Out of Uniform (Wingmen Warriors 14)

So much for a return to peace. “Your ride can’t make it out here yet?”

She shook her head. Her grip tightened around the cell phone until one of the buttons chirped. “Is the job open long-term? Well, as long as you plan to keep this place open. I may need it for a while.”

“I’ve already got someone who comes in to clean.” Her panicked eyes compelled him to add, “But Grace’s arthritis is acting up, and she could use the extra help.”

Which was the truth, except now he had two housekeeping employees and a floundering business. Great. He would bankrupt the place at a time he needed to secure a future for his sister.

“Thanks again for letting me use the phone.” She leaned to place it on the counter. Her dress gaped open, giving a full view of creamy br**sts encased in lace.

Jacob shifted his gaze to a file, not nearly as interesting but a hell of a lot less tempting. “Let’s get you into something warmer.”

The now predictable battle waged in her eyes, pride versus practicality. She glanced down at that slinky little dress and nibbled her lip, then her spine straightened to a debutante stance that matched her face far more than the clothes. He could see pride had won.

Dee clasped the neckline closed. “Thank you, but you’ve done enough already.”

“I’m not offering to let you raid my closet. Emily’s right about my wardrobe—or lack of one.” Since he wore a flight suit most of the time, he didn’t need much in the way of civilian clothes. He gestured for her to follow him to the hall that connected the front office to the living quarters. “There’s a lost-and-found box of unclaimed items folks have left in the rooms. You can help yourself.”

She scrunched her toes in her shoes and looked out the ice-laced window. Starch leaked from her spine. “If you’re sure it’s all right. Consider it trade for the cleaning I’ve done today. No handouts.”

“Haven’t you ever heard about the joy of giving? Consider it an early Valentine’s Day gift.” Only a week away. Did she have someone besides Mr. Smith out there? Shaking off the thought, Jacob swung open the supply-closet door. “Rifle through and take anything you need. You can scrub a few extra sinks if it’ll make you feel better.”

Her thin shoulders slumped before she pivoted to face him. She reached, her trembling fingers hesitating an inch shy of touching him. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful.”

The heat of her hand crackled through the air and scorched his chest. An image of lace burned an imprint in his mind. His thoughts twisted along paths he had no business traveling, paths that led to wrapping his body up with her, even if only for a mind-numbingly short time.

He should swaddle her in a few layers of clothes and march her out the door for more reasons than he’d originally thought. “You’re welcome.”

Jacob lost himself in the routine of paperwork. For all of four minutes. Maybe he should shovel more snow one-handed—ouch. Heaven knew that could keep him busy and cool him off. Or was there enough snow in a Washington winter for that just now?

He tipped his chair for a better view into the hall and let himself study her for an unrestrained moment. She’d made a small pile of clothes to use, a larger pile of obvious discards neatly folded to the other side.

She glanced over her shoulder. “Did Emily get to her boyfriend’s house okay?”

Jacob thudded his chair to the ground along with his thoughts, better all the way around. “Uh-huh.”

She hooked an arm over the rim of the box, her slim legs tucked to the side. “Am I bothering you?”

Yeah. “No. Why?”

“I was only trying to make polite conversation, fill the silence a little. We’re stuck here together, after all. I didn’t mean to be a pest. Just say the word if you don’t want to talk.”

“Didn’t mean to be rude. I’m buried in paperwork.” There. That sounded like a polite excuse.

“Sorry.”

He scrolled down the computer screen and began cross-referencing expenditures for tax returns. His father hadn’t been much for bookkeeping. Jacob just prayed the old man had actually paid his taxes.

He needed to come up with enough money to get Emily through the college years. His pay didn’t come close to covering that. Plus, even if he could convince her to move in with him, she would need child care during school hours and someone to stay with her when he was deployed.

Dee cleared her throat and coughed, still dainty sounds. “Little Madison is precious. And the baby’s father seems…involved? It was nice of you to let them have time together today.”

Jacob slipped in a backup CD. “Like I had a choice. As Emily said, I’m her brother not her father.”

Pain flashed in Dee’s eyes before they turned flat as a slap of mud on a windshield. He’d been curt, but the whole situation frustrated him. He wanted to beat the crap out of Chase, but Emily insisted she loved him and they were going to get married. The situation made his blood boil, so he was better off staying quiet.

The rustling of clothes brought his attention back to the present as Dee sorted through the box. How could one small woman explode into his life so fully in the span of a few hours?

“I have big feet!”