TWO

The good-looking guy next to Deborah kept glancing at her magazine. Then he moved from looking at the magazine to taking in her pretty face, softly square with double dimples and dark eyes.

She braced herself. Great. Okay, here it comes.

And it did. He nodded toward the publication and said, “So, national security stuff. You work for a defense contractor?”

Deborah had to make a quick decision. Engage? Or activate avoidance measures?

She decided that limited engagement was the safest course. Then she could get back to the article she was reading about “nuclear deterrence in an age of asymmetrical warfare.”

“No, not with a defense contractor.”

“Military detail then?”

Deborah weighed her answer. “Not exactly.” Without looking up, she added, “Technically not.”

“Intriguing. Okay. Then you’re in one of the academies.” He eyed her closer. “Air Force? Naw. I’m Air Force. You don’t fit the profile …”

Deborah tried to keep up the stone face. Profile? What profile is this guy talking about?

“Not Navy. Not reading that kind of stuff. So that leaves West Point, right?”

Deborah didn’t realize she was blushing. Her seat partner kept talking. “Wow, direct hit. Oh, sorry. Didn’t introduce myself. Ethan March. Formerly lieutenant major, United States Air Force. Now civilian. Glad to meet you, Miss …” He reached out to shake her hand.

Deborah threw him a side look and offered up a quick handshake and a short explanation. “You’re right. I’m West Point.”

“Graduated?”

“One more year.”

“Congratulations. In advance.”

“Thanks. And you, Mr. March?”

“I go by Ethan. Defense contracting. Until recently …”

That got her attention. “Which company?”

“Raytheon. Just got laid off. Part of defense downsizing from Washington. Go figure.”

Deborah gave a nod, but she still looked underwhelmed by the chatty guy next to her.

Ethan March made a rapid recovery. “I’ve been lucky though. Been around the block with some of the best.”

She couldn’t resist. “Oh? Like who?”

“Well, for one, I had the privilege of serving under the great colonel Joshua Jordan.”

Deborah dropped her magazine and broke into a grin, which slowly lapsed into laughter.

Ethan flashed a look of disbelief. Then he said with some disgust, “Army. Can’t believe it. You folks don’t know how to honor a true-blue Air Force hero like Colonel Jordan!”

When she stopped laughing, she explained, “You don’t understand. You said you served with the ‘great Joshua Jordan …’”

“Exactly. At McGill Air Force Base.”

“Well, Joshua Jordan is my father. Which I guess makes me … well, his almost-great daughter …”

Now Ethan was the one blushing.

“Oh man. Plane going down. Mayday, Mayday …”

Now they were both laughing.

She reached her hand over. “Let’s start this again. I’m Deborah Jordan. Good to meet you.”

They shook hands again, but this time he held on a little longer.

“I’m honored to be sitting with you. Figure that. Joshua Jordan’s daughter.”