"That's a lovely idea, but I'm afraid I can't tonight.
Rain check?"
"Let me know when you're free."
"Sure thing."
Melody smiled, thinking that when it came to men in her life it was either feast or famine. Still, she felt pleased with the notion that she'd finally turned Kerney's head.
Melody left and Kerney tried without success to concentrate on work. He finally gave up and put the document away. He'd felt both annoyed and relieved when Melody turned down his invitation. He tried to think it through, but nothing came except a vague, dissatisfied feeling.
He stepped to the office door and hit the light switch.
He had to get back into sync. Somehow, he didn't think that would be easy to do.
Sara woke to the aroma of coffee and found herself on Susie's couch covered with a lightweight throw. She sat up and looked at the night sky through the picture window.
The lights of Tucson flickered, flowed, and gathered along the major roads and highways that bisected the desert floor.
She combed her fingers through her hair and found Susie in the kitchen, stirring a pot of pasta.
"What time is it?"
"Almost dinnertime," Susie answered.
"Welcome back to the living."
"When did I fall asleep?"
"About three o'clock this afternoon, right in mid-sentence."
"Can I help?"
"Pour yourself some coffee and sit yourself down.
Warning: I only brew leaded sludge."
Sara got coffee, sat at the Shaker-style table, and watched Susie spear a green bean out of the pot and taste it.
"A few more minutes," Susie said, turning to face Sara.
"This is simple fare. I'm not much of a cook."
"What were we talking about before I lost it?"
"Your extraordinary discovery of an honest man."
Susie brought over some flatware and place mats, and arranged them on the table.
"If you decide you don't want Kerney, would you arrange an introduction for me?"
Sara laughed.
"He sounds that good, does he?"
"He sounds yummy," Susie said, putting a salad bowl between the place mats.
"Tonight's menu is store-bought spaghetti sauce, frozen green beans, and salad with bottled dressing. However, I did cook the pasta to perfection."
"You're quite domestic."
"That's not where my charm lies," Susie said as she strained the pasta.
"Nor yours. Do you really think you can't be a career officer, mother, and a wife?"
"I could handle two out of three fairly well."
"So, which one goes by the boards?" Susie asked as she slid into a chair and handed Sara a plate of food.
"I haven't a due."
"Why not have it all?"
"I don't think Kerney would be willing to follow me around from post to post for the next ten years. Besides, neither of us discussed getting married."
"Maybe you haven't mentioned the M word to him.
But you've come close, with all that talk of a stud book and getting pregnant."
Sara poked into the pasta and twisted it around the prongs of her fork.
"I guess I have."
"You amaze me."
"Why?"
"You have one of the best tactical minds of any serving officer I know, and yet you don't have the foggiest notion of how to reel Kerney in."
"I'm not sure I want to be that calculating. I don't see you baiting the hook when it comes to men."
"Oh, you're so wrong. I'm just waiting for the right one to swim by."
"Okay, how would you reel Kerney in?"
"I'd ask him flat out if he's interested in marriage."