by Susan Stoker
“You’ve been shot,” Kane said by way of explanation.
She frowned. “I’m fine. I’m not going in on a gurney. I need to debrief the teams on my patients.”
It was Kane’s turn to frown. “Aspen—”
“No,” she said firmly. Then gentler, she continued, “It hurts, but it’s not life threatening. I’ll get it looked out after I make sure my team is taken care of.” Then she scooted forward on her knees, keeping her hand on Vandine’s chest as he was moved to the back of the truck. She observed as he was transferred to the gurney and whisked inside.
Then she turned her attention to Holman. “I can walk,” he protested as the nurses and doctors were attempting to put him on a gurney.
“Of course you can walk,” Aspen reassured him. “But we need to let the doctors earn their keep, right?”
He rolled his eyes and shook his head at her, but he sat on the gurney.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Aspen turned to grab her pack, and saw that Kane already had it over one shoulder. “I got it,” he told her.
Thankful for his help, Aspen started to climb out of the truck but hesitated. Her leg had really started throbbing, now that the adrenaline that had been coursing through her veins had dissipated somewhat.
A nurse pushed the third gurney closer, but Trigger and Grover intercepted him. “She’s got this,” Trigger told the man under his breath.
Kane hopped out of the back of the truck and held out his hand. “Lean on me,” he ordered.
In any other situation, she might’ve complained about him ordering her around, but she was too grateful for his help at the moment. She took his hand—and it felt as if a jolt of electricity arced between them.
Surprised, she glanced up at him…and saw a look of possessiveness so strong in his gaze, it made her stumble. But Kane didn’t let her fall.
His other hand went to her waist and he all but lifted her out of the truck. He gave her a moment to catch her balance then dropped her hand, but his arm didn’t fall from around her waist. He walked at her side as they made their way into the tent. Aspen knew she was limping, and hated that show of weakness, but somehow the man next to her made her feel way stronger than she was.
If she’d been by herself, she knew she’d be worried about what everyone was thinking, how they’d gotten separated from the team, where the rest of the Rangers were, what exactly had happened. But with Kane and his team at her back, she felt almost invincible.
It took about twenty minutes to debrief both teams of doctors about Vandine and Holman’s injuries. She explained what she’d done in the field and how much ketamine both had received. She gave her professional opinion about how bad she believed their injuries were and then, just like that, her job as a medic was done.
Kane and Oz led her into an open exam room while Trigger went to find someone to finally look at her own injury. Lefty put her pack on the floor and got to work straightening the contents after she’d rummaged through them in the alley.
Grover asked if she was hungry, and even though she said she wasn’t, he said he’d go find Sierra and see if she could prepare something for her. Doc offered to go to Aspen’s tent and bring her something to change into, because it was obvious her pants were a lost cause.
Tears sprang to her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Kane asked urgently.
Aspen just shook her head. “I just…why are you all still here?”
Kane took her head in his hands after she sat on the side of the examining table. “This is what a team does, chérie.”
“I’m not on your team,” she whispered.
“The hell you’re not,” Kane retorted. She swore his head started to lower, but just then, a doctor entered the room and he had to take a step back.
“I heard you were shot,” the doctor said curtly. “Let’s see the damage.”
Aspen turned onto her stomach and let the doctor and nurse cut her pants leg so they could see her calf. She lay still as they cleaned and sutured the wound. It hurt, but somehow having Kane in the room, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed, watching over her, made it not quite as painful as it might’ve been.
When she was all bandaged up, she put on the uniform pants Doc had brought her. It was painful to put her boot back on, but since he’d also brought her a pair of flip-flops, she was good to go.
While she was being cared for, she learned that the base docs were moving both Vandine and Holman to Germany as soon as possible—and surprisingly, they were shipping her out with them.
When she’d heard the news, she opened her mouth to question it, but pressed her lips together when Kane shook his head at her. Aspen had no idea why she was being medically evacuated when she wasn’t all that injured, but Kane cleared it up when they had a minute alone.
“Vandine insisted on it,” he told her. “Said you were his teammate and injured as well. I think the base general was more than willing to send you home early after hearing from Holman about what happened out there today. He’s not happy with Spence, or about how the other men on your team left you guys behind. I think he realizes that putting some distance between you and the others right now is probably best.”
“So I’m being punished for Derek’s actions. Great,” Aspen muttered. Then sighed and looked up at Kane. “What happens when we all get back to Texas?”
“I don’t know, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” Kane told her.
“You guys are staying, right?”
“Yeah. As soon as you leave, we’ll head back out for recon. We’re gonna get Akhund.”
“Of course you are,” Aspen said with conviction. “The top brass should’ve saved us all the time and heartache by sending you guys in the first place.”
Kane smiled, and once again, Aspen thought he might kiss her, but they were interrupted by a nurse who came into the room to clean it for the next patient.
The next thing Aspen knew, she was standing next to a huge medic evac helicopter, ready for the long journey to Kuwait, then Germany, then back to Texas. Doc had gone back to her tent and packed her things, and Aspen tried not to be embarrassed that he’d seen her underwear.
Trigger, Lefty, Oz, Lucky, Doc, and Grover were all standing behind Kane in their black pants and shirts as the helicopter was fired up. They’d already given her hugs and wished her well before saying they’d see her soon.
Then it was time to say goodbye to Kane.
“I’d say I’ll write, but there’s a chance we might beat you home,” Kane quipped.
“Be safe,” Aspen said, not quite able to joke. Not when she’d experienced the danger in the village firsthand. There had been several times over the last few hours when she’d thought that was it. That she’d be shot and the only way she’d go back home was in a body bag.
“I will,” Kane told her.
They stood silent there for several tense seconds. Aspen wanted to let him know how much she cared about him, but couldn’t find the words.
Then he muttered, “Fuck it,” and reached for her.
One hand went behind her neck and the other grabbed her around the waist. He pulled her into him, Aspen gasping in surprise. Her hands landed on his chest…and then his lips were on hers.
The kiss was even more intense and breathtaking than the one they’d shared in the bar so many months ago.
Aspen’s eyes closed, and she dug her fingers into his chest as he tilted his head to take her deeper. She’d never truly understood the allure of kissing until now. It felt nice, but she’d never gotten super turned on when she’d made out with past boyfriends.
But the second Kane’s lips landed on hers, it was as if her body had been plugged into a socket. Every hair on her body stood up and she shivered in response. Aspen knew she should pull away. That they shouldn’t be kissing in front of what seemed like half the base. But she couldn’t take her lips from his if her life depended on it.
Way too soon, Kane was the one who lifted his head first. She watche
d as he licked his lips, and his fingers tightened momentarily on her neck.
“If you get shot, I’m gonna be pissed,” she whispered.
Kane chuckled. “Noted. Take care of that leg. Don’t let it get infected,” he told her.
“I won’t.” She knew she had to go. Had to get on the helicopter, but she literally couldn’t pull herself out of Kane’s hold. She felt safe there. As if nothing could hurt her while in his arms. Not Derek. Not the Taliban fighters. Nothing.
With a big breath, she took a step back.
His arms dropped, and she immediately felt bereft. She both hated and loved the feeling. Hated it because she’d always been independent. Loved it because having such deep feelings about a man was a new and exciting thing. And it was obvious that she wasn’t the only one affected.
Kane gave her a chin lift and backed away to join his team. All seven watched as she climbed into the helicopter and it took off. Aspen kept her eyes on the Delta team as long as she could, until they were too small to see anymore.
Only then did she close her eyes and rest her forehead on the small window next to her seat. She and Kane had only been in Afghanistan together for a few hours, but somehow, Aspen knew today had changed her life forever.
Chapter Ten
A week and a half.
That’s how long it took to find Akhund, kill him, report on their investigation to the head honchos at the base in Afghanistan, and get back to Texas.
Brain was more than ready to see Aspen again.
He’d only managed to communicate via email twice since she’d left the base, since much of his time had been spent hunting down Akhund. But he’d learned that Aspen’s leg was mostly healed, and she hadn’t seen or talked to Derek or the rest of her team yet.
She’d been in Germany a few days before flying home. Her parents had flown down from Minnesota after they’d heard she’d been shot, and had just left the day before.
Brain also knew Aspen would be returning to work soon, and that she wasn’t looking forward to it. Even though they’d only shared emails, he could read the uncertainty in her words.
“You going to see Aspen?” Oz asked.
Brain nodded. They were at the airport at Fort Hood, and for the first time, he understood Trigger and Lefty’s urgency to see their women after a mission.
“She know you’re back?”
“I’m gonna text her right before I leave here to head to her apartment,” Brain said.
“You sure that’s a good idea?”
Brain frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Just that she might want more of a head’s up that you’re coming over. Chicks like to dress up and look their best when they see their boyfriends.”
Brain pressed his lips together for a second. Then said, “We aren’t really boyfriend/girlfriend yet.”
Oz raised his eyebrows. “Really? That goodbye kiss said differently. And…all the more reason for you to give her a proper head’s up.”
Brain hadn’t thought about anything besides seeing her, but he thought Oz might just have a point. He pulled out his phone without a word.
* * *
Brain: Any chance you’ll be free in about an hour and a half, and I can stop in?
* * *
Three dots immediately appeared as she typed a response.
* * *
Aspen: You’re back?!?!?!?!
Brain: Lol. I am.
Aspen: YAY! Are you hungry? Can I cook something?
Brain: I’m good, thanks though. I’m looking forward to seeing you.
Aspen: Same!
Brain: How’s the leg?
Aspen: Good. The scar’s pretty gnarly, but that’s the least of my worries.
Brain: A scar just means you’re tougher than whatever tried to hurt you.
Aspen: I like that. Are you all right?
Brain: What do you mean?
Aspen: You weren’t shot, stabbed, tortured, or beaten or anything?
Brain: No.
Aspen: Good. I’m looking forward to seeing you.
Brain: Me too. Gotta go. See you soon.
Aspen: Soon.
* * *
Brain put his phone back in his pocket and knew he had a moronic grin on his face, but he couldn’t help it. “Good call,” he told Oz.
“For the record, I like her,” Oz said. “I know you don’t need my permission to date anyone, but Aspen’s pretty okay for a Ranger.”
Brain rolled his eyes at his friend then punched him in the shoulder.
“Hey, you guys comin’ or what?” Trigger yelled from across the tarmac. “We’ve got a lot of shit to put away and we still have to debrief. I want to get home to Gillian sometime tonight.”
“We’re comin’!” Brain shouted back. But his mind was still on Aspen. He couldn’t wait to see for himself that her leg really was healing properly. He wanted to explore the crazy chemistry he felt when he was around her and when they kissed. He simply wanted to hear her voice. He had a feeling he was a goner, but he didn’t even care.
Two hours later, after an intense debrief where the team didn’t hold back about everything that had happened in Afghanistan—with both the Ranger teams, and with their own successful search for Akhund—Brain was standing in front of Aspen’s apartment door. He’d showered and changed into a pair of jeans and a plain black T-shirt.
Two-point-three seconds after he knocked on her door, it opened, and Aspen stood there. And suddenly, the week and a half since he’d seen her seemed more like years.
“Hi!” she said eagerly.
Without a word, Brain took a step toward her. She backed up, and he shut the door behind him. Then he kept walking.
Aspen had a grin on her face, but she kept backing away from him.
Neither said anything, but Brain felt as if he were a male lion stalking his mate. Aspen bumped into a small table and veered around it, still smiling. Eventually, she backed herself into a wall near her kitchen.
Brain caged her in by putting his hands on the wall next to her shoulders and leaning forward. He nuzzled the side of her neck, and she tilted her head, giving him room. Her hands gripped his waist, and nothing had felt better.
“Gardenias,” he whispered as he inhaled deeply.
“My lotion,” she told him as she tightened her grip on his T-shirt.
Brain pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. “Hey,” he said quietly.
“Hey,” she echoed.
There was so much Brain wanted to say, but he couldn’t do anything but stare into her beautiful brown eyes. Her lashes were long; he hadn’t noticed that before. She wasn’t wearing any makeup, but she didn’t need to. Her skin was flawless, and the longer he simply stared at her, the more color bloomed in her cheeks.
“Kane?”
“Yeah?”
“Um…are we going to stand here all night staring at each other or what?”
“Maybe.”
She grinned. “Well…all right then.”
Brain couldn’t help but smile back. He wanted to kiss her. Wanted to touch her…all over. Wanted to claim her, mark her, make her his. But he also didn’t want to freak her out. So he settled for saying, “We haven’t really talked about it, but I want to go out with you. And I want to be exclusive. I don’t want you seeing anyone else while we’re together.” He waited, almost holding his breath to see what she’d say.
“Okay.”
He let out his breath in a whoosh. “That’s it? Okay?”
She shrugged. “Yes. And the exclusive thing goes both ways, right?”
“Fuck yeah,” Brain said. “Women aren’t exactly beating down my door,” he said honestly, then immediately regretted it.
But Aspen didn’t seem fazed. “Their loss,” she told him. “I’m thinking we need to seal this deal with a kiss,” she went on.
Brain was more than all right with that. He was having a hard time thinking about anything other than feeling her lips on his again. Without a word, he leaned in an
d kissed her.
Aspen moaned, and one of her hands slipped under his T-shirt to touch his bare skin as she kissed him back.
Goose bumps immediately broke out on Brain’s arms, and he honest-to-God growled before tilting his head and practically devouring her. But Aspen gave as good as she got, not backing down from his aggressive kiss.
How long they stood against the wall kissing, Brain had no idea, but when he felt her hands slip under his waistband in search of…more, he pulled back.
They were both panting, and he saw that Aspen’s pupils were dilated. She was so gorgeous—and for some reason, she liked him.
For a brief second, Brain panicked. If she knew how much of a nerd he was, she probably wouldn’t be so interested. But he pushed down the self-deprecating thoughts. He wasn’t a child, and Aspen wasn’t one of the cruel kids he’d grown up with, making fun of him for being smart and not allowing him into their circles because he was so young.
“That was…fun,” she said with a smile.
Brain just shook his head at her and stepped back. He kept hold of her hand and towed her into her living room. He motioned for her to sit, and when she did, he pushed her coffee table back and kneeled in front of her.
“What are you…my leg is fine, Kane,” Aspen told him.
But Brain ignored her as he pushed up the leg of her loose cotton pants to see for himself. He twisted his neck and examined the still-healing gunshot wound. There was no bandage, and he could see the stitches clearly. The bullet had grazed her, taking a large chunk of skin with it. The skin was pink and still a bit swollen, but, as she’d said, was healing well.
“I’m assuming you’ve been cleared for light PT?” he asked.
Aspen nodded. “No running or weights yet, but I can do a lot of the other stuff.”
Brain ran his thumb next to the scar, remembering how she’d carried her first sergeant while she ran. He’d be the first to admit that at one time, he probably would’ve been skeptical about women as combat medics attached to elite teams like the Rangers. But in the span of a few minutes, Aspen would have single-handedly changed anyone’s mind. He cupped her calf in his hand, making sure not to touch her still-healing wound, and looked up at her. “How’re the others?”
