Page 35 of The Commander

“Thanks, I appreciate it.” I smiled, then did a double take as I saw Noah heading our way.

No. No. No.

“All fixed?” Noah asked, saluting my father. “Sir.”

“Captain Jenkins, I hear you drove my daughter home last night.”

God, I’d died on the spot.

Dan stopped wiping his hands and stared between me and Noah while my blood pressure skyrocketed. I closed my eyes, begging for an earthquake or some natural disaster. When I opened them, Noah was staring at me, his expression blank.

“Yes, sir. Can’t leave a woman standing in the rain beside a broken-down vehicle,” he replied with little emotion. “Especially not the Colonel’s daughter.”

Dad’s brows lowered, not believing him for a second. Then he looked at me, and I was sure he could see the blood had drained from my face.

I thought he was going to drop it.

I really did.

But I was so, so wrong.

“Fair enough, Captain. But from this point on, I expect you to keep a distance from my daughter to ensure there is no talk about a relationship with her.”

My mouth fell open, and as I watched Noah’s eye twitch, I felt my chest tighten.

“Am I making myself clear, son?”

Dan turned away, rubbing his oily hands on the cloth, wishing he was anywhere but here.

“Clear as day. Sir.” Noah’s face turned to stone as he saluted.

Then he glanced briefly at me and walked away.

As if I meant nothing.

I felt the grief immediately. Noah had always silently kept the door open an inch when it came to something happening between us. I’d always known that. But as he strode across the parking lot, tears threatened, and my heart physically ached.

Instead, I had to act unaffected, never letting on that I had feelings for Noah. For both of us.

It didn’t work. For months afterward, Dad continued to ask me questions about my relationship with him, despite me no longer reporting to Noah or mentioning him a single time. It was infuriating.

“It wouldn’t look good if you got involved with a former CO, Quinn. Certainly not Jenkins. Don’t be stupid if you insist on staying in the Armed Forces.”

“I’m not with anyone. Plus, I don’t date anyone in uniform.”

“A man like Noah Jenkins doesn’t date, Quinn. Don’t be naïve.”

Really? Because he put me in bed, never touching me.

I wasn’t going to share that little piece of information with my father, though.

Almost every day I wondered if Noah wanted to touch me. Had he thought about it? What would have happened if I’d woken?

I wish I had.

In some ways, if I’d made love to him and then lost him, I might be okay with this. Instead, it felt like he was more forbidden than ever.

“Mom, please. Can you hear your husband?” I cried.