Page 61 of True Valor
“Team One, Leroy Zero Eight.If you guys canget to a decent LZ in the next fifteen, we’ll come by and pluck youout of there.”
“We’d appreciate that greatly, Mac.”
The rest of the mission was uneventful.Thehelo returned to pick up Cruz and Gabe, along with the body bag offthe ledge.Then they stopped long enough to lift Team One off themountain.
“Thank you, Colonel,” Lily said when the heloreported the pick-up.
Nic pulled out his cell phone and calledWill.He and Julie would pick him up at the hospital.Then they’dmeet the rest of the team at the bar.
Nic, Julie, and Will were the first to arriveat the Oasis.They captured a huge table, pulled another one up andsat at one end, dwarfed by the empty space.
“Drinks?”Will asked.
“Just get a pitcher.What do you want,babe?”
Nic felt a nudge inside his chest as heasked.Julie had been so quiet today but even so, it was nice tohave her here.If the mission today had gone to hell, he could relyon her to catch him if he fell.
“Um, beer is fine.”
She was definitely distracted.Nic tugged herto him, her hair smooth against his face.“You okay?”
“Sure,” she said, but she pulled back abit.
Within a few minutes, Cruz and Gabe joinedthem.Gabe limped as he approached.
“How’s the knee?”
“I’ll live,” he replied, with no hint of asmile.
“Got a bit sporty up there?”
“For a minute, it did.”Now Gabe grinned andlaughed the whole thing off.“Just a good damn thing the pilot wasalready dead.”
Nic waved over the SAR group when they camethrough the door.Daniel, a guy named Sam and two Nic didn’t know.Lily had even joined them.Cool.
“Everyone, this is Julie Galloway…” Hepaused, not quite knowing how to explain her.“…dance with me?”hefinished.
She said yes way too fast and nearly jumpedout of her seat.
When he pulled her into his arms, Juliesoftened to the slow and languorous music.Their bodies molded toeach other.God, she smelled good.And felt good.And looked good.Whenhadhe lost his soul to this girl?Who knew?But righthere, right now, nothing could compare to the way he felt with herso close.
The song ended, and a faster one began.Julieturned away and headed for the table.On their way, they crossedpaths with Lily and one of the unknown SAR guys heading to thedance floor.She slowed as she met Julie and gave her a brief hug,telling her she was glad to see her again.As they got to thetable, Julie’s brown eyes glittered with tears.
“Do you want to leave?”Nic squeezed Julie’sshoulder and leaned down, waiting for an answer.
All he got was a quick shake of her headno.
“Let me know if you change your mind.”
Just a nod, so he slid into the seat besideher.
The guys were replaying the day’s events.Even more SAR guys had joined the table while they’d been dancing.Nic pointed out those he knew and briefed Julie on which teamthey’d been on earlier.
“Thanks for lowering that plane to us, AirForce,” one of the guys from Team Two said, lifting his glass toGabe.
“You’re quite welcome, though it almost costme my life to do it.”
Cruz snorted.
