Page 34 of Shielding Instinct

“I happily didn’t have that as part of my military training,” Petra said, pulling out her seatbelt and adjusting it to fit betterbetween her boobs. “I went through basic. I was hired to provide counseling support.”

“Before we stray too far down a new topic trail, let me bring you back to the thought you started with. You said you were happy with this situation. And then you lit into Quantico and volunteers in theatrical blood. Could you take me through that leap?”

“I think my situation was the best of all worlds.”

“Starting with the idea that you are probably okay,” Hawkeye said. “Yes.”

“If that’s the outcome, then it was an optimal exercise for everyone involved, right? Everyone—me, you, your team—everyone who came into contact with me believed that what was happening was an emergency.”

Hawkeye slowed as he edged past some kids playing kickball in the street. “Not just moulage and plastic leg stumps,” he said.

“Exactly, which does impact a human’s reactions. In this instance, the two systems—the airline and the emergency crew—got to practice with the belief that this was the real deal, but I wasn’t, in fact, at risk. You mentioned karma and helper people yesterday. Well, I might well have been an instrument of the universe. I’ll never know.”

“Another leap that needs more context, please,” Hawkeye said with a grin.

“Maybe the people involved in my rescue needed some practice in advance of a real emergency. Because of this seemingly false alarm, they’ll be ready to act and can perhaps save a future life.”

Hawkeye nodded.

“And you will surely tell your team about the motion sickness patch, and now they’ll know to ask.”

“Sort of in that same vein, last night when I was on the search engine looking for answers, I remembered this woman I used to date was fastidious about washing her hands anytime she touched her motions sickness patch,” Hawkeye said. “After reading that the medication could dilate the pupils, I wondered if that was why she did it.”

Petra held up a finger. “See, in my theory, she was fastidious in front of you to teach you what you needed to know in a future moment, this one. And I think you might even have locked onto that possibility and solved the mystery because her behavior made the patch stand out to you.”

“An interesting way to look at things. I’ll have to think about that.”

“It makes life easier if only in this way—when things go awry, I can see some way to make it useful.” She raised her brows for emphasis. “It’s not Pollyanna-like.”

“Pragmatic,” Hawkeye agreed. “Instead of sweeping the bad things or maybe bad feelings under the carpet, you’re adding the information to your life’s encyclopedia. You now have a motion sickness patch chapter.”

“And so do you.” Petra smiled. “So, what are your plans today? You’re surfing, right?”

“Dropping you off and getting out to the site. They already have the K9s down on the beach, playing ball and getting them used to the environmental sensory input. You?”

Petra looked at her watch. “I still have time. Tamika and I had planned to go on an off-road vehicle safari to the tidal pools.”

“I could drop you off somewhere on my way out to the beach,” Hawkeye offered.

“Thanks, but The Palm was my pickup point. One of the reasons I knew it was swanky. Tamika and I ended up making those Blue Fin reservations within walking distance.”

Hawkeye reached for her hand. “Do you have plans for dinner? I saw a place online that serves local specialties. Laid back. Outdoor eating on picnic tables. I’d like to hear about your adventures today.”

“Yes, thank you. But, to be honest, I’m hoping the adventure part of this trip is over.”

As she said that out loud, a shiver raced down Petra’s spine.

Chapter Twelve

Petra

Did Petra really want to go to bed, stare at the ceiling, and vegetate?

Yes!

Would she allow herself to?

Not today. Not with two people—Tamika and Hawkeye—waiting to hear about her grand adventures. Incentives, she’d take them where she found them.

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