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knowing that it could never be anything more.
    Putting a smile of welcome on his face, he strode toward the counter where she stood. He noticed the airman sitting at the control desk, reading a magazine, not even bothering to look up.
    â€œHi, stranger,” Kyle said, setting his helmet bag on the counter and the traveling bag on the floor. An ache seized him, and he wanted to walk around that desk, pull Gale into his arms and simply hold her. The urge was overwhelming. Kyle didn’t let his smile slip, being very careful to keep the look of devilry he was famous for in his eyes—and to hide a look of yearning.
    Gale stared up at Kyle not believing he was really with her. She moved without realizing what she was doing, coming around the end of the counter. The smile on Kyle’s face changed, became nakedly vulnerable, and she saw him open his arms to her. Tears blinded her, and she couldn’t stop herself. In moments, his arms closed around her. He dragged her against him and held her tightly.
    â€œOh, Kyle,” she said, her voice muffled by his flight suit, her arms going around his waist. She needed to lean against someone for just a little while, to seek protection against the final seventy-two hours of a five-year marathon that she’d run alone. Then the words she had refused to say to herself started pouring out of her. “I’m so afraid...so afraid....”
    â€œIt’s going to be okay, Gale,” Kyle whispered, shutting his eyes and absorbing the feeling of her against him. “Mike’s coming home. I can feel it. Everything’s going to be okay.” Every muscle in his body screamed out for further contact with her warm, pliant body, but he kept his embrace that of a friend. “Just hang in there,” he told her, pressing a chaste kiss to her hair. The clean, faintly fragrant scent of her body sent a painful surge through him. Kyledragged in a deep breath, rocked her gently in his arms and fought his personal need of her as a woman.
    Now beyond words, Gale collapsed into Kyle’s arms. The moment his hand stroked her hair, a small sob caught in her throat. She felt his arms tighten around her momentarily. It was as if Kyle knew exactly what she needed, and beyond exhaustion, she capitulated to him. Each stroke of his hand on her hair took away a little more anxiety, a little more pain and suffering. Finally, after a full five minutes, she was able to ease out of his arms and step away.
    Wiping her cheeks dry, Gale managed a shy, broken smile. “Thanks for coming, for being here....”
    Kyle shrugged self-consciously. “I’m glad you called. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way, Gale.”
    â€œYour parents—”
    â€œThey understand,” he whispered, reaching out, barely caressing her hair. “I want to be here.”
    â€œIt’s been so long since I last saw you.”
    Too long. The words begged to be said, but Kyle held on to them. He managed a strained smile meant to buoy her flagging spirits. “I know.”
    Gale sniffed and found a tissue in the pocket of her dark blue slacks. “I’m just glad you’re here.”
    â€œHell of a thing,” he muttered, forcing himself not to reach out to smooth back several strands of hair clinging to her reddened cheek.
    â€œWhat is?” She stuffed the tissue back into her pocket, then raised her head and met his blue eyes smoldering with dark intensity.
    â€œThe Pentagon springing this on you at Christmastime. I wish they’d waited...or something.”
    With a shake of her head, Gale whispered, “At least I’ll know.”
    The haunted look in her eyes tore at him. Kyle had tostand there, not touching her, trying not to comfort her beyond the province of an old friend. “Buck up,” he coaxed huskily, trying to sound positive. “It’ll be good news. Mike will be back in no time.”
    Rubbing her arm because she was