Page 32 of SEAL's Tempest
“Do you ever worry?” Tempest asked.
“Not really. However this works out, I can’t do much to change it either way. Worrying won’t help.”
Josh pulled her into his embrace, but he didn’t kiss her. He waited a moment to see if she’d object. The heat in his eyes melted any resistance she might have had.
As his lips took hers in a scorching kiss, he set her on fire. When he finally released her, it took all her willpower not to drag him to the couch and have round two.
“It’s a good thing Quinn couldn’t see that.” Tempest glanced at the feed.
“Maybe. But they’ll figure it out as soon as we get out of here, anyway.”
“What part of taking it slow did you not understand? What if I don’t want your entire team to know?” Tempest tried to sound irritated, but from his grin, she hadn’t fooled him.
“It won’t matter, anyway. As soon as we tell the CO, everyone will know. Gossip travels faster at JEB than a bunch of purple-haired old women at a quilting bee.”
Tempest started giggling from imagining the image he painted. She was in deepsüdaswith him.But maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
* * *
What do you know about quilting bees?” Tempest asked.
Josh shrugged. “My gran used to have her friends over once a week, and they’d sit in the family room with their projects.”
“Wow. But she doesn’t do it anymore?”
“She passed away a few years ago. But mom still quilts. Just not with a group of women.”
“Oh, I see. That’s really cool,” Tempest said. “Quinn is waving at you.”
“Falcon 1, repeat,” Josh said. Then he focused on Quinn’s signs. “Falcon 1, clear copy.”
“What did he say?” Tempest asked. “He gave you a thumbs up. I hope that is good news.”
“He said the manufacturer of the locking system is talking Lucky through deactivating the failsafe. Everyone else is moving the debris and bodies.”
Tempest’s shoulders seemed to sag with relief.
“I wish there was something we could do to help,” Tempest said as she moved closer to the monitor to see the progress.
“I know, me too. Instead, I have to just stand here an wait for updates.”
“I figured. Maybe we should move the couch now since we never got to it before.”
“Not necessary. I can just sit on the desk.” Josh moved it closer to the door and away from the light ballast hanging over it. “You can sit with me.”
He grinned and waggled his eyebrows. He loved how it made her cheeks turn pink.
Tempest rolled her eyes. “I’m going to get more water. I’m sure when they get the door open, they’ll need some, too. Be right back.”
“Be careful. You don’t know what else might have come loose,” Josh said.
“True. I guess even you can be right occasionally.” Tempest blew him a kiss and headed to the break room.
Josh laughed. So damn sassy and completely different from the woman who’d tortured him for two months. Seeing her like this made it impossible to think of her as the ice queen he’d believed. Even her ice-blue eyes looked more like a summer sky than the frozen tundra. Still, her thick walls of defense were still in place, trying to keep the world at bay. It wouldn’t be easy knocking them down, but Josh liked a challenge. And she would be his, even if she didn’t believe it yet.
Another explosion rocked the building as Tempest stepped through the doorway carrying a case of water. Above her, a piece of the ceiling started to come loose.
Josh raced toward Tempest. “Run!”
