Page 60 of Home Coming

Quinn wasn’t sure if he believed Chris or not, but it didn’t matter. Mark would ramp up patrols. Chris likely wasn’t going to be any help at all. And Carter would only be useful if Bailey happened to be here while he was on shift, but he’d take what help he could get.

Chris had to leave and Carter had to take care of actual customers, which relieved a bit of the stress of this gathering.

Funny how Quinn could be surrounded by his SEAL team twenty four-seven for months at a time but ten minutes at a bar with his former team—of the football variety—stressed him out.

What did that say about him? Was he such a SEAL he couldn’t relate to civilians anymore? Couldn’t mix with the real world?

That was a question—and a problem—for another day.

When they were alone, Mark looked up from where he’d been peeling the label off his beer bottle. “I understand you’re worried. Don’t be.”

“Oh, yeah? And why not? Please tell me. Why shouldn’t I worry?”

“Because she’s got a good head on her shoulders.”

“She didn’t hire security after the break-in,” Quinn countered.

“No. But she got out of the city immediately and came to probably the safest place she could. A small town in upstate New York. No paparazzi. No rock stars. Your parents’ house. She came to her best friend. And you.”

“My parents are away. My sister is…my sister. And I’m going back.”

And dammit, he wished he knew when that would be.

“Quinn, you’re not Superman. And you’re not a one man team—not when you’re on some secret mission or when you’re here with us.”

Duly chastised, Quinn drew in a breath and tried to believe the words.

Mark continued, “How about this? My guys are always jonesing for overtime, which the higher ups are cracking down on. I’m sure they’d rather protect Bailey than bounce at the college bars to earn extra money. How about I run it past a few of them I really trust? See if they’d want to take on protecting Jane slash Bailey in their off hours.”

Guys…That word put a bitter taste in Quinn’s mouth. Whether they’d earned Mark’s trust or not, Quinn hated the idea of any man protecting Bailey instead of him.

Mark started laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Quinn asked, glancing up.

“Your face. Looked like you ate one of those pickled eggs over there in the jar behind the bar. You’re jealous,” Mark accused. “You hate the idea of any man besides you being thatcloseandpersonalwith Bailey.”

“What? No. That’s ridiculous.” Quinn’s denial rang hollow since Mark’s guess was dead on.

“I’ve got a female on my crew. She’s got a kid. Lives with her mom. Single. Looking for cash but can’t do that bouncer shift. How about I offer the position to her? Better?” Mark asked.

Relief flooded through him. “Yeah, that would be good. Andnotbecause I’m jealous, but because I think Bailey would respond well to that suggestion.”

He could sell her on the idea of helping out a single mom who needed the money. She’d feel good about that.

He’d loop in Xander to make sure she didn’t change her mind after he left.

After he left…

Every time that thought crossed his mind he felt a little sicker about it.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

The notebook mocked her. Not because she had no ideas, but because she had too many.

Bailey currently had a list of a dozen song ideas. Five of the concepts had viable working titles she really liked. Two had actual lyrics. And she’d only been sitting there for like an hour.

Dammit. She hated when Xander was right. She did have more songs in her. Of course she could never admit that to him or he’d be relentless. Asking for more and more. More than she had to give.

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