Command Performance
Maggie frowned. “This isn’t love. It’s lust.”
Olivia raised an eyebrow. “You don’t have feelings for him?”
“I respect him. He’s a hero. The real deal. And he’s fun.” She remembered the meal they’d shared that first night in his hotel room. “He’s good company. But that’s it.”
“If you’re sure.”
“He’s only in this for the short term, Liv. He’s been very clear.”
“As long as you’re both on the same page. I’d hate to see you get hurt, especially so soon after Derrick.”
“He promised he wouldn’t hurt me.” In bed. “And I trust him.”
Olivia grabbed her hand. “Great. Let’s find you the perfect pair of heels.”
Ten pairs of shoes later, Maggie finally put the salesman out of his misery and bought a pair of sheer black lace, peep-toe Jimmy Choo pumps with a ridiculous five-inch heel. She doubted she’d ever wear them again. She even questioned whether she could stand, never mind walk in them.
“Maggs, there’s a man waving at us.” Olivia pointed across the shoe department. “Pink button-down. The one who looks like he could be Derrick’s twin.”
Maggie slipped her feet back into her boring but oh-so-comfortable flats and saw her colleague Professor Dan Eglebrauch walking toward them. She’d never noticed the similarities before, but the man did look a lot like her ex.
“Professor Barlow, good to see you,” he said with too much enthusiasm for a man she rarely saw outside of faculty meetings.
“Hello, Dan.” She stood, grateful he hadn’t caught her trying on skyscraper heels. It was bad enough that he’d report back to all his cronies, her fellow professors, that he’d run into her shoe shopping when her book was due in a matter of months.
“I heard about your book deal,” he said. “The whole department is talking about it. Sounds like I’ll be teaching some of your classes when school starts up again so you can take the semester off to finish it. How’s the research going? Getting close to having a first draft?”
“The book is coming along. I interviewed the Ranger who led the team this morning.”
“Exciting stuff.”
Maggie nodded. Riley had basically repeated the same information she’d learned from Hunter. When she’d asked how Hunter had been shot, he’d fed her the same line Hunter had—classified. She’d pressed him for details, but he’d stonewalled her.
“I’m taking a quick break and then it’s back to writing.”
“If you can spare the time, I’m hosting an informal pool party tonight before Carter takes off for his summer vacation. His wife’s dragging him on a cruise this year.”
Informal pool party translated to schmoozing their colleagues on the tenure review board. And while the other members were important, Carter led the committee. Whoever he championed for tenure would win.
The drive to succeed that had propelled Maggie through school after her father’s life fell apart flared up. If Carter voted for her, she’d have tenure. No one could take that away from her.
“Just a few of the guys from the political science department and their wives,” Dan continued. “Would you like to join us?”
“Yes, I’d—”
“She can’t,” Olivia interrupted. “Her army liaison is in town and she’s meeting him tonight.”
“I can cancel,” Maggie said quickly, shooting her friend a be quiet look. “We were just getting together to discuss travel plans. It can wait until tomorrow.”
“Why not bring him by?” Dan suggested. “I’m sure everyone would love to meet him. Not everyone in the political science department is like us and immersed in military studies. Some of our colleagues would get a real kick out of talking to a war hero.”
Hunter and the men who’d likely determine the future of her career in the same room? It was insane. But she couldn’t let Dan wine and dine Carter without her. She needed that job.
“Sounds great,” she said. “What time? Can I bring anything?”
“Six, and you don’t need to bring a thing,” Dan said. “Look forward to meeting this war hero of yours.”
“Dan?” A tall, leggy blonde who looked as if she spent every waking minute perfecting her appearance called from the nearby makeup counter. “We’ll be late for lunch if we don’t leave soon.”