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"I’m not the one who drove down to visit an old lover You never did say how things went between you and Bernie"

"It’s Brad," she corrected "And you’re right, I didn’t"

He waited, unwilling to cut off the conversation and at the sa barbs

"Isn’t this all a little silly?" Shana asked

"When did you decide to go?"

"In theIt was a spur-of-the-ht with an old friend--an old female friend," she added "I saw Brad and we talked"

"About what?" He didn’t mean to ask and wanted to withdraw the question thea moment before she answered "I don’t remember if I told you I ht’ve said so like that" He tried to play it cool, but the truth was, he hung on every word

"So I needed to see Brad"

"I’uise his sarcasthy silence "We had a chance to talk and to say certain things that needed to be said," she finally told hiht be "So you’re back in Seattle?"

"Yes I have to go now The only reason I phoned," she said, "is to thank you for the leis Jazet back to work"

Ada with her to stay on the phone a bit longer He wished they could start the entire conversation over

"How’s Jaz tactic

"Fabulous…wonderful Thank you again for the orchids"

And with that, the line was disconnected He waited a few seconds while the buzz sounded in his ear Adalared at the phone as he replayed the conversation He knew he’d o had gotten in the way

"So, how’d it go?" John asked conversationally

"Not good"

"Sorry to hear that I told you--woured that out by now"

John was right; he should have

The tension in Adam’s stomach didn’t diminish all day At the end of his watch, he returned to his quarters to find theIt was toohis breath, he pressed the reeted him "Uncle Adam, what’s with you? You’ve really blown it now Call et home I’ll make sure I answer"

Ada with a nine-year-old That was a sign of desperation

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ali was quite entertained by the tone of Shana’s e-ood ht up Adam’s name once, but Ali ell aware that the lieutenant commander was the sole source of Shana’s irritation

Thankfully, Jazmine had been able to fill Ali in Apparently Ada-out Shana had driven to Portland to say a final goodbye to Brad, and Adam was out of sorts about it Fro each other

Ali didn’t usuallywhen Shana was involved with Brad, and she wouldn’t interfere now At least she didn’t think she would But those tere perfect together, and it would be a shame if this relationship died because they were too stubborn to adh Ali suspected that their feelings had gone way beyond attraction…

Preoccupied, she walked toward the wardrooenerally ate with the other officers at six every evening, but tonight she was later than usual Life at sea had grown monotonous, and the days seeuish one from the next When she entered the room, there were a few officers at various tables, but she noticed only one

Commander Frank Dillon

Ali hadn’t seen or talked to hi hiht about their brief conversation that very afternoon; even now she wasn’t sure what to make of it Her friends, too, were full of questions she hadn’t been able to answer Ali filled her tray and started for a table

"Good evening, Co him

"Ali" He didn’t look any too pleased to see her, if his scoas any indication

She sat down several tables away, but facing him It would be utterly rude to present him with her back "I do hope you’ve sufficiently recovered" Ali knew she sounded stilted but couldn’t help it She avoided eye contact by reaching for the salt shaker

"I have, thank you And you?"

His question caught her unawares "I haven’t been ill, Commander"

"Yes, of course" He stood as if he couldn’t leave fast enough and disappeared with such speed, it made her head swim Clearly she was the last person he wanted to see Only this time, Ali didn’t take offense

She’d come to the conclusion that she flustered Comruff and rude he’d been in sick bay and, thanks to their brief conversation on Guaht she was , Alison purposely delayed her ht before Sure enough Frank was there, sitting at the sa over coffee He looked up and s, Coreeted hi her meal, she chose a seat one table closer

"Lieutenant Commander" His eyes held hers, and he didn’t immediately leap up and run away