Two Week Seduction Read Online Free Page B

know. That’s why—”
    “And he doesn’t like people cursing his sister.”
    The kid’s grin faded and he looked ashamed. “I’m sorry, Miss Heling,” he mumbled.
    At least it was a real apology this time. Meanwhile Alea smiled.
    “You already apologized, Charlie. But that doesn’t change the fact that you’ve got to pass geometry to get into the Air Force. You’ve got to get through high school.”
    The kid slanted a look to John, who nodded. “She’s right.”
    “But I don’t get this shit!”
    “Because it’s hard?” John asked.
    “Yeah!”
    He snorted. “Think it’s easy becoming a fighter pilot?”
    Then Alea picked up the rhythm of the conversation. “Think my brother didn’t spend days and nights studying to pass his exams?”
    Charlie looked at them. A beat. A second. And then right there in front of them, he gave up on his dreams. The boy’s shoulders deflated, his gaze canted down, and he just shrugged as if it was no big deal. Jesus, that was hard to see and in someone so young. Alea must have noticed, too, because her voice softened.
    “Come on Charlie, you can do this. I’ll help—”
    “Nah, I got this,” the kid answered, except everyone in the room knew he was lying.
    “Charlie—”
    “Bye, Miss Heling.” He skated around Alea, but he wasn’t fast enough to avoid John, who caught his arm.
    “Just listen to her, Charlie.”
    “Get off me!”
    Damn, the anger was back. A familiar defiance that was as sad as it was bravado. Some people just insisted on being stupid. But apparently Alea never got that memo. She was stepping up, coming close to the kid without actually touching him.
    “I can tutor you, Charlie. I can help you because I know you’re smart enough to be a pilot. But you can’t give up now. How will you ever face down an enemy fighter?”
    “Or a drill sergeant?” John put in. It was meant to be a joke, a light note to ease under the kid’s walls. And maybe it worked because the tension in the kid’s arm eased slightly as John kept speaking. “Thought I was going to die my first day in basic.”
    “Yeah? They hard on you security people?”
    John shrugged, refusing to be baited into arguing with someone who wasn’t even shaving yet. “They’re hard on everyone. But Miss Heling is right. You got the stuff if you stick with it.”
    Charlie snorted, but his expression had a note of vulnerability. “And how you know that, big guy?”
    “Because you nearly got out of my hold,” he lied. “You on the wrestling team?”
    “Nah. They don’t let kids like me on that shit.”
    John looked at Alea and mouthed “kids like me?” She answered calmly.
    “He’s failing geometry. Can’t be on a team if you’re failing.”
    John nodded. “And you can’t graduate or become a fighter pilot if you don’t pass geometry.”
    “Got it in one,” Alea said.
    “So Charlie’s got a decision. He can either slink home like a wuss and play pilot on a video game or he can man up and do what it takes to get in the cockpit for real.”
    “Fuck you,” Charlie said as he jerked his arm free. John could have held on, but there was no point. The message had been delivered. So he let the kid stomp out while John remained at the ready. He didn’t expect that Charlie would suddenly whirl around and attack, but he didn’t relax until the door clicked shut and he and Alea were alone. Which is what made it all the more startling when he finally turned his attention to her. She was practically vibrating with fury.
    Fury?
    “John O’Donnell, you’re a stupid idiot and I ought to punch you in the face!”
    He blinked. “What?”
    “And if you ever do that to me again, I will. I swear to God, I will.”
    God, he so needed to be back in Afghanistan where everything made sense.

Chapter Four
    Alea’s emotions were spinning out of control and that pissed her off.
    For the first time that day, she’d finally been able to push thoughts of John out of her mind. Charlie had been