“And why’s that?” she asked. Even to her own ears, her voice sounded so frosty she was surprised snowflakes didn’t fly out of her mouth when she spoke.

“He’s married, for starters,” Sully said.

“I know.”

“And he has a girlfriend,” Sully continued.

“I know that, too.”

“And you’re okay with that?” He looked as outraged as if she’d just taken up spitting in public.

“I don’t think it’s any of my business,” she said. “Or yours either, for that matter.”

Sully clapped both of his hands to his head as if he was trying to keep his hair on. In all the time Lindsey had known him, she’d never seen him lose his cool. She realized it was sort of nice to see the Captain feeling an excess of emotion.

“Was that all?” she asked.

He goggled at her as if he couldn’t believe his ears.

“Yes,” he said.

“I’ll see you around then.” She turned and headed back into the closet to retrieve her materials.

“No, wait!” His voice was reluctant as if the words were being forced out of him at gunpoint.

“Yes?”

“I really think you shouldn’t get involved with him, Lindsey,” he said.

She wasn’t sure what made her do it. Maybe it was just a frustrated need to get through his thick emotional skin. But she turned and stepped toward him until they were just inches apart.

She raised one eyebrow in what she hoped was a challenging expression and asked, “Why not?”

Sully seemed rendered speechless by her nearness, and she took a certain amount of comfort in knowing that he felt the attraction snapping between them just as strongly as she did.

Lindsey stared at the handsome face so close to hers. She loved that face. Not because it was handsome, although it was, but because it was such an honest face, so full of humor, intelligence and kindness. She had missed that face terribly over the past few months. And now, if his full lips could just form the words telling her how he felt then maybe, maybe, they would stand a chance.

He reached out and tucked a long strand of hair back behind her ear. The gesture was tender, and Lindsey felt her insides melt.

“Because he isn’t good enough for you and you’ll just get hurt,” Sully said.

Lindsey blew out a breath and stepped back. She felt as if she’d been doused with a bucket of cold water. Was it really that hard for him to tell her how he felt? Maybe he didn’t really feel the same way she felt. Maybe he was over their brief relationship and he was really just looking out for her as a friend. The thought was depressing.

“Don’t worry about me,” she said as she turned away. “I’ve been hurt before and I always bounce back.”

Sully didn’t come after her.

• • •