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valedictorian in high school and score a scholarship at a university, but it was apparent now, she wasn’t endowed with enough common sense to excel at the University of Hard Knocks.
    Ah well, bitter as it may to swallow, that had to be chalked up to experience. Indeed, experience was the best teacher and she’d learned this particular lesson the hard way.
    Yeah, harrrrd way, indeed, her conscience mocked her.
    If her conscience were a bitch, she’d know what would come next.
    Yeah, you could use a slap in the face, smartass who isn’t so smart after all.
    She pulled a deep breath. Her conscience was a merciless heathen today, but she had to get past the devil himself.

    ——*****——

    She emerged from the bedroom fully dressed.
    Craig was standing in the hallway, impatiently waiting for her. He’d been burning holes on the carpet as he restlessly paced the expanse of the living room back and forth, looking intermittently at the wall clock. She stayed a good thirty minutes in the bathroom. It felt like goddamn forever.
    She continued walking, not meeting his eyes, gripping her books tight to her chest. Her impassive demeanor set him off again. She actually meant to just walk away. Just like that?!
    He blocked her way.
    She stopped and met his eyes. She was small, the top of her head barely clearing his shoulders but she was looking at him with such superior air he was momentarily taken aback. Very few men would look at him that way and even his superiors treated him with grudging respect despite his occasional insubordination. His kill record in the cockpit had accorded him some tolerance. The rest steered clear of him. They knew better than to raise the demons inside him. One stupid comrade did that once a long time ago and landed in a hospital with broken ribs. He, in turn, was sent to the shrink for a thorough check-up in the head. However, his skills in the skies were genius level and they couldn’t afford to suspend him for long. He was back in the cockpit after a week. Nobody dared to talk shit at him ever since.
    Now this slip of babe didn’t know him, had no idea how dangerous he could get. She was eye-sparring with him like a little Valkyrie, goading him, challenging him.
    Somehow, that really pleased him. He couldn’t stand hysterical or simpering women.
    “Let me pass,” she said in a clipped tone. That sounded like an order, too.  
    “We need to talk.”
    “About what?”
    “About…what happened.”
    “Look, what happened happened. Will you just say slam bam thank you ma’am like a typical guy and let me go? I promise I’ll not think badly of you.”
    In spite of her antagonistic tone, he was amused. She was giving him a clean way out, free of any responsibility. The best deal any man could ever have under the circumstances. Really, he should grab it and show her the door.
    Yes. Now.
    “C’mon, have some coffee.”
    “No, thank you.”
    “You’re not leaving until I say so.”
    “I will scream.”
    “Go ahead.”
    She gave him a withering glare. “What do you want from me?”
    You. I want you again.
    Fuck.
    “C’mon. Just one coffee won’t hurt, would it?”

    ——*****——

    His immovable stance and the implacable look on his face told her he wasn’t taking no for an answer. The man commanded quiet authority and she recognized that. She didn’t have any energy left to go head to head with him. Not today.  
    So, okay, she will spend a few more minutes with him to indulge whatever he wanted to talk about. Anything to get him out of her hair.
    He gestured for her to lead the way to the kitchen. Seething with restrained anger, she walked ahead with him following closely behind her, self-conscious that he was watching her back.
    He pulled one of the high stools for her at the island counter. She flinched when he held her hips to help her up, her nerves jumping.  
    “I can manage, thank you,” she said curtly, hating her physical reaction towards him at the tiniest contact. It