“You’re overreacting,” she whispered. “Let it go. Just . . . don’t read anything more into it other than an attempt to help. That’s all it is. He’s not like the general, he’s not.” The pep talk helped somewhat, as she forced herself to remember all the things he’d done that were completely opposite of what the general would have done. “He’s different. He is. Don’t overreact.”

She got herself together and opened the door, only to find Kaylynn on the other side. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to take too long.”

“You didn’t. I was waiting for you. I overheard what happened in the kitchen.”

“Overheard it, huh?” More like eavesdropped.

“Gavin likes to be in control.”

“Hmm. Yes, I’d say that’s an accurate observation.”

“But he means well.”

Sarah raised a brow. “Really?”

A smile curved her lips. “Yes. He may behave like a bull in a china shop, but . . .” She shrugged.

“So, why won’t you talk to him?”

Kaylynn’s jaw tightened. “You’re pretty blunt, aren’t you?”

“It’s the reporter in me.”

Kaylynn went still and her face paled even while her eyes sharpened. “You’re a reporter?”

“I am. Well, a journalist, but I’ve done a lot of investigative reporting for the military. Why?”

“Interesting,” the girl almost whispered. “I heard them talking about you having a story, but I didn’t realize you were an actual reporter.”

She must have missed that part. “A currently unemployed journalist-slash-occasional-reporter, yes.”

“Sounds like you could be employed should you decide you want to be.”

“I don’t think I’d like to work for either one of them.”

Kaylynn actually smiled. “They’re not so bad. They huff and they puff, but they’ve never actually blown anything down.”

“When are you going to talk to Gavin?”

“When I feel like it. He made me mad, and I know avoiding him is the best way to get back at him.”

Brutally honest, wasn’t she?

“It’s working. He wants a relationship with you.”

Kaylynn fell silent, but Sarah could see she was thinking. “I like you, Sarah.”

“Well . . . thanks.”

“I’ll think about what you’ve said, but I’m not ready to talk to Gavin, yet.”

“I see. It’ll hurt him.” Like your actions hurt the general? The quiet whisper drifted across her mind.

Something flashed in Kaylynn’s eyes, an indecipherable . . . something that resonated deep within Sarah. “Could I get your phone number?” Kaylynn asked.

“Of course.” Sarah dictated it to her while Kaylynn tapped it into her device.

“Thanks.” And then the girl was gone, drifting down the hall in her silent wraithlike way.

“I’m sorry, Sarah,” Gavin said. He stood to her left at the end of the hallway. “I guess I didn’t think that all the way through.”