she’d seen enough even from her compound to know that many people had lost whatever ethics they had in the mad panic of apocalypse. Sure, there were some good people out there, but she hadn’t tried to find them. The risk factor was too extreme. On the other hand, Rescue248 had sounded…she didn’t know. Different. Trustworthy. Confident. His voice had engendered new enthusiasm and energy inside her. She didn’t understand it but decided to ignore her confusion and just write.
She waited by the radio, staring at it. Two came and went. At two ten a hollowness started inside her. She stood and started out of the room. The radio squawked, and she almost came out of her skin.
She put one hand to her chest. “Shit.”
“CQ. CQ. This is Rescue248. RomWriter148 are you there?” Rescue248’s deep voice broke the silence.
With a smile she strode back to the radio. “Rescue248, this is RomWriter148. Come back.”
“Hey, RomWriter148. Sorry I’m late. Work went to hell. I just got home.”
“Body guarding?”
“You could say that.”
Right. “You work strange hours.”
“I do.”
“Look if you’re going to be mysterious we don’t need to do this. It isn’t like I’m dating you or something.” Mally regretted the flippant words the moment they escaped.
“Whoa. Hold on.” His voice stayed calm and conciliatory. “I’m very punctual normally. We had a client from a large corporation that needed an escort, and the guy was a douchebag. Dealing with him was a major problem. But he pays well, and my boss took the contract. I do my job.”
Regret filled her. She closed her eyes and rubbed the back of her neck. “I’m sorry. I…I’m a punctual person. Not that I’ve had to be anywhere on time for a long while.”
“It’s all right.”
“No it isn’t. I’m also not usually rude.”
“Give yourself a break. These are weird times. We all do things we wouldn’t have done…before Long Valley.”
He was dead right. She was even willing to ask questions and say things she wouldn’t have before. “Are you talking about yourself?”
“I’ve had a few challenges. It hasn’t been easy. But I won’t compromise my integrity. I won’t do anything illegal.”
All she had was his word. “That’s good.”
A pause hung there before he said, “Are you okay?”
The concern in his voice took her a bit by surprise. “I’m good. I’ve been writing like crazy. I’m happy for the inspiration.”
“What inspires you?”
“These days? I don’t know. I have no clue.”
“Come on, I don’t believe that. Before Long Valley…what made you want to write?”
“That’s a long story.”
“I’ve got all afternoon.”
She settled deeper into the leather swivel chair. “I don’t know where to start.” She shrugged even though she realized he couldn’t see her. “It’s just something inside me that’s always there. I’m happiest when I’m writing. It’s a passion.”
“When did you start writing?”
“When I was fifteen. I’ve always loved to read, too.”
“So have I. I’ve never read a romance, though.” Amusement entered his voice. “But I don’t know any men who have.”
“Surprise, surprise.” She smiled, liking the direction toward humor. “Let me guess. You read sci-fi.”
“Good guess. I read some sci-fi, mystery. True crime and biographies.”
“Typical guy stuff.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“No. I like those genres, too. Imagine that. I’ve got something in common with a security dude.” Something made her ask, “What did you do before you worked for Sentry Security?”
“I was in the Air Force. A pararescueman.”
She’d heard of them. Who hadn’t? They were a special forces-type unit that went in and rescued military and civilians in war zones. They had elite combat and medical experience all wrapped up in one package.
“Impressive,” she said.
“Yeah, well…” He almost sounded embarrassed. “I loved doing it. It wasn’t work to
She waited by the radio, staring at it. Two came and went. At two ten a hollowness started inside her. She stood and started out of the room. The radio squawked, and she almost came out of her skin.
She put one hand to her chest. “Shit.”
“CQ. CQ. This is Rescue248. RomWriter148 are you there?” Rescue248’s deep voice broke the silence.
With a smile she strode back to the radio. “Rescue248, this is RomWriter148. Come back.”
“Hey, RomWriter148. Sorry I’m late. Work went to hell. I just got home.”
“Body guarding?”
“You could say that.”
Right. “You work strange hours.”
“I do.”
“Look if you’re going to be mysterious we don’t need to do this. It isn’t like I’m dating you or something.” Mally regretted the flippant words the moment they escaped.
“Whoa. Hold on.” His voice stayed calm and conciliatory. “I’m very punctual normally. We had a client from a large corporation that needed an escort, and the guy was a douchebag. Dealing with him was a major problem. But he pays well, and my boss took the contract. I do my job.”
Regret filled her. She closed her eyes and rubbed the back of her neck. “I’m sorry. I…I’m a punctual person. Not that I’ve had to be anywhere on time for a long while.”
“It’s all right.”
“No it isn’t. I’m also not usually rude.”
“Give yourself a break. These are weird times. We all do things we wouldn’t have done…before Long Valley.”
He was dead right. She was even willing to ask questions and say things she wouldn’t have before. “Are you talking about yourself?”
“I’ve had a few challenges. It hasn’t been easy. But I won’t compromise my integrity. I won’t do anything illegal.”
All she had was his word. “That’s good.”
A pause hung there before he said, “Are you okay?”
The concern in his voice took her a bit by surprise. “I’m good. I’ve been writing like crazy. I’m happy for the inspiration.”
“What inspires you?”
“These days? I don’t know. I have no clue.”
“Come on, I don’t believe that. Before Long Valley…what made you want to write?”
“That’s a long story.”
“I’ve got all afternoon.”
She settled deeper into the leather swivel chair. “I don’t know where to start.” She shrugged even though she realized he couldn’t see her. “It’s just something inside me that’s always there. I’m happiest when I’m writing. It’s a passion.”
“When did you start writing?”
“When I was fifteen. I’ve always loved to read, too.”
“So have I. I’ve never read a romance, though.” Amusement entered his voice. “But I don’t know any men who have.”
“Surprise, surprise.” She smiled, liking the direction toward humor. “Let me guess. You read sci-fi.”
“Good guess. I read some sci-fi, mystery. True crime and biographies.”
“Typical guy stuff.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“No. I like those genres, too. Imagine that. I’ve got something in common with a security dude.” Something made her ask, “What did you do before you worked for Sentry Security?”
“I was in the Air Force. A pararescueman.”
She’d heard of them. Who hadn’t? They were a special forces-type unit that went in and rescued military and civilians in war zones. They had elite combat and medical experience all wrapped up in one package.
“Impressive,” she said.
“Yeah, well…” He almost sounded embarrassed. “I loved doing it. It wasn’t work to
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