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‘You were the one who noticed theto close ranks, view others as outsiders’ He shrugged ‘You ith them on a daily basis and you clearly care deeply about your fellow soldiers Why wouldn’t I want your help?’

He could practically see herto decide whether he was serious Whether she should acknowledge the sparks which, even now, arced between the two of them They made his stomach pull taut, his chest swell; she ain, but he was deter

h it would pass It had to He’d never allowed himself to be distracted from his Army career before and he wasn’t about to start now

His rank and reputation were all he had left

Rosie ht not be dead yet, but realistically he’d lost the only h hi for the phone call to confirain It was just another version of hell

He would control it Just as he always controlled his emotions these days

Dragging himself back to reality, he was just in tiht shoulder He resisted the urge to twist away, knowing it was too late

‘What’s that?’ she demanded

He gritted his teeth ‘It’s nothing’

‘There’s a dark stain discolouring the fabric and it looks suspiciously like blood,’ she accused ‘Did you think that just because it’s called e pattern I wouldn’t spot it?’

‘It’s probably Corporal Hollings’s blood’

The dark look she cast hih she actuallycared

So inside him cracked The faintest hairline fracture, but it was there all the same

‘What, after you’ve grabbed a shower and changed? Anyway, the line’s too neat for that It looks as though soh the sides of a bandage,’ she said pointedly

‘I advise you to lower your voice,’ murmured Ash, equally pointedly