Very slowly, he lifted a hand to the side of his face and touched it, then looked at his palm. It was stained with the blood still dripping from his ear.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Dar asked in a hoarse voice.

“We haven’t seen each other for ten fucking years, Chuck. Why the hell do you care what my preferences turned out to be?”

He had to swallow a few times before he spoke. “Never could figure out why you just walked out on us.”

Dar sighed inwardly, lifting a shaking hand to rub her temples.

“You know as well as I d—”

“You were just playing with me.”

The throbbing in her head increased. “Chuck, we were kids then.

We went different ways, that’s all.”

“Bullshit.” He started toward her again.

“Stop!” Dar heard the sharp edge of anger in her own voice. “It’s not bullshit. I had no fucking clue what the hell I wanted then.” She held out both hands to ward him off. “Chuck, don’t make me fight you. Please.”

“No wonder you were always trying to beat the guys, you thought you were one,” Chuck sneered. “Why didn’t you get your daddy to buy you a prick? You’d have fit right in.”

Dar winced inwardly. “I never wanted one.”

“Yeah? Bet you use a fake one now with that little slut whore in there, don’cha?” Chuck replied. “I should—”

“You should shut yer mouth ’fore I insert yer leg inside it.” The 192 Melissa Good low, raspy voice coming from the darkness behind Chuck made them both go still.

Dar blinked. “Dad, I can handle this.”

Andrew Roberts eased out into the orange light soundlessly, sliding between Dar and her adversary in a flickering motion. “Ah do suspect you can, Dardar,” he agreed softly. “’Cept one of the privileges of being a daddy is that ah get to take out the trash, and ah do believe there is some trash here that needs to be taken,” he paused significantly,

“out.”

There was no humor in his voice.

There was no humor in the ice-blue eyes that pinned the now silent Chuck with deadly intent. “Seems you’re pretty good at taking shots at women. You ready to give an old retired sailor a try?”

Chuck’s gaze held for an instant, then dropped to the ground. “No, sir.”

“G’wan inside,” Andrew said flatly. “Get yer ass cleaned up, and act like a man.”

“Yes, sir,” Chuck muttered. He turned, letting his eyes flick to Dar for a single, long second before he retreated toward the restaurant.

Andrew exhaled. “Suck yer brains out your head when they put the stripes on, I swear t’God.” He turned and studied his daughter anxiously. “You all right?”

Dar sat down on the low wall that separated the parking lot and let her head drop into her hands.

Kerry ducked past an exiting station wagon and broke into a run that brought her up to Dar’s side moments after she sat down. “Jesus.

What the hell is going on?” She hopped over the wall and settled next to her lover, putting an arm around her waist and resting a hand on Dar’s knee. Only an awkward tangle with the waiter had delayed her leaving the table after a stunned moment when she was absolutely sure Dar was in trouble.

Dar rubbed her face. “Shit.” She straightened and took a deep breath. “I didn’t expect that.”

“Expect what?” Kerry looked around Dar at Andrew. “Dad, what happened?”

The ex-SEAL scowled. “Big bagload of no sense hurting.”

Kerry glanced at Dar’s face, searching it anxiously. “Did he hurt you? I’ll get that brand new SUV and run him over, I swear it,” she announced seriously. “You’d hardly feel it with those tires.”

Dar’s lips involuntarily twitched into a half smile. “I think I did more damage than he did,” she admitted softly. “Physically, at least. I don’t know, Kerry; I wasn’t expecting a reaction like that. It’s like he’s taking it all personally.” She glanced over at her father. “Guess we’d better go back inside.”

“You can’t be serious,” Kerry snorted. “And have dinner with that little—”


Red Sky At Morning 193

“Ker,” Dar interrupted her quietly. “I am not going to let him think he scared me off.”

Kerry stared at her. “Dar, this isn’t an ego contest.”

“It’s not,” Dar replied, just as seriously. “But if we leave now, he wins. You can’t let people like that win and get comfortable, Kerry.”

Andrew patted her on the back. “Want to skip the hot plate and go right for the good stuff? I saw them ice cream plates on that tray back there,” he remarked practically. “Dar’s right, kumquat. Get that boy worse if we stick it out.”

Kerry watched a quiet, sad knowledge settle into Dar’s eyes. She folded her fingers around her partner’s hand and squeezed gently. “Go ahead, Dad. We’ll meet you in there.” Her gaze lifted to meet Andrew’s, very briefly, and they exchanged a look, then the ex-SEAL stood to go.

“Sorry ’bout that, Dardar.” Andrew leaned over, surprisingly, and kissed his daughter on the head. Then he turned and slipped away into the shadows, leaving the two women alone in the cool night air.

Kerry waited a little while, just flexing her fingers around Dar’s as they sat in silence. “Did he hurt you?” she finally asked, seeing the muddy scuffs on Dar’s skin. “You look a little pale.”

Dar drew in a breath, held it momentarily, and then released it in a sigh. “I’m trying to reconcile the friend I used to have with that person who just spewed a gutload of hate at me,” she said. “I don’t understand it, Kerry. I just don’t.”

The blonde woman gazed out at the parking lot unseeingly. “Yeah.

I know. It’s how I felt when my father hit me that night, and then again when I woke up in that hospital,” she said. “I didn’t understand it. I hadn’t changed at all, so why did they?”

“Mm.” Dar nodded. “That’s it exactly. I’m the same person he knew yesterday. Hell, the same one he knew this morning. Why should this matter?” Her voice trailed off. “I just don’t get it.” She looked down at her hands, then flexed the one Kerry was holding. The motion caused a jolt of pain to course up her arm. “Ow.”

Kerry turned a very concerned look on her. “What? Did he hit you?

Where are you hurting, Dar?”

“My shoulder.” Dar winced, easing the sleeve up over her left arm and peering at it.

“Oh.” Kerry sucked in a breath, seeing the mottled red and purple area. “Jesus Christ.”

“Hmm.” Dar moved her arm a little, then realized that wasn’t a good idea. “Hell of a bruise.”

“You need to get that X-rayed,” Kerry decided. She put a hand over Dar’s mouth. “Don’t even bother. No arguments, Paladar.” Slowly, she removed her hand. “Okay?”

Dar studied her. “So does that mean I get out of the optometrist’s appointment tomorrow, then?” she asked, with a tiny, mischievous sparkle in her eye.


194 Melissa Good Kerry put her hands on her hips and gave her lover a dour look. “I should take you to the hospital tonight.” She lifted Dar’s sleeve again and looked at the injury. “Dar, that looks awful.”

“No way.” Dar shook her head and stood up, stretching her body out carefully. Oh boy. She made a face, not sure what hurt more, her shoulder or her side. “I’ll make it through dinner just fine, then we can go home. It’s not going to kill me, and spending the night at Sinai just might.”

Kerry scowled but joined her as they started to walk slowly toward the restaurant. “Okay. Which one of us is going to let Dad drive their car home? ’Cause you are not driving, let me tell you that right now.”

Dar sighed. “I will.” She gave Kerry a wry look. “Yours is newer.”

“Hmm.” Kerry squared her shoulders before she opened the door.

She didn’t like the idea of waiting, since it was obvious to her that Dar was in considerable pain, but maybe... A small smile touched Kerry’s lips. Maybe when they got home, Dar would have a different perspective.

From across the room, she saw eyes look up and find them, and noted the guilt in the base commander’s expression as he fiddled with his napkin. Chuckie was seated next to him in silence, and Ceci was carrying on most of the conversation with the commander’s wife. She felt Dar straighten next to her and saw her lover’s chin lift and her posture stiffen as they approached the table, taking her seat with easy grace and dignity.

Like nothing was wrong.

“Everything okay?” Ceci asked as Kerry took her seat.

She spared a quick glance at Dar’s face. “Just great,” Kerry assured her. “Got any beer left?”


Chapter

Twelve

“YOU KNOW,” KERRY carefully buttoned a pair of Andrew’s old pajamas around her fidgeting lover, “you could just go get this taken care of.”

“Kerry,” Dar sighed, trying not to let the pain get to her. Too much.

“Sorry. I’m tired, and very cranky, and I just want to go to bed.” Her shoulder had stiffened up, and despite a handful of painkillers, she could hardly move her arm. It was making her a little nervous, and she really wanted nothing more than to lie down and not stir for a while.

“Dar...” Kerry took a breath to continue their argument.

“Please?” Dar heard the break in her voice and winced. It had its effect, though, because Kerry paused, exhaled, then put a gentle hand against her chest. “First thing tomorrow, I promise. We’ll go right over to Dr. Steve’s and let him take a look.” She gazed hopefully at Kerry.

“Okay?”

Kerry gazed unhappily at her. “No.” Her lips tensed. “Not okay, because I hate seeing you in pain.” Her shoulders dropped. “But I guess it’ll have to do. C’mon, let me help you get into bed.” She glanced through the open bedroom door. “You want a heating pad or an ice pack?”