“Michael?”“Hi Sweetheart. I hope you’re not in the middle of anything”“What’s wrong, Michael?”“One of the Marines has a head injury ...nd I wanted you to look at it with me. I’d bring him to you except that I can’t leave right now,” I explained.“Where are you?”“We’re on the pirate ship, in the mess hall.”“Okay, I’m on my way. Try not to move him until I get there.”“Will do. And Anna ... I love you!”We were sitting on the large, open aft deck at the table that had been set up for the women taking. It took me a second to figure out how she knew. "Oh, this?" I saidreferring to the black ring. I had failed to take it off before goingout. Was my subconscious resisting me or was I just careless?"Yeah, you're fucked," Jill said unhelpfully."Actually, its a memory ring for someone I cared about who died fiveyears ago," I lied."Sorry I brought it up," Nicole apologized."No problem," I downplayed."So, you are single?" Nicole pressed."Yep," I lied."Because I wouldn't want to be the 'other woman'. He shaved at night—he said it made it smoother than in the morning—and the scent of his aftershave was almost overpowering in how it aroused me. My hands dipped under the hem of his shirt and began rubbing his bare skin. “How much I want to feel you in me. Especially when you were building the fire ... mmm.” My lips found his again, and we resumed our kiss, and I delighted in the minty taste of our freshly-brushed teeth.His hands also slid under my nightshirt, tugging it up by friction as his. . down to London it seems, she's arranged for a couple of job interviews for tomorrow and is even as we speak – boarding a train to take her down there..."Marcus stepped back and his expression went blank – as though all the fight had just left him."She's not gone yet!" Peter stood up and tried to be encouraging. "Even if she is successful with one of the interviews – she'll still be coming back home tomorrow."It was a successful day in London for Miranda. Both of the job interviews went well,.