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.
* * *
At the base ops parking lot, Gray thumbed the unlock button on his key chain. The running-board lights glowed to lifelike a beacon in the dark as he strode ahead of Lori to open the passenger door. He reached to brace her elbow as she stepped up into the Explorer. Even weaving on her feet, she ignored him and used the hand grip and running board to lever herself inside the car.
Fine, if that's the way she wanted to play it. He kept his eyes firmly off her slim hips, not that it helped. His mind's eye remembered them well.
He circled and climbed into the driver's seat, the hint of gently musky perspiration and peaches already invading his car as well as his senses. Memories marched over him, images of choosing peach-scented lotion for her at the mall. He'd tested half the selections on Lori, working his way up inch after inch of the tender inside of her arm. Stirred into a frenzy by the time they'd reached the end of the display counter, they'd sped back to his apartment…
Gray rolled the windows down. Cranking the air conditioner, he let it blast out the oppressive heat. "Where are we going?"
Her startled gaze met his.
Double entendres stunk, and they seemed to abound around Lori. Gray chose his words carefully. "Where do you live now? You mentioned an apartment over an office. I assume that means you're not renting the carriage house anymore."
"Oh, right. I moved this year. When I landed the job to start up the offices here in Charleston, the building we use has offices on the first floor. I rent the second. It just made sense for me to live there."
"And that's where?"
Crickets hummed an evening tune while he waited. She twirled the end of her braid around her finger, one of her understated signs Gray recognized as nerves. With his reserves nearing zero, he needed to get her in bed soon.
Bed? Damn.
Had Freud and his infamous slips jumped in the car with them while Gray was busy ogling Lori's silky hair? "Lori? Where's your place?"