Page 16 of SEAL's Providence
The smile emoji made it better. Tony debated on texting one back or if he should ask to meet for coffee in the morning. It probably wasn’t the best idea, considering her reaction to dinner. Quinn would say he needed to slow his roll, and he’d be correct. Damn. Maybe his brain had melted when he’d met her, because he never had trouble acting like a grown ass man, and now he felt more like a pubescent teenager.
CHAPTER 5
PROVIDENCE
“C’mon, brew faster, dammit.” Providence moaned. She needed coffee now. It was the only thing that would clear out the cobwebs from her sleepless night. After trying everything else, she finally put on an old movie and had a glass of bourbon, but even that hadn’t knocked her out. Leaning against the kitchen island while waiting amped up her tension. Even staring out the window at the peaceful neighborhood didn’t soothe her frazzled nerves.
Finally. The moan and sizzle from the coffeemaker had her reaching for her mug. She added the perfect amount of fat-free half and half to cool it down enough to drink and breathed deep. The first sip lifted the corner of her mouth but did nothing for the butterflies slamming around in herstomach looking for an escape route. Hopefully, it wasn’t a portend of things to come later on when they got to the salon.
What if she screwed this up, or their plan imploded? Tempest was the only one who had any experience with this type of thing. Maybe Providence should have just gone back to the local authorities even without concrete proof. Maybe Mary’s whispered words would have been enough for them to check into the salon at least.
Nibbling on her thumbnail, she didn’t want her new friends to get injured. Providence worried that not only could she have endangered them, but also the trafficked women she wanted to help. She didn’t even want to think about the damage it would do to her career. Oh yeah, she could kiss that goodbye if command got wind of their plan. There were protocols and she was involving herself in something she shouldn’t, not that it would stop her.
On top of all of that, Providence felt guilty about putting Tony off all week. He’d texted her several times, checking to make sure she was doing well, and if she wanted to meet him for dinner. Ugh. She’d been afraid to—not because she wasn’t attracted to him—but because she was. He wouldn’t be a random hookup. They worked on the same base, for goodness’ sake. It was even worse thanbeing on the same ship. Somehow she knew he’d be trouble for the heart she kept hidden away. Catching feelings was the road to ruin. Her parents had drilled that delightful notion into her head at a young age.
The chime of her cell pulled her from her reverie.Dammit. If she didn’t pull herself out of all this useless self-reflection, she’d drown in it. The therapy she’d undergone years ago taught her how to compartmentalize and deal with one thing at a time. These last few days, all that knowledge had gone out the window. She’d been letting the stress drag her into the mists of melancholy. It had to stop.
Her phone chimed again. Glancing at the screen, she hoped it wasn’t Tony again. She hated ignoring him. Now was just not a good time. Besides worrying about getting involved with him, she didn’t want him to find out about their recon mission. Thankfully, it was Tempest’s name that popped up.
Tempest: Morning. We still on for later?
Were they? She could still stop this before getting anyone else involved. Then she remembered the sadness in Mary’s eyes when she spokeabout her daughter. It cemented Providence’s resolve.
Providence: Yes ma’am. Everyone else still on board?
They’d be meeting at Grace’s house. It would be easier to take one car and hers was the largest. It was a girls’ day, after all.
Tempest: Of course. Grace is practically foaming at the mouth to save those women. It hits too close to home after what happened to Hope.
Providence had been afraid of that. It was a good thing Grace and Tempest’s gruff father turned them into a couple of badasses. Still, she prayed Grace wouldn’t have nightmares from this.
Providence: I hope she’ll be okay.
Tempest: Of course. I’m more worried about Harmony. She’s got such a soft heart.
It was a concern of Providence’s, too. But she’d seen the strength in the woman’s gaze when they’dall met for coffee on Thursday to confirm their plans.
Providence: See you in a few hours.
Tempest: Later.
She grinned at her phone. Josh’s influence was obvious. Tempest was a different woman from when she’d met her.
Lifting her mug, Providence sighed when it was empty. She couldn’t recall drinking it. Another sign of the gray fog. After making another mug, she carried it to her backyard and grabbed her yoga mat. It was time for some yoga and meditation. If anything could get her centered for the operation, they’d dubbed “Saving the Flowers,” it would.
“Everyone ready?” Providence asked as she glanced at each of the women before they climbed out of Grace’s SUV.
“Hell yeah,” Tempest and Grace said in unison.
Harmony smiled and nodded. “I am, but I’m nervous. But that’s a good thing. I’ll for sure be tripping over something without even thinking about it.”
Providence reached for her hand, where it rested on the seat between them, and squeezed it gently. “You’ll be fine. We just need to pull John’s focus away from the women. If it doesn’t work, we’ll think of something else. At least we’ll still have beautiful fingers and toes.”
Providence met Tempest’s gaze and nodded. This had to work. If not, it could become a clusterfuck and risk all their lives.
A bell rang as they entered the Lotus Blossom Salon. As always, John stood at the front desk, his sharp, stony gaze seemed to take in everything. In all the months Providence had been going there, it had never changed.
“We’re here for our one o’clock appointments,” Providence said as she approached the desk.
