Page 39 of Joshua's Mistake
“She’s a big girl. I have no claims on her.”
“Who do you think you’re talking to, Josh? We go way back. I’ve never seen you show any interest in a woman beyond the essentials. It’s obvious this woman is different or you wouldn’t have risked your neck for her in the first place.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t have the kind of rights to her you’re imagining.”
She shook her head. “Seems pretty basic to me. Story as old as time. Just go.”
He wanted to tell Wanda she was wrong, but instead he took the opportunity to move to where Jess and Tessa were engaged in a seemingly intimate conversation.
“I thought you’d gone back to Ohio after Germany.” Jess hid the better part of a Cajun accent behind a light Southern drawl.
“Just for a week then I got another assignment.”
Joshua asked, “You two know each other?”
Tessa slid her hand over and threaded her fingers through Joshua’s. “Jess and I have worked together quite a few times.”
Joshua loved that she was not afraid to let people know they were together. He was even more relieved to know she was willing to let him know. Did she sense his insecurity? He thought he had his mind pretty well blocked. Maybe it was obvious in other ways.
“I didn’t even know you were in trouble.” Jess glanced down at their clasped hands, but his expression didn’t change. He continued to appear concerned.
“My mission was classified and I assumed what happened after was as well.” She shrugged.
“Man, Tessa, I’m sorry. I wish I’d have known. I’d have tried to help you.”
“Thanks. Luckily they sent Joshua and he was willing to take steps to get me away.” She made the statement very casually as if she was talking about something besides her life being in jeopardy.
Joshua gave her hand a slight squeeze.
Jess turned to Joshua. “Do you think you can take Banta?”
Good question. “I don’t know. I could when we worked together. I’m pretty sure I could have last year when we met up in Boston. It will depend on how many auras he’s collected in the last two months.”
Jess gave him a nod and looked down at the floor for a minute. “I’ll see you two in the morning. I’m going to try to find those agents Wanda couldn’t. I have a feeling we’ll need all the help we can get.”
“You’re probably right,” Joshua said.
