Project Reunion by Ginger Booth Read Free Book Online Page B

But not to me.
“Dee,” Tibbs said softly, “Lieutenant Commander Lacey is over there. He’s standing with Captain Niedermeyer.”
“Thank you, Corporal,” I breathed. And I hesitated. These military types seemed very big on protocol. I knew nothing about military protocol. With them all wearing cammies, I couldn’t even tell Navy from Army from Coast Guard or Marine, without getting close enough to inspect the labels.
“Captain Niedermeyer is your host, ma’am,” Tibbs further prompted. “It is always appropriate to greet your host first. Or anyone else you already know.”
“Right. Thank you!” I hazarded a smile at him this time. But he blandly gazed out the door, in relaxed readiness, and pretended not to know me. Right. I couldn’t blame him. Ex-prisoner, ex-jailer was such an awkward social tie. I steeled my courage, and strode to my ex-fiancé Adam Lacey as though this were a cocktail party. “Adam!” I cried.
“Dee! Great to see you!” Adam, at least, didn’t have a flagpole up his back. He broke into a broad grin, folded me into a warm hug, and kissed my cheek. He turned to his companion. “John, I’ve told you about Dee Baker, my once fiancée. Dee, meet Captain John Niedermeyer. Ah, Dee, a Coast Guard captain is two ranks up from an Army major,” he added for clarification. “In contrast to an Army captain, who is one rank below major.” Adam understood my haziness on such matters.
“Well, that’s confusing,” I said with a laugh. I held out a hand to shake, hoping for the best. “Pleased to meet you at last, Captain Niedermeyer. And thank you for inviting me to present.”
Niedermeyer grasped my hand for a robust two-handed shake, so apparently I got that right enough. “Pleased to meet you, Dee. You saved our posteriors on the New Year’s hurricane. Looking forward to your presentation!”
Niedermeyer smiled. I smiled. Adam put his hand on the small of my back to draw me to his other side to chat. So apparently that was enough of that. I was just grateful I didn’t have to wade alone back into the throng of large men in cammies again just yet. Adam and I had a fine time catching up quietly. Occasionally Niedermeyer boomed greetings to others, but Adam merely smiled and nodded politely to them.
Of course, that didn’t include Emmett. After Niedermeyer fulsomely greeted Emmett, Adam pulled his right hand off my back to offer it to him. “Good to see you again, Major.”
“Have we...met,” Emmett managed, glancing down at Adam’s name tag and thus answering his own question. “Ah, of course, Lieutenant Commander. At Zack’s funeral.” He was not pleased to find me with some other man’s hand resting on my back. He was not more pleased to recognize my ex-fiancé. Being reminded of Zack’s funeral didn’t help much, either.
I was annoyed enough with Emmett to be glad. I smiled sunnily.
His head tilted. “Uh-huh.”
With all the panache you’d expect of a Wall Street scion and prep school upbringing, Adam cut in smoothly, “I hope your trip from Totoket wasn’t too challenging. I hear a bridge was out on I-95? Refreshments will be served in a few minutes.”
“The inevitable pizza?” I quipped.
“We’ve adopted the inevitable clam chowder of late,” Adam played along. “I also anticipate cider.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant Commander.” Emmett placed his hand firmly on the small of my back and led me away to stand against a wall between him and a rubbery plant. He occasionally greeted people. I smiled and shook hands when he introduced me, and otherwise bonded with the rubbery plant while he socialized with not-me.
“I only know three people here,” I pointed out to Emmett during a lull in the greetings. “You, Adam, and the Marine at the door. The Marine held me in jail last winter. Well, Mora too, but I haven’t seen him yet.”
“Uh-huh.”
I shot him a hairy eyeball. Accidentally, on my eyes’ way back to pleasant blandness, I caught Adam’s eye down the