Hadn't she learned anything in a year? Lori scavenged inside herself for the resolve to step out of Gray's arms, but couldn't find the energy. Magda's sobs echoed in Lori's weary brain until she fought the urge to cry again. More tears wouldn't fix anything, heaven knew, because she'd cried buckets over Grayson Clark a year ago.
How easy it would be to let herself go slack and sleep where she stood on the flight line, secure in knowing Gray's arms would support her for a few moments longer.
She wasn't sure how long she did just that, slump against his broad chest and breathe in his bay rum, sweat and strength. Maybe she did drift into a twilight nap. She'd always been able to drop off easily, a talent cultivated from childhood years sleeping in hotels or apartments while partiers dodged around her.
Reality intruded, not through flight-line noises but in the strange quiet. She elbowed free from Gray's embrace and found the tarmac almost empty. A lone truck waited, engine humming, headlights cutting the night while a uniformed driver waited inside.
Lori swept a hand over flyaway strands of her hair. Enough leaning on Gray, she needed to finish her job, then go home to crash. "Where is everyone?"
"I told the crew to go ahead without me." Gray jerked a thumb toward the military truck. "SOF, uh, the supervisor of flying, will take us back."
She scrubbed a palm over her face, wiping away remnants of her crying jag. "Real professional of me to miss out on the end because I needed to indulge in a little fit of histrionics."
His hands fell to rest on her shoulders. "Only a hard-nose wouldn't have been moved by what went down here tonight. So what if you needed to let go? You'd already stayed later than the rest of your team, far longer than was necessary." His fingers trailed, and he lightly squeezed her upper arms. "Cut yourself some slack."
Those broad hands warmed her, weakened her. She stepped back. "Whatever."
His hands dropped to his sides. "You ready to pack it in?"
Lori nodded. "It's going to be a long drive downtown. At least traffic will be light."
His jaw thrust forward. "You're not driving."
Irritation stirred up her second wind. "Think again."
"You're not in any shape to drive."
"Like you're any better off than I am? I can drive myself home as easily as you can." A face-splitting yawn snuck through in spite of her best efforts to swallow it. "End of discussion. But thanks all the same."
"Long missions and hours on rotation at the hospital are par for me. I'm used to it. Okay?" When she didn't answer, Gray cricked his neck to the side, once, twice, then reached to tighten the bandanna around his upper calf. "Geez, woman, why we arguing instead of sleeping?"
"It's what we do best?"
Gray glanced up at her, his eyes glittering in the night with a heat and longing that reminded her too well of what they'd always done best together.
Uh-oh. "No way, Gray. Don't even say it!"
He gave the bandanna another yank around the mud stains on his uniformed leg and stood. "Let me give you a ride, for old-times' sake. I promise not to pull off at the first dirt road and jump you. As tired as I am, I'd be pretty worthless anyway, and it would ruin all those better memories." His signature grin creased his face as he plucked his grimy flight suit. "Not to mention we both smell pretty rank."
Against her will she laughed. Against her better judgment she agreed. "Just a ride."
"Just a ride."
"And my car?" She tossed out a last half-hearted attempt at refusing. She truly would be a menace on the road if she got behind the wheel, and calling a taxi would take too long. Not to mention blatantly refusing his offer would say too much about her need to avoid him.
"Bronco and I can drive your car to your place tomorrow after debrief."
Her stomach took a nosedive. She would see him again. At least they would have Bronco as a buffer.
Gray frowned. "Unless you need a ride into work. I could—"
Come earlier alone? Not a chance. "I moved to an apartment above the offices. My assistant is holding down the fort today and tomorrow, anyway, because of the mission's long hours."
"No sweat, then."
No sweat?
Oh there was plenty of emotional sweat to go around, and it carried the tauntingly familiar scent of bay rum and Gray.