Man Of Few Words by Ursula Whistler

dealing with the death of both her parents in the space of two years. First her mom in a car accident and then her father from a long battle with cancer. “Anyway, Boomer isn’t a problem. He’ll stay a friend.”
    Suzy pursed her lips and shook her head. “Until you snuggle up tight to this new one and move away when it’s time to relocate.”
    That made Kirsten frown. She’d made a commitment to this house and this new job. She wanted to teach and had been surprised at how much she enjoyed the two classes she’d taught during her father’s hospice time. Working in the industry had been interesting, but the students challenged her every day. She liked that and the variety of minds she had to deal with. “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”
    “You know I’m only trying to help. You said you wanted to stay in one place for a while. Boomer would give that to you. He’s done his time in the military. He’s here and good-looking. Employed. Handy.” She scrunched up her nose. “You know what they say about a man with tools?”
    “That he can handle his own.” She rolled her eyes, but she’d seen most of Boomer’s body when they’d jogged together. Usually, she chastised her male running partners when they took off their shirts. Never had she told Boomer to put it back on. The tanned, hard planes of his chest and abs were a welcome distraction as they pushed their limits on distance.
    When they’d been close earlier, she’d been tempted to spread her hand over the muscles that she knew were there. She thought about it again, and the memory and feel of Duff’s shoulders filled her senses. After only one night, thoughts of him had her fingers itching to grab his shoulders as they thrust against each other. Her nipples tingled with desire remembering the night. At this point, no one else’s would do. “They say that about pilots and their joysticks. I’m good either way.”
    Suzy laughed. “Box of condoms. That’s all?”
    “Yeah, I plan to need one a night, at least.” As her roommate left, she crossed her fingers that Duff had calmed down enough for her to explain the new situation, with both her and the ousted younger officer. She longed for a reason to use the remaining condoms she had in her purse. She not only wanted his company, she needed his ass in her hands as he pumped into her. Any other ending to this night would be a failure.
    ****
    Duff laughed as he put two condoms into his wallet. It had been years since he’d put any in his wallet for immediate use. The ring worn into the leather cradled the foil-wrapped packages. He tapped them for luck as he drove along the beach road toward Kirsten’s house. Stone had worked quickly on Groveman. His text message said, “Full steam ahead,” and Duff intended to do just that with Kirsten.
    She’d been so forceful when he left last time, so much like her father. He wondered if she realized that. Her demeanor was what had him knowing that arguing wouldn’t do any good, much like the day that the commander had ordered Duff away from his daughter. Nothing about that conversation had been pleasant. Her father hadn’t greeted him with an arm around the shoulder or a hand shake. He simply said in the voice that he’d honed throughout years of command, “Lieutenant, stay away from my daughter or risk your career.”
    Kirsten’s tone had been the same. If she used that in class, there wouldn’t be a student who didn’t do well. She expected excellence and obedience. She’d learned from a life with a demanding father. He had to get through that toughness somehow. He hoped an apology would be the trick.
    The early night had darkened the January sky, bringing a thick fog to the beach. Through the heavy mist, he found her house and took the front steps to the bright red door. He knocked when the bell didn’t ring.
    “Did you forget your list, Suzy?” Kirsten yanked open the door.
    “It’s me.”
    “Oh, perfect.”
    Without any other