Devil’s in the Details (57 page)

I blinked a few times, trying to unstick my brain that had short fused on first sight. "Um, you…stunning, Alex."

She blushed, tipping her head down to look at the floor. "I've managed to reduce a brilliant Professor down to caveman speech." She peered up through her eyelashes, "I guess the dress is a hit?"

I nodded, swallowing as I took two long steps towards her. Reaching out, I grabbed the side of Alex's neck and pulled her closer, kissing her as hard as I could politely without turning this moment into ripping apart her dress and forgoing the entire formal. Feeling her moan against my lips, I broke off the kiss, leaning back enough to look in her blue eyes and still share the same breath with her, "I've always thought you to be beautiful even though I've only seen you in scrubs, t-shirts, jeans, and my stolen clothing. But this." I held out my hand for her to take, smiling as it fell into mine without hesitation. "Is something I will remember for a very long time."

I took a step back, lifting her hand to my lips, kissing it gently, "You will steal the show."

Alex's face turned a deeper shade of crimson, her eyes roaming over my very bland and traditional outfit. "You look beautiful too, Victoria."

I shook my head, laughing, "I look like a prudish school marm." I waved at the white jacket, "Trust me, I will pale in comparison to you." Tugging her hand, I lifted the jacket from the counter. "You ready to mingle with old crotchey military Professors?"

Alex's hand slid to the crook of my elbow, "Am I ever."

I covered her hand with mine and walked us out the front door, laughing again when Alex gave me look as I stopped to put on the boxy white hat, "Tradition runs deep, even if I look like a modern ice cream truck driver."

Alex raised her eyebrow, "Oh I have other things running through my head, some of them involve ice cream and that hat." She winked at me before sauntering off to the BMW.

I shook my head, calling after her, "And to think there was a time you were embarrassed to tell me that you had never been with a woman."

Alex's cheeks pinked up, but she stayed confident, "Like I said, I’m a fast learner and you make me want to study as much as possible."

I moved to her side of the car, opening it for her to climb in, "Then I guess it's time to move on to the advanced classes." I dropped my voice low, adding a heavy dose of sensuality, knowing it would throw Alex off her game.

Alex shot me a look, I winked back and shut the door, opting to let her simmer and stew in what I insinuated.

She was silent and staring at me when I got in the car, setting my hat and jacket in the backseat, "Victoria, what did you mean?" Her voice had a hint of anxious excitement, making me laugh at all the insane ideas roaming through her head.

I grinned, looking back to watch the driveway as I backed the car out, "Oh nothing, Alex."

She sat in silence, glaring at me for a few minutes until I picked up her hand, kissing her knuckles before asking her if she knew how to dance.

Victoria looked delectable as she climbed out of the BMW, slipping her arms into the fancy white jacket that fit like a glove around her body. The knee length black skirt, the gold cummerbund with the silly white tuxedo shirt and the black curved tie all came together to paint a picture of Victoria that I knew I would call upon on during long nights in the hospital. She looked incredible, graceful and was reaching depths of my fantasies I never knew I had until she came around the front of the car to escort me out.

Even the medals hanging on her chest made me sigh like a teenage girl in New York City during fleet week. A woman in uniform, particularly this woman in uniform, made me feel like I was in the thick of a fairy tale written just for me.

I loved her with my entire being and no matter how many times I looked at her, the first thoughts that would always pop in my head was how much I loved the woman smiling at me and offering her hand for me to take.

Grinning as I took her hand, I let out a gentle sigh, feeling my nerves edge up looking at the masses of uniforms, tuxedos and ball gowns filtering past us in the parking lot. This was an event that I knew I would have to put on my best manners and keep them on throughout the night. I didn't want to embarrass Victoria and I knew it would be a feat to maintain conversation with old military veterans steeped deeply in the tradition centuries old military branches had to offer.

"Alex, relax. They may look older than dirt, but they are all kind and will adore you." Victoria's breath tickled my ear, calming me down immediately. "This is nothing compared to what I put you through when we first met in my office." I glanced up at her, catching half a smirk on her face and something else in her eyes. She turned away before I asked what she really meant, "There's Dani." Victoria waved her free hand towards the front doors of the hall.

My eyes settled on the redhead, and I let out a small breath, taking in how utterly stunning Dani looked standing of to the side in the exact same uniform Victoria wore, but with less medals and gold flair. She was nodding and smiling at Naval officers she knew as they passed by into the hall. "Wow, she looks different."

Victoria laughed, "She cleans up very well, but is still the agitating ass under the spit polish on her shoes."

I laughed at the comment, shaking my head, "Are you sure you two are friends?"

Victoria shrugged, "Sadly yes, I trust her with my life and yours."

The tone in her voice told me a thousand different things, but again, before I could confront it, Victoria stepped away from me to greet Dani while still holding on to my fingers.

Dani smirked at Victoria, "I see why you had this thing tailored, you look like you belong in the Navy."

She then looked my way after earning a grumbled huff from Victoria, her eyes lighting up as she took in my dress. "Wow, you look incredible Alex. It's strange to see you something other than scrubs or sweats." She smiled genuinely at me, "And I mean that as a simple compliment." She threw a side glare towards an irritated blonde, "No need to gut punch me, Professor."

"Dani, get the door for Alex and I, and try to keep the snark at a minimum tonight? If that is even possible for you." Victoria tugged my hand, silently asking me to return to stand next to her.

Dani shrugged, rolling her eyes, "I make no promises. I’m only here because I'm alumni and it's a free dinner that I don't have to take out of a box." She turned, opening the wide wooden door for us, bending at the waist slightly, "Ladies, after you."

I barely issued a thank you when I was enraptured by the sight of the old granite pillars sweeping up into ornate open ceilings with decorations that transported me back to what I imagine all buildings looked like in the mid 1900's. The floors were black and pale red granite, all laid out to form an incredible design I had a difficult time discerning what it was by standing right on top of it. The hall was incredible and made me feel very out of place. I had gone to many fancy events in my life, some of the best restaurants in New York City on James arm when he felt it necessary to spend a little more on date night.

But nothing compared to the grand elegance of this hall, a room that made me feel like I was back in time and that I should be wearing some sort of uniform.

"This is Bancroft Hall. They have the cocktail mixer here first. Gives us old veterans an opportunity to show off our history and puff out our chests over gin and tonics." Victoria looked down at me, her hat now tucked under the other arm, "The dinner will be down the hallway in one of the smaller, more modern rooms." She grinned as I looked at her with wide eyes, "Can I get you a drink, Alex?"

"Um, yes please, a vodka and cranberry?" I scanned around the massive hall, "I feel like I'm on the titanic." I half whispered it, hoping no one would hear me, including Victoria. I then glanced at her, “Wait, Bancroft Hall? Are you related to this marble, granite behemoth?” I bit my bottom lip as I tried not to giggle.

"The titanic would be envious of this hall." Victoria winked, “And no. I’m not related to the hall or the Bancroft’s who built it. It’s just a happy accident we both share a rather amazing last name.” She patted my hand once more, before moving towards the wooden bar top in the rear of the room near an ornate staircase.

I quickly folded my hands in front of me, clutching the small purse I brought as a last minute idea. I swallowed a few times, my stomach fluttering with nerves as to what I would say if any of these esteemed co-workers of Victoria's would come my way for conversation.

Fidgeting with the clasp on the bag, I moved to a corner where I saw Dani swirling a straw in a glass. I wasn't fond of the woman, but she was a veritable life boat in this sea of uniforms. She looked up when I stepped closer, smirking at me with bright green eyes that were accentuated by her flame red hair. Dani was attractive, sending another hit of jealousy through my system at the closeness she shared with my girlfriend. "Stuffy as hell, right?" Dani took a healthy swig of her drink, “By the way, you’ll hear a ton of corny jokes about the professor and the hall having the same name. It gets annoying real fast.” She rolled her eyes and blew out an exasperated sigh.

I shrugged, "I don't know, I've only been here for five minutes?" I looked around the room, catching a few stares in my direction. "I hope no one asks if she's my girlfriend." I cringed when I smelled the pure, straight up vodka in her glass.

Dani chuckled, "Alex, no one gives two shits about the Professor's personal life. They all respect her for who she is, what she has done, and what she continues to do. Plus, I don't know if you read the news, but don't ask don't tell went down the drain along with Britney’s last hit album. So, no need to fret."

She waved her glass of vodka around, "All these old men and woman are the best the Navy has to offer, all future forward thinkers who have reshaped the Academy over the last few years. Victoria’s personal life was laid out for everyone to see long before she picked up her ruler and chalk to teach young minds."

I half glared at Dani, "You and Victoria confuse me."

Dani cocked an eyebrow as she sipped more of the clear liquid, "And how do we confuse you?"

I frowned, hating my jealousy right now, pushing words out of my mouth faster than I wanted. It was ramping up based off the fact I was still waiting to hear Victoria tell me what she felt for me, instead of playing the constant guessing game. "It's like you two have this caustic relationship with an intense chemistry I've never seen before." I sighed heavily, "Whatever, maybe it's because you know all of her buttons and which ones to push." I tilted my head up to silently change the subject and spotted Victoria standing at the bar, drinks in hand and chatting with a white haired man that had so many stars on his collar, he had to be an admiral.

A moment of silence passed between Dani and I, suggesting that I should probably move on before I said something else stupid.

"She still hasn't told you she loves you, has she Alex?" Dani's tone was completely void of snark, sass, irritation and all the other bits of her personality that rubbed everyone the wrong way. I turned to look in her eyes, seeing the softness as she spoke again, "Victoria hasn't told you anything about what she thinks of you or feels about you?"

I groaned, not wanting to have a heart to heart with this woman, but maybe she could give me insight on how to get Victoria to say those daunting three words that I seemed to hold so much weight in. "No, she hasn't. She tells me I’m beautiful, smart, sexy, funny and that she would do anything to protect me. Which I know anyone would be grateful to hear from their significant other, but." I paused, catching Victoria look at me and grin, holding up a finger to tell me she would be right over. "But."

"But sometimes all the heart wants, is the truth." Dani sighed, placing a warm hand on my shoulder, "I wish I could get the stubborn Professor to say it, but after being by her side for ten years and knowing her as well as I do, it will take time. No matter how many times I tell her to let go and just say it, she won't."

Dani looked down at me, "The only thing I can say is that in all of the years we've gone to this formal, this is the first time she's brought someone as her date. It's always been her and I, sitting for an hour then blowing this place and drinking away the bad memories that come with these stupid uniforms in the shitty midshipmen's bar three blocks down." She let out a slow breath, "You've gotten more of her than any of us ever will. You've brought more of her back to the world. Pieces of her I saw before everything went to shit and hoped every day would come back."