AN: Here we go, another one for you to enjoy...any "clever" remarks are stated in last chapter
Disclaimer: See all previous chapters...not mine then, not mine now.
CHAPTER SEVEN
She smiled when he remained silent, a knowing smile, than turned to the woman behind the counter, who'd been watching this obviously besotted couple with an amused expression on her face. Amused and…well…Mac couldn't blame her. Harm in summer whites was quite the site!
"Can I keep this one on?"
"Of course, dear, let me just cut off the labels."
Looking around him, Harm grabbed the pile of clothes and other stuff she'd collected and handed it to the saleswoman with a sigh that suggested reluctant surrender.
"I guess we'll be taking these as well."
Mac, who hadn't taken her earlier comment all that seriously, now shrieked as the saleswomen, undeterred, began to process the sales and putting them in bags. The bill that came out was simply ridiculous, as was the fact Harm handed over his credit card without as much as a glance.
"Harm…Harm! Not everything…you can't do that!"
"I can. In fact, I just did."
"I'll repay you, I promise."
"You can."
He gathered the bags, handing her some of them so he could open the door, watched by the saleswoman from the doorstep.
"Thank you, come again."
He answered her customary greeting with a famous Flyboy grin.
"Not a chance, ma'am."
She laughed at that, feeling her 51-year old knees go wobbly. She was a woman after all and this handsome piece of work should not be allowed to walk around without a warning label. Something like "Guard your eyes, armed with lethal smile and matching butt."
The fact he was wearing his perfectly tailored summer whites didn't help either.
She envied the woman sashaying out of her shop. Oh well. At least she sold more in 70 minutes than she normally would all day. Or week.
Outside, Mac put her bags on the backseat of the SUV, still wondering what he meant by his last statement.
"Harm, what did you mean?"
"When?" He was busy grabbing even more bags. How much did they buy, anyway?
"When you just said I could repay you. I don't have all that much money, you know."
He grinned at her while he helped her get in like the gentleman he was. Even though she didn't need his help, she acknowledged the gesture as something very typically Harm. And very sweet indeed.
"I know. It's not what I meant. Like I said, I can afford it. Don't worry about the cash."
"Than what…" He hushed her with a small kiss as he climbed into the driver's seat.
"The moment you're back into that uniform, being the true marine I know you are, that's when you'll have repaid me. In full."
"You're not even sure that's gonna happen, Harm. You gotta keep in mind that the USMC might not want to reinstate me at all."
"I know. But I won't consider that possibility until I really have to. I'm still counting on the Admiral to do whatever he can to have you back."
She remained silent, again thinking about her CO and all the friends she'd left behind. Why anybody would go through any kind of trouble was, at this point, beyond her.
"Stop doubting yourself, Mac. Please. The Admiral cares deeply about you. So do Bud and Harriet, they all do…well, maybe except for Singer."
At least it brought a wan smile to her face. Gently he lifted her chin with his index finger.
"And as for me…you know how much I care for you, you know I…I love you."
He said it again. If he continued like that, he might even convince her this was all going to work out. O boy, did she want to be convinced. She leaned over to kiss him.
"I love you too, Harm."
"See? It'll all be just fine. Now, better keep your pretty six on your seat, I gotta watch the road."
She grinned as he started the car and got them moving again.
As they sped across the highway, radio on, the sun warming them, Mac felt better with every mile that separated her from San Diego. Nothing wrong with that city, but she was done there, leaving nothing of importance behind.
For the first time since that year, she allowed herself to dream the happy dreams again, some of them on the verge of coming true. She was with Harm, soon maybe even really with him, in every meaning of the word. She was moving back to DC, where she would meet her friends again. Harm had to be right. They would welcome her back with open arms. She didn't want to consider any other outcome.
The only dream playing through her mind that she didn't dare to think about yet, was her reinstatement. When she'd mentioned wearing her uniform again to Harm, he'd seemed pleased to hear she was looking forward to it, but she wouldn't let herself believe it until it was true.
After all, she did quit. She did resign her commission, wasn't forced to walk away from her accomplishments when the going got a little too tough. A rueful smile crossed her face for a while. Great choice she'd made. When the going gets tough, the tough…resign? Run? Become a stripper? How about good old Semper-fi? Would she ever become that faithful Marine again?
"Mac? You asleep?"
She came back to this world with a bang, not quite sleeping, but not very coherent either.
"Not really, just…thinking."
He glanced at her over the rim of his aviator sunglasses, making him look concerned as well as sexy. How did he pull that off?
"Worrying?"
Damn, he knew her too well. He would know if she was lying too.
"A bit. I mean…"
He pulled over, knowing it would take some time to talk the next crisis out of her pretty head, which of course he couldn't do if he had to watch the road constantly. Turning to her, he shut the engine off.
"There's a picnic space a few yards from here. Let's take a break."
Without waiting for her answer, he grabbed the sandwiches and bottled water they'd bought earlier at a gas station. Looking over his shoulder, he saw her follow him. He smiled when he saw she'd even remembered to take the blanket from the backseat. It was hidden behind so many bags he'd forgotten about it himself.
She carefully spread out the blanket underneath a tree and took a seat on it. Harm handed her one of the sandwiches and a bottle and for a moment they ate in silence, Mac's worries placed on the backburner for now.
Harm grinned when even Mac, who could normally eat about anything (Beltway Burgers included) made a face at the piece of cardboard which was supposedly eatable.
"I know it's not a gourmet lunch, but suck it up, Marine. It's the best I could find."
On a second whim, he added:
"I'll cook you real food every day when we get home."
She seemed to cheer up at the thought of that promise.
"I missed your food, Stick Boy."
He grinned at the use of one of his nicknames, when suddenly her facial expression dropped again.
"You keep calling me Marine…"
"You'll be a Marine again, soon enough."
"You still believe that, don't you?"
"What, don't you? The Admiral will come through for you, I'm willing to bet my six on that."
"Don't. You'd make a large female population very unhappy if you lost that sexy six of yours."
"Including you?"
"Especially me."
"Thanks for the compliment…meanwhile, you're avoiding the subject."
Damn him again! He did know her too well.
"Am not."
"Are too. And don't you turn this into a toddler version of a fight here!"
"Wasn't."
"Were. You still are. Now, finish your sandwich and talk to me."
"Don't talk to me like I'm a child."
He stuck out his tongue playfully. "Stop acting like one!"
Full blown fight? Finally talking? Find out when next chapters come...thanks for reading as always, my faithfull readers...
