Page 17 of Captain's Orders
Dani didn't speak. She just looked at Jordan, then back at the photograph, waiting.
"We met in the Navy."
"She’s pretty. You look happy."
"We were." Jordan turned the glass in her hand. "But being in the Navy, we had to keep it hidden. And when someone found out, it became a problem. They gave us a choice. One of us had to go."
"What did you do?"
"We were furious. So we decided to resign together. Make a statement." A small, dry sound that wasn't quite a laugh. "At least, that was the plan."
Dani caught the shift in tone immediately. "What happened?"
"I was the only one who went through with it. Sam sat there with the papers in front of her and froze. The Navy was her whole identity, and she couldn't let it go." Jordan kept her eyes on the glass. "Not even for me."
"Jesus."
"Yeah."
Dani didn't fill the silence with sympathy. She just shifted and let Jordan take her time.
"We tried to talk after that," Jordan went on. "But it was pointless. I'd chosen her. She'd chosen the Navy. So that was that."
"And she’s still in the Navy?"
"No.” Jordan sighed. “Six months later, there was an accident during a training exercise off the coast of Virginia. A friend from our old unit called to tell me." Jordan met Dani's eyes for the first time since she'd started talking. "Sam was gone."
"Fuck."
Dani’s reply was exactly right. No platitude. NoI'm sorry. Just the only word that fit.
Jordan looked back at the picture. "After we split, I shoved that frame in a drawer because I couldn't stand to look at her. And then she was dead and the anger didn't make sense anymore. All that was left was the person I'd loved." She set the glass down. "So I put her back on the shelf."
She leaned back against the bulkhead and let out a breath. "Right. So now you know more about me than the rest of the crew combined. That feels dangerously uneven. I'm going to need something in return."
Dani's face softened into a smile. "Fair enough. Ask me anything."
11
DANI
They were on their third scotch. Jordan's Macallan was taking a serious hit tonight, and at this rate the bottle wouldn't see the end of the charter.
"So now you know everything," Dani said, tucking her legs underneath her. "I grew up in Orlando, worked hotels for six years after college, hated every second of it, moved to Key West on a whim, got tipped off you were hiring, and somehow convinced you to take a chance on me. My sister lives in Tampa with her boyfriend and two kids who I spoil rotten every chance I get. My mother calls me once a week to ask if I'm seeing anyone, but my dating history is best described as a graveyard of third dates. That's the full picture." She took a sip. "Also, I'm not good with hard liquor. This scotch is going to my head."
"Same. I think I might regret this in the morning." Jordan leaned back, one knee pulled up, the glass resting against it. "But it's nice to know you a little better. You and your disastrous dating history." The whiskey had left a faint gloss on her lips that she licked away absently.
Dani shook her head and tried not to stare at her mouth. She should stop being nosy now. They'd covered enough heavyground for one night, and Jordan had already given her more than she'd expected. But the scotch had dissolved whatever filter usually kept her from asking things she shouldn't.
"You said you stopped looking after Sam. But the casual hookups—is that enough for you?"
Jordan shrugged. "It's uncomplicated. Nobody expects anything the next morning. Nobody gets hurt. Isn't that what you said you do? Going into dates without expectations?"
"That's different. I go on actual dates. With conversation and food and the possibility of a second one. You're describing something that starts at last call and ends before breakfast."
"It works for me," Jordan said. She regarded Dani. "So what are you looking for on all these dates you go on? What's your type?"
Dani laughed. "I don't think I have one. I've dated all over the map. Loud women, quiet women, sporty women, artsy women… I think I just want someone who's steady and reliable. Someone who actually does what they say they're going to do. And there needs to be attraction of course. Chemistry. That's important. Apparently that's a lot to ask."
