Zach bit off a curse. He couldn't let that happen. He owed Lance Sinclair's memory better than that, owed Julia.
Owed a little boy who wouldn't have anything more than a picture and a few medals to remember his father by.
Zach's gaze slid to the flag and guidon, his focus steadying. He would just have to dig until he found whatever facts hadn't come to light. Because tomorrow, come hell or high water, Julia would be his bride and damned if he would be the one to put any more tears in her eyes.
* * *
"You may kiss the bride." Standing in the chaplain's office, Julia stared into Zach's eyes, staunchly ignoring the drab government-issue furniture littering the cramped room.
She saw only Zach, her husband.
Commitment. Marriage. Something she'd never expected to do again, even on a temporary basis.
But it was real and official. Tanner and Kathleen Bennett bore witness. Beside them, Shelby held Patrick, the teen's disdainful slouch a real mood buster for an already tense day. Not that Ivy's crinkle-nosed smile weighed any lighter on Julia's conscience. What would they tell her when they split? Why hadn't she thought this through instead of impulsively jumping in with both size-ten feet?
Julia thrust doubts aside. They'd both done the best they could with the here and now.
The "now" included getting through the next couple of seconds kissing Zach without completely losing control as she had in his driveway.
He cupped her face, thumbs brushing her cheekbones. Julia steeled her defenses and mind and every single nerve against a repeat of the sensory barrage from two days ago.
His head angled, but didn't move forward.
God, when had life gone into slow motion? Couldn't he move just a little faster? She rested her hands in the crooks of his elbows. Her fingers dug into the coarse fabric of his flight suit. She stared at his beard-stubbled chin and waited.
And waited.
Someone coughed. Heat stung her cheeks, from embarrassment, from his hands...and maybe from anticipation.
Julia looked from his chin up to his eyes. Intense brown eyes stared into her, waiting as well.
She hadn't thought of what the day would mean for him. His divorce had been messy.
Julia wasn't one for gossip, but common-knowledge facts swirled even for those who didn't want to listen. Today had to be difficult for him, too.
His waiting let her know he would accept whatever she decided about the kiss, taking any hits to his own image for her. For once, he deserved to have someone put him first.
She smiled at Zach. And kissed him. Not some quick brush of the lips. No way. Julia flung her arms around his neck and laid a really full-out big one on him.
He didn't seem to mind in the least.
His hand slid to cradle the back of her head. An oh-so-quiet growl meant for her ears only rumbled through his chest against hers, vibrated beneath her hands flat against his shoulders.
Let people talk. She hoped they would, because Zach was a sexy, fascinating man who deserved to have a woman who wanted to marry him for real. For himself. Forever.
Since she couldn't give him that, she would give him this. She wouldn't be sharing any details of their marriage with anyone, not even her closest friends. She would show the world the perfect image of totally enamored, hot-for-each-other newlyweds, starting now.
And afterward?
He would transfer to another base after his commander tour ended. He would start his new assignment at Air War College in Alabama, a career opportunity of a lifetime only offered to five percent of his peers. He could leave the talk behind. Leave her behind.
Reality chilled her. Julia's hands slid from his shoulders, her mouth from his. Their eyes met, held, yearned.
An airplane roared overhead, breaking the silence.
Doubts clawed their way right back over her.
What had she done? With her thoughts slowing and bravado fading, the impact of delayed aftershocks rocked her all the way to her three-inch heels.