Read Forgive & Forget (Love in the Fleet) for Free Online Page B

they were in charge. He did things like use his turn signal to change lanes, even when there was no one around. When she mentioned it to him, he shrugged and said, “Laws and rules are there for a reason, Hallie.”
    Just her luck to fall for a rule follower.
    All the way home, she worried about what she’d do when he invited her to his apartment. After those kisses and the way she’d responded, she didn’t know a guy who wouldn’t push for more. Deep down Hallie wanted to go to his apartment, but no way was her sweet little enlisted ass going to do it. For starters she hadn’t even known him twenty-four hours and more importantly, she couldn’t get that involved with him. She’d use schoolwork as an excuse. But he never asked her to go to his apartment. He’d walked her to her door, took off his sunglasses, put his hand up against the wall, and leaned close. He gave her a slow, sexy smile and said, “Thanks for going today. It was…” He paused, his eyes shining as he searched for the word.
    “Magical,” she said finishing his thought.
    He’d leaned down and kissed her quickly and sweetly on the lips, then his eyes narrowed with confusion. Putting his finger under her chin, he tipped it into the light. “Did I do that? I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
    He rubbed his stubble. Then he freaking planted a kiss on her chin and said goodnight. The kiss on the chin was even more of a turn-on than the kisses in the rain.
    Oh, she was in deep. Philip was a perfect gentleman.
    And an officer.
    Gina interrupted her daydreaming. “Okay. Who is it? What department?”
    “Don’t ask.”
    “I know. And don’t tell. Okay, let’s work our way down. I’m going to assume it’s not Captain Amerson.” That brought a laugh at the thought of Hallie and the Blanchard ’s new CO—the Commanding Officer. He was good looking, but he was an old guy.
    “No, but he is an officer.”
    “Okay, here’s what I know about fraternization. Since Steve made chief, we have to be careful. We quietly do our thing off base and rarely see each other on board. I’m up here and he’s down in Sick Bay. Once we leave on the cruise, we’ll only meet to talk in the library or the coffee shop once in a while and only…” she winked. “…you know…get busy together in liberty ports when we can. And even then, we’ll have to watch ourselves.”
    “No frigging in the rigging?”
    “He would get so busted if we got caught fooling around on the ship. But there’s lots of it going on—even some between officers and enlisted. As long as people are discreet, it’s not a huge problem unless they’re in the same chain of command. Like it’s your boss or something.” Gina looked toward the office door of the Public Affairs Officer. “You’re not getting it on with Commander Scott are you?” More laughter. “So, you didn’t tell this guy you’re on the ship because, why?”
    “He doesn’t even know I’m in the Navy.”
    “Oh, this is good. What are you going to do? Hide from him?”
    Hallie glanced down at her aquaflage. “Well, I am camouflaged.” Another chuckle from both of them. “Look, I didn’t actually lie. I said I was a student, which I am. I’m not sure what I’m going to do. All I know is this guy is really sweet, not like most of the jerks I end up with. And he’s pretty hot, but he’s not full of himself. I feel comfortable with him, but he’s a major rule follower. His words. And you know what? I like that about him, but I’m pretty sure he’d dump my ass in a heartbeat if he knew I was enlisted. Please don’t say anything to anybody—especially Trixie. It’d be all over the ship in five minutes.”
    “I wouldn’t tell that hussy what I had for breakfast,” Gina said as she walked away.
    Hallie glanced back at her computer screen. When she read the next sentence her heart skipped a beat, her breath quickened, and her lips curved into a dangerous smile.
     
    “ A commissioned officer can only be found