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it from falling off again.
    Afghan girls were taught to fear boys and men. It was all part of a tribal culture aimed at suppressing women. Unfortunately, it started early, when little girls had barely begun to walk.
    But Beau was a highly unusual man, and these children, who had lost their parents and grandparents, basked in the warmth of his quiet, gentle presence. Callie had tried to escape being affected by him, but it was too late now—her heart was already getting involved, no matter what she did to try to ignore it. So what on earth was she going to do now?

CHAPTER 3
    C allie heard Dara enter the B-hut at 0600 the next morning. She could barely hear her sister whispering to Matt Culver out on the porch as she held the door open. Her heart sinking, Callie realized that they’d been together all night over at the Eagle’s Nest. Happiness for Dara warred with her concern that Matt was like every other man on this base: wanting sex and nothing else from a woman.
    Her sister was still pretty innocent about military men, who went for months without sex and were horny as hell. On the other hand, Dara wasn’t the type to tumble lightning-fast for a guy, as she seemed to be falling for Matt Culver.
    Callie couldn’t blame her sister: Matt was an incredibly good-looking man, confident, brave, and demonstrating the best manners. And that didn’t even touch his sky-high intelligence. Then again, Delta Force men were dangerous that way—a lethal combination of brains and brawn.
    Sighing, she heard the door close and Callie opened hers, peeking out. Dara appeared wrapped in euphoria, her eyes soft, all the tension she usually carried now gone. There was no question that they had made love last night, and probably this morning, too, judging from the drowsy, satisfied look in her sister’s eyes.
    “Want to go take a shower?” Callie asked her.
    “That’s a very good idea,” Dara agreed. “Just give me ten minutes and I’ll go over with you.”
    “Great,” Callie said. “Is it still raining outside?”
    “No, just high humidity, a lot of sharp, cutting wind, and darn cold,” Dara reported, opening her door across the hall.
    “Knock on my door when you’re ready, okay?” she asked Dara.
    “Yes, will do . . .” For sure , Callie thought, Dara is in la-la land . Callie easily recognized that look. It came with super orgasms and lots of them. Matt Culver must have been one hell of a lover, along with his other talents. But then, the Delta boys were always in high demand. The women here weren’t stupid; they hooked up with the strongest, the sexiest, the brightest warriors available. It was a case of natural selection at work. Right?
    Callie groaned and pushed on her clogs, wrapped herself up in her yellow terry-cloth bathrobe, and put her bath and hair towels into her bag. She tossed in shampoo, soap, and conditioner, and she was ready to go. She expected that she and her sister would catch up over morning chow.
    *
    “You look like you’ve just arrived from another universe,” Callie teased as she and Dara found some seats midway through the hundreds of tables and benches. The chow hall at 0630 was relatively quiet compared to what it would be like in an hour. This building held a lot of hungry men and women for three square meals a day.
    Dara sat opposite her, dressed in a pair of black wool slacks, a red turtleneck sweater, and a black wool blazer. “Is it that obvious?” she asked coyly, scooping scrambled eggs onto her fork.
    Chuckling, Callie said, “How many orgasms? Must have been a lot, judging by the way you looked when you came in.” She saw Dara give her a horrified look. “Oh, come on, Dara, this is between us girls. Orgasms do exist, you know. And after all, you’re a medical doctor,” she said, grinning wolfishly.
    “You are so crass sometimes,” Dara muttered, trying not to smile.
    “How many? Come on, tell all to your little sister . . .”
    “Lots. That’s all you get to know.