An Officer and a Princess by Carla Cassidy Read Free Book Online Page A

hand through her copper-colored hair. “You can’t imagine what the past months have been like…not knowing if my father is dead or alive.” The instant the words left her mouth, her eyes widened. “But, of course you can imagine…your father…” She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling emeralds. “Tell me about him, Adam. Tell me about your father.”
    Pain usurped his irritation and shot through Adam like a hot poker at the mention of his father. It was a pain he’d lived with for the past year, apain that seemed to have become as much a part of him as his gray eyes or his dark hair.
    In all the time that Adam and Isabel had worked together since the fateful day of his father’s disappearance, neither of them had ever mentioned it aloud. In truth, Adam had talked about it with nobody.
    Adam had never discussed the uncertainty, the confusion, and the utter pain of his tumultuous emotions where his father was concerned.
    â€œWhat do you want to know about him?” he finally asked.
    â€œI don’t know…anything. Were the two of you close? Was he a good father?”
    Adam had the feeling she needed to hear him talk about his father so she wouldn’t think about her own. He nodded. “We were very close. My mother died when I was eight, so there were just the two of us and Mrs. Gentry, our housekeeper.”
    â€œIt must have been difficult, with your father being career military.”
    â€œNot really. Wherever dad was stationed, Mrs. Gentry and I followed.” A warmth seeped through him as he thought of those years with his father. They had traveled to various bases, sometimes for mere months, other times for years, but Adam’s memories of those times were all good.
    â€œIt was my father who instilled in me a love for the navy. However, much to his chagrin, I didn’tfollow in his footsteps and become a navy pilot. My father loves to fly, but I prefer to have both feet planted firmly on the ground.”
    â€œBut he was pleased when you decided to join the navy?” she asked.
    Adam leaned back in the chair, a smile curving his lips. “He told me that the day I enlisted was the happiest day of his life.” The smile faded and he frowned thoughtfully. “And I think the saddest day of his life was the day he had to retire. The navy had been his wife, his lover…his very life, and without it he was positively lost.”
    In truth, Jonathon Sinclair had become extremely depressed upon his retirement. And it was the memory of that deep depression that had haunted Adam when the talk of treason had first reared its ugly head.
    In his gut, in the very depth of his heart, Adam knew his father would never, could never do anything against the country he loved, the country he’d sworn to protect and serve.
    But there were times in the very dark of night when doubts whispered across his mind. Had Jonathon’s depression also brought with it an anger against the country that had used him up then put him out to pasture?
    â€œDad was thrilled when they asked him to be a part of the Phantom team. The project gave him new life, a reason to get up in the mornings.”
    Adam knew he was talking too much, exposing pieces of himself that he would not be able to retrieve. But, Isabel’s gaze compelled him to continue and he felt as if a dam had broken inside him and the words and emotions had to gush out.
    He leaned forward once again. “He was so excited about the project. He pored over blueprints day and night, huddled with top scientists and technicians, determined to make the Phantom the best fighter plane ever known.”
    â€œSo, what happened, Adam?” Isabel got up off the bed and knelt by the side of his chair. “Your father and two pilots took the Phantom for a test flight, and the plane, your father and those two pilots disappeared. No wreckage was ever found.”
    â€œI know.” The words whispered from