Page 35 of Delta Force Defender

“It’s exhaustion,” she told herself stoutly, her voice loud in the airy, empty room. “You’re exhausted, that’sall. Who knows what would have happened if you’d had to handle that man alone?”

She could still see that red, bulging neck of his. She could still hear his voice. That accent that brought back the worst of her memories.

She wheeled around and made her way to the back of the cabin, where his kitchen did not look as if it was the sort of efficiency bachelor setup in which he maybe made the odd cup of noodles. Evidence suggested that Isaac knew how to cook.

More intimate information about the man that she did not require.

She opened his refrigerator and found it stocked with staples. Again, in a manner that suggested that he actually prepared food, and ate it, with some degree of competence.

She helped herself to a banana, making herself eat it because she needed energy. And wondered who in Fool’s Cove was responsible for restocking people’s cabins while they were off having Alaska Force adventures, since as far as she knew they had no staff. She entertained herself imagining the various growly commandos on housekeeper duty. And when she was done, she threw the peel away and headed for the door.

Because everybody knew that Fool’s Cove was inaccessible. Isaac had helpfully outlined all the reasons why. Still, everybody knowing something didn’t make it true. Caradine’s entire life was a monument to defying the accepted wisdom.

No point stopping now.

She threw open the door to the cabin, ready to go out and see for herself whatinaccessiblemeant.

But there were people clustered on the wooden walkway, right there on the other side of the door. She stepped back, her hands up instantly as she went on the defensive, ready to fight—

Even as she shifted her weight to block whatever was coming her way, she stopped herself. She had a split second of recognition, and then Everly Campbell was hurtling herself through the doorway.

AtCaradine.

Not to harm her, but to hug her.

Which was much, much worse.

Nine

“I can’t believe you’re here!” Everly was saying excitedly, holding Caradine.

Holding her.Tightly. She waspressedagainst her.

And Everly was still talking. “Blue kept telling me that Isaac found you, that you were fine, but I didn’t believe it until now. I saw the restaurant! I was sure you were charred to a crisp somewhere!”

“Everly.” Caradine was surprised she didn’t actually scream the way she wanted to. The way she was inside. “For God’s sake.Why are you hugging me?”

But Everly didn’t respond. And the hug went on and on.

And that empty thing inside Caradine yawned open again, wider and deeper than before.

Because once upon a time, Caradine had been a different person. And that girl might have had few friends, but she’d been wildly affectionate with them. She hadn’t needed all this armor.

Now she thought her armor might choke her.

Caradine looked past Everly’s red hair and endlessembrace to the other two women in Isaac’s doorway. “Oh my God. Please don’t tell me this is some horriblegirlfriendthing. I don’t even like you people.”

“Buckle up, sugar,” drawled Mariah McKenna, cool and blond and Southern. “It’s about to get obnoxiously feminine up in here.”

“She does, too, like us,” Everly said.

Mariah nudged Everly out of the way. And then, to Caradine’s enduring horror, flung her arms around Caradine, too. And then, worse, rocked her a little bit from side to side.

While hugging her.

“You’re doing that to be mean,” she complained.

Mariah laughed. “And because it’s fun.”

---