Chapter 48

At the reception, Sturgis had just checked his coat and cover when Bobbi Latham approached him. Wary because of their last meeting, he just nodded to her as she stopped in front of him.

'My plan is finally coming together!' Bobbi thought, as she prepared to set the final steps in motion. "Sturgis! I wanted to tell you how sorry I was for how I acted the last time I saw you! Do you think there is a chance that you could ever forgive me?"

He really didn't care one way or another, so, saw no reason to hold a grudge over her actions. "Sure, Bobbi, forgiven and forgotten."

"Thank you, Sturgis. That means a lot to me! How have you been?"

Not wanting to go into what had happened, he simply replied, "Fine, and you?"

"Fine, also. Except that my escort for this evening stood me up." Looking around, as if she had just noticed that there was no one with him, instead of letting on that she was the one that had orchestrated the occasion, she asked, "Are you here alone?"

"Yes," was all he said.

"Do you suppose that we might sit together then?" she asked with a slight smile.

Thinking how nice it was to actually be near a woman who showed an interest in him, he said, "Why not?" and linked his arm with her. They walked into the reception hall that way.

They danced and chatted the evening away, while Sturgis tried to avoid the glares from his former CO. Every time he saw AJ heading his way to try and talk to him, Sturgis would get to his feet and ask Bobbi to dance. He actually managed to avoid AJ the entire evening that way, and he and Bobbi left the reception together.

However, all Sturgis did, to her disappointment, was to give her a ride home and walk her to her door. He didn't even kiss her good night.

Because of the weekend, Sturgis had almost forgotten that he needed to avoid AJ about being seen with Bobbi. That was until Monday morning when he stepped into the bullpen and was told by PO Coates that the Admiral wanted to see him as soon as he walked in!

Unable to disobey that command while at work, even though it was AJ's last day at JAG, Sturgis headed for his former CO's office. "You wanted to see me, Sir?" he asked standing at attention in front of AJ's desk.

"Yes, I would like to know why you brought Bobbi Latham to the reception Friday night!" AJ barked.

"I didn't, Sir! We met at the coat check and talked a few minutes, she said her escort had bailed on her and since I was alone, we simply sat together."

"You did more than sit with her! You spent the entire evening with her, and avoiding me, I might add!"

"Because I did not want to have this very confrontation, Sir! My personal life is just that, personal! And I would like to keep it that way."

"You were engaged to my daughter just a few days ago!"

"And now I am not, Sir!"

AJ was going to say something more, but he saw the impassive look on Sturgis' face and knew that it would get him nowhere. "Dismissed, Commander."

"Thank you, Sir!" Sturgis did an about face and left the office.

After that, time passed slowly, but it did pass. Sturgis and Bobbi saw each other occasionally, but not nearly as often as she wanted them too! And before anyone knew it, six weeks had passed.

AJ and Kara had still not talked to Francesca about the broken engagement, although, they had exchanged a few emails. Francesca resolutely refused to say anything at all about Sturgis.

By this time AJ had settled into his new position and so had Admiral Morris. Things were going smoothly in both offices. The only major change at JAG had been the loss of Harriett.

To be continued…