“You’ll be fine. I’m going to be right beside you, talking you through your breathing.”
They ran in silence for a couple of minutes, heavy rain lashing against their faces.
“Thank you, Sergeant Bailey,” Private Sully said. “You could have just watched me flunk out, but you’ve done all this extra training with me.”
Eva swallowed down a lump in her throat. “Like I said, if you fail, I fail. I’m doing this for me, too.”
When they’d finished their run and took their places at the climbing wall, Eva was dismayed to see Pete standing there.
“Good morning, Sergeant Billings.”
“Good morning, Sergeant Bailey. What brings you two out here on this fine morning?”
“We’re climbing the hell wall.”
“Do you need a spotter? Because of the weather, and all.”
“Sure, that would be great,” Eva said. But she didn’t mean it. What she really wanted was to tell him they were fine, that he should leave them alone. But she couldn’t argue with him, especially given that any risk assessment would conclude that a spotter really was required on a day like this.
Instead, she tried to put Pete out of her mind as she started climbing, advising Private Sully as they slowly made their way up the wall. Although it was usually one of her favorite activities, and she’d never before failed to get an adrenaline rush from the climb, she was too self-conscious with Pete standing there to really enjoy it.
About three-quarters of the way to the top, the wind picked up and blew the rain sideways, making the climb even more perilous.
“You okay, private?” Eva asked.
“Fine, sergeant,” he replied, but the tremor in his voice betrayed his true feelings.
“Good, because you’re going to do this. We’re almost at the top. Focus on your breathing as you move your right arm into position, and then your right leg.”
“Okay,” he said nervously.
The gusts of wind were so strong that Eva had to fight with all of her strength just to get a finger hold and then a foothold on the wall. She looked across at Private Sully and saw that he was already in position.
“You’re doing better than me,” she called out to him. “Well done, private. Now breathe and move your left arm and then your left leg.”
In a few moves, they were at the top of the wall. Private Sully let out a loud whoop, and Pete called out his approval from the ground.
“Now we’re going to do the exact same moves, but in reverse,” Eva said. “Are you ready?”
“I’m ready to be back on solid ground, sergeant.”
“Me too, private.”
The wind and rain didn’t let up even for a fraction of a second, but Private Sully stayed focused, and they were soon back standing next to Pete.
“That was excellent climbing, both of you,” he said, holding eye contact with Eva for just a second too long. “Now, how about we get inside and get some hot breakfast?”
Eva didn’t waste any time doing as he suggested. She was soaked through, chilled to the bone, and very, very hungry. But more to the point, she could smell Pete’s lemon soap and another scent, one that was unique to him, and it was driving her crazy. She wanted to change her clothes and have some warm food, but she needed to put some physical distance between her and Pete.
She didn’t trust herself around him, not for a second. Not after what had happened between them — and what she wanted very much to happen again.
CHAPTER 11
EVA
Eva had never known a summer like it, as though the sky had ripped down the middle seam and was emptying its contents all over Alaska. The rain was a heavy deluge that threatened to never stop, and it was almost always accompanied by strong winds. Although they were used to short, sharp rainstorms in this part of the state, the current weather was more like a prolonged, terrible storm.
Basic training was grueling enough for new recruits, but in such weather they faced a daily battle against the elements. Training outdoors, their clothes were soaked through to the skin in minutes. The running track around the perimeter of the base was so muddy it was treacherous, but still they were out there running every morning. To their credit, they didn’t complain. Although Eva had no doubt that they secretly loathed her for making them train outside in the rotten weather, they accepted her orders without protest.
