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Chapter One

I better get a good report on you today, Sergeant Any whining and you"ll get your ass blistered soon as we get out of here Maybe sooner Rachel sucked in a surprised breath as Dana"s white cane shot out toward Peter"s unprotected shin with impressive accuracy Despite his forrace, tossing Rachel a grin as he slid an ar his hand over her sliers, he plucked the cane from her And I"d best hold onto this for you

Chicken, Dana retorted She turned her face up to hi to take you doith a plastic stick

Rachel pressed her lips together against a smile as Peter used one arm and a quick h Dana threatened to dismember him in creative ways, he simply steadied her with one hand spread across her attractive botto jeans, that intih to ray eyes lingered on Rachel"s face, his brow creasing thoughtfully as if he saw so there he shouldn"t

Snapping her gaze away froe hand, she nodded toward the usual cot for Dana"s physical therapy Since she was standing at her corner desk in the therapy roo to finish up soot started

In reality, she was breathing through that sharp twist in her lower belly, the one she recognized as yearning It was a far-too-frequent feeling since Peter had started bringing Dana to her PT sessions It wasn"t their teasing loveplay They were being a little ed, it wasn"t unexpected

Their romantic vibes fairly oozed out over everyone around theered froent amusement, maybe a touch of motherly exasperation But there was an additional component between them

Most people wouldabout Peter and Dana"s interactions that mesmerized or made them feel inexplicably uncomfortable

Unable to place what it was, they"d call it soe, but she"d known fro herself Even after all these years of trying to mute her desire, she seemed to have a radar for it

It was in the way Peter followed Dana"sup everything she was feeling and anticipating it so well He was as aware of Dana"s physical and emotional state as the woman herself Probably e, elicited some type of response from him Pure, monitored attention

Rachel had convinced herself men like that didn"t exist Another of theWhen Peter made that sensual threat to blister his fiancee"s ass, the faint tinge under Dana"s mocha skin said she knew he"d live up to that promise And she"d welcome itas a reward, not punishment

Their weekly visit was both the highlight and curse of Rachel"s week

He was carting Dana back to the cot as if he was carrying a grain sack Got to get you back in shape, soldier I expect you to wait onout of patience with this coddling

I"ll be happy to put ood, Dana returned sweetly She had her right elbow propped on Peter"s wide shoulder, holding herself up Rachel noted she was guarding the left arm They"d need to do extra work on that today However, the sto

Peter slid Dana off his shoulder and onto her feet, as s his words It was in his face, every time he looked at the black woman who barely came up to his chin and yet had the force of personality tohe wouldn"t do for her Except let her give up on herself, which Rachel knehy he came to every session with her

Dana wasn"t a complainer She was always stoic and cheerful, such that Rachel was sure she and Peter were the only people who kne hard these sessions were

Before the end of it, Dana would have her teeth gritted against pain, tears running down her face as she pushed it a little further Like so ainst despair, confronted with a body that would never be the saain

Dana had been injured in Iraq, losing her sight, th in her left side Not only had she required ain flexibility PT was never easy, but Dana"s had been rougher than most because she"d battled post-traumatic stress disorder and its attendant deep depression for over a year, letting the already daed muscles atrophy That said, over the past three ress

She was a strong, brave woreat deal of it had to do with the ed, bullied and stood by her, no matter what

He"d bring her to the therapy area, but typically he"d return to the waiting roo the first part of the session, when Dana would insist she didn"t need babying

However, with uncanny ti, whenever the session reached its worst point, Peter was likely to wander back to see if Rachel wanted a soda fro machine

When she"d decline, he"d take a seat nearby with a ht, Dana"s other senses would align on hiet better