Compassion softened the defensive edge in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Bennett. But you're going to have to hang in there for another couple of hours." She glanced at her watch. "I can authorize you another dose of medication in fifteen, more minutes."
Great. Just what he needed, hours alone, mega-relaxed with her in that shoe box with her wet shirt and those sympathetic eyes. The double dose of meds would have him saying God only knew what. Not a chance. "My left leg won't fit in there, much less the rest of me. We're going to have to upgrade."
"We can't."
"Because?"
"Regulations. The government only authorized us for a compact. We aren't Fortune 500 travelers, you know."
"Then I'll pay the extra."
"That's not in accordance with our orders. And if we aren't in compliance with those orders and we're in an accident, we're not covered." Her lips pulled tight with that oh-so-proper schoolmarmish look that never failed to make him want to do all sorts of very improper things with her.
"You really do memorize this stuff."
She shrugged apologetically. "We're expected to be good stewards of the government's money."
He had to rent another car. Preferably one with a large console between the driver and the passenger. "Put your calculator away for a minute and be practical."
"Looking for special treatment?"
"I'm looking for leg room."
"Good thing you're not driving, then." She swept her hair off her face. "You'll have extra space in the passenger side."
That simple glide of her hair stirred his tired body when reserves were nearing empty. Hours of uninterrupted Kathleen had him so on edge he needed to jog, swim laps, anything to burn off the tension twisting inside him. A tension that had the annoying habit of settling right below his belt.
A tic started in his eye again. "Sticking my head out the sunroof doesn't sound appealing."
"Last time I checked, they didn't offer rental tanks." Hands on her hips, she threw her shoulders back.
Which gave him an unrestrained view of her damp blouse. The thin cotton became transparent when wet, revealing the edges of a lacy bra.
Tanner closed his eyes, rubbed the bump on his nose and reminded himself how the twice-set crook had occurred because he'd charged in before thinking.
They could have been right back out there on the flight line again, sparring through their frustration. If he didn't watch out, he would be running his hands through her hair, over that blouse.
She would look up at him with those blue eyes that made him want to fly right inside without thinking about the consequences. If she didn't slap him first.
This had to stop. Ignoring the attraction hadn't worked for the past year any more than it had twelve years ago. His attempt at discussing the problem obviously hadn't been direct enough. They had to get this out in the open and get over it. His hand fell away from the bump on his nose. Forget worrying about impulsiveness.
Fourth down and only one second left on the clock. Time for a "Hail, Mary," pass. "Damn, you're hot when you pout."
Chapter 5
Kathleen choked on the retort she'd planned that suddenly wasn't worth a damn. "What?"
Tanner dropped his luggage on the cement and rested his arms on the car roof. His lazy blink belied his laser-sharp stare. "I said you're really hot when you pout."
She clutched her open door, a logical move since her world was suddenly tilting off center. If only she weren't so exhausted. She didn't have the mental edge to battle with Tanner right now, not when the past hours spent rubbing against him had left her edgy and restless. "Did you take too many of those muscle relaxers?"
"Followed your orders to the letter, Doc." His head cocked to the side. "I had a lot of thinking time back in the infirmary, thanks to you, and I figured something out."
"Please share your Demerol delusions." Kathleen pulled her lips into a tight line to keep from saying something she might regret.
His gaze hovered along her mouth for a second too long before he continued. "We don't like each other much."
That hurt. More than it should have. More than any of Andrew's countless digs.