down four slices of melon.
“What’s that?” she asked, pointing over her shoulder.
“Behind us is the old O Club—the Officer’s Club—which they use for weddings and events now. There’s a three-quarter view of the island from up there. I’ve been to a few celebrations there. Next to it, that’s the Base Commander’s house, and next to that is a house where Admirals might stay.” Pointing across the airfield, he said, “Over there, you can see a large plane. Those are sea lions being loaded into the back. I’ve met several of the trainers who work in that program. Pretty cool stuff! They teach the creatures to find everything from enemy subs, swimmers, and even bombs. I’ve got a lot of respect for them.”
Dan stuffed a handful of chips into his mouth with each bite of the second half of his sandwich. He was like a vacuum cleaner.
Aria watched him demolish his food in record time. She was still working on the first half of her sandwich when he opened his second one. After visiting the commissary, she was thinking about the grocery list she was making in her head. “How much do you eat in a day?”
“About four thousand calories. I carbo-load as we prep for Ops. I tend to burn a lot of energy quickly.” His teeth ripped off a large chunk of the sandwich, and he made a grunting noise with it.
“Animal!” she retaliated.
He chewed and swallowed. “Is that a label or a request?” Waggling his eyebrows at her, he continued to speak between mouthfuls. “What can I say, I’m starved. If someone hadn’t eaten my emergency granola bar, I might have more control.”
“Uh-huh.” She lightly punched his arm and went back to her sandwich. “So why didn’t I know this about you?”
He shrugged. “It’s natural that there are things we’re going to learn about each other, right?”
“Sure,” she replied uncomfortably. What other surprises were in store for her…in terms of his life? Maybe she should stick to the basics: food, clothing, and shelter. “What should I stock in the refrigerator—or cupboards, for that matter? I assume I’ll be doing most of the grocery shopping on my own.”
“I’ll help when I can. Just know, whatever you get will be fine. Fish, fruits and vegetables, pasta, and lean meats are my favorites. I eat it all, though.” He made a face. “Wait, I’m not fond of liver. Please don’t get that.”
Holding up a hand, she waved it in front of herself. Forcing the bite in her throat to go down, she added, “No problem. It’s not my favorite either.” She took a sip of her cranberry juice and then asked, “When do we move in?”
Digging into his pocket, he removed the brand-new keys. He jingled them. “What a terrific sound.” He smiled at her. “How about today? When we finish eating.”
Wrapping up the rest of her sandwich, she placed it in the bag and drank down the rest of her juice. She stowed the bottle and turned to him. “I’m done. Let’s go.”
He laughed. “Anxious, much?”
“Hey, I gave up my honeymoon and a pretty killer breakfast for this. Let’s get to it.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she smiled. It was hard to be serious when he was staring at her like that. Her phone beeped and she checked it. A client wanted to talk to her about his advertising materials. She would have to get back to consultant work soon enough. Sending a quick message, she told him she’d talk to him next week.
“Work?”
“Yeah. Sorry.”
“No worries.” Dan saluted her. “Onward, ma’am. Your pleasure is my duty.” With that, he stuffed the rest of his second sandwich into his mouth, started the car, and put it in gear. They drove out of the parking lot, onto the road, and underneath a giant plane as it flew above them, preparing to land.
“Wow!” She held her breath. It was an awesome sight. She wondered if she would have been able to touch it if she’d reached out a hand.
“Yes, indeed,” he said. “That’s why I brought you here.
“What’s that?” she asked, pointing over her shoulder.
“Behind us is the old O Club—the Officer’s Club—which they use for weddings and events now. There’s a three-quarter view of the island from up there. I’ve been to a few celebrations there. Next to it, that’s the Base Commander’s house, and next to that is a house where Admirals might stay.” Pointing across the airfield, he said, “Over there, you can see a large plane. Those are sea lions being loaded into the back. I’ve met several of the trainers who work in that program. Pretty cool stuff! They teach the creatures to find everything from enemy subs, swimmers, and even bombs. I’ve got a lot of respect for them.”
Dan stuffed a handful of chips into his mouth with each bite of the second half of his sandwich. He was like a vacuum cleaner.
Aria watched him demolish his food in record time. She was still working on the first half of her sandwich when he opened his second one. After visiting the commissary, she was thinking about the grocery list she was making in her head. “How much do you eat in a day?”
“About four thousand calories. I carbo-load as we prep for Ops. I tend to burn a lot of energy quickly.” His teeth ripped off a large chunk of the sandwich, and he made a grunting noise with it.
“Animal!” she retaliated.
He chewed and swallowed. “Is that a label or a request?” Waggling his eyebrows at her, he continued to speak between mouthfuls. “What can I say, I’m starved. If someone hadn’t eaten my emergency granola bar, I might have more control.”
“Uh-huh.” She lightly punched his arm and went back to her sandwich. “So why didn’t I know this about you?”
He shrugged. “It’s natural that there are things we’re going to learn about each other, right?”
“Sure,” she replied uncomfortably. What other surprises were in store for her…in terms of his life? Maybe she should stick to the basics: food, clothing, and shelter. “What should I stock in the refrigerator—or cupboards, for that matter? I assume I’ll be doing most of the grocery shopping on my own.”
“I’ll help when I can. Just know, whatever you get will be fine. Fish, fruits and vegetables, pasta, and lean meats are my favorites. I eat it all, though.” He made a face. “Wait, I’m not fond of liver. Please don’t get that.”
Holding up a hand, she waved it in front of herself. Forcing the bite in her throat to go down, she added, “No problem. It’s not my favorite either.” She took a sip of her cranberry juice and then asked, “When do we move in?”
Digging into his pocket, he removed the brand-new keys. He jingled them. “What a terrific sound.” He smiled at her. “How about today? When we finish eating.”
Wrapping up the rest of her sandwich, she placed it in the bag and drank down the rest of her juice. She stowed the bottle and turned to him. “I’m done. Let’s go.”
He laughed. “Anxious, much?”
“Hey, I gave up my honeymoon and a pretty killer breakfast for this. Let’s get to it.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she smiled. It was hard to be serious when he was staring at her like that. Her phone beeped and she checked it. A client wanted to talk to her about his advertising materials. She would have to get back to consultant work soon enough. Sending a quick message, she told him she’d talk to him next week.
“Work?”
“Yeah. Sorry.”
“No worries.” Dan saluted her. “Onward, ma’am. Your pleasure is my duty.” With that, he stuffed the rest of his second sandwich into his mouth, started the car, and put it in gear. They drove out of the parking lot, onto the road, and underneath a giant plane as it flew above them, preparing to land.
“Wow!” She held her breath. It was an awesome sight. She wondered if she would have been able to touch it if she’d reached out a hand.
“Yes, indeed,” he said. “That’s why I brought you here.
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