Debbie Macomber - Debbie Macomber Navy Series Box Set

She gave Rush the ten minutes she’d promised, but it was difficult. As the endless seconds ticked past, Lindy tried to remember the last time she’d seen Steve. Before he’d divorced Carol, Lindy realized. That was what?—one and a half years ago now. Steve had been happy then, excited, full of life. Could it really have been only eighteen months ago? She hardly recognized Steve as the same man. He looked so much older than his thirty-three years, and she wondered if the divorce was responsible for the changes in him. From what her parents had told her, Steve and Carol had broken up shortly after their visit to Minneapolis, and the divorce had been final for over a year. No one knew any of the details. Steve hadn’t explained a thing, and Lindy hadn’t asked. What went on between her brother and Carol was their business, not hers.

When Lindy couldn’t stand it any longer, she stood and walked out of the bedroom. Both men stopped and turned around to face her. Anger flashed from their eyes, and it looked as if they were about to resort to physical violence. Lindy knew she’d timed her entrance perfectly.

“It’s good to see you again, Steve,” she said with a soft smile, walking to her husband’s side and slipping her arm around his waist.

Her brother grumbled something in reply.

“Aren’t you going to congratulate Rush and me?”

Steve’s eyes hardened as they clashed with Rush’s. “I’m not sure.”

“Why not?” Lindy feigned a calmness she was far from feeling and smiled up at Rush, letting her warm gaze speak for her.

“Lindy, just what in the hell do you think you’re doing?” Steve demanded, looking more upset by the minute. “You’ve been in Seattle how long? Three, four weeks?”

“Are you saying Rush will make me a terrible husband and that I’ve made a dreadful mistake? Obviously you know something about him that I don’t.”

“That’s not what I mean and you know it,” Steve shouted. He paused long enough to rake his fingers through his hair, mussing the well-groomed effect. “What about Paul Abrams?”

Lindy met her brother’s gaze without emotion. “What about him?”

“You loved him…or so you said. Hell, the last time I heard from you, your heart was broken and you didn’t know if you wanted to go on living. Remember?”

“Of course I remember.”

“And that’s all changed?” His voice carried a harsh sound of reprimand. “It didn’t take you very long to forget him, did it? So much for undying love and devotion. Well, little sister, did you ever stop to think what could follow next? If your affections can change overnight, what’s going to happen when Rush has sea duty? Are you going to divorce him once he’s out of sight because you find yourself attracted to another man?”

Lindy felt her husband tense at her side. She wasn’t pleased with Steve’s insinuation, either, but she was willing to let it pass. “As you recall, Paul was the one who conveniently forgot about me. Thank God he did, otherwise I would never have met Rush.”

“You’re saying that now. God, what a mess.” Steve abruptly turned away and marched to the other side of the room. Just as sharply, he turned back to face them. “Of all the people in the world, I thought you were the one I could trust the most.”

His comment was directed at Rush.

“She’s just a kid.” The look Steve tossed his friend suggested Rush had resorted to robbing a day-care center.

“I’m twenty-two,” Lindy cried, piqued.

“Damn it, Lindy. You don’t know a thing about marriage.”

“She knows enough about being a wife to satisfy me,” Rush answered calmly.

“She’s too young for you,” Steve shouted, and started in again with hardly a breath. “Any fool could see she married you on the rebound. I thought you were smarter than this, Callaghan. You took advantage of her.”

“If he’d taken advantage of me,” Lindy cut in, growing more impatient with her sibling by the moment, “he wouldn’t have married me.”

“Of course he married you. He knew I’d beat the hell out of him if he didn’t.”

From the tight expression her brother wore, Lindy could see that he’d relish the opportunity to fight with Rush.

“Steve, stop it,” she pleaded, holding out her hands. “I’m married, and although you seem to think it’s some great tragedy, I don’t. I plan on being a good wife to Rush. This isn’t an overnight fling. We’re committed to each other.”

“I don’t give this so-called marriage three months.”

Rush’s hands knotted into tight fists, but when he went to step forward, Lindy stopped him. Her husband had done an admirable job of keeping his cool, but Steve’s accusations were beginning to wear on them both, and Lindy could tell Rush wouldn’t put up with much more.

“Have you told Mom and Dad?”

“Of course. I’m not ashamed of what we’ve done.” But she’d waited until after the ceremony to announce she was married for fear her mother would try to talk her out of it. When she did phone her parents, Grace Kyle hadn’t been able to disguise her shock and had started to weep. When her father had come on the line, he’d been equally stunned, almost embarrassed, stumbling over his words, clearly not knowing what to say. It wasn’t until Rush had talked to both her parents that Lindy’s family had made an effort to offer their congratulations.

Steve’s eyes narrowed. “I should kick your teeth down your throat for this, Callaghan.”

Rush’s mouth quirked into a half smile. “I’d like to see you try.”

“Stop it, both of you!” Lindy cried, shocked at both men. “I don’t know what’s the matter with you, Steve, but this is my honeymoon. I have only one night left to spend with my husband, and I don’t intend to waste it arguing with you.”

“The Mitchell is leaving in the morning?”

Once more Steve’s question was directed to Rush as he chose to ignore Lindy.

Rush nodded.

The two men stood not more than ten feet apart and glared heatedly at each other, issuing silent challenges. Steve broke away first, picked up his seabag and headed toward the door.

“I’ll leave you two alone.”

“It would be appreciated,” Rush answered.

Steve turned back to face his friend and Lindy couldn’t remember when his dark eyes had been more intense. “You hurt her, Callaghan, and you’ll answer to me personally.”

The tension in the room was so electric it was a miracle lightning didn’t flash from the ceiling. It seemed to arc and flow between the two men, ready to ignite at any moment.

“I thought you knew me better than that,” Rush answered through clenched teeth.

“I don’t trust anyone. Not anymore. Just remember what I said. If Lindy’s ever unhappy, I’m going to hold you responsible.”

A throbbing, wounded silence filled the room after the front door slammed. Lindy sat on the davenport and forcefully expelled her breath. “What is his problem?”

“When was the last time you saw your brother?” Rush wanted to know, taking the seat beside her and reaching for her hand.

“About a year and a half ago. Steve and Carol drove to Minneapolis when Steve was on shore leave. They were so much in love and so happy, we were all stunned when a few months later we got a letter that said he’d filed for divorce. We never knew why. I think he would have told me had I asked, but I never did. What happened between him and Carol is their business.”

“The divorce changed him,” Rush explained softly.

“You’re telling me. But his letters were never like this. He was always so encouraging, so upbeat. When he heard what happened with Paul, his letter helped me so much. He understood so well what I was going through, but now I feel like I hardly know him.”