Page 59

“How old? And how friendly?”

She stepped closer. “We met our first day in the army. We were both seventeen. We’re best friends—we look out for each other.”

“Aw, sweet.” Or not. Sweet didn’t seem to apply to either Matt or this woman. She pursed her lips. “And were you more than just friends?”

“Are you always this direct?”

“Not always. But usually. So?”

She shrugged. “No. He’s not my type. But we’ve been friends ever since. Served together overseas.”

“Are you still in the army?”

“No.”

Hmm. She cast a look at the door where Matt had disappeared. The water was still running. She tried again. “Happy birthday.”

The woman just studied her, eyes narrowed, and Darcy started to feel just the slightest pissed off. But this was her place. She wasn’t going to allow the woman to drive her away. “Feel free to wait outside,” she said, folding her arms across her chest.

“You should leave him alone,” Angie said.

“Leave who alone?” As if she didn’t know.

“Matt.”

“You see, that’s not really an option. Matt’s the guardian of my only niece.”

Angie waved a hand at the room. “This had nothing to do with Lulu.”

There was that pissed-off feeling again. “And this concerns you because…?”

“Because I care about Matt. And you’re bad for him. He’s an officer, and he needs someone who can support him and help him in his career. Not…”

Her own eyes narrowed. “Not?”

“No some ex-convict with tattoos and a whole lot of attitude. You’ll drag him down.” She shrugged. “I’m sorry, but it had to be said. If you care for him, you’ll let him go.”

Christ, this was like something out of a sappy movie. “You’re kidding me, right?” No one thought like that anymore. Did they?

“Image is important in the army. Matt came up from the ranks. There are a lot of people who expect him to fail. Want him to fail. He needs someone who’ll help him with his career, not hinder him.”

She had the urge to punch the woman on the nose. But that wasn’t who she was. At least, not anymore. So she smiled. “I take it you weren’t considered officer material.”

That made her mad. Yay. Her eyes narrowed. “I never applied.”

“Very sensible. It’s best to know your own limitations.” She blew out her breath. “Guess what? I don’t care what you think.” That was sort of a lie, but she’d worry about it later. Right now, she wanted Matt and his “bestie” out of here. Where the hell was he? She headed over to the changing room, opened the door, and shouted inside, “You’d better not be jacking off in there, soldier.”

Angie made a choking noise.

But at least Matt appeared in the doorway, his hair wet from the shower, fully clothed and back to his usual immaculate self. He looked between the two of them. “Everything okay?”

“Positively peachy,” she said with a saccharine smile.

“Er, good. Look, I promised Angie I’d take her out for dinner. You want to come?”

She cast him a look, which she hoped conveyed the extent of her disbelief. “And spoil the fun? I don’t think so.”

Matt obviously realized that the “peachy” comment held more than a hint of sarcasm. He looked at Angie. “Can you just wait outside for a minute?”