and storm clouds formed in his eyes. “The night would have been a lot better if Dobbs and Phillips hadn’t shown up during the prayer.”
I nearly choked on the steam, clearing my throat to disguise it. “Dobbs and Phillips?”
“Lincoln Dobbs and his trusty sidekick, Eden Phillips.” His scowl deepened. “That boy has the most potential with the least desire to fulfill it I’ve ever seen.”
“Which boy?” I knew I was playing dumb, but I had to.
“Lincoln Dobbs.” My father said his name slowly, like a villain in a superhero movie might name his nemesis. “It’s a shame. He could have been great. He’s a natural leader, he’s smart, he’s strong in strategy, but he’s not putting any of his talents to good use.”
“Maybe he’ll grow into them.” There were a few talents he’d definitely put to good use last night, but I didn’t think his tongue or fingers would help much on the battlefield.
Plus, there was a very good chance that Dad would shoot him if he ever found out I knew about that particular skillset of Lincoln’s. I liked the guy. I’d rather not have his brains spattered against a wall.
It had become clear to me now why Lincoln had been so awkward after I’d told him who I was. Most recruits didn’t like my father, but I’d rarely heard such open animosity about them from him. Obviously, the two of them butted heads regularly.
“I had hopes that he’d grow into them, but he’s becoming more and more of a wildcard. It’s getting to the point where he’s putting his teammates in danger, and they don’t even see it.”
“He can’t be that bad,” I argued. “If his teammates are still following him, he’s got to be good at some level.”
“He dangerous,” Dad grunted, his eyes turning to slits. “There’s nothing good about him. He’s only fooled everyone into thinking that there is.”
I couldn’t agree with my dad’s assessment of him. Although he’d known him for much, much longer than I had and had spent more time with him, I had a feeling Dad’s judgment was clouded.
Lincoln had seemed like a good enough guy to me. “Luckily, you don’t have to worry about him much longer.”
“Damn right,” he muttered, but somehow, it didn’t sound like we were talking about the same thing. I’d been referring to Dad’s retirement. The malicious gleam in his eyes, though, made me wonder what he’d been talking about.
Before I could ask, his face finally relaxed, and he picked up his paper again. “You’re going to be with a good man one day, and it won’t be anyone like Lincoln. That’s the only man I’ll have to worry about from now until the end of the month.”
Again, it seemed like there was a double edge to his words. I didn’t ask why. Dad would never talk to me about anything he viewed as classified, which was pretty much everything to do with what was going on at his job.
“Ha. A good man? Where do you suppose I’ll find one of those?” I was joking, playing into his protective side just in case the conversation about Lincoln would come back to sour his day. It was the day after his party. He deserved to enjoy it.
Dad guffawed, cracking a smile as he bopped his head at me. “I don’t know where we’re going to find him, kiddo, but we will. I’ll help you.”
God forbid. I’d end up with the most stoic, proper, boring guy in the Navy. Probably an administrator who wouldn’t know excitement or adventure if it bit him in the ass. “That’s okay, Dad. Thanks for the offer, but I’m not quite that desperate.”
“Good. Good. You’re still young. Your studies should be your main focus. After you’re qualified and settled in your career, you can start worrying about all that other stuff.”
“I’m already twenty-five. I’m not that young anymore. Don’t you want a whole stable full of grandchildren?”
Terror flashed in his eyes as he drew his head back. “No. No, I most definitely do not want that. One will be fine, but only once you’re married and have had some time to settle. You don’t have to… you know…”
“Gee, thanks, Dad.” I grinned to lighten the mood.
No doubt Dad’s mind had jumped right to the acts required to conceive a stable full of children. He’d never been good at the sex talk with me. Back when it’d been time for the birds and the bees, he’d gotten one of the female officers to sit me