Page 1 of SEAL's Patience
CHAPTER 1
QUINN
Quinn Gallagher, the Red Falcon team leader, inhaled the familiar aroma of fried food and beer as he stepped into the Ready Room. It should have eased some of his pent-up tension, but it didn’t. The rest of his team was sitting at their usual table at the back of the main room of the bar. He heard their raucous laughter and saw their smiling faces from where he stood.
They were in full on decompression mode. It wouldn’t be that easy for Quinn, especially after the mission debrief with their commander, Tony Knox. The clusterfuck of a mission left him filled with anger and frustration. The pressure weighing on him. He’d be shitty company and try to escape after a beer.
As he strode toward them, he tipped his chin at the greetings called out to him, but kept moving. Quinn wasn’t in the mood for small talk or any talk. If he’d had a good enough excuse to avoid being there, he would have. Unfortunately, his absence would have led to questions. Questions he wouldn’t answer tonight, or ever, if possible.
Tempest waved him over. As he neared the table, she pointed to the empty seat next to her fiancé, Josh Hartman. Josh had taken over as second-in-command from Lucky last year. There’dbeen a lot of changes over the last few years—more than his men finding the women that completed them.
Luca “Lucky” Rossi had held the SIC position for years until he’d taken a special assignment. He’d been on a black op for over a year. It had been rough on all of them knowing he was on a mission without back-up. Now he was back home with his girlfriend and a toddler.
“Hey boss, how’d the debrief go?” Josh grabbed an empty mug, poured a beer, then slid it toward Quinn.
“Other than wanting to punch Kern in the face, the same as usual.” Quinn grinned, but from the expression on Josh’s face figured it looked more like a grimace.
“What did the fucker do this time?”
Quinn shook his head. He really didn’t want to go into it with the women at the table. Their missions were top secret. Tempest accompanied them on some, but only when they needed her expertise. Grace and Harmony were civilians and needed to be kept in the dark.
“Let’s just say he opened his mouth a little too wide.”
Josh’s lips thinned into a straight line as he harrumphed. “Is he going to be a problem?”
“I don’t think so. You know how Tony feels about his bullshit.”
Josh nodded as he met his gaze. “Monday then?”
“Yeah, after PT,” Quinn said as he lifted his beer to take a drink. The condensation from the heavy mug slid down the side of the glass like rain on a window, before rolling over his palm and dripping onto the scarred wood table.
A paper napkin appeared as he lowered the mug to the table. He didn’t need to look up to know it was Patience. Her lavender and vanilla scent had haunted his dreams for months.
“Hey Quinn. Welcome back.” Patience smiled as she pulled out her pad to take his order. It didn’t matter when they came in,she usually waited on them. He knew she was in med school and would graduate soon.
“Hi,” Quinn grunted. It earned him an elbow in the side from Josh. He thought he saw a flash of disappointment on her face, but it was gone so quickly he might have imagined it. This girl, because even though he knew she was in her mid-twenties, was too soft, too sweet, too everything to be someone he could ever go near. He’d been talking himself out of asking her out for months.
“Shit, Quinn. What happened to your hands?” Patience reached for his clenched fist.
He pulled away before she touched him. There was no missing the disappointment on her face this time. The last thing he wanted was her pity. Or her concern. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
After a moment of hesitation, she pulled his hand toward her for a closer look. The woman had no sense of self-preservation. He’d done everything but growl at her and yet she still didn’t take the hint.
Quinn closed his eyes and slowly exhaled at her gentle touch. He didn’t deserve gentle. The concern on Patience’s face wouldn’t last long if she found out how he’d torn them up.
“Did Providence, or one of the other doctors on base, look at your hand? You need to ice this.” Patience eased his fist open and examined his bloody and swollen knuckles.
“Yeah, I got them checked out before I came here,” Quinn answered. It was a lie, but she’d never find out. There wasn’t a chance in hell he’d risk being pulled from active duty for a few bruises.
“I’m not sure I believe you, but hey, you’re a big boy and can take care of yourself.” She released his hand and stepped back with a shake of her head.
“Exactly. I’ll be fine. It’s nothing.” He hoped this time she’d believe him.
As he watched, she talked herself out of whatever she was going to say next. Her usual sunny smile was back in place. “Can I get you anything?”
“I’m good. Thanks. I’ll be heading out soon.”
Patience nodded, then made her way around the table, checking on everyone.
