LITMIR.BIZ

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of strongly boiled tea with goat milk, a pinch of brown sugar, cardamom and nutmeg. Her mouth watered just thinking about it.

      She gave Andy a welcoming smile. He grinned as he walked up to her.

      “Nothing?” he asked.

      “No.” Nike handed him the binoculars. “Keep watch. Captain Jackson was saying that the Taliban come through the northern end of this valley at the new moon, which is next week.”

      “Under cover of darkness,” Andy said, placing the binoculars around his neck.

      “Most likely, but you never know.”

      “I wouldn’t know a Taliban from a villager. They all dress alike.”

      Grimly Nike said, “The villagers know they cannot approach this helo. So, if someone does, you draw your pistol and assume it’s the enemy.”

      “Yes, ma’am. I just hope no one approaches,” Andy said unhappily.

      “I’ll ask one of Captain Jackson’s men to relieve you once an hour,” Nike responded with understanding.

      “Thanks.” Andy looked up at the helo. “I’ll sure be glad to get out of here and back to base. I didn’t sleep hardly at all last night.”

      “Neither did I.” Nike smiled a little. Looking at her watch she said, “The team’s supposed to arrive at 0800. That’s not long from now.”

      “Can’t be too soon. I’m spoiled,” Andy said with a grin. “What I’d give for some bacon and eggs now. Not that the hot grain cereal wasn’t good. It was.”

      Chuckling, Nike lifted her hand and walked back toward the village. Her heart thumped hard when suddenly she saw Gavin walking down the street, his rifle over his shoulder, looking as though he was hunting for someone. When he noticed her, his mouth lifted in a smile. He was the last person Nike wanted to see, but she couldn’t turn around and avoid him.

      “Good morning,” Gavin called, catching the wariness in Nike’s narrowed gold eyes. Those lips he’d caressed yesterday were pursed with tension. Over their kiss? He wasn’t sure. Maybe she was upset over something else?

      They met near the last mud-brick home. Both were aware that they might become targets and stepped into the alleyway between two homes for more protection. “I had sweet dreams,” he told her.

      “I didn’t.”

      The flatness of her voice startled him. “Sorry to hear that. Everything okay?” He hooked a thumb toward her helo. Maybe Nike was discouraged over the fact her bird was down.

      Nothing was okay, but she couldn’t stand here discussing her personal stuff. Instead, she said, “You’ve seen Atefa? Abbas and Jameela’s little girl who lost a leg to a land mine?”

      “Yes.”

      “What are the chances of flying her and her mother out to Kabul to get some medical help with a prosthesis?”

      Shrugging, Gavin said, “I could make some calls and find out.”

      “I’d appreciate that. That kid lost her leg to a land mine. She needs some type of medical help. Why can’t the U.S. supply her with a prosthetic limb?”

      Assuming Nike’s worries were over the little girl, Gavin relaxed. Several black curls peeked out the sides of the red scarf she wore around her head. Nike looked even more vibrant and breathtaking to him. “There’s no reason we can’t. I’ve already radioed Kabul to tell them to get a medical doctor out here in the next two weeks.”

      “What about dental? A lot of people here have tooth problems,” Nike said. She was relieved to be talking business with Gavin.

      “Good idea. I hadn’t gone that far with my plans for this village. Usually, it takes us a good three to four days to assess their health needs. Then I create a report and suggest a plan of action. After that, other medical or health teams are flown in to supplement the initial work we’re doing right now.”

      “I see.” Nike wasn’t familiar with the tactics, but it sounded like a logical approach. “I think if you can help Atefa that it will go a long way to lessen Abbas’s distrust toward us.”

      “Yeah, the old codger is definitely questioning everything we’re doing,” Gavin agreed quietly. “I’ll give a call this morning to the medical people in Kabul. Several American programs help children who have lost limbs to land mines.”

      Warming to his concern, Nike tried not to look at his mouth. Memory of the kiss came back hot and sweet. Frowning, she said abruptly, “Look, what happened yesterday is in the past, Gavin. I don’t have time for any type of a relationship right now.”

      Gavin heard the desperation in her husky tone and trod carefully. “It was a shock for me, too,” he admitted. “I came out of a relationship with a woman helicopter pilot about a year ago. I swore off military women.” He gave her an uneven grin. “Until you came along.”

      Nike held up her hands. “Listen, I’m stopping this before it starts. I do not have room in my life.” His blue eyes became assessing and furrows gathered on his brow. He took the Afghan cap off, pushed fingers through his short, dark hair and settled the cap back down on his head.

      “It’s not that easy, Nike. You know that.”

      “It is that easy.” Feeling frantic, she couldn’t face the stubborn glint in his eyes. “One kiss doesn’t give you access to me or my life.”

      “That’s true,” he murmured. Gavin knew if he could just bring her back into his arms, capture her mouth, he’d persuade her differently. That time would come. But now, she was too scared, too prone to push him away. He had to let her go…a little bit. “I’m a patient person. Let’s just take this a day at a time?”

      “No.” Giving him a hard look, Nike said, “It’s over, Gavin. I’m sorry but I am not going to lose someone I love to a bullet. My heart just can’t handle it. Do you understand?”

      “Yes, I do,” he answered honestly, feeling bereft. In his heart he knew that whatever they had would be long-term. Looking into Nike’s eyes, however, he saw the fear and grief entwined. There was nothing he could do. Time to give up. “Wrong time and place.”

      “Exactly.” Taking a step back, Nike said, “You’re a nice guy, Gavin. Maybe if we’d met a few years earlier…Oh, who knows? Just be safe, okay?”

      As he watched Nike walk away, Gavin scowled. It felt as if someone had grabbed his heart and torn it out of his chest. Rubbing that sensitive area, he wondered how this beautiful Greek woman had captured him so easily. Gavin decided it was her personality. Nike had compassion for others, which his ex had lacked. Laurie had been out for herself and to hell with the rest of the world. By contrast, Gavin had seen Nike’s care for others, whether it was concern for her load master, the people of this village or even his team.

      “Well, hell,” he muttered. Stepping out from between the homes, Gavin thought of the long day ahead. He was especially edgy because, according to headquarters, tonight was when the Taliban would start coming through the valley, and his mission would be to stop them dead in their tracks. Had the Taliban heard of their landing here, and were they coming in early instead? Ten men against a hundred of the enemy was not good odds. Gavin would not make the village a target. No, his team would take the fight with the Taliban elsewhere. He was glad of one thing: Nike would be out of here and safe. Her helo would be fixed and she’d be gone. That was important to Gavin.

      * * *

      Nike wanted to whoop for joy. She was sitting in the right-hand seat, her CH-47 idling along, both engines working once more. The mechanic team had arrived via Chinook and by noon, the damage to the front turbine was fixed. Andy, who was sitting in the copilot’s seat, grinned like an idiot, but she understood why.

      With her helmet on, she spoke into the microphone set close to her lips. “Okay, we’re good to go.

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