Forget Me Not (Love in the Fleet) Read online

  Praise for Heather Ashby’s Love in the Fleet Series

  FORGET ME NOT

  “Sexy, funny, poignant, and romantic!”

  – Kieran Kramer,

  USA Today Bestselling Author

  “Forget Me Not takes flight with a dose of humor and suspense and reminds us of the healing power of love for wounded warriors and the ones left behind.”

  – Cindy Dees,

  Award-Winning Author of Military Suspense

  “A perfect combination of military detail, heart-hammering action, and searing romance.”

  – Merline Lovelace,

  USA Today Bestselling Author

  “Heart-pounding, realistic action and deeply drawn characters make Forget Me Not an unforgettable read!”

  – Rachel Grant,

  Author of Body of Evidence

  “Pull your five-point harness tight and brace for impact as sexy Sky Crawford pilots a Navy Seahawk helicopter and closes in on his targets. When it comes to terrorists, drug runners, and hot women, Sky never misses.”

  – S. L. Menear,

  Author of Deadstick Dawn

  FORGIVE & FORGET

  “Bold and steamy with a suspense taken from today’s headlines and a love that breaks all rules.”

  – Cathy Maxwell,

  New York Times Bestselling Author of The Devil’s Heart

  “Heather Ashby writes authentic Navy stories with heart and a good dose of humor.”

  – Geri Krotow,

  Author of Navy Orders, Whidbey Island Series #2 and U.S. Naval Academy Graduate

  “Heather Ashby writes characters that are anything but standard issue. This exciting high seas adventure showcases a world of honor, duty, and selfless service. But most of all, it’s a lovely example of how love conquers all.”

  –Terri Osburn,

  Author of Meant to Be in the Anchor Island Series

  “A thrilling novel…takes the reader into adventure on the high seas that involves suspense, danger, and intrigue, as well as forbidden love. This is a feel good read that rings true in every regard!”

  – Susan Brandenburg,

  St. Augustine Record

  “A fantastic debut! Heather Ashby kept me entertained all the way through with engaging characters and a story that had me right there living it.”

  – Kim Law,

  Author of RITA-nominated, Sugar Springs

  “Heather Ashby’s characters are appealing and realistic, her depiction of life aboard an aircraft carrier is fascinating, and the suspense and romance crackles throughout…a compelling, compulsively readable love story that’s as hard to put down as it is to forget.”

  – Colette Auclair,

  Author of Thrown (December 2013)

  “Although her novel’s characters are at sea, Ashby isn’t. She has a sure grasp of romance and adventure in a war zone…An up-to-the-minute-tale for today’s military and civilian adventure reader and a complete treat for readers of romance.”

  – Jeane Westin,

  Military Veteran and Author of The Spymaster’s Daughter and Love and Glory

  Books in the Love in the Fleet Series

  by Heather Ashby

  FORGIVE & FORGET

  FORGET ME NOT

  NEVER FORGET

  (coming July 2014)

  Praise for Heather Ashby’s Love in the Fleet Series

  Books in the Love in the Fleet Series

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Epilogue

  About Heather Ashby

  Henery Press Romance & Mystery Books

  FORGET ME NOT

  A Love in the Fleet Story

  First Edition

  Kindle edition | December 2013

  Henery Press

  www.henerypress.com

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Henery Press, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Copyright © 2013 by Heather Ashby

  Cover design by Kendel Flaum

  Author photograph by Straley Photography

  This is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN-13: 978-1-938383-82-3

  Printed in the United States of America

  For

  Our Wounded Warriors

  and

  Our Gold Star Families

  In Memoriam

  Aviation Anti-Submarine Warfare Operator First Class

  (AWH1) William “Billy” Quinn, USN

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  In thanksgiving for my Army son’s safe return from Afghanistan and Iraq, I donate half the royalties from this book to organizations that support wounded warriors and their families.

  Special thanks to the heroes and heroines in the U.S. Navy helicopter community whose hard work and dedication help to make the world a safer place. I am grateful to the Mayport ASW and SAR crews who fly over my house daily, reminding me to stay on task while writing my books. To those flying over the beach around 1700, I’m that crazy lady who waves and blows kisses at you. Let me know if you liked Forget Me Not by waving back. Extra special thanks to three very patient—and of course, handsome—Navy Seahawk pilots who shared their sea stories and expertise with me. Bravo Zulu, guys. I never could have written this book without you.

  Thank you, Romance Writers of America, for naming Forget Me Not a 2012 Golden Heart Finalist. (Original title: Cat on A Hot Steel Flight Deck) This honor connected me with my awesome editor Kendel Flaum at Henery Press and with my equally awesome Firebird Sisters.

  Gracias to Pris Kissinger for double checking my Español. Thanks to my beta readers and reviewers, especially Merline, Kieran, Cindy, Alyssa, Sharon, Rachel, and Jane. Thanks to the Firebirds, RomVets, FCRW, and all the hens in the Hen House for your support. To my awesome CP, Catherine Rull, for sending 50 pages at a shot from Australia so I could do edits between workshops at Nationals. Thank you, Maria Connor at My Author Concierge, for taking care of all business matters. Hugs to Suzanne, Laurie, Kathleen, and the Sky Crawford Fan Club on Facebook. Sky and I say, “Thanks, Sweethearts.” Special thanks to the staff at Oceanview Veterinary Hospital and extra scratches under the chin to Camille Stevens for serving as the prototype for Daisy Mae.

  Thank
s to Erich Fromm’s The Art of Loving for explaining the difference between love and in love. Learning this valuable lesson in my teens has worked magic for me through the years. I’m grateful to my First—and only—Mate, Pete, for your love and support. And thanks to my agent, God, for helping me navigate through my writing career and life.

  Chapter 1

  The yowling outside his window the night before had Sky wanting to take the goddamn cat down to the ocean and drown it. He’d been attempting to entertain his chick-du-jour, but the ruckus on the porch distracted him from making that little baby purr.

  Distractibility had earned Brian Crawford the nickname “Skylark” at the Naval Academy after one too many demerits for skylarking: daydreaming, “not keeping his eyes in the boat,” and pretty much having his head up his ass at the wrong time. Suffering from ADHD, he’d always had problems with focus—except at the controls of his Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopter.

  Last night’s honey conned him into feeding the cat, then she made him promise to take it to a vet and find it a home. If the woman was such a bleeding heart animal lover why hadn’t she taken the freaking thing? So what if she lived in the bachelor officers’ quarters? Never mind. It wouldn’t go with her anyway. The cat growled and hissed at her, and Sky would eventually learn it feared all women.

  Smart cat.

  Fortunately, he was able to snag this appointment at Oceanside Veterinary Clinic. He’d even consider making a sizeable donation if the vet would take the animal off his hands that afternoon. Regardless, Sky knew he’d do whatever it took to keep last night’s sweet young thing rubbing up against him with affection.

  The vet tech finished taking vital signs and informed him Dr. Schneider would be with him shortly.

  Sky looked forward to chatting with the good doctor, not only to unload the stray, but also to discuss kayaking. He had noticed an SUV in the parking lot that sported a Thule Hullavator, the top-of-the-line kayak rack. Turned out it belonged to Dr. Schneider. This guy already rocked in Sky’s book.

  But when the door opened, the woman who entered rocked Sky’s world instead.

  “Hello,” she said. “I’m Dr. Schneider.”

  Attention on deck. Hot. Chick. Alert. All hands man your battle stations.

  One of the benefits of ADHD was the fact that Sky could multitask with the best of them. His brain flipped over to autopilot. Left eye did the ring finger check. No rings. Good sign. Right eye—hey, something was wrong here. His right eye knew it was assigned breast patrol, but it couldn’t seem to move past her blond hair swept up into some kind of barrette thingy. Hair that screamed for him to pull out that clip so he could watch the flaxen mass come tumbling down like the walls of Jericho. Then both eyes got too lost in her pale blue ones—or were they green?—to even consider glancing lower.

  Mayday. Mayday. Losing focus fast. Send reinforcements.

  Peripheral vision was called in as backup and the situation report said any woman that looked this good in a pair of scrubs must be some mighty fine booty.

  Sky scrambled to formulate an appropriate introductory comment. However, his brain was still locked and loaded on kayaks, prompting the following to shoot from his mouth:

  “Nice rack!”

  “Excuse me?”

  He jerked his thumb toward the door. “Isn’t that your Jeep in the parking lot?”

  “What does…? How do you know my car?”

  “I asked at the desk. Aren’t you the kayaker? I mean, that is, like, the best rack on the planet.”

  “My…car.”

  Dr. Schneider looked like she was trying to keep from—wait, was she laughing at him? What was so funny about a—?

  Oh, shit.

  Sky Crawford had learned long ago whenever he tried to dig himself out of a hole that he usually only dug himself deeper, so he feigned ignorance and soldiered on. Possessing an excellent poker face had come in handy far too many times in his life. Smiling his signature grin, which revealed a space between his two front teeth—God knew why chicks dug it, but they did—he jumped in with both feet.

  “And according to your bumper stickers, you support the troops. So how about supporting this troop and going kayaking with me this weekend?”

  The vet’s eyes drilled his as she opened the box containing the cat. “Are you hitting on me?”

  “Too strong, huh?” He scrubbed a hand through his blond crew cut and appeared deep in thought for only a second. “Would you like to meet for coffee sometime?”

  “I don’t date clients.”

  “Oh, I’m not a client. This cat showed up on my doorstep last night and I’m getting it up to speed so I can find it a home. How about I find him a home this week and then I definitely won’t be a client. So, you want to go kayaking next weekend? Or coffee? I’m game for either one.”

  She indicated his green flight suit. “And I don’t date military men. Especially pilots.”

  “Aw, honey, is that any way to support the troops? What’s the matter? Crashed and burned before?”

  “You could say that. And I’m not your honey.”

  Had the room taken on a chill? Or was it coming from the Ice Queen who continued to stare at him, chin raised in defiance. Sky retreated. Figured he’d regroup his forces before he came in for another assault.

  The cat wanted no part of Dr. Schneider. It repeatedly crawled across the exam table and into Sky’s arms. Each time she tried to pull it back, it hissed at her.

  “There might be something wrong with it, because he cried, like, all night. About drove us crazy,” Sky explained.

  The vet handled the cat with expertise and eventually managed to examine it. “Well, first of all, he is a she and she is in heat. She made all that noise because she’s looking for a mate.”

  Blessedly, Sky’s brain overloaded its circuit board and blew a fuse, rendering him powerless to speak. It was his body’s way of protecting him from saying something beyond stupid. So many good lines were vying for attention that he needed a mental heat-seeking device to lock onto just one of them.

  “If she is, indeed, a stray, the best thing would be to spay her,” Dr. Schneider continued. “Although there’s the possibility she’s already pregnant. If she’s been out for the past several days, she could have conceived, but her system hasn’t caught up with the fact. So she may still try to breed. Cats can carry a litter of kittens from different fathers, you know.”

  Another salvo of witty comebacks whizzed through Sky’s head. His mouth tried to latch onto one of the lines zinging across his brain, but failed. Good thing his mouth was still paralyzed because this was no ordinary chick. Wait. This was no chick at all. This was Dr. Untouchable and apparently she was not attracted to or interested in his bullshit, which made the challenge of winning her over that much sweeter. Oh, how he loved it when desirable women played the hard-to-get card.

  There was no way he was getting rid of the cat now.

  The kitty was his ticket to veterinary paradise.

  Suddenly his mouth began to function again and nobody was more surprised than Sky when something civilized shuttled down from his overloaded brain to his tongue.

  “You mean, kill the babies?”

  Innocence. Pure and simple. Blue eyes opened wide, he radiated concern, like a frightened little boy. Sky pulled the cat into his arms and rested his chin on her head. Where the hell had concern for the welfare of unborn kittens come from when a minute ago all he could think about was sleeping with the good doctor?

  “Yes. Before you make a decision, I’m obligated to tell you she may already be carrying a litter.”

  “What would you do if this was your cat, Doc?”

  “I’d spay her.”

  “And take those little lives?”

  “Those little lives would be added to the millions of cats who need
homes, causing hundreds to be euthanized every day. As it is, you don’t even want this cat, let alone kittens.”

  “Oh, wait a second there. You must have misunderstood me. This cat and I are joined at the hip. I’ve fallen hard for it—I mean, her—in the past five minutes. Nobody’s going to take her away from me.”

  “I think the feeling is mutual…” Dr. Schneider glanced at his shoulder insignia and nametag on his flight suit, then added, “Captain…Crawford.”

  Sky burst out laughing. “Hey, thanks for the promotion, Doc. But I’m in the Navy, so I’m only a lowly lieutenant. You must be confusing me with a man of equal rank from one of our brother services. For instance, were I wearing these bars in the Army or the Air Force then I’d be a captain, which would not be a big freaking deal. But in the Navy, captains are hot stuff.”

  “As I was saying, Lieutenant Crawford, the feeling between you two seems to be mutual. I see her bonding with you right now. In my experience, feral cats go to no one, but look at her. She trusts you. Her head burrowed in the crook of your arm like that is a cat’s way of saying, ‘If they can’t see my face, then I’m not really here.’” Her mouth relaxed into a smile.

  Sky bent down and spoke into the kitty’s ear. “Did you see that, little girl? We actually made the lady smile.”