Two weeks later.

“After stealing a fisherman’s boat and leading the local police in a chase across Buzzards Bay, the suspect Anne Ludtz was finally apprehended with the help of several midshipmen and their Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Lawson, who also gave chase in the Puller Academy boats. She is currently under psychiatric care as she awaits a trial date on two counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder,” read Henry out loud. Picking up his cigar, he took a long drag before turning to Phoebe. “Helluva job, Wilson. Helluva job!”

Phoebe plucked the cigar from his fingers and snubbed it out in the ash tray on his desk.

“Hey, it’s after noon! I’m allowed,” complained Henry.

“Let’s just say I have a whole new appreciation for life and you should too,” responded Phoebe as she took a sip of her usual mocha latte, wrinkling her nose at the harsh, burnt coffee taste. It wasn’t as good as the mocha lattes from the little cafe Amber and she frequented in Buzzards Bay.

Buzzards Bay.

She actually missed the place. Missed the raw beauty of the bay at sunrise. Missed the challenge of lighting a spark in her midshipmen students about Dickens or Shakespeare. Missed the camaraderie of the other teachers.

She especially missed Michael.

For days after the bonfire, he never left her side. He even insisted on sleeping on a cot in her hospital room rather than going home to rest.

If she hadn’t been certain before, her time spent together with him then with his constant caring attention, sealed her fate. She was head over heels in love with the man.

It was a strangely wonderful time. Sure, she had to suffer through chest scans and blood tests and the whole gamut to make sure there wasn’t any real damage from her brush with death but through it all…there was Michael. He entertained her by reading poetry. She especially loved when he read from Lord Byron. His dark, deep voice was a perfect match for the moody, mercurial poet’s poems. They talked for hours about their childhoods, his time in the military and all sorts of the silly things people talk about to get to know one another.

They talked about everything…except the future.

It seemed like neither wanted to broach the subject. Whether it was because they were afraid what the other may say or even more afraid of what they might not…talk of love and a future together remained unspoken. Soon it came time for her to leave, to return to her old life in New York.

Secretly, she kept hoping he would command her to stay…but he didn’t.

He just let her go.

Since then there had been long phone conversations and emails, mostly about the case against Ludtz. No mention of her returning to the academy…or love.

And worse…she had sent him the article on Ludtz earlier this morning and hadn’t heard a word from him. She had to be fair in her reporting. Phoebe had hoped he would understand that. It wasn’t her fault the Navy looked the other way for so long. She did her best to be impartial and not lambaste them like other reporters would have done but the truth was the truth, besides the Navy made good in the end. If it wasn’t for Michael’s help, Ludtz may never have been found out and caught.

“Are you even listening to me?” groused Henry.

“Sorry, what?”

“I asked what you plan to do next. What have you got for me?”

“There’s talk of a bribery scandal about to break in the mayor’s office,” responded Phoebe absentmindedly.

Henry nodded. “Could have some legs on it. What else?”

“Um…there’s that thing about the tainted rice in China. A source tells me some of it might have made its way into US products.”

“That thing that killed all the kids?”

Phoebe nodded her head.

“That sounds promising. Nothing like a good scare to sell newspapers.”

“Uh huh.”

“Wilson. Are you even paying attention? Ever since you got back from that Buzzard assignment it’s like your heart isn’t in it anymore.”

She could never get anything past Henry. “You’re not going to like this…but I don’t think it is.”

Henry nodded sagely. “Is it that commander fella; the one you wrote about?”

“Why would you say that?” Phoebe shifted in her seat as her cheeks began to heat.

Henry held up the newspaper, giving it a tap with his index finger. “Because you make the guy sound like Batman and Superman all rolled into one.”

Her cheeks grew even hotter. “You’ve been hanging around Jimmy and his stupid comic books too much.”

Pointing at her with one stubby finger, Henry rejoined. “And you’re ignoring the facts.”

Phoebe toyed with the cardboard sleeve of her empty mocha latte cup. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You love him, Phoebe. It’s as plain as the nose on your face.”

She looked up and met Henry’s sympathetic eyes. “Yeah, but what does that get me? I have a career. Women from my generation aren’t supposed to give that shit up for love.”

Henry shrugged. “There’s nothing to say you can’t freelance once in a while and besides…to my thinking…it’s more what you’re gaining then giving up.”

“You’re my boss. Aren’t you supposed to be convincing me to stay?”

He nodded. “I’m your boss…but I’m also practically a father to you…and I say to hell with this dog and pony show. Go get your soldier!”

“Marine,” said Phoebe without thinking.

“Is there a difference?”

Phoebe jumped up and gave Henry a hug around the neck. “I’ve been told many times there is.” Laughing as she grabbed her shoulder bag and prepared to leave, Phoebe was already checking her phone for flights out of New York when there was a huge commotion outside Henry’s office.

She opened the door to see Michael marching through the Ledger offices in full dress uniform.

He looked magnificent, over six feet of impressive uniform, muscle and…anger? Uh oh…he also looked pissed as hell, thought Phoebe as she took in his lowered brow and clenched jaw.

Phoebe defiantly placed her hands on her hips. Narrowing her eyes, she prepared to meet him head on. “Nothing I wrote in that article was untrue, so if you got a problem with it, then you are not the man I thought you were!”

Without missing a step or saying a word, Michael swooped down and lifted Phoebe into his arms. He turned and started to walk out of the office.

“What are you doing?” exclaimed Phoebe as she was forced to grab onto his neck.

“I don’t give a damn about that article. I tried to be a gentleman. Tried to give you space to make the right decision but my patience is at an end, princess. You’re mine and I’m taking you home,” ground out Michael as his determined gaze pierced her astonished one.

“Do I get a say in this?”

“No.”

God, she loved this arrogant, demanding man!

“Well, are you going to at least admit that you love me?” huffed Phoebe as her cheeks heated knowing they were being observed by every member of the Ledger’s staff.

Giving her a suggestive look he said, “I’m going to do a lot more than just admit I love you, baby.”

Burying her head in his neck, Phoebe tried to hide her satisfied smile. “You’re being very An Officer and A Gentleman right now,” she teased.

Michael’s lips quirked. “Gere’s character was a naval officer candidate. I’m a Marine officer.”

Flicking the tip of her tongue against the edge of her teeth, Phoebe grinned. She loved baiting him. “What’s the difference?”

His arms gripped her tighter. “I plan to spend a lifetime showing you.”