Posted by Fleet Captain Garrett Michael O’Connor (Commanding Officer) in Side Sim Eden Prime Resort First one doing the walk of shame from the Captain’s room wins

Posted by Lieutenant Anastasia Adelaide Halsey (Supply Officer) in Side Sim Eden Prime Resort First one doing the walk of shame from the Captain’s room wins

Posted by Fleet Captain Garrett Michael O’Connor (Commanding Officer) in Side Sim Eden Prime Resort First one doing the walk of shame from the Captain’s room wins
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<<<SNIP>>>
She smiled at his reply and picked up her glass taking a sip. “This place is where someone goes to propose or at least where every woman imagines someone goes to propose.” Breaking from her daydream she let out a laugh. “Don’t read into that,” she looked at him slightly embarrassed scratching her forehead with a fingernail. “I…this place was not what I was expecting but more than I could have ever expected. Kinda like you,” she cocked her head to the side slightly scrutinizing him like she hadn’t done since he agreed to go sky diving with her.

Addie Halsey

“Well…” Garrett smiled warmly. “… I kinda like you too Addie. Can’t say I’m not incredibly grateful I jumped at the chance to… well, jump.” He looked at her in a rather warm manner. “Depending on how things go, I’m hoping to see how things… go” The pilot shrugged and blushed ever so slightly. “But let’s not worry about that right now. I’m very much focused on here and now. On some of the most beautiful company I’ve enjoyed in quite some time.”

Garrett O’Connor

“Agreed,” she picked up her glass to toast him. As if the clink signaled the waiter, he appeared like a wraith out of thin air.

“Are you ready to order,” he asked looking first at Addie and then Garrett.

“Yes, I believe we are…” Garrett began. “… Addie dear, see anything you like or are you feeling adventurous?” He winked. “I can order something I know you’ll love.”

“Since I would be randomly stabbing at something in the dark,” she handed the menu to the waiter, “I would love for you to order for me.”

Garrett had never even opened the menu. Handing it to the young waiter, he smiled at the young man and began. “La signora ed io avremo entrambi il numero quattro, medio bene… con i funghi portobello arrostiti ripieni e l’insalata grande da spaccare con il condimento tradizionale. Per cominciare, avremo entrambi la Pasta Fagioli. Si prega di portare una bottiglia di Veuve Clicquot freddo con gli antipasti e assicurarsi che, ad eccezione del servizio pasti, non siamo disturbati. Fatto?”

The young man smiled broadly, quickly taking notes and then added. “Signore eccezionale! ci metto subito! È così bello parlare con qualcuno da casa! Se hai bisogno di qualcosa nel frattempo, tocca il pulsante di chiamata sul vaso e arrivo subito.” And with that, the young man was gone.

Listening to Garrett, she felt like the man was singing rather than speaking. The words rolled off his tongue like a melody. As he finished up, Addie relaxed back in her seat. It had been a long time since she had felt this comfortable with someone. Then it hit her why. “You know tonight is going to be perfect,” she announced as if there had been a question posed to the contrary. “Wanna know why?”

Garrett grinned. “No… why? Wait… is this a trap?” He chuckled softly.

“Well, technically we are on our second date. First dates are usually painfully awkward and me hanging from your chest parachuting today like some helpless Kangaroo means we are on clear sailing from here on out. How much longer are you here? Me and my friends are here until next Saturday. Ten days of sun and fun and I am not going to waste it sitting on some beach staring at the water. You can do that in any holodeck. Tomorrow I am ziplining in the boreal rainforest. Any plans on your end,” she asked taking another sip of her wine.

Addie

Chuckling, Garrett sipped his wine and smiled. “I don’t know how much of the harness was necessary. You were holding on pretty damn tight with your legs.”

“I was under the impression I was falling to my death,” she joked back with a smile. “I usually like to take a friend with me. I am so glad you had a different plan.”

He winked and continued. “I actually have to report for duty next Friday morning, unfortunately. Joys of command… always killing your weekends.”

Addie wrinkled her nose up in confusion. “No one reports for duty on a Friday. Trust me I know,” she paused as the waiter dropped off the first course of appetizers Garrett had ordered in his fluent Italian. “Monday’s are a pain in the royal ah,” she cut off her own word with a bit of the food. For something so delicate and small, it tasted like nothing she had ever had eliciting a small groan before she continued after swallowing. “You do not need to leave on Friday. You are in the prime of your life. Sleep when you are dead. Trust me,” she repeated again. “I have every minute planned out to the microsecond. I am super-efficient at logistics. I know how long it takes to ship anything from one corner of this galaxy to the other including humans. There is no point you can’t reach from this planet that takes longer than twenty-four hours with Earl flying.” Dabbing her piece of bread into the oil and spices she took a second bite as she talked.

Garrett smirked, my god she was energetic! Dabbing bread of his own, he smiled. “It’s not like my new Command is a long way off. Pretty close actually… but you’re right, I’m in no particular hurry to get there.”

“You are going to be in your command seat, in your stuffy uniform, drinking bad coffee, and slightly better than canned food out of a replicator soon enough. So hand over your travel itinerary to Halsey’s Hauling and extend your stay by one more day. It’ll make you feel good,” she sang in a sing-song lithe as she finished her bite brushing a few crumbs from her fingertips to her plate.

“Well, Ms. Halsey…” Garrett chuckled. “… I have no clear itinerary. My whole concept was to come here to eat and drink and…” He blushed a bit. “… maybe work in a little play. Aside from that and getting some cockpit and seat time in air breathing vehicles for once, I’m actually super chill as far as scheduling goes.”

“Say yes to the thin wire of death that will propel you across,” she looked up as if trying to recall some words from her mind, “the beautiful and lush boreal forests of Eden prime adding a moment that flashes before your eyes to the ones you will recall when you die.” While the slogan had a poetic ring, when you really thought about it, it was not particularly encouraging.

“Zip-lining huh…” Garrett grinned widely. “… that mean I get to see you in shorts if I tag along like a little puppy?”

“And a tank top that has about as much support as a bikini top,” she winked at him knowing Garrett’s mind would go exactly to where she had painted the picture.

Addie would notice the slight bite of Garrett’s lip as he looked out the window and ran his fingers through his chestnut hair. “Things just get better and better…” He said in a under-the-breath whisper.

He paused before adding. “Cause, that sounds way more fun than hanging out on a beach… though… I’m sure you are stunning in a bikini!”

Garrett

“As long as I didn’t get mushroom salad for dinner then yes,” she let out a laugh. She had no idea what Garrett got her but she did suspiciously hear the word fungi. “No wait,” she held up her hands playfully. “I want to be surprised…or no,” she laughed and then countered “yes. Yes to being surprised no telling me what’s coming and don’t be all set on leaving next Friday. Who knows. We could fall off the zip lines, break both our legs and be stuck recuperating on the beach. The tan lines would be for crap but the company amazing.”

It was Garrett’s turn to laugh. “Broken legs! Not… exactly… the kinda injuries I’m now worried about over the next week, but duly noted.” He gave Addie flirty wink as he reached for his glass.

Picking up her glass she raised it up for him to toast.

Seeing Addie raise her glass, the pilot joined her gesture.

“I say no talk about Friday. If I don’t kill you in the next six days and seven nights we do it Casablanca style. We take separate cars here Thursday’s night, have another fabulous dinner, and you say good bye with the classic line here’s looking at you kid”.

There was a suspicious purse of Garrett’s lips before a soft snort escaped him. “I have a sneaky feeling the last thing you’re gonna be doing is sleeping alone my last night dirt side.” He smiled a charmingly bright smile.

“I have a suspicion I am not getting any sleep nights with you dirt side,” she took a sip and waggled her eyebrows in response.

“Or that you are leaving on Friday. I will get you to alter your plans to a departure on Saturday morning at,” she calculated the farthest point possible in her head gauging her response to that, “0400 hours. You can sleep on the shuttle en route, slap some deodorant while brushing your teeth in the shuttle bathroom, and down a pot of coffee before stepping foot at your new command. Trust me, you might think your new command crew wants to see you but we don’t. CO’s are like children. They should be seen but not heard. The second your Cappy wants a one on one, something has gone sideways. A few salutes on your way to the bridge is all you need to instill faith and trust in your new crew. Save the speeches for when the powers that be are around. The crew will thank you.”

“Sounds like they’ll thank you…” He grinned. “… for sending a broken, exhausted CO that won’t be able to recover for a week.” Then, he shook his head. “And there is likely nothing you could dream of doing to get my ass outta bed at 0400…” Garrett paused then blushed. “… well, nothing that would make me wanna actually /leave/ the bed.”

“Never say never. I will just make you regret those words,” she said her sentence slowly and teasingly letting the words roll off her tongue like a sultry promise.

Try as he might, Garrett couldn’t help but slightly bite his lower lip. This girl was young, beautiful, and by the looks of her… likely strong enough to make even him tap out on a good night. “Guess we’ll just have to wait and see… huh?” He smiled, thankful he recovered from a series of brief fantasies.

“Guess we’ll just have to wait and see,” Addie repeated back with a devilish smile. The man across from her was the whole package which meant he was probably well past the sprint down the hall or slide in at the end of a line pretending you had always been there stage of his life. Still, there was something raw and exciting lying under the surface. Addie was not going to just scratch the surface of one Garrett O’Connor in the next few days. She was going to excavate it with a backhoe and full construction team if necessary. He intrigued her and that had not happened in a very long time.

Setting her glass down Addie looked at the water as she talked. “So tell me about the first or last time you have been arrested?”

Addie Halsey. Private eye

“Arrested?” Garrett again laughed out loud. “They don’t give warships to felons Addie. So, the answer to your question is never…” He paused and glanced out the window. “… though, I’m not saying I’ve never been in cuffs. Just…” There was a slight blush to his cheeks. “… that when I was, I had access to the key.”

Garrett

“So you like to be given orders. Duly noted,” she let out a laugh that shook her body. “I don’t mind being in charge.” Addie felt a warm rush fill her body. Her mind began to run with scenarios of nocturnal exploits although none of them actually involved him using the title Ma’am. Life in Starfleet was filled with titles so Addie was pretty sure he could find something better to use after midnight. “I have only been arrested once. So is that going to make a difference with you and that warship? Knowing a felon I mean.”

Addie Halsey

“I bet you don’t…” He grinned. “… and a woman in charge from time to time is a nice change of pace considering I have a… thing about being in control.”

“You need to get over that thing because you are hanging with Avalanche Addie. Don’t worry. If it gets too hot for you to handle your Alpine rescue dog is named Bert and he always finds his survivors.”

Taking a sip of wine, Garrett noticed Addie’s flush and her form shiver. He chuckled, relieved that he wasn’t the only one already a bit hot under the collar. “Arrested once…” Garrett snickered. “… and still commissioned tells me it wasn’t /that/ bad. I doubt I have much to worry about in that regard.”

Then, without warning, Addie felt something move against the back of her right calf. Gently, her leg was raised until she felt a hand beneath the table softly caress the back of her calf. It was then she’d notice she could only see one of Garrett’s hands, the one nonchalantly holding his glass. As he flashed a smoldering glance across the table, he asked as his unseen hand gently teased the back of her leg. “So… tell me about this arrest.”

Garrett, The Flirt

Addie lost the ability to speak for a second. If this had been a private dinner in her or Garrett’s apartment, the main course would no longer be what he ordered but whatever junk food he had stored in his cabinets as they waited for the pizza to arrive dressed like they were going to a toga party in his now loose sheets. She avoided his face and looked off to the side with a dopey smile on his face. If she wasn’t careful, she would need Bert there Rescue St. Bernard to rescue her from Captian Cyclone about to ravage her shores. “I…I am,” she shook her hair out trying to act natural but clearly hyper-focusing on the approaching southern army to her Mason Dixon line. Picking up her drink, she cleared her throat and forced herself to look at Garret as she spoke. Her tone warbled slightly in rhythm with the soft caresses of his fingertips on the delicate area just below her knee but above her ankle. “It was the summer of 69…87,” she instantly turned red. “The summer of 87 and get your mind out of the gutter. I was born in 69. Simple mistake,” she took a sip of her glass trying to hide her laugh.

“Suure…” Garrett chuckled as he grazed fingertips along the back of her calf and knee. “… so, summer of ‘87. Go on…” God how he loved the feel of her skin on his fingertips. Addie was like a powerful sports car, raw energy under tension. Though, he was enjoying the chase… seeing just exactly how much tension she could take!

“I uh,” she started and felt the pressure increase losing her train of thought. The man could make her do that way too easily. Running her fingers through her hair she avoided eye contact just until she could find a second to breathe and gather her thoughts. “So senior year,” she let out a laugh knowing how silly she looked trying to act like nothing out of the ordinary was happening.

“My senior year of high school and there was this guy. Jackson Mahoney,” she let his name roll off her tongue like a dream or a nightmare. “He dated my best friend for a few months and then poof just like that he dumped her for Marylou Jenkins. Jenkins was not an A…student.... like us back in the day. She was more of a D type of girl but back then we could not catch up.” They were in a nice restaurant and Garrett could read between the lines. He was a seventeen-year-old guy at one also and understood the grading system.

“Any way we could not let that go unchallenged. So we bought like a hundred plastic forks, drove to the guy’s house one night after midnight, and chucked them in his front yard along with one that had an index card attached to it saying FORK YOU.”

“The plan would have been perfect except my friend Jen used an index card from her English Lit class. Jackson’s mom called the police and we were arrested on charges of vandalism. It didn’t stick and since we were underaged the charges got expunged. Your turn for a question but make it interesting,” Addie leaned back relaxing into his touch and propping her heel on his knee so Garrett could have better access to her calf. The tablecloth was long hiding their antics, they were both consenting adults, and they were on shore leave.

Addie Halsey

“Sounds… exciting.” Garrett said with a roguish smirk and smoldering gaze as he put just a little teasing pressure behind his fingertips as he drug them down the back of her calf. “Well…” Taking a sip of wine, Garrett continued to toy with Addie… his touch precise and controlled. “… where’s the riskiest place you ever made love?” Garrett was going for the kill now… deliberately wanting to push every button he could in a controlled environment. If all went well, she’d be ready to tear him apart before dessert hit the table.

Garrett O’Connor

“It was Commandant Grayson’s office…graduation week…,” she shot back without even blinking. “They were having a meeting next door and the guy I was seeing was the Cadet aide. The sex wasn’t stellar but the rush was. I say was because it soon will be the second most riskiest place. The first will be with a dashing Captain who will call out clear the bridge. All that power under the command seat,” she took a long slow sip of her wine. God it was fun to daydream with this man. Hell Addie didn’t even know if the man was really a Captain. He said he was but it was not like she asked for his transfer papers. The guy could be some maintenance crewmember selling her a line and yet it didn’t matter to her if he was or wasn’t who he said he was. He was sexy and charming and made her heart beat a little bit faster. Eden Prime was a place to let your fantasies run wild. “I just need to find a Captain. Know anyone that would fit the bill?”

With a chuckle, Garrett shook his head. “Maybe… maybe not. Depends on exactly how loud and who you think is gonna be doing the… shouting” The pilot raked his fingers once more up the back of Addie’s leg past her knee and to the lowest part of the back of her thigh. He winked.

Picking up a piece of the bread she slowly toyed with it, dragging it slowly in the oil and herbs before placing it in her mouth.

“Okay I’m up,” she let a devilish smile cross her face knowing there was probably no way Garrett would be able to leave his seat for the next few minutes. “Tell me one thing on your bucket list you want to do before you die.”

Addie Halsey

Sliding his hand down the back of her leg, Garrett answered in a flat, matter-of-fact manner. “Making love in Zero-G… not even a question.” He raised a single eyebrow as he cupped her calf, a soft smile on his lips.

Garrett O’Connor

Addie’s mouth dropped open but more for the reason, Garrett might expect. “How was that even possible? I mean Newton’s third law of physics states all forces between two objects exist in equal magnitude and opposite directions. That means when you uh go..in…then well how do you stay…connected?” The look on Addie’s face was priceless. She was working hard to figure out the logistics and not because Garrett was hot as hell. She was trying to figure out the how. As if to punctuate her point, Addie made two fists and bounced them together for a visual. They were in a nice restaurant after all.

It took everything Garrett had not to laugh out loud at Addie’s… demonstration. He too had had the similar thoughts on this particular bucket list item, though he had already figured out the best approach… well… at least in her case! O’Connor smirked at the thought as she continued.

Leaning forward, Addie dropped her voice and looked around as if they were on an intelligence mission and not a romantic date. “It was the 2Tsuit. You used the 2T suit didn’t you. I have seen the specs on that thing. Did they fix the design flaw and now have one hand free to stop impacts of your head when you…well,” she made a rolling motion with her hand, “move…forward?” Again as if to demonstrate her point, she casually reached a hand over her head with a flat palm to the ceiling. To keep it church safe, she let out a small, faked yawn to appear as if she were stretching instead of discussing the techniques of zero-G interactions.

Downing the rest of her wine, Addie thought about the logistics probably more than necessary. “The Magnus suit was discontinued due to the concussion rate of its users. The 2T or too Tumultuous Suit,” she threw in the full name just because she was geeking out about specs and not to inform Garrett of anything he didn’t know, “put in back padding and magnetic fasteners because of the obvious issues with zippers, buttons, and velcro with fasteners.”

Leaning back in her seat Addie suddenly broke out laughing. “Can I alter my list? Bridge and zero G as contenders for the top spot?” She let her rhetorical question hang in the air as long as it took a cool breeze to brush away the words between them.

As he continued to gently stroke her leg, the suggestion she made and their discussion in general was making his heart race and giving him goose bumps. He very much liked this girl and it was looking more and more like the odds were in his favor of… at the very least… having an exhausting end to his vacation.

“Sorry about that. I know we said no work talk but you did have me intrigued and not past whether I would have a concussion or not.” The look on her face and the way she shifted slightly in the chair to give him more square footage on her leg showed materials and construction were not the only things on her mind about his confession.
“Okay so you just added to my bucket list items but what are the top three on yours?”

Addie Halsey

Garrett laughed once more. “Glad to know I’m not the only one that at least put a little thought into the logistics and physics of said… recreation” He winked playfully but then shook his head. “Sadly…” he leaned slightly forward before lowering his own voice. “… you’ve already put far too much thought into it. First, any HoloDeck with the right codes can go Zero G at the push of a button.

Addie opened her mouth to reply but felt a firm squeeze on her leg making her close her mouth and smile. Garrett was already knowing she talked way to much and ways to quieter her down. Part of it was the hand on her leg but the other part was the look he gave her. She would later come to nickname it the command stare. It was that look one gave another that said shhhh I’m talking right now so pipe down. It was a look she was familiar with but when it was paired with a guy that looked like Garrett and she was attracted to, it quieted her down far faster than normal.

Second…” He gave the back of Addie’s calf a sudden, firm squeeze. “… I’ve had your legs around me and the bruises to prove their strength. I highly doubt that…” He gave her leg the most teasing touch of the night. “…. you’d lose your grip.” The look he gave her at that moment was one of the more passionate looks Addie had likely ever seen.

With a smirk, Garrett leaned back and shifted his chair just a little bit closer and to his left, giving him a bit higher and better grip of Addie’s thigh. Continuing nonchalantly, he smiled. “Well, you now know Number One. Number Two would have to be flying over Rome at sunset in a really, open cockpit aircraft. And Three…” He grinned and shook is head. “… is one neither of us are qualified to do. A Sub-Orbital Jump. 150,000 feet… over ten minutes of straight free fall. Requires a Pressure Suit, about six months of training, and a absolute goddamn reason to do it!” Garrett laughed. “So, needless to say… likely forever off my table!”

Garrett O’Connor

“Well, I would not use a pen to scratch it off. It seems you and I have a penchant for fall. Parachuting…zipling…hell you have no idea if there is not some fun touristy activity about throwing ourselves off a platform. I think we should be flexible about to orbital or suborbital part. It’s a tall order so maybe we pencil it in for Thursday night? That way we don’t have to worry about shoving it to the weekend and missing out.” Signaling the waiter over, Addie looked at the man and debated if she should get Garrett to translate or not.

“Pencilling in for Thursday huh?” Garrett smiled, still caressing her leg. “You really think you’re going to want to go that far away? I’m sure there are plenty of other forms of… recreation… closer to the hotel.” As much as he was enjoying teasing Addie, he had to remember not to let himself get his mind too far off track. This woman was like a drug… and he was already hating that he chose a public space for this date. He wanted nothing more than to be near her… and if he didn’t pump the brakes, just touching her leg would soon not be near enough. Not even close Garrett thought, again mindlessly teasing her leg with his fingernails.

“Extra-curricular activities don’t need to be done closer to the hotel. They can be done anywhere as long as you are willing to take chances,” she winked at him. “Unless you’re shy?” Addie left the innuendo floating. Garrett didn’t seem the type to like to hide in the dark but Addie didn’t know much about him past easy on the eyes and his addicting personality.

“Can I get a beer? Blue Moon slice of orange in the bottle,” she asked. The waiter cocked an eyebrow at Garrett and then nodded before walking away. “Honesty moment,” she smiled a bit embarrassed at Garrett. “I am not really a wine girl. There is a vineyard here. Maybe you can sway me to the fine art of aged grapes. This is fine,” she gestured at the glass, “but I get a hangover and a half with wine. With beer, I can go all night long. Liquor and wine go straight to my head. I was just about to tell you higher and to the left,” she let out a full laugh as the waiter set down her beer.

“Really now…” O’Connor chuckled. “… well to be honest, while I enjoy wine, it isn’t my first choice.” Turning to the waiter, Garrett added. “Would you mind bringing me a Guinness in a chilled glass with the meal?”

The waiter raised an eyebrow but smiled warmly. “But of course” His native Italian accent very clear.

“I think our stock as hoity-toity just plummeted based on the look on the waiter’s face,” Addie remarked running her finger slowly around the tip of her beer.

“Since we haven’t gotten past the appetizers I thought I should wait for the main course. About dessert, I am going to tell you higher and to the left,” she joked putting the bottle to her lips and taking a long sip. The expression on her face and the total sigh of her body showed Addie was really enjoying what she was drinking. Twirling it in her hand she scrutinized Garrett. “What is wrong with you,” she asked taking another sip.

The was another chuckle, as he ran his free hand through his hair. “Funny… I was about to ask the same thing about you.”

“Pffft,” Addie made a lip trill and blew off his comment. “Easy. No one can keep up with me. You though,” she pointed the bottle at him as she talked.

“You are funny, sexy, a blast to be around. You are far easier on the eyes than should be allowed. You are employed which,” she held up a finger as she took another sip of her drink, “is a bonus and not one that everyone has. Trust me. You are easy to talk to and while I am not getting out my whiteboard to score your dexterity and maneuverability like an Olympic judge at a diving event I am sure your score for entering the pool is going to rank somewhere in the 8.5 to 9.0 range. So let’s get it out now. I told you I am not a wine girl. What is your flaw or should I worry I will get mugged by a crazy ex Mrs. Garrett in the ladies’ room as my way of finding that out? For the record, though I could take her. I am pretty scrappy when the occasion calls for it.” Addie was joking but on some level serious. The guy was a little too perfect. Her mom always told her there was a perfect guy out there so maybe this was just Garrett being the perfect-perfect for her. He was certainly ticking off the boxes 11-19 which hadn’t been checked in so long there were dust bunnies in the corner of them.

Addie Halsey

Garrett laughed out loud, though quickly stifling it. “No…” He said through soft laughter. “… never married, no kids running around. Though, I don’t doubt you could handle yourself in a fight!” He winked. “Flaw wise… I guess that I’m a ridiculous adrenaline junkie. Always have been. Broken my fair share of bones and have always found myself wanting to go harder and faster in just about everything I do.” The double entendre wasn’t on purpose and he did blush almost instantly when he made the connection in his head. “Well… you know what I mean.”

“I hope so. Remember why I am single. Guys just can’t keep up. You could be that dark horse in the running the psychic at the beach when I was thirteen promised me was out there. So faster and harder,” brought the conversation back to him.

“I am a bit of an antique nut.” He blushed once more. “A few years back, I finally finished restoring a World War II TF-51D, the two-seater training version of the famed P-51 Mustang. She was named the ‘Toulouse Nuts’ by the Foundation that had her for nearly 200 years before she was shuttered away in a hanger at the old Boston Logan Airport. She was there for decades and was found once more after a fire in the same hanger took out dozens of old aircraft. The foundation had long since shuttered and when the holder of the title put her up for sale, she came with the qualifier that she would only be sold if the buy signed an promissory to restore her and make her available for display at Oshkosh… the big airshow… each year after. I did one better, I restored her and have her on permanent display in the ‘Fliers Hanger’ at the Oshkosh International Air Museum. The Hanger is on the immediate flight line of the airport and permits the owners to fly them when ever they want. I believe me, every time I’m home… I do!”

He let that all sink in before chuckling. “So, I guess my flaw is I don’t have a ton of free money just hanging around. The car goes with me but the owners fees, upkeep and care for TN is nearly 40% of my annual salary. But its worth it. She’s deeded to the Smithsonian when I finally kick the buck, under the agreement she tours to Oshkosh every five years and that she is never flown again. If I break her, its on me… but that old bird is a piece of aviation history. I don’t want some yahoo plowing her into the ground.” He winked and raised his glass in a small salute. “Is that enough of a flaw for ya?”

Garrett O’Connor

“It’s a flaw I can deal with. I thought it was going to be a deal-breaker like you whittled wood or played the harmonica when you were sad. Oh, and before you ask I don’t have any flaws. My momma says I am perfect. I will make you a believer on that by the end of the week,” she winked at him clearly teasing him. Addie took another long swig of her drink. As if on cue, the waiter arrived with the plates of food piled high setting them down before Addie and Garrett. As much as Addie wanted Garrett’s expeditionary team of Louis and Clark to explore her forbidden territory, the food looked amazing and Addie was starving. Sliding her leg off his lap, she picked up her fork and looked at the dish with her mouth-watering.

There was a momentarily challenging and possessive grip on Addie’s leg as she removed it from his lap. The look in his eyes as they locked on hers across the table told Addie it was no accident and he was definitely not happy about removing his touch from her skin.

Addie paused momentarily in her position changed and watched Garrett’s smile falter for the briefest second and his eyes flash with contemplation. You are wishing you didn’t bring me here. Maybe I am too, Addie thought. This was the side she wanted to see of Garrett O’Connor. He had the look and the charm of a playboy but the few things she knew about the man said Garrett had a serious more authoritative side just like she had a rebellious side. What did it take for the playboy who took orders to become a Captain that gave them? Addie might just toe the line tonight and see.

His fingertips teased her skin as her calf slipped from Garrett’s grip.

“Okay, flyboy what am I eating?” For as fit as Addie was, Addie did love food. She was not the salad with a glass of lemon water girl. Addie liked meat. Addie liked pasta. Addie liked seafood. There was not much she wouldn’t eat or at least try for the hell of it. Besides, Addie needed Garrett to eat because her plans for later involved a lot of calorie burning.

Addie Halsey

“Well…” Garrett began, the challenge in his eyes quickly subsiding as he eyed the (other) mouth watering yummies on the table. “… this is the Number Four, on of my favorites. Surf & Turf with filet mignon… medium well, garlic shrimp-stuffed lobster tails with a side of stuffed roasted portobello mushrooms.” He smiled. “I figured between that and this beautiful salad, you’d approve of my meal-selection skills. You like?”

Garrett O’Connor

“Yes,” she said excitedly picking up her knife and fork cutting a piece. Placing it in her mouth, Addie’s face and body melted. “Oh my god this is like,” she sighed not able to find a word. It was clear however that Addie approved of Garrett’s choice. “You are totally in charge of picking out dinner. I will do lunch. We are definitely going to be sleeping through breakfast.” Addie’s cheeks flushed red as she blurted out what she had been thinking in silent. Looking up at Garrett, her face held the expression of someone who had just revealed classified information.

Thanking God for having let him move the glass from his lips and finish the drink in his mouth before Addie made the particular slip. The smirk that crossed Garrett’s face was unmistakable. “Oh really now? So…” He raised an eyebrow, thoughtlessly biting his bottom lip as he let out a soft growl. “… are you suggesting I’ll need my rest in the morning, or you will?” There was definitely such a thing as bedroom eyes and Addie was getting the set that made no question said eyes were removing articles of clothing. “I mean, if the former, I guess I should say thanks for the warning.”

“I am saying if either of us are sleeping tonight then we are doing something wrong.” Addie met his gaze with a raised eyebrow before turning red.

“So tell me about your family? Is it big?” Talking about one’s parents on a date tended to cool things down a bit yet it was the first thing that popped into her mind. Grabbing her beer, she chugged a large sip trying to hide the dopey grin still lingering from her breakfast comment.

Addie Halsey

The man was still fighting to wipe the smirk off his face as he chuckled through a response. “Well… no. One Aunt on my dad’s side and a pair of uncles on mom’s. I have been blessed…” Garrett snorted softly. “… or cursed, depending on your view… with a pair of baby sisters, Sydney and Brooklyn, 27 and 29 respectively. Sydi is an Astro Geologist serving with the Federation Science Council and BK is a Gunnery Sergeant with the SFMC serving as a hand to hand & small arms instructor at the Academy.” He waited for just a moment to let Brooklyn’s job sink in.

“Dad’s the current Dean of the Business School at UC Boulder and mom is a senior aerospace engineering researcher for Lockheed Martin. That’s about it”

Garrett O’Connor

Addie looked at Garrett and chewed slowly nodding. Picking up her beer, she washed the bite down and then calmly picked her knife and fork back up. Slicing off a piece of her steak she skewered it on her fork and waved it slightly as she began to speak. “Well, the reason why you are single has now been solved. Everyone is always going on about the girl’s father but it is the brother’s sisters that have to be won over to enter any family. Pretty sure the fact your baby sister, who can probably nail a squirrel between the eyes in a tree twenty feet off the ground when she is one hundred yards away has nothing to do with why you are single.” Addie punctuated the end of her sentence taking a bite of her steak. “Brilliant mom, auditor dad, and another sister that could easily plan a camping trip on an active fault line but know what side on the fault line to survive an earthquake....yeah…can’t see why you are single at all.” Giving him a wink, Addie waited for Garrett to respond. Of course he was going to come back with a ‘nah they are super accepting’ or ‘you are crazy’ but the truth was getting through his family for some girl was going to be a Hail Mary play that would become family lore passed on through generations.

Addie Halsey (suiting up for her Hail Mary play in the locker room)

Garrett laughed, shaking his head. “I would like to tell you you’re being overly melodramatic…” He took a sip and motioned to Addie. “… but you’re not! I’ve had BK come out to personally train my units, because she’s an evilly efficient and damn dangerous with her hands. And Sydi is the quintessential outdoors girl… forget the fault line, she’s an accomplished archer and won multiple championships over the last 15 year. BK could easily kill you with her bare hands… but, hell…” The man was clearly enjoying this. “… at least you’d see her coming! Sydi dropped a 10-point elk last season at over 200 feet, she’s the one you should be afraid of!” He gave her a wink. “I’ve had a few women try and win them over and…” He shrugged with a smirk. “… though none died, I’ve yet to be tied down…”

“By your choice or theirs,” she let out a happy chuckle.

He winked playfully and gave a roguish smile. “… well, at least not for longer than a few hours in a sturdy bed.”

“You ain’t scared of a little… challenge, are ya Addie?” He wagged his eyebrows in a playfully taunting manner.

Garrett O’Connor

“No, everyone loves me,” she shrugged it off, “and those that down fuh,”

“Is everything to your satisfactory,” the waiter walked in at the exact second Addie’s comment might have soiled the atmosphere of the restaurant. After polite compliments and small banter, the man slipped back into the shadows.

“Besides the only way I am meeting them is through snapshots in your wallet unless,” she raised a finger to signal she had an idea, “a girlfriend halfway across the galaxy you only see once or twice a year is their thing and if that is the case I am in like Flynn.” The idea of whether or not Addie could survive meeting Garrett family was about as likely as Addie winning the President of the Federation election. It was never going to happen but fun to talk about.

Garrett quickly raised an eyebrow and smiled wide but didn’t say anything. Though the thought had crossed his mind more than once since meeting Addie, he hadn’t really gave it any credence. Hearing the idea of having the striking beauty around on a more… permanent… basis was definitely a promising one!

“My family doesn’t come with super sniper skills but my dad is in marketing and can take down a consumer two seconds after they walk into a store. He ahs a knack for knowing you need and don’t need. He works in a small Marketing firm in upstate New York. Ever see that holo ad for John Deere where the kids are in the sedan, peering out the windows and suddenly one of them screams excitedly Mommy Daddy I see a deer. The camera then pans to a man cutting his lawn on a John Deere. That was my dad,” Addie let out a laugh. My mom works for a non-profit group helping kids in Foster care transition out into life as an adult. She didn’t start that really until I left for college. Since Starfleet took care of all my needs I guess she channeled all that empty nest syndrome into other people’s kids. I have one brother. He’s a beagley-boxer-pit bull mix named Baxter,” she let out a laugh. “My mom gave him my bedroom when I left and occasionally will send me messages from the dog reminding me I need to should come home more. Usually, there is some picture of Baxter sprawled on my bed with his tongue hanging out accompanying it.”

As yet another chuckle escaped him, Garrett winked. “I think I’ll win ol’ Baxter over! Never met a dog that didn’t like me!” He smiled widely. “And, apparently, parents love me!” Giving a charming grin, he added. “I mean, what’s not to like?” He leaned back and motioned with both hands from his shoulders down.

“You’re right. Starfleet girls are all about the one word that starts with a P and ends with an S.” Addie let her words hand in the air with a sultry smirk on her face. When she saw the expression on Garrett’s face her smile spread wider. “I was talking Pips. What were you thinking,” she asked polishing off the rest of the beer.

The comment was really the first that caught Garrett off guard and he looked for a moment like he nearly choked. With her punchline, Garrett chuckled and rolled his eyes. “You really are something else… ya know that Addie!” He was liking this girl more and more the longer he knew her. It was crazy for him because it wasn’t common for Garrett to fall this hard this fast. He once more found himself hoping that… just maybe… this could last longer than vacation.

“Yep,” she smiled devilishly and nodded. “Yep I do.”

“I was thinking more peppers, pastas, pies, or pizzas,” the waiter stepped into the conversation. “If you are looking for a suggestion I would encourage you to partake in the Tropical pizza. It’s a delightful medley of mango, pineapple, strawberry, and a pastry puff. The persimmon pie is slightly tart with a hint of cinnamon and brown sugar whereas the caramel pasta,” he continued to spell out the dessert menu until Addie shook her head.

“Wow…” Garrett began. “… that sounds amazing, but I don’t think I’m gonna be able to eat another bite. Addie, honey, you want anything?”

Leaning back, Addie looked at her dinner and felt like she was going to explode. “Okay so I was really eyeing up the desserts but at this point, you would just have to slather it on me. So I am going to suggest taking the chocolate mousse to go.” Dinner was excellent, the company amazing, but Addie’s mind was leaving the idea of being in public to a more private setting.

Addie Halsey

With first a slight purse of his lips and then gently bit of his lower lip, Garrett’s eyes lit playfully. “I think that’ll go great with my dessert. Though… after this meal, a solid workout to burn all this off will be necessary.” He raised eyebrows as a longing glowed in his eyes. “What’dya say we get outta here and find a place a little more… private?”

Garrett O’Connor

“I am one step ahead of you,” Addie stood up and immediately began to make her way to the door. She knew Garrett would be along. Walking to the front of the restaurant. The cool night air helped to clear Addie’s head. She was going to have to be careful with this one. What happened on shore leave stayed on shore leave but those kinds of nights usually also involved a morning by the pool with a headache, pair of sunglasses, floppy hat, and a desire for some quiet. Feeling a hand slip around her waist, Addie began to move down the steps to the car that was now waiting with a valet looking sad. The valet looked almost heartbroken as the kids slipped from his hand to Garrett’s.

“Hey mister,” he called out looking at Garrett hold the door so Addie could slide in.

“Take care of her okay. I mean she is hot and sleek, and I don’t think I have ever seen something so beautiful.” The valet walked down one step as if begging to be given one more chance to take in her beauty.

Patting the kid on the back, Garrett smiled as he rounded the front of the car. “We’ll likely be back Tuesday or Wednesday… you workin?” The kid lit up. “Both nights! I’ll be waiting!”

“Good… she’s really something and I always take good care of her.” Garrett said before he opened the door and climbed in.

Addie got comfortable in the seat and waited for Garrett to reassure the valet he was going to make sure his girl was always well cared for. As the door opened and her handsome pilot crawled in, Addie gave him a fake frown. “Did you use it’s not you, its me speech to let him down gently? I think he was in love,” Addie sniffed the air and let out a laugh, “and detailed your car.”

“Yeah…” He laughed as he put the car in gear and pulled away from the curb. “… though, I don’t know which he wanted more… the car or you!” As the car pulled onto the causeway and reached cruising speed, Garrett’s hand found Addie’s thigh once more.

“The car,” she responded without missing a beat,”although I am not sure that kid realizes you’d deck him just as fast for playing under her hood as you would mine.”

Opening the window, Addie let her fingertips feel the breeze as the wind whipped past the car on the long, winding trip home. Soft music played on the radio and there was silence between them. It was not bad silence but the comfortable one usually only attained after weeks of dating. Addie watched the Hotel slowly come into focus. The trip had also been long enough for Addie to focus. As the car stopped and Garrett got out, Addie waited for him to open her door. Any other time she would have gotten out herself but this time, she wanted to be close to him.

As they rode to the next destination, Garrett’s thumb mindlessly caressed Addie’s thigh… the pilot incredibly content with a woman for the first time in years. Pulling into the dedicated parking space they had left from a little over two hours before, Garrett palm gave Addie’s thigh a squeeze before he removed his hand and climbed from the car.

Her heart skipped a beat as the sound of the click of the doorhandle and cool breeze signaled the end of the night. Stepping out of the car, Addie looked up at Garrett. “We can’t go back to my room. I don’t know if Elizabeth is there.” All the sexy and flirty banter was gone from her words. Her tone was soft. Her statement was half a question. There were so many places they could go: the bar, a walk on the beach, the small cafe for a sobering cup of coffee, or a suite. Addie knew where she wanted to go but she also knew this was not going to just stay on shore leave.

Addie Halsey

Garrett smiled down at her, Addie’s eyes making his heart flutter. “That’s fine…” His banter gone as well. “… I think you’d prefer my suite anyway.” Unable to help himself, Garrett wrapped his arms around Addie and pulled her in, his lips hungrily finding hers. His breathing shallowed as the kiss deepened, one hand pulling her close resting on the small of her back… the other bee-lined to her ass.

Addie didn’t stop or care if they were in the bright lights of the valet station of the hotel. She let her body melt into pulling him close. Her one hand circled his body pulling him closer to her as her other hand moved up to his hair. It wasn’t long but long enough for her to get her fingers through it. Addie felt dizzy and tingly. She only had one thought in her mind. Addie was going to see just how important the car was in Garret’s life. Moving back a step she felt him come with her. They were on shore leave and it wasn’t that bright she tried to convince herself as carnal lust clouded rational thought. Taking a step back again she felt it. Garrett pulled away.

When he finally broke the kiss, his eyes looked almost drunk. His voice trembling slightly, Garrett smiled down. “I’ve been waiting to do that for the past hour.”

Addie’s eyes slowly opened and she stood there leaning forward realizing Garrett was no longer full steam ahead but at a full stop. To kiss me and stop. That is what you have been fantasizing about for the past hour?

Running a finger over her ear, tucking her hair back… Garrett was speechless for a moment before he asked. “As much as I really want to…” He blushed and looked away for just a second before looking at her in a much more passionate way. “… I don’t want to just jump into bed.”

What the hell is wrong with you? It’s not a sniper sister that has kept you single. It is this. This… right here. You stopped. Why did you stop, Addie’s mind raced but she replied with, “I agree but I am not really ready to say goodnight.” Addie let a smile hide the grimace. She did want to get to know him but right now the kind of conversation Garrett wanted could be done over eggs and bacon.

He gave her another quick kiss before smiling. “Would you like to take a walk on the beach… it’s just a short walk from my suite and the beach will be beautiful tonight. And I’d really like a little more time before we burn off that awesome meal!” He winked

And why are we not walking to the suite? “A walk on the beach sounds great,” Addie took Garrett’s hand and balanced for a second as she removed her heels. If they were going to walk on the beach, shoes were not needed. She let out a small laugh hoping this was not the extent as to what clothes she would be losing this evening. Still, if he was not ready, Addie would just find ways to not think about how hot the man was or how badly she wanted to be hot and sweaty with the hot man.

“So,” Addie let her voice drag out the word as she began to think about all the laundry she would have to have to do when they returned back to the Odin, “it is a beautiful night.” Addie wished she could come up with something far more titillating to discuss yet the thought of her clothes led her to wonder about his clothes. The old t-shirt that would smell of him that Addie would not only wear tomorrow over breakfast and coffee but steal. Garrett was definitely t-shirt stealing worthy. Maybe Addie would take two. God you smell good she thought laying her head on his arm for a half-second as they walked. It was disguised as a arm hug, but Addie was really enjoying being this close to Garrett.

As Garrett spoke, Addie’s mind drifted back to the t-shirt. What kind did he have? Were they graphic? Solid colors? Looking to her right she felt a hot rush run through her body. They would be fitted, tight, easily showing off his arms. God he had great arms. Closing her eyes, Addie thought about the moment at the car. His arms around her waist.

“Yes,” she replied hearing what she thought was a question he asked her. At least she hoped it was a question and that yes was an acceptable response.

Addie Halsey

Garrett O’Connor