Page 56 of Duty and Desire

He shook his head.

Once.

I still got the negative.

“Well, uh…I don’t want to be telling you your job, but…is that the way it’s normally done?”

“Absolutely.”

It was?

I clearly showed my surprise because after I did, the Quiet Man gave me more words.

“Military. You train with someone. You bunk with someone. You breathe their air all day every day, they mean something to you. You could hate their guts and you’d still form a bond.They’re in it with you. They’re family. There are men…and women…who might rush into danger just to save a life. But there’s a big difference between instinct and already being in danger. Knowing your time could be up at any moment. And watching that grenade fall at your feet. Which is also at the feet of your brothers. Then throwing yourself on it knowing every man standing with you has the same exact thought to do the same exact thing because one might have to go, but that bond is so strong, you’ll die not to make the other ones have to break it.”

“You’re gonna need to throw yourself on a grenade for me?” I whispered.

“I need you to trust that I’d throw myself on a grenade for you.”

That was easy. I did that already. I mean, he was wearing cargo pants. And a gun.

And I could do it and he could sleep in the guestroom or have an afternoon off.

“I trust you, Mo,” I promised.

“You have no idea the meaning of the word trust, Ms. McAlister.”

“Lottie.”

He tilted his chin up this time.

“So, you have to sleep in the same room with me?” I asked.

“Yes,” he answered.

“But you’ll be sleeping.”

“I require four hours of sleep a night, ma’am. And from REM to battle ready requires two point five four seconds. I don’t know what the time is to do that and get down the hall if you’re facing a threat. I just know it’s longer than two point five four seconds.”

Two point five four.

Exact.

“You’ve timed it?” I queried disbelievingly.

“Yes.”

Wow.

“When will you shower?”

“I don’t waste time when I shower. It takes less than five minutes. So I’ll shower with you in the bathroom with me and the door locked or I’ll shower while you’re dancing, when Smithie has his men on you. That is, if I feel the club is clear. If not, I shower with you in the room with me. Outside me taking away that choice, it’ll be your choice.”

He did not offer the choice of showeringwhileI was showering in the same shower, which was a shame.

“Why don’t we, um…just play that by ear,” I suggested.

Back to dipping his chin.