Code Name: Prince by Parv Valerie

Author:Parv, Valerie [Parv, Valerie]
Format: mobi
Tags: Suspense
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2001-06-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Plunging into the maze of passageways outside the cabin, Meagan quickly lost her bearings and almost ran into Captain Stafford coming the other way. He steadied her then took a look at her flushed features. “Are you okay?”

His wise eyes looked as if they saw more than she wanted him to. “I’m fine. I got lost looking for Ben.”

“He’s climbing a tall mast. Said it’s as good as a cold shower. I’m starting to understand what he meant.”

The captain opened a door into a large room littered with charts. This must be the great cabin Ben had told her about. “Join me for coffee.”

“Shouldn’t I find Ben?”

Mike put a steaming mug of coffee in front of her, pushing cream and sugar toward her. “He’s best left alone for the moment. You look as if you could use some time out yourself.”

It was true. She cupped her hands around the mug, grateful for its warmth. “Ben’s a complicated man.”

“Most people are complicated. At least his is the good kind.”

She looked at him through a curling haze of steam. “Care to explain that?”

He chuckled. “Forthright, I like that in a woman. So does Ben.”

“He hides it well.” She explained about Ben’s refusal to accept her as an equal. “Is it me, or all women?”

The captain seemed to weigh up the wisdom of answering her. “If Ben acts overly protectively, it’s because he was hurt very badly when his fiancée was killed.”

“He was engaged to be married?”

“To Marina, another naval officer. She was killed when they served on a peace-keeping mission together.”

Meagan’s breath caught in her throat. “Was he unable to protect her?” It would explain a lot.

“Worse. He thinks if he hadn’t been the one handing out the assignments, she wouldn’t have died.”

Compassion for Ben flooded through her. “He sent her on the mission?” she asked softly.

“The opposite. She’d had a virus and he ordered her to stand down because he thought she wasn’t fully recovered.”

She felt a frown gather. “Then how can he blame himself?”

“She was determined to show him she could handle it, and took another officer’s place. Ben thinks if he hadn’t tried to stop her, she wouldn’t have behaved so recklessly.”

“What do you think?”

“She wasn’t fit. She froze at a crucial moment.” He stirred his coffee thoughtfully. “After she died, Ben buried himself in his work. I thought he’d stay a bachelor like me, wedded to the navy.” He got up and paced. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good life. But a man needs more. From the way he looks at you, I was wondering if you might be the more.”

Meagan sipped her coffee, wincing at its strength. The feelings flooding through her at Mike’s suggestion were stronger still. “He doesn’t want more. After Marina, the last thing he wants is commitment.”

“You think Ben is avoiding commitment?”

“After what you’ve just told me, it would be understandable.”

He gestured around. “Shows what you know. Pathfinder is the biggest commitment going, yet Ben took it on.”

“He told me this vessel provides sailing experience for troubled teenagers.

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