Page 39 of Stone
“Yeah, I guess.”
“If,” he said as he walked closer, “that’s what you want.”
“Don’t start, Kage.”
“What am I starting? You might not think two dumb SEALs can tell how much the two of you have been pining away for each other, but shit. The way you two look at each other is almost disgusting.”
I flexed and fisted my hand. “That can’t matter. We’re two different people.”
“At the risk of sounding like my wife. Fate brought you back together. Did you ever think it might be for a reason?”
Now I laughed. “You need to avoid reading the tea leaves.”
“I’m serious, dude. You’ve never been happy. You fake it pretty damn well, but all the ah-shucks crap you spewed off over the years didn’t hide shit from me. Or from Maddox.”
“The last thing I need is a dime store psychologist or matchmaker for that matter. You’ve been smoking that country air for far too long.”
He shook his head, but I could tell he was serious. So was I.
We had no business being together. One night of hot sex… very hot sex couldn’t change who we were as people or the time that had separated us.
“What are you going to do? If she doesn’t want to head to DC, even if you get her there, she could find a way of escaping and that will place her life in danger all over again.”
Kage was right about that. Dani wasn’t the kind of woman who would accept having her life placed on hold for very long.
“I’ll figure it out. Right now, I just need to get her on the plane. I could use your help before you and Maddox leave.”
“You’re thinking Matis will really make another run for her?”
“It’s possible and I don’t like playing the odds.”
He grinned. “I’ll go wake Maddox. We’ll have our guns locked and loaded.”
While the anxiety remained, sensations furrowing deep within, my need to protect her remained as strong as it had been all those years ago. “Sometimes I worry about you, buddy. I really do.”
As he left the room, I took another deep breath. It was time to wake Dani.
Only I had no idea what to say or even how to face her.
“Sorry about the clothes,” I told her as I headed to the small airport where the plane had been parked. I’d called in a few favors, an old buddy of mine and a fellow Jimmy Buffett lover keeping an eye on my plane. He was trustworthy, which was exactly what I needed. There could be no hiccups at this point.
She stood studying me, no doubt trying to figure out what we’d done and what future she faced.
Unfortunately, she had no idea I wasn’t taking her back to her apartment. I’d yet to find a way of doing so.
“Beggars can’t be choosers,” Dani said from beside me. She laughed softly and the four words were the most she’d said after I’d awakened her. We’d both had difficulty even looking each other in the eyes.
We were grown adults, for God’s sake. It wasn’t as if we didn’t know each other to some degree or that we didn’t have history.Maybe that was the entire issue. We did have history. Second chances were rare and usually tumultuous.
Right now, I’d call our second meeting as close to chaotic as it could be.
She eyed the scenery around us, including tipping her head over her shoulder. I caught the frown on her face. Her entire body was riddled with nerves. “Maddox and Kage are following us?”
“Yep. Just for extra security.”
“And you’re taking me back home. Yes?”
“Nope.” I twisted my hand on the steering wheel. Explosions were about ready to start. My gut was working overtime.
