thought you were just warming up,” Jill said reaching around to the front of Peace’s pants. “You are warming up.”
Peace grabbed her hand in both his, turning it to kiss her open palm. “We’re on a special forces Navy base, not a college campus.”
“So, let’s go back to the motel,” Jill offered, pulling herself back up, and sliding closer to Peace. “I… I want you, Peace, and I know you want me.”
“I want you so bad, it will take about ten minutes of counting backwards from a thousand before I’ll be able to walk back with you in these pants.”
“Uh oh,” Jill whispered in his ear, as she pulled her hand free, and returned it to the front of his pants. “I think fifteen minutes might be closer.”
“You are not helping.”
Jill laughed, sitting up straight, and carefully moved her cast encased leg into a more comfortable position. “We’ll just talk about the weather. You’ll be fine.”
“What did your parents really think of your Seal hunt here in San Diego? I bet they couldn’t have been real pleased with you replacing one obsession with another.”
Jill turned quickly towards him, ready to protest his description of her actions; but his smile made her laugh instead. “You did it to me again. I’ve always been a good student, and stayed away from drugs. I never shop lifted, or hung out with gangs. My folks were so glad to see me back safe, they would tolerate just about anything.”
“Even me?”
“You’re a college graduate, and you have a steady job.”
Peace laughed. “While I believe your parents to be grateful to the Seals and the United States military for bringing their daughter back safely, I doubt they want you to adopt one as a boyfriend.”
Peace - A Navy SEALS Novel (DeLeo's Action Thriller Singles Book 3) Page 7