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brutally cold in the winter as the wind blew off the water.  He thought back to his early days in the Marines when they’d trained at Camp Pendleton.  What he wouldn’t give for some California sunshine right about now.
    “Shorts again, man?” Matt asked, eyeing Sam questioningly as he climbed out of his car, which he’d parked right next to Sam’s motorcycle.
    “Hell yeah!  Only way to do it.”
    “That’s not how we West Coasters like it,” Matt ribbed him as the two took off running and fell into a steady rhythm.
    “Yeah?  You cry like a little girl or something when it’s cold?”
    Matt guffawed as they ran along.  “Something like that.  I’d like to get your ass on a surfboard someday.  Then we’ll see who’s laughing.”
    “Do I look like a surfer dude to you?  Nah, snowboarding is more my style.  That’s what we gotta do this winter, man.  Hit the slopes.”
    “Snowboarding wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t for the damn cold.”
    Sam laughed.  “You are hopeless, Bro.”
    Matt shrugged as they ran, the cold wind biting into him.  He hadn’t worn nearly as many layers as he liked because he knew his body heat would warm him soon enough.  He didn’t want to carry around an extra layer because they’d put in a good ten miles or so.  Man if the beginning of their runs weren’t a killer though.  His minded drifted back to saying goodnight to Becky last night.  He sure as hell was warm enough then, and it had nothing to do with the winter coat he’d had on.  Just seeing her had sent blood coursing through his veins.  He was used to situational awareness from all his years of military training, always being aware of who and what was around him, but hell.  He’d never been as aware of anything—or anyone—as much as Becky.  It was enough to drive a man crazy.  And he’d…what?  Asked for her number last night?  I mean, goddamnit , he was doing it for Brody, right?  Just making sure she was okay.  It had absolutely nothing to do with wanting to see her gazing up at him like she had last night.
    “So, are you up for it or what?” Sam asked.
    “Sorry, man, wasn’t paying attention.  What was that?”
    Sam burst out laughing.  “I asked if you were up for hitting the town again tonight.  I thought we’d head up to DC, maybe check out some bars there or in Arlington.  There’s some sweet spots not too far from the Pentagon.  Lots of hot chicks.”
    “God, I don’t know,” Matt muttered noncommittally.  Man, he’d gone out once with the guys from base and now they thought he’d be a regular with them.  “Once in a weekend might be enough for me.  I’m an old man now,” he joked.
    “Shit, if that isn’t true, Beckett.  It’s taken us months just to get you into one of the local bars,” he added with a laugh.
    “What happened to your lady friend from last night?  She’s not up for round two?”
    “Oh, hell, she was mighty fine, a real wildcat in bed.  But I’m not looking for a relationship right now.  She wrote her number in lipstick on my bathroom mirror this morning though.  Said to call her if I was ever lonely.”
    “So she can go with you up to DC tonight,” Matt joked.  “No chance of you being lonely then.”
    “No way.  That would be too much like a date, and I’m playing the field right now.”
    “If you say so.”
    “I know so.  You haven’t been around women too much lately, have you?  Calling them the next day, asking them out—that is a date my friend.”
    The two continued running along the water, and Matt inwardly groaned.  He was getting too old for those games.

Chapter 6
     
     
    Becky awoke Sunday morning to the scent of bacon and coffee drifting through the air.  She stretched and sleepily glanced around her childhood bedroom.  Her parents hadn’t changed anything since she’d left, which felt both comforting and little surreal.  I mean, just because she’d loved her fluffy pink pastel comforter and