Dorothy. Look, this is ridiculous. Just tell me if you have something under that short, short dress." No Daddy. Well, I just have underwear on, not sh...rts. Wanna see?" No, I don't want to see. Although I suppose anyone who sees you bend over to pick up anything will see perfectly well." Maybe they'll see more than that, Dad!" she said defiantly. "You never know! And like I said, this is nothing, anyway! And, it's up to me what I show and who I show it to!"Ashlyn now stood facing her father,. The boys came down quickly, gave their mother hugs, and then left to catch up to their father.Trisha hated the way he made her feel! One of the reasons she had left him was his domineering nature, which she found out about too late. But, despite it all, she reminded herself that she had once loved him. Loved him enough to marry him and bear his children. She wasn't sorry for that, or for the divorce.She busied herself around her house for a little while longer so she could try to calm down.. " More laughter."All kidding aside, I have the utmost respect for what you guys have been doing. We've spent the last couple months trying to turn some revenue cutters into real warships, and we know they aren't going to get the job done as well as we might like but they are all we have and we're here to use them. While we were working on that, you guys have been out here in completely unarmed ships trying to develop some intelligence for us. If we had armed ships to do the job, I'd say you. " exhaling heavily, I readjusted so I could better hear his heartbeat. "I'm sorry, Talon. I'm not trying to be all gloom and doom." I don't mind. I'm happy that you feel you can confide in me. Besides, I like hearing you talk. Your voice is very beautiful to me, just like the rest of you."I couldn't help basking a little, letting his words wash over me as I fell into a doze and finally sleep, listening to the beating of my lover's heart.Dreams involving Talon weren't unusual, especially now.