Chapter 3: Camp Lejeune, North Carolina - June 2013

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The Next Morning...

"I need to check on Jones but I'm free later if you want to get together." Teylor pulled his shirt over his head, sparing a glance to where Caro lay curled up in bed. He grinned at the sight of her wrapped only in a sheet. Last night had taken a turn for the better when Caroline Green walked into that bar. And he didn't just mean the sex, although he certainly wasn't complaining. Talking with Caro, playing pool, horsing around at the bar. Everything about last night had been so easy, so effortless.

Definitely worth repeating.

Caro sat up, the sheet pooling at her waist, a fact of which she was well-aware if the gleam in her eye was any indication. "Lunch?"

Teylor felt her gaze on his ass when he bent over to retrieve his shoes. "No time. I have to make sure that Jones is on his feet for afternoon PT. Tonight?"

"I have dinner plans with Danny and Rebecca but we should be done by midnight. I could give you a call then," Caro replied, reaching for her cell phone. "Number?"

Grabbing the phone, Teylor added himself, resisting the urge to make a lame joke and simply putting his name in the contact information. Checking his watch and determining that he did, in fact, really have to go, Teylor sat down on the bed next to Caro. "Or I could join you for dinner."

"And exactly what excuse would I give Danny for letting you join us when I told him that his team wasn't welcome?" Caro teased.

Teylor shrugged, twisting a brown curl around his finger. "Tell him the truth."

Caro stared at him blankly. "You want me to tell my brother that we had sex? Do you have a death wish?"

"No, not that," Teylor replied with a chuckle. He leaned forward to capture her mouth in a brief kiss, pulling away before things got out of hand. "Just tell him that we hit it off and want to spend a little more time together."

"Ha!" Caro began laughing. "Believe me, you do not want to open that can of worms. Danny's my older brother. He'll probably spend dinner quizzing you on your intentions. God knows that the man is anything but subtle."

Teylor could see her point. It's what he would have done had the situations been reversed and Green wanted to hang out with Teylor's younger sister.

"He's going to find out sooner or later if we keep seeing each other," Teylor pointed out.

Caro shrugged. "Not if we don't tell him."

Teylor straightened, all lightheartedness disappearing, although he tried to keep his tone casual. After all, Caro wasn't military. She didn't understand the bonds that he had with these men. She couldn't. She didn't understand what she was asking. "Caroline. Your brother and I are friends. He's also my superior officer. If we are going to see each other again I have to tell him what is going on. It's the only honorable thing to do."

He wasn't prepared for her response.

"Well then, I guess the solution is obvious," Caro replied, swinging her feet off the bed and pulling on a pair of sweatpants. Before Teylor could process what was happening she was at the door, gesturing for him to leave. "Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out."