descending in a tight spiral to make us less vulnerable to attack.”
At the last minute, the plane leveled out and the wheels bounced against the runway. They had landed, and Kate watched as the soldiers began gathering their gear. Tenley and her band would arrive here in just two days, and Kate would be fully occupied with ensuring her sister had everything she needed. Suddenly, Kate wasn’t ready for Tenley to intrude. She wasn’t ready to slip back into her role of provider, counselor and surrogate parent to her sister. Most importantly, she wasn’t ready to give up Chase. She wasn’t naive enough to think that once Tenley arrived, she would have any time with him. She knew his focus would shift from escorting her to protecting the entire group of performers. She would have no more opportunity to be alone with him.
Less than a week ago, she never would have thought she’d meet someone in Afghanistan who aroused her enough to sleep with him, knowing that the likelihood of having any kind of meaningful relationship was next to nil. She’d had one-night stands and brief flings before, and they always left her feeling empty and lonely. She’d decided a long time ago that she wouldn’t do that to herself again. She deserved better. She wanted the whole package, including the house, the white picket fence and the happy-ever-after. But she also knew that she’d never meet a man like Chase again, and even if she’d never have a repeat of their night together, she had no regrets.
The plane taxied to the terminal, and the rear ramp lowered. With Charity’s lead in one hand, Chase carried Kate’s bag over his shoulder and took her elbow as they disembarked and waited while the pallets of baggage were removed and placed along the flight line.
Fifteen minutes later, they were in the backseat of another Humvee, with two soldiers up front. Chase helped Kate remove her protective gear and stowed it away in the duffel bag, before removing his own.
“We won’t need to wear this unless the sirens go off,” he said. “Let’s get you settled and go get something to eat, and then I’ll bring you over to the concert site. This is an enormous base, and you’ll have semi-private housing here.”
“How many troops are here?” Kate asked, but just looking out the window of the Humvee told her that this was no forward operating base.
“There are more than twenty thousand coalition troops stationed here, and hundreds of civilian contractors.” He slanted her an amused look. “There’s even a boardwalk with some American fast-food restaurants and a bazaar of sorts where vendors sell local goods. We could walk over there and grab a bite.”
Looking out the window, she noticed that the air was hazy and had a yellowish tinge to it.
“Is this smog of some kind?” she asked, having seen something similar in California.
“No, ma’am,” replied the driver. “What you’re seeing is dust. The air is always full of it, even indoors.”
They drove in silence for several more minutes, and Kate was astonished at the sheer size of the base. “I expect the USO brings a lot of entertainers here, given how big the place is,” she commented.
“I expect so,” said Chase. “You’re the first celebrity assignment I’ve had, and I spend so much time in the field or at the remote operating bases that I don’t usually catch any performances. At any rate, the local USO is accustomed to providing accommodations for visiting celebrities and dignitaries, so I think you’ll find the conditions here are much better than at Bagram or Camp Leatherneck.”
In other words, there was no chance that she would end up alone in a tent where she would need to rely on Chase to watch over her. Even if she did, there was little likelihood that she would get a repeat performance of the previous night.
Leaning forward, Chase spoke quietly to the driver, directing him. Kate was amazed at the number of soldiers, military vehicles and buildings that they passed. They had been driving for fifteen minutes and still had not reached their destination. The Humvee pulled up in front of a long row of modified trailers, each reinforced with sandbags. They were housing units, Kate realized, nearly identical to Chase’s CHU back on Bagram.
“Is this it?” she asked, as Chase pulled her luggage out of the back and commanded Charity to stay.
“This is where you’ll be housed with Tenley,” Chase confirmed. “This entire row is reserved by the USO. They don’t have any empty units at the moment, but there are two female actors in one of the trailers, and they have an extra bunk bed that the USO said you and your sister can use.”
“That’s great,” Kate said, meaning it. She had no desire to sleep in a tent by herself, especially now that Chase wouldn’t be spending the night with her. “Do you know who the women are?”
Chase shrugged. “I don’t, sorry.”
Inside the unit, Chase dropped her bags on the floor by the nearest set of bunk beds. Kate looked around curiously. There was one large bedroom in the front, with a bunk bed against either wall and a sofa under the front window. The two bottom bunks were obviously occupied, with overnight bags sitting on top of the blankets, and a pair of shoes under each bed. The interior of the unit was unpainted plywood, and someone had tried to make the place more cheerful by hanging posters on the wall.
Kate turned to Chase. “How long will the other two women be here?”
Chase leaned against the open door frame. “They’re leaving tomorrow on the return flight that your sister and the other performers are arriving on. Why? Would it be a problem if they were staying?”
“No,” she assured him. “This will work out beautifully. Where will you be?”
He paused, halfway to the door. “In a barracks hut. You have my beeper. I’ll be close by.”
Kate chewed her bottom lip, understanding that there would be no opportunity for them to be together tonight. Still, she couldn’t just let him walk away, at least not without trying to convince him that last night meant something to her, and that if he was willing, they could have some kind of relationship. She knew that Chase would be here in Afghanistan for another six months, but that didn’t matter to her. She’d been alone for a long time. Waiting six months for someone like Chase would be no hardship—if he agreed.
“Chase,” she called softly, before he could leave. “Wait.”
He turned in the doorway, and for an instant she saw an expression in his eyes—a combination of agony and hope—that gave her courage. “What is it?” he asked, glancing toward the Humvee, where the two soldiers sat waiting for them.
“Chase … about last night … I know you think it was a mistake, but you’re wrong.”
Something twisted in his face as he looked back at her. “Kate. Last night was … well, it was incredible. Would I like a repeat performance? Damned straight.” He muttered a curse beneath his breath and raked a hand over his hair. “But Jesus, Kate, there’s no future in it, and I can’t—I can’t—” He broke off and turned to stare out the door toward the street, where vehicles drove past and several soldiers walked by.
Kate stared at his rigid back, and then took a step toward him, but didn’t dare touch him. “What?” she asked softly. “What can’t you do, Chase?”
He turned around and Kate took an involuntary step backwards at the expression on his face. “I can’t be around you without wanting you. It took all my strength to leave you last night, but it can’t happen again, Kate. It’s not fair to you. Or to me.”
“Chase, I know you didn’t want to escort me around, and that you have more important issues on your mind—” He started to interrupt and she held up a hand to forestall him. “But last night meant something to me. And I think it meant something to you, too.”
Chase made a growling sound of frustration. “It doesn’t matter if it meant something to me or not. Tomorrow your focus will shift to your sister, which is great. That’s your job. But five days later, you’ll be gone.”
Kate took a step toward