Don't Say Goodbye (Navy Book 2)

Chapter 7

She had managed to get some work done, and had even managed to contact Devon before her classes started. Hilliard had emailed her Devon's number a few hours after she had left him.

She took her seat in Hilliard's class looking over her notes from her conversation with Devon. She had been very helpful and found her choice of subject very interesting. There were a few people that she knew who fit the profile that Charlie needed so she was going to pass their information on to her as soon as she got their permission.

Blanche sat down next to Charlie and sighed heavily.

Charlie ignored her and continued to review her notes.

"So what were you and Hilliard talking about last week?"

Charlie shrugged. "He wanted to know why I had missed class."

"I thought the dogs were yours."

"No." She had no interest in sharing any more than she needed to with Blanche.

"They seemed to like you."

"I like them, so why wouldn't they like me?"

"So you know Dr. Hilliard's dogs well then?"

Charlie fought rolling her eyes. "They're dogs Blanche. I like dogs."

Just then Hilliard entered the classroom. She was more aware of him than she had ever been. He looked as he always did, jeans, button down shirt, tie, and loafers. His thick beard covering half his face. But knowing what lay under those clothes, his leanness and his hardness, and knowing that she was the only one in the room to have experienced an almost naked Hilliard on several different occasions made her feel flustered.

Charlie looked away from him and back at her notes. She had woken up next to him. She had slept next to him in his bed. Suddenly it all seemed much more intimate than just sleeping in his bed.

He pulled out his notes and perched on the edge of the table. "I received your updates and I'm pleased with most of your progress, those that I am less than pleased with received a response." He looked around the room, "Are there any questions about this?"

When no one said anything he looked back down at his notes, but not before his gaze collided with Charlie's. Charlie was unable to read what he was thinking in the brief moment before he looked away.

"Now, when we left off last week we were discussing the effects of moving, on military children versus non-military children. You all had interesting contributions but..." Charlie took careful notes as the class continued.

Towards the end of class the door opened and a beautiful redhead walked into the room. She smiled at Hilliard who graced her with one of his rare smiles in greeting before motioning for her to have a seat. She looked around the class and focused in on a few girls in the front before sitting down. Charlie could feel the steam coming off of Blanche. The woman was a stunner and definite competition for any man in the near vicinity.

Class continued as if the interruption hadn't happened.

"In a discussion I had with Charlie about her research she mentioned that she was having a hard time finding military families that, through seconded marriages, had united non-military families with military families. So I want to put the question towards you all, especially the military brats in the room. How many families like this have you met over the years, and how common is it? I will give you the weekend to think research it and we will pick-up there on Tuesday."

That signaled the end of class and everyone started to gather their stuff and leave the room.

"I wonder who she is," Blanche whispered to Charlie as she leaned down to gather her things.