He didn’t wait. He didn’t hesitate. He just wrapped his arms around her and pulled her towards him. ‘Tell me she’s going to be all right. Tell me she will get better.’
It was so odd. A few weeks ago he hadn’t known Lisa—hadn’t known any of the other astronaut candidates. But things here were so close. The twelve of them were like family to each other—and would be for the next eighteen months. These were the people he’d need to rely on in space. Them, and a whole host of mechanical equipment. You needed to have faith in each other. Needed to trust each other completely.
Yes, there would be other international astronauts on the station—there was a reason they all had to be fluent in Russian—but these were the people who’d been selected at the same time as him. These were the select few that he hoped to have the privilege of going into space with.
He threaded his fingers through Corrine’s hair to gently pull her head upwards. ‘Tell me,’ he whispered.
She shook her head. ‘I can’t. I just don’t know. It’s not my speciality. I only know the basics. There are so many different types.’
‘But her husband, her kids.’
The tears kept flowing. ‘I know. I know. All I can promise is that she’s seeing one of the experts. WSSA provides the best medical care in the world. Her care is covered. All types of treatment are covered. Right now, we just have to try and stay positive.’
He smiled weakly. ‘And that’s why you’re just here sobbing your heart out?’
She gave a sigh. ‘I just hated it. I hated having to be the one to tell her. To whip her dreams away from right under her nose. It wasn’t just the potential diagnosis. It’s the whole thing. She’ll never be allowed to go into space now, and we both knew that right away.’
She leaned back against the armchair. ‘I’ve only had to do it once before. My job doesn’t usually involve the horrible stuff.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘You came to WSSA to get the easy way out?’
‘As if. I spend my life telling people if they’ve failed physicals. If their health isn’t up to par to be on the programme. I’ve even had to break some bad news to astronauts in space. By the time we reach this stage, we’ve usually screened out just about any possible health condition.’
He pressed his lips together. Things must be really serious for Lisa. He had complete faith in the medical team here, and all the contacts they had. He didn’t doubt she would get the best possible treatment available. It didn’t make it any easier.
This last week had been a nightmare. The time in the air had been fine—he’d been focused and single-minded about the task in hand. But every time his feet had touched the ground his mind had been filled with her all over again.
Every smile, every frown, every touch of her skin, the feel of her lips on his, the taste of her, the smell of her. When she’d lain next to him and told him this could get addictive he hadn’t really understood what that meant.
Twenty-four hours later he had entered withdrawal and he had known exactly what she had meant.
He couldn’t understand it. Not for one second. Maybe if he saw her a few more times he would get her out of his system for good.
Corrine Carter was messing with his head. And losing a friend and colleague from the programme was messing with his head even more. He couldn’t even begin to imagine how devastated Lisa was feeling right now. If he were in her shoes?
It would be his worst nightmare. That one thing you’ve worked for your whole life to be snatched away.
He stood up and held his hand out to Corrine. ‘Come on.’
Her red eyes widened. ‘What?’
He didn’t care that the other candidates and instructors might be in the corridor. He didn’t care that people might see them and comment and ask questions. That didn’t seem important right now. ‘I’m taking you home.’
She stared at the hand held out before her. He could feel her hesitation, see her waver. ‘Come on, Corrine,’ he said softly.
She slid her slim hand into his and he closed around it quickly and pulled her up. She tugged her skirt back down and tried to smooth her hair as he led her to the doorway.
He pushed open the door and strode down the corridor. Drayton and Michael were standing in a corner together. Neither of them looked entirely surprised to see Corrine and Austin hand in hand.
Adam acknowledged them with the slightest nod of his head.
There were no questions to be answered. It was clear from the mood that training for today was finished.
Taryn was crying and Lewis, the marine, had his arm wrapped around her. He shook his head as they walked past.
Austin took Corrine out into the streaming Texas sunlight. He walked over to his motorcycle and lifted his spare helmet. He held it out to her and she shook her head.
‘What?’ He ruffled her hair with his hand. ‘It’s too late to worry about helmet hair. You’ve already got it.’
She pointed to the bike and looked down at her skirt. ‘I can’t get on that.’
He pulled her close. ‘Come on, Corrine. Live a little. No one will be able to see anything—just a little bit of leg.’ He handed her his leather jacket.
After a few seconds she fastened the helmet and pulled on the leather jacket. He’d already started the engine and was sitting astride the bike, waiting for her.
The first time she tried to swing her leg over, her skirt wasn’t high enough. He smirked as she hitched it higher and tried again. This time she swung into the pillion position and fastened her arms tightly around him, snuggling up against his back.
He put the visor on his helmet down and took off. For him the journey was smooth. His motorcycle was his preferred mode of transport, particularly in the Texas heat. His bike hugged the road and Corrine quickly learned to lean with the bike and go with the flow.
The miles between the base and her house were quickly eaten up, but instead of taking the turn towards her winding road he took another turn, leading to a lake he’d passed on the run between her house and the base.
He pulled the bike to a halt and turned the engine off. After a few seconds she swung her leg off the bike and pulled off the helmet. Her hair was sticking up in every direction imaginable.
‘I thought you were taking me home.’
‘I decided we needed some R & R time.’
She looked at him and then the lake, the corners of her mouth turning upwards. ‘You’re joking? Right?’
He pulled off his helmet. ‘Nope.’ He started to unbutton his shirt. ‘What do you want to do? Sunbathe? Swim? Or a little game of hide and seek?’
She shook her head and stepped towards him as she shrugged her way out of his leather jacket and let it drop on the grass. ‘You know you’re crazy.’
He slid his hand through her hair, anchoring his hand at the side of her head. His eyes glanced one way, then another. ‘I figure we’re all alone. There’s no one around. Who owns this lake anyway? Is it you?’
She shook her head. ‘It’s definitely not me. But I have come here a few times. This place is usually deserted.’ She looked up at him. ‘I’ve never been in this lake without a swimsuit.’
He brushed his fingers down the front of her bright blue shirt. ‘Well, in that case...’ He gave a little tug, freeing her shirt from the waistband of her skirt.
She kicked off her shoes and smiled. There wasn’t a single trace of make-up left on her skin. But she’d never looked more beautiful.
She was still looking around. He stepped a little closer. He got that what he was suggesting wasn’t normal behaviour for Corrine. He had to know she was all right with this. He put his hand on her hip and put on his best movie voice. ‘Lieutenant Commander Mitchell, ma’am. At your service. I’m an astronaut and I’m going to take you to the stars.’
She threw back her head
and laughed. ‘This is your line?’
He kept going and waved his hand in the air. ‘Let me introduce you to a whole other world.’ He nuzzled in at her neck. ‘First times can be fun. First time you left a diner with an astronaut and took him home. Now it’s time for some skinny dipping.’
She put her hands on his shoulders and murmured in his ear, ‘If we get arrested for this I’m letting you take the rap.’
His answer was instant. ‘I’m in.’
He threw his shirt onto the grass and tugged his belt from his trousers, glancing up at the sun in the sky. ‘It’s pretty hot out here. Are you feeling the heat?’
He toyed with the buttons on her shirt, slowly starting to undo the first one. ‘Maybe I can help you with this.’
She grinned as she slid her hands around to the back of her skirt, unzipping it and letting it fall onto the grass. His fingers started working quicker. The shirt parted easily, revealing matching bright blue lacy underwear. He blinked. Corrine Carter was full of surprises.
She tilted her head at him and looked towards the lake. ‘Fancy a swim, Lieutenant Commander?’
He kicked off his trousers. ‘So, we’re back to titles, then?’
She nodded as she took a few steps towards the lake. He sucked in a breath at the back view. She glanced over her shoulder. ‘I guess so, since I haven’t seen you for a week. You have to earn first-name privileges.’
The sun started to warm his shoulders. There was a gentle breeze in the air. The lake was entirely surrounded by trees and greenery. The path he’d driven along was really a footpath. It looked as if their only companions would be the fish.
That suited him just fine.
Corrine stepped calmly out into the lake; his gaze was fixed on the eyeful of backside only covered with a thin strip of blue. She walked until she was waist deep then turned around to face him. ‘What’s wrong, navy boy?’ she teased. ‘You scared?’
She leaned back into the water, floating on her back.
He didn’t hesitate. He jumped straight in.
The cold knocked the wind from his lungs in shock. It was the last thing he had expected. Texas wasn’t just warm. Texas was so hot it must be approaching one hundred degrees. For some reason he’d expected the lake water to be mild—not icy cold.