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smiled.
    “I think it’s working already.  The god-awful searing pain in my ankle has stopped.  I don’t feel like I’m going to toss my honeybun now.”
    I’m glad,” he said, winking.  “That would be a terrible waste of a pastry.”
    She giggled.  “I know, right? By the way, did you ever decide on my nickname? Am I Honeybun Hottie or Honeybun Hothead?”
    He smiled.  “Well you’re a hottie for sure, but stomping around, provoking a poisonous snake was a pretty damn hotheaded thing to do.”
    The look on her face turned serious.  “I’m sorry, Sean.  I should have trusted you.”
    “It’s okay.  In all fairness, trouble seems to find us anytime we’re together.”
    “True.  But now that you’ve disposed of an assassin and a deadly reptile, we should be in the clear for a while.”
    He nodded.  “One can only hope.”  
     
    AS RAYS OF EARLY morning sunshine streamed across the bed, Blythe yawned and stretched.  For a few seconds she felt disoriented, not remembering where she was.  With her head still resting against the pillow— his pillow—it all came flooding back.
    Bolting upright, she was preparing to flee.  She had no idea why the old fight-or-flight response was kicking in again.  Maybe it was because last night had brought about a breakthrough, and that scared the hell out of her.  She should feel happy, relaxed, relieved.  But sometimes there was a certain comfort in holding on to past hurts.  Even if it was unhealthy, dysfunctional and somewhat twisted, it was familiar and preferable to the unknown.  Despite the fact Sean had never given her a reason not to, she still didn’t know if she could fully trust him.  Sure, he had saved her life twice.  The dangers he had seen were real, not imaginary.  On a conscious level, she knew he was a stable, normal man and a damn good soldier.  But, subconsciously, her old fears continued to bubble beneath the surface.
    Slowly, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, stood and cautiously tested her ankle.  She had expected it to be sore, swollen and tender.  Amazingly, it felt fine.  She shook her head.  Sergeant Warrington was a jack of all trades: a leader, warrior, protector and healer.  Was there nothing this man couldn’t do? Calling out to him, she took a look around his cabin.  He was nowhere to be found. 
    Blythe checked her watch; it was six o’clock.  He was probably conducting roll call.  She should get back to her cabin, shower, change into some clean clothes and find out what her schedule was for the day.  Based on the shape those teenagers had been in yesterday, they would most definitely need some counseling today.
    She was slipping on her Keds when Sean came bounding through the door.  He hadn’t bothered to put it back on its hinges from last night.
    “Good morning,” he beamed.  “Sleep well?”
    As a matter of fact, she had.  Now that he had asked, she couldn’t remember sleeping so soundly in her whole life. 
    “I did.  How about you?”
    He grinned mischievously.  “Like a baby.”
    “Exactly where did you sleep, Sergeant?”
    He cut his eyes toward the only bed in the cabin.  “Beside the most beautiful woman in the world.”
    “Oh God!” she gasped.  “Did we? I mean, you and I didn’t— did we?”
    The richness of his laughter filled the room.  “If we had, Honeybun Hottie, you wouldn’t have to ask.  Don’t worry.  Your virtue was safe with me.  I’m a marine, remember?  We never force ourselves on unsuspecting, helpless snakebite victims.  When you and I make love, you’ll be fully awake, wanting it more than anything you’ve ever wanted before.”
    Secretly, she loved his confidence but couldn’t resist challenging him.  “Why would I even consider having sex with a cocky, smug-ass soldier like you?”
    “Because I come bearing your favorite coffee and pastry.”
    She furrowed her brow.  “You went to my cabin? Rummaged through my