Page 28 of Iron Willed Warrior

My mind raced immediately to the gutter, thinking of the dirtier interpretations of those words. Nope. I wasn’t going to follow that thread.

“I meant between the FBI and the Protectors. Groups with completely different methods and agendas. Between the two of us, I think we can figure things out diplomatically. Like we’re doing right now.”

“You just overpowered me and pinned me against your body so I couldn’t move,” she deadpanned. “Which part of that was diplomatic?”

I scratched my forehead. “That was only to prove a point. From now on, we talk things through. As teammates. Equals.”

She sat back, crossing her arms. “All right. And if we can’t agree, we defer to River or Trace.”

“Works for me.”

Unless it’s about the ultimate fate of Garon Westwick, I added silently. Once he was in front of me, I had no intention of turning that piece of shit loose again, regardless of anything Brynn or the Protectors or any task force might have planned.

But we would just have to deal with that problem when we came to it.

CHAPTER NINE

Brynn

“How do you not have a hangover?”Keira asked.

“Marines don’t get hangovers.” I poured her a cup of coffee and passed it across the island to her.

“That’s what Dean says too,” she grumbled, then tipped back the mug to take a hefty swallow. “I thought I would be making you a big breakfast to absorb all the alcohol you and Cole drank last night. I was surprised you could walk out of the bar at all.”

“It’s a talent of mine.”

Keira rubbed her face and yawned. “Any chance you could make breakfast for me then? Because I’m still half asleep.”

I laughed and started searching for an omelet pan. I’d already spotted some eggs and bacon in the fridge. “Have no fear. You’ll be eating well in no time.”

Despite getting to bed late, I’d woken up bright and early and well rested. I preferred sleeping in the nude, sheets right up against my skin, and I had to give credit to Keira’s mom and sister. They’d picked out guest bed linens with an amazing thread count.

I’d pulled on a T-shirt and a pair of cotton shorts, no bra,and I’d left my hair down instead of pulling it up. Since it was just us girls this morning.

Obviously, Cole and I had gone our separate ways last night after agreeing to work together as equals. When I had gotten home last night, Keira had grilled me. I’d assured her that Cole and I were good. Aside from his ideas about playing my boyfriend. That, I didn’t want to think about right now.

I had been very low key about that stunt he’d pulled. Demanding to arm wrestle, only to put me into a submission hold. I probably should’ve been more pissed off than I had been. But to be honest, when he’d had his arms and a leg snaked around me, I hadn’t minded the sensation. He’d been close enough that he could’ve kissed me. Just leaned in and brushed his lips against mine.

I hadn’t mindedthatthought either. Which was ridiculous.

But it didn’t matter that I found the man slightly charming despite his constant grumping and his hot-headed temper. He’d agreed to be my partner for this mission, and that was what I needed. Nothing more.

Whenever I fully let down my guard around an attractive man, I lived to regret it. No way was I going down that road again.

Keira wandered off to start a load of laundry. While the bacon sizzled, I went to the guest room to grab my phone. I had a couple of messages from Charlotte, and I assured my best friend that we were back on track.

Then I remembered myotherphone. The burner.

Crap, I hadn’t written Stanford last night with an update. And given his dad-like tendencies, he was probably annoyed. Sure enough, I had three texts waiting on the burner. He’d entered his number under the initial “S.” I typed out a quick response.

S:

How goes it?

Update, B?

Hope I don’t need to drive to Hart County. Marie won’t be happy.

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