"Not only sharp, but good-looking, too," Grant admired, and began chewing on the other half of his French bread. Then he ceased masticating and mouthed anxiously, "You've told the general this?"
Bridget clapped her hands. "With exquisite pleasure."
"And he—?"
"... Got excited, phoned for engineering to remove navigational sights and suggested I join the staff at the base."
Grant coughed on the bread and hurriedly reached for his water. "He wants you around?"
"Gratitude, I guess, in his own brassy way."
"And you'll stay?"
"If Washington O.K.'s it, and I'm coaxed."
"Then that simplifies the matter," he said and brought out the daintily wrapped tiny gift box. "For you."
Her eyes warmed and smiled as she said, "That's the kind of coaxing a woman wants."