Page 72 of Luck Be Mine
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Hunt paused, not sure if he wanted to let his thoughts free either. But this was Doogie. “I’ve been mulling the same thing. Elizabeth Greer at QM International sent me an incredible job offer with a ridiculously high salary. It would let me join Cait working there and keep me home. I’m tempted. It might be time to say goodbye to the Navy.”
Doogie stared at him slack mouthed for long seconds. Then he laughed, a deep belly laugh. “Of course we’d be thinking the same thing at the same time. Lord, look at us. BUD/S was a long-ass time ago.”
“Yes, it was. You ever think about what’s next?”
Doogie shrugged. “Made CW3 last year. That buys me time, but it’s still team life. Side ops, liaison work – anything to keep my boots dirty. But I’m not blind, Hunt. There’s a clock ticking.”
“Too true. I’m mired in administrative stuff I can’t stand. Without Yeoman Ellsworth, I would have bailed months ago.”
“Poor baby.”
Another tap on the door interrupted Hunt’s response.
“Come.”
His admin entered with two mugs. “Coffee for you. Frankly, you both look like you took a licking and are barely ticking.”
“Thanks, I’ll be sure to pass the concern to my wife.”
“Oh, I already told Dr. Hunter you were dragging.”
Doogie laughed again. The act loosened the strain on his face.
Hunt raised a brow. “To which my wife said?”
“I’ll take care of it, and she will.” Marnie smartly left the room.
His friend grinned at him. “Somebody’s gonna get it.”
“Nope, she’ll go into super pamper-me mode which is nice in its own way. Favorite foods, movies and popcorn, take the truck out to the beach, lots of sex. You know the drill.” Enjoying the dig at his best friend’s struggle in the single dating realm, he grinned.
“Dog, I hate you so much.”
“Find a spouse, and you can be pampered, too.”
“Shut up. I need leave.”
Hunt snapped back to business. “How much do you have, and how much do you want to take?”
“I’m not sure the team can stand me being gone for long.”
“Take it anyway. They need to learn to be flexible. Brennan and Hernandez can handle it.”
“All right, give me two weeks. If I can’t figure it out, I’ll haul her home with me for Cait to diagnose.”
Solid plan. If he knew his wife, once she learned Adele was sick, she’d be on the phone meddling with every doctor in New Orleans like she did with the Navy. He never got any peace because all the doctors on station knew who his wife was and how they’d answer to her.
“I’ll keep tabs on the team. No worries there.”
“Are we losing Carter to med school?”
“Nope, not yet. He hasn’t decided.”
“I was hoping to talk to him, but I have to do this first.”
“It would be better for him to talk to Cait. He tells her stuff.”
