Under Fire: The Admiral Read Online Free PDF

to Walsh. “Drink.”
    They ate and drank silently, growing used to
the intermittent thuds of coconut bombs and rolling thunder.
    “What’s next? We play board games,
cards?”
    She gave him a sideways look. “ We sleep.” He opened his mouth to speak. “In survival situations you
sleep and eat when you can. You never know what the next minute
brings.” He squinted at her.
    “What?”
    “About that smell thing back there.”
    Gemma said nothing. If he was going to admit
to some fetish thing, she didn’t want to hear it.
    “I’m sorry. Scent is a memory trigger for me.
I’m not trying to excuse it. You smelled . . . familiar.”
    Gemma did a mental wince. Walsh was on staff
at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. It was entirely possible they’d met
at some function in the D.C. area but highly improbable. If she’d
ever met him, she’d remember. Still, for him to remember her from
the way she smelled? Just her luck he was part bloodhound. She
reached out and grabbed his wrist, pretending to take his pulse.
“Doc, if salt water, sweaty armpits and rotting vegetation smell
good to you maybe you’re the one that’s not feeling too good.” She
paused dramatically. “Or . . . you could have seen me on that
survivor show.” She let go of his wrist.
    “ You were on that show?” A grin
spread, showing teeth very white in the eerie light against the
dark stubble on his face.
    “Yeah. I was the one who made them go north.”
She returned his smile.
    Walsh’s grin faded. “For a minute there I
thought you meant it. For the record, I’m serious . There’s
something familiar about you and I can’t nail it down. I think
we’ve met.”
    “Get comfortable, Doc, and get some
sleep.”
    She brought her knees to her chest and Walsh
laid on his side behind her using a pack for a pillow. He squirmed
around until he pressed against her. “You comfy yet?” she said.
    He gave her a pat on the back. “I’m
good.”
    She pulled up the edge of the ground tarp,
tucking it in around them for added protection.
    “Gemma.”
    “What?” she said through a yawn and noted the
use of her given name.
    “I didn’t thank you for . . . for the way you
handled things today,” he said with a hint of Texas accent coming
through. “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” The sincerity in his voice
kept her from saying anything snarky about his safety being her
secondary goal. She folded her arms over her knees and put her head
down.
    “Did you learn that trick with the plane
doors in survival school?” Again with sincerity.
    “No.”
    “Pilot training?”
    Oh, what the hell? She might as well tell
him. “TV.”
    “Huh?” He raised up on an elbow.
    “I was in an airport lounge waiting for a
connecting flight. These guys”—guys she thought were idiots until
this afternoon—“were saying it was possible to stabilize a small
plane that had lost its tail by opening and closing the cabin
doors.”
    “So you knew it would work by watching a TV
show.” Walsh laid back down.
    “Had no idea if it would work. Was surprised
it did.”
    “Don’t know if that makes me feel good or
bad.”
    “It’s done. You survived. The only time you
and I will be in a plane together again someone else will be
piloting. No worries.”
    He patted her back. “Lay down. There’s
room.”
    “I’m fine.” Tonight she was sleeping sitting
up. It was a better offensive position. She didn’t want to be on
the ground if land crabs found their way in. The thought of them
crawling on her caused a shudder.
    “You’re going to be uncomfortable.” He tugged
her arm and she shrugged out of his grip.
    “I said I’m fine. I can do anything for a few
hours.”
    Walsh sucked in a loud breath but didn’t
protest further. She yawned and was asleep in moments.

Chapter 3
     
     
    Ben carefully edged his body close around her
to give support as she slept. Geezus. She was one stubborn woman
and determined to protect him. From the moment she stepped out of
the