If she wasn’t, he was in for a world of hurt.
If she was . . .
Well, he was probably still in for a world of hurt.
They worked together.
He’d always had a rule of not mixing business with pleasure. It was why he’d never hooked up with anyone in the army despite the numerous offers.
Rylan watched Mazey jump from the chopper to the tarmac. Her thighs flexed, that blond ponytail swished, and her breasts bounced. Warmth coiled low in his groin, tightening his gut and shoving a lump into his throat.
Shit. He had a problem.
Work together or not, if Mazey wasn’t in a relationship, Rylan didn’t think he’d be able to stay away from her.
7
“Iwanted to thank you again for covering my shift last week,” Alyssa said the second Mazey opened the door.
Waving her hand in the air, Mazey turned and headed back to the kitchen. “Don’t. It’s not like I’ve got a second job or personal responsibilities.”
“Still. I really appreciate you doing it last minute.”
“Is everything all right now?” Mazey asked. Alyssa hadn’t explained the need for the shift cover, but Mazey thought it had something to do with her sister, Penny.
Alyssa sighed. “I never thought I’d be raising a teenager without having a baby.”
Mazey glanced back to see her friend pulling a face.
“Not that I don’t want to take care of Penny, but damn, the girl is going to give me gray hair, and I’m only thirty-one.”
“I can only imagine.” She wouldn’t pry regardless of her curiosity but wanted Alyssa to know she’d be there for her in any way she needed. “Any time, any need, you know you can call me, right? I owe you for helping me get the job at Mercy-Life.”
In a move similar to Mazey’s earlier one, Alyssa waved that away. “You owe me nothing. I’m thrilled to have you here, and so far, you’ve more than proved you deserved the job.”
Mazey cringed. She’d struggled to remain idle in the first two weeks of her new job and had rearranged not only the bathroom and kitchen but every storage room on the base. “I hope I haven’t stepped on any toes—”
“Ha! We’re all super glad you want to do it. No one wants to deal with organizing or cataloging supplies unless they have to.” Shaking her head, she added, “I think we do it once a year at most. Right before annual budget reports are due.”
“Well, I guess nobody will complain about me doing it once a month from now on.” Mazey had spoken to Cochran the other day, receiving his approval to continue to monitor and organize the base during downtimes. Unlike her colleagues, she didn’t have a hobby she could do in between calls.
“Nope. Not a soul will complain.” Alyssa smiled. “Right. Enough about work. What do you need me to do to help put together this thing you’re making as your contribution to today’s barbecue, which isn’t necessary, you know. Christian and his wife have it covered.”
“I know. But I didn’t want to arrive empty-handed, and I figured a pie or two wouldn’t go uneaten.” She’d made a couple of cherry, pumpkin, and apple pies to be sure there was enough for everyone. Christian had said he was expecting about forty people. Adults and children.
“Wow, that’s more than a pie or two,” Alyssa said when she saw four pies on the kitchen counter.
“I like to bake.” Something she’d stopped doing when Stuart had commented on her weight. Frowning at that thought, she added, “And life’s too short to go without pie.”
“You are correct.” Leaning over a cherry pie Alyssa took a deep breath. “Damn. Could I talk you out of taking this one to Christian’s and letting me take it home instead?”
“You want one?” Mazey walked to the fridge and pulled the door open. “I’ve got extra cherry and apple pies.”
Alyssa blinked. Once. Twice. Then burst out laughing.
“I don’t see what’s funny . . .”
“Marry me,” Alyssa begged. “I’ll spend every minute of every day worshiping you, my baking goddess.”
