What Part of Marine Don't You Understand? (The Challenge Series) by Heather Long Page A

doc’s patient façade cracked and allowed some good humor to shine through.
    “Yeah. She’s—she’s special. I don’t know if I can do her justice. She’s great.”
    “I’d love to meet her sometime.”
    “Duly noted.” No, definitely not ready for that introduction. But not impossible either. Chances were Doc had already met her.
    “So let’s talk about how you’re sleeping….”
    “Okay.” He held onto his good mood. “Some bad dreams, some not. More in the not category over the last few days.”
    “Excellent. How’s the balance?”
    “Spotty. If I push it, mostly good. Logan gave me the go ahead to add a second mile to the running regimen. We’re going to see if I can push without the puke.” He glanced at his watch again. As soon as they wrapped up there, he’d call the counselor and then grab some lunch. The weather seemed to be holding off the weather forecaster’s predicted storm. If the sun stayed out from behind the clouds, he and Naomi could eat in the park again.
    “What happened in Iraq?”
    “What?” The question pulled him back to the room.
    “What happened in Iraq?”
    His good mood diminished, but it didn’t disappear. “I got hurt during an attack.”
    “What happened during the attack?”
    Matt sighed. He didn’t want to talk about that. “Insurgents hit the base in the middle of the night. Suicide bombers. They took out the guard post. Came through the gates. I was asleep and….” The joy in him faded. Boots hit the ground, shouts echoed, and beyond them screams. He grabbed his gun and raced out the door….
     
    ***
     
    “They want to move up your recording time, Naomi.” Phil Donovan called while she packed up her guitar to head to the park.
    “How soon?” She still had another couple of weeks.
    “Thursday.”
    She grimaced. “That’s a couple of days.”
    “I know, but if you want to fly out early, you can stay with me. We’ve got a band lined up. I just need you to get some of the music here so I can get them ready to go.”
    Gut tightening, she blew out a hard breath. “I don’t really have a choice, do I?”
    “No, not really. Look, you’re in Massachusetts….”
    “Actually, I’m in Dallas. It’s a two-hour flight.” She checked her watch. “Let me book some tickets and I’ll text you the flight numbers. How long are we in the studio?”
    “We have twelve hours. I’ve listened to what you have so far—I like it. But I’ve only got seven, what are you doing with the last three?”
    That was the rub. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she wrestled a few ideas mentally. “I can write two more before then. Just get the studio time. I’ll get the tickets. I like the theme I have and I want to stay in that wheelhouse.”
    “Military themes are strong and you’ve got the right jacket story for it.” Phil agreed swiftly enough to tell her she was on the right track. “You need anything?”
    “No, but I don’t want to stay over. You mind if I just fly out that night?”
    “If I need to pick up tracks, we’re going to have to have you back.”
    “No problem.” Frankly, she had more than a few problems. But she could make it work. “I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
    “Great. Get me the rest of the songs by tomorrow. And scan in that sheet music….” He listed off a few more items before ringing off. Naomi chewed the idea around and glanced at the clock. She was usually in the park by noon at the latest. She didn’t have a lot of time to get the sheet music scanned in. Gathering her things, she called Luke Dexter’s office.
    Hopefully they didn’t mind doing her a favor.
    It was almost one by the time she found her way to her favorite spot. Her heart did a little skip—Matt waited for her. Relief spread through his smile when he saw her.
    “I’m so sorry I’m late.”
    He rose and caught the guitar case, and she gave him a quick, fierce hug. The gesture seemed to startle him, but he slid one arm around her and gave her a firm