Page 38 of Light on Love

Laurel sits back and stretches her arms. She’s reviewed every possible page, some multiple times. There’s nothing left to do but call the captain with her profile and wait. She looks out at the sparkling scene stretching across the back windows and smiles. Having this done means she can let herself lean into more things at the ranch now. She reaches for her phone and pulls up Captain Ireland’s number.

“Ah, Dr. Montgomery, hello. I hope you’re calling with a profile?” he answers, straight to the point.

“I am, yes. You wanted a shorter one verbally and not a typical written one. Correct?”

“Based on the circumstances, I think this is best, yes. Fire away.”

With his confirmation, Laurel picks up her notes and begins. “The corrupt member of the Joint Special Operations is not an operator. I am confident about this. Instead, he is a man who wishes to have been a Navy SEAL but is not capable for some physical reason. This man will seem like a team player, while internally harboring feelings that he was wronged, overlooked, or minimized due to this physical shortcoming. This man is close enough to naval operations that he will have been privy to command intelligence in live time, knowing that the team had split once the firefight broke out, during Operation Dark Horse.”

She pauses and takes a steadying breath. “He would have willingly, without duress, provided the information of which operator took the asset down which route to gain favor and recognition within the terror organization. He feels that by doing this, he will show his prowess. To him, aligning with this organization will prove to the command of the Navy that they lost out when passing him by. He will have narcissistic and grandiose traits when interrogated, but they are minimized in his day-to-day interactions. Being slighted directly, and with pressure, will be the best way to elicit his reaction.”

The captain is silent on the other end of the line for long enough that Laurel’s pulse begins to quicken. Then he says, “you are brilliant,” and she feels her whole body relax as she loosens a breath.“Finding this from one seemingly unrelated operation, it’s impressive. Let me take it from here. Sit tight.”

As she begins to collect all her papers, there is the faint sound of boots on the porch and then Brett steps through the back door. As usual, the sight of him makes her heart skip a beat. He deposits his layers of outerwear in the armchair by the back windows before hanging his cowboy hat on the hook. He’s wearing a pale blue button down today and it looks so good against his tanned skin and dark hair, she can’t help but admire the sight.

His stroll is relaxed as he walks over and scoops Laurel up in his arms, sitting with her in his lap. She wraps her arms around his neck, a playful smile on his face. Brett leans in and brushes his lips lightly from the hollow of her neck to her ear. So light, she shivers at the tickling sensation.

“Tell me about the rest of your day,” he says, running his hands under her sweater. Laurel arches into his touch, ignited by the feel of his hands on her bare skin.

“I just hung up with the captain,” she rasps.

“Did he have news? Or did you?”

“I delivered him my profile. My part is done.”

Brett stops and leans back, looking at her with wide eyes. “Like, you’re done? No more splitting time with reports?” he asks hopefully.

Nodding, a grin on her face, Laurel asks, “why, you want more time with me?”

“I want more time with you,” he whispers. Brett’s face turns solemn as his grip on her tightens. He looks into her eyes, need rolling off him.

Laurel hopes he’s saying what she’s feeling, more time after this protection order ends. She weaves her fingers in his hair, holding eye contact. Her voice is quiet when she speaks, “me too.”

23

Then smell of coffee fills the air as Floyd pours a second cup of the hot drink and slides it across the island to Laurel. She catches it and lifts the mug, inhaling the rich aroma. The first shipment of cattle left this morning, a buzz stirring across the ranch. Brett had explained to her that the excitement from the successful year will last for a week. And then, the worry during pregnancy checks begins. This, he said, is when they wait to find out what the future herd will look like.

Mug on her lips now, she’s taking her first sip as Floyd comes to sit beside her. “Brett said you finished the profile yesterday?”

Laurel nods, setting the mug on the counter. “I’ve done all I can do at this point. And the captain seemed impressed.”

“And if he’s impressed, he keeps you on permanently?”

Laurel nods again, leaning her elbow on the black marble counter and resting her chin in her hand. “That was the plan,” she murmurs.

“Sounds like you don’t love the plan,” Floyd responds, taking a sip from his own mug.

“The whole reason for all of this was to secure my position at the base.”

Floyd purses his lips before saying, “funny how things happen.”

Laurel doesn’t respond, chewing on her bottom lip and studying the veining in the marble counter. Floyd pats her arm supportively and she looks up to give him a weak smile. Over his shoulder, she sees Grey and Brett come up the porch steps. They are laughing as they step through the threshold together, shedding their layers by the door.

Brett laughing and smiling is intoxicating, and Laurel can’t look away. He is still shaking his head at Grey when he comes over and places a kiss on Laurel’s temple. The normalcy of the gesture causing her heart to flutter.

“Do you do anything to celebrate the cattle being shipped out this week?” she asks, pushing aside the urge for more of Brett’s affection.

“Used to,” Floyd replies, “Mary would cook, and it was like our own early thanksgiving. But she can’t be doin’ all that work these days.”

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