Page 204 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

He let out a long breath. “The only way I could—one day at a time.” She’d probably laugh him to scorn if she realized how often he’d thought of her while he was in captivity. It was his favorite area of refuge that his brain could go to.

Thunder boomed, shaking the cabin. Rain poured onto the roof, sounding like endless nails pinging the shingles.

“I love the sound of the rain.” Her voice had an ethereal quality like she was still partway in a dream.

He punched his pillow to adjust it and lay back down, trying to find a comfortable spot. “I remember.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I remember everything about you.”

“Such as?”

He smiled at the note of interest in her voice. “You have an insatiable appetite for salty fries and mint chocolate chip ice cream.”

“Speaking of which, that sounds really good right now.”

He chuckled. “I don’t know about the fries, but I could go for some ice cream.”

“We’ll have to pick some up tomorrow.”

“Good idea.”

“What else?” she prompted.

“Your level-head and forthright personality make you an excellent manager.”

“Thanks,” she said with gusto, and he got the feeling she was smiling.

He laughed to himself knowing this next one would set her off. Teasing Addie was immensely rewarding because she always rose to the bait. “You couldn’t be on time if your life depended on it.”

“Hey,” she countered, “that’s not true.”

He suspected her lower lip was thrust out in a pout. “Uh, huh,” he drawled. “You know it is.”

She grunted. “For your information, I’ve been trying to do better about that. Moron,” she added in a sulky tone.

“Touché,” he laughed.

“What else?” she demanded, a definite edge to her voice.

He grinned. “Let’s put it this way … if you looked up stubborn in the dictionary, your picture would be right next to it.”

“Am not!”

“Are too.”

“Am not!” she huffed. “Take it back!”

“What’s wrong, Addie?” he goaded. “You can’t stand to hear the truth?”

“The truth is that you’re a big, fat jerk wad!” He heard a flurry of movement, realized she’d sat up. A second later, she was flogging him with her pillow.

Laughter rose in his throat. “Hey, now.” He raised his hands to shield his head. A second later, he grabbed the pillow.

“Give it back,” she ordered.

“Not on your life.” He put it under his head, stacked on top of his other pillow. “Yeah, that’s much better,” he drawled. “The other pillow you gave me was flatter than roadkill under a semi-truck.”

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