Read Online Forget Me Not (Love in the Fleet) by Heather Ashby - Free Book Online Page A

peaceful here. Quiet and still.
    He cracked open a beer. “I’m really happy you came with me today, Daisy.”
    “I didn’t have much choice. I’m certainly not going to let the kids down.” Daisy pulled out paper plates and served them both. “What’s the word on the helicopter?”
    “I put in the paperwork yesterday. My CO—that’s my commanding officer—he passed it up the chain of command. I’m headed to Norfolk for a class all next week, but I should have a date for you when I get back in town. I’ll let you know so you can alert the Boys and Girls Club .” He gnawed on a drumstick as they talked.
    “Brian—” she began.
    “Remember, you can call me Sky. Or are we still not friends?”
    “You want me to call you the nickname you got for not paying attention? You sound like you’re proud of that?”
    “Never really thought of being proud of it or not. It’s just who I am. It is what it is. I mean, my buddy I’m staying with next week when I’m on travel? His name’s Philip, but we named him ‘Bill Gates’ eleven years ago because he was such a nerd when we first met.” Brian chuckled as he reached for another piece of chicken. “And we’ve called his wife ‘Lacey’ ever since…” He let the sentence die.
    Was he blushing? Daisy doubted anything embarrassed Brian Crawford, but she did detect new color in his cheeks. “Go on. I’m dying to know how Lacey got her nickname.” Daisy helped herself to a handful of chips, then sat back and munched, waiting for what was sure to be another humorous story.
    “Well, see, she and I were on this Med-Evac flight with Bill and she was whispering secrets into his ear and she didn’t know her microphone was on Hot Mic so everyone on board heard her talking about, well, about her lavender lace skivvies—her underwear. Except Bill didn’t hear her because he was in a coma.”
    Daisy bolted upright. “She got her nickname from something she said while he was in a coma?”
    He sobered and lay his chicken bone down. “Yeah. Because I promised her at the time we’d laugh about it someday. And you know what? We do, because Bill survived and now he laughs with us.” Brian paused, then quietly said, “You know, Daisy, laughter heals a lot of hurts. You ought to try it sometime.”
    How dare he? And yet, Daisy knew he was absolutely right. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know the circumstances. I’m glad your friend is okay. And yes, I have to admit, I do like the way you find humor in everything. I’m sorry I jumped down your throat. And despite the fact that you essentially tricked me into going today, I am enjoying this. It’s good to be back in a kayak, back on the water…” and back in a man’s company. “And it’s a lovely day.”
    “Well, then let me ask you this. Since you were tricked into kayaking today, may I ask if you’d be interested in going out to dinner tonight, willingly?” He smacked his head and rolled his eyes. “How stupid was I? I should have had Cory put dinner in the contract.”
    “Sorry, I’m at the emergency clinic tonight.”
    “Geez, Daisy, don’t you ever take time for yourself? Then what about tomorrow? Come on, I’m leaving town on Monday. Can I spend the day with you tomorrow, without having to trick you?”
    “Church.” Daisy gathered up the paper plates and put them in the bag.
    “Then after church.”
    “We’re building a house. My church group does Habitat for Humanity on Sunday afternoons.”
    Brian reached over and laid his hand on hers, stroking her wrist with his thumb. Electricity shot up her arm. She flinched, but did not pull away.
    “Daisy, do you ever take time off?”
    Now she withdrew her hand and looked away. “Not if I can help it.”
    “Well, you know, I can swing a hammer.”
    She turned back to him. “What?” Was he talking about volunteering with her again?
    “Can I join you after church? You know, help build a house?”
    “You?”
    “Sure. Why not?”
    “You don’t strike