Read Online Taming Her Navy Doc by Amy Ruttan - Free Book Online Page A

thinking about him. Her father had had a loving family; he’d often told Erica she was the light in his life. Yet it hadn’t been enough.
    She hadn’t been enough.
    “Did they say what caused his death?” she asked, hoping Thorne could give her a more tangible answer.
    “No, but there will be a postmortem, and maybe then we can get an answer. I’m thinking that the drugs, the shock of the attack and surgery was just too much of a strain on him. It’s rare, but it does happen.”
    Erica nodded. “Well, why don’t you join me and drink to Corporal Ryder’s memory.”
    “Is that what you’re doing?” he asked.
    She nodded. “Oh, yeah.”
    “Then I’d love to join you, but you made it clear we can’t be friends.”
    Erica winced. “I overreacted. I’m sorry. We can be friends.”
    “Okay.” He motioned to Scooby who brought him a stubby-looking bottle.
    “What’s that?” she asked, because she couldn’t read the Japanese on the label.
    “It’s beer. I don’t know what kind, but it’s damn good.”
    “I didn’t know the Japanese brewed beer.”
    “You should’ve done your research before you took a posting in Okinawa prefect, then.”
    Erica snorted. “I did my research, I just somehow missed that.”
    “Okay, what do you know?”
    She looked at him strangely. “Are you testing me?”
    Thorne shrugged. “Why not? You said you studied.”
    Erica shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. “What part of ‘pain in my butt’ didn’t you get?”
    “Haven’t you ever heard of a pub quiz before?”
    “Really?”
    Thorne chuckled. “Okay, fine. Although the prize would’ve been totally worth it.”
    “Prize?” Erica asked. “Now I’m intrigued. What would be my prize?”
    He grinned. “Play and find out.”
    Just walk away.
    The prize was probably something not worth it. Or something totally inappropriate—not that she would mind being inappropriate with Thorne, if he hadn’t been her commanding officer; if they didn’t have a history as surgeon and patient. Yet here she was, falling into this sweet trap again.
    He’s not Seaton. They’re not all Seaton.
    Which was true, but after a couple of drinks she was willing to let her guard down.
It’s the booze.
    And maybe it was completely innocuous. Perhaps he was just being kind and just trying to get her mind off the fact that they’d lost someone today. Someone who shouldn’t have died.
    Since when has Captain Wilder ever been nice to you?
    That was the truth. He hadn’t been overly friendly or warm since she’d arrived at the base. Even when he’d been her patient he’d called her names and told her not to take his leg.
    He didn’t have the sunniest disposition.
    “Like an angel.”
    That blasted moment again, sneaking into her mind, making her thoughts all jumbled and confused. She should just walk away, but she was too intrigued not to find out what the prize was. Besides, when was the last time she’d backed away from a challenge? If it was something inappropriate she could tell him where to go; they were off duty.
    Still, she wasn’t here because of a lark.
    “I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
    “Because of Corporal Ryder?” Thorne asked.
    “Yeah. Maybe I should just call it a night.” She got up to leave, but he reached out and grabbed her arm, stopping her from leaving.
    “Don’t go,” he said.
    Erica sat down. “Okay, but I have to say I’m not in much of a jovial mood. Prize or not.”
    Thorne chuckled. “Tell you what, you’ll still get your prize.”
    “And what would that be?”
    “A tour around Ginowan and the countryside. You could test your knowledge.”
    Erica couldn’t help but smile. When Thorne wanted to be, he was charming. “I don’t think that’s wise.”
    “Why?”
    She didn’t know how to answer that truthfully.
    Because I don’t want to be alone with you. Because my career is more important.
    Because I’m weak.
    “I don’t think that’s wise. You’re my