Read Online Casualties of Love by Denise Riley - Free Book Online Page B

he wanted them to know it. It was just his luck they happened to like him, too. He was also the type of guy that liked to have fun, though neither his looks nor his lack of potential company had led to very much fun lately. There wasn’t a shortage of willing participants. He just wasn’t interested. These days, Marcus stuck to just what Jessica accused him of – flirting. Nothing more than that. He wanted something meaningful, but hadn’t met anyone that motivated him to offer more than a few dates and casual sex. And frankly, he was getting bored with the no-strings-attached sex. Well, for the most part. A man did have needs.
    “Yeah, well it’s only flirting, so no worries. Are you headed to see Tyson?”
    Marcus could tell Jessica was a little thrown by his sudden shift in topic, but she recovered quickly. He was a little surprised she didn’t hedge in her answer.
    “Yes.”
    “Why?”
    “Why, what?”
    “Why are you going to see him? You are not his attending physician. I know you don’t work in the infirmary. You know him from West Point, but that doesn’t explain your constant visitation. So, why?”
    “I...care about him. We were close once.”
    “Close,” he repeated. “Lovers, you mean?” She looked at him warily. “Was it serious? Exclusive?”
    “You should ask Tyson.”
              “I have. I wanted to see what you’d say.” She frowned at him. He shrugged. “Hey, I can appreciate your discretion. Some women don’t know much about the concept.”
    Jessica just looked at him in silence.
    “I owe you an apology,” Marcus said abruptly.
    “For being nosy?” she quipped with a raised brow.
    He chuckled and gave her props for checking him.
    “No, for my blunder. I didn’t mean to out you about the Academy. I was just surprised, is all.”
    “It’s fine. It’s dumb luck I didn’t get found out sooner.”
    “Or maybe you’re good at hiding things,” he said. He knew how it sounded. It could certainly be construed as a jab. He wondered if she’d respond. She didn’t, so he went on. “Do you regret it?” Marcus wanted to know if she regretted walking out on Tyson, but he also wanted to know how she’d interpret his question.
    “Regret what, exactly? Why don’t you get specific, sir?”
    Marcus smiled; he liked her. Jessica was smart enough not to get caught up.
    “Just wondering if you wish things had worked out differently.”
              “Look, Lt. Jones, there are a lot of things I would do differently, but leaving the Academy isn’t one of them. That doesn’t mean I don’t wish things between me and Tyson had turned out differently.”
    “The two don’t seem mutually exclusive, Jessica. And, no need to relegate this friendly discussion to the use of ranks and titles,” he said.
    “You appear to need a friendly reminder about the benefit and courtesy of boundaries, Marcus . And wanting to leave and needing to leave are two different things.”
    She turned away from him, but Marcus followed her, wondering about her “need” to leave West Point.
    “It seems like you’ve got some things to explain to him, then.”
    “Did he tell you that or are you fishing again?”
    “A little of both,” Marcus admitted. “I know you were the one who walked away. And I know he wonders why. Even after years between the two of you, he wonders why you left him.”
    “I didn’t really leave him. Things happened...” Jessica started. Then she seemed to catch herself. She stopped talking and kept walking.
    “It seems strange that you’d ignore him for so long only to seek him out so often here. The same kind of strange that has you leaving the military academy only to join the Army as an enlisted. What gives?”
    “As far as me joining up enlisted, that’s none of your business. As for my interest in Tyson, like I said, I care about him.”
    “Yeah, it’s really obvious. You hover,” he said with a grin.
    “I do not,” she argued, but