Page 59 of Lucky Charm

She put her hand up. “Whoa. I didn’t say that!”

“Well, you might want to think about it because that boy is caught – hook, line, and sinker. When they get protective like he is, doll, you better be ready to get caught or run like hell.”

“It’s only sex.”

“Right.” Jo sipped her own water.

“We’re in a war zone. It doesn’t mean anything.” Those untrue words clawed at her truth meter and made her body twinge. They also didn’t account for the cookie he’d left for her at the desk this morning – or retrieving her blanket so she’d be warm – or sitting by her bed all night.

“I met my second husband in a war zone. Iraq.”

Cait stared, stunned. “I didn’t know you were married.”

“Not. Stupidest decision I ever made.” Jo put an arm over the back of the chair next to her andleaned back. Her casual was in direct contrast to Cait’s uptight posture. She had no hope in hell of copying the ease.

Cait shoved back her chair, unable to suppress the embarrassment at Jo’s frankness. Cheeks turning pink, she cleared her throat before her wobbly voice gave her emotions away. “So why are you telling me to catch him?”

“Oh, best sex I ever had. We had five good years together before the glow was off and we wanted to kill each other. Figuratively.”

“So…” She flopped her hand, still not understanding.

“SEALs always get their man or this case woman.”

“No, that’s the Texas Rangers.”

“True, but the principle is the same. And you’re all work, no play – ah, ah.” She raised a finger and stopped Cait’s open mouth attempt to argue.

“Cait, there is more to life than this place. You’ve been dancing around this man since you sewed him up. Let go of fear and live large. I don’t know what all this classified bullshit is about, but fight for him, fight with him, then hold on.”

“And you’re telling me this because?”

“You may be the best surgeon we have, the medical guru, the surgical go-to for every dicey, complicated situation, but you’re starving your inner woman. If you don’t start investing in yourself instead of the doctor – giving yourself time to be the real you, not just the professional – you’re going to end up alone with a bucketful of regrets.”

“He’s a SEAL. He’s as dedicated to his chosen work as I am.”

“So? Being dedicated isn’t a crime. How you react to it or try to make it wrong is.”

“Isn’t that what you’re doing? Trying to make this wrong?”

“No, I’m telling you that being a woman too is not a bad thing, and I don’t want you to ever have regrets.”

Cait slumped. She was trying so hard to keep her feelings hidden. She didn’t need to do that with Jo. She could take advantage of the colonel’s interest and let it out. “I’m crazy about him.”

Jo snorted. “Tell me something I haven’t already figured out.”

“I’m trying to figure out if it’s short-term and I’ll get over it.” God, she hoped not.

Jo didn’t snort this time. She out-and-out laughed. “Sure. Keep telling yourself that.”

“God, I sound like a lovesick high-school girl.”

“You sound like every woman who has a puzzle for a man. Keep things on the down low and figure it out.”

“He’s so confident, so sure, but so closed off. How do women get involved with SEALs who are there one minute and not the next?”

“I’m not the person to ask. But I think that’s the wrong question.”

“What’s the right question?”