He hadn’t said a word about what happened last night. No mention at all. Not over their scrambled egg breakfast. Their turkey and cheese sandwich lunch. And certainly not while training.
They’d traded jokes here and there. Casual conversation. A couple of pirate references were thrown her way. But basically, he’d gone with the same standard operating procedure from the previous days. Only an outsider with keen observational skills would have picked up on the slightest hint of a difference between today and yesterday.
The way he stared at her just a little bit longer from across the table while they ate.
The extra color she knew was in her cheeks that wouldn’t normally be there whenever he was close to her. Close enough for her body to react, to respond. A desperate craving for his touch.
Rory snapped her focus back to Bear, who was standing with alert ears, signaling to her the location of his next find. How long had he been patiently waiting while she’d been mesmerized by his handler?
She approached Bear and praised him, then offered him his treat. But when he spotted A.J.’s truck rolling up and heard the gravel crunch beneath the tires, Bear shot toward the driveway.
And yup, they still had a few things to work on. Like when he’d taken off for the garage on Sunday, and Rory had overheard the guys talking.
Rory started for the driveway when Chris helped Elaina climb out of the passenger side. “Bear!” she called out, and Bear continued to whip through the grass like a bolt of lightning, eager to get to her. They had a special bond, too.
“Hey, stranger.” A.J. strode toward Rory with his signature smile and swagger, wearing his cowboy boots, faded denim and button-down plaid shirt. No hat today. “How’s it going?” He reached out and hooked an arm around Rory once she was closer.
Chris crouched in front of Bear and Elaina on the gravel driveway, but his focus was set Rory’s way.
“We’re making a lot of progress. Bear is far from untrainable,” Rory explained.
“Just took the right people,” A.J. responded when he let go of her and tucked his hands into his back pockets. “You mind giving Rory and me a few minutes?” He set his eyes on Chris, who glanced back and forth between them as he slowly stood.
“Sure thing.” Chris motioned for Elaina to follow him. “Want to help run a few drills?” he asked her.
“Absolutely!” Elaina slapped her hands together. “School felt like it’d never end today since I knew I’d be coming to see my cuddly Bear!” Elaina faced Rory and smiled. “Uncle A.J. said we might be able to eat here, too?”
“Of course. I’m making shepherd’s pie tonight. I have plenty.” Rory smiled, but she was nervous given A.J. wanted some one-on-one time.
“Yay!” Elaina reached for Bear and stroked his head. “Oh, and do you think we could go trick-or-treating together with Bear for Halloween? I know I’m getting older, but I still like to go. Will you two come with me?”
How could she say no to that? And Halloween was only a few weeks away. She’d still be there. “I’d love to.”
“That’d be fun,” Chris agreed with an easy smile, and then he and Elaina left.
Rory looked to A.J., mentally trying to prepare herself for whatever he wanted to talk to her about.
A.J. leaned his back against his truck and folded his arms. With sunglasses on, she couldn’t get a read on his thoughts. “Jesse called me last night.”
Oh, shit. Rory kicked at the gravel with the tip of her brown cowgirl boot. Today, she’d tucked her skinny jeans into the top of her boots and matched them with a white button-down collared shirt, the top few buttons open to show a pale pink tank beneath. “He checking on me?”
“Of course.” A.J. smiled. “But he also told me something which has me worried.” A line cut across his forehead. “He said your last job might have put you in danger, and he’s concerned that danger might still be following you. But he said you were vague, which isn’t surprising, so he was hoping you’d talk to me.”
Damn you, Jesse. From the sounds of it, Chris must not have told A.J. what she’d blabbed to him while high from the brownies. But she was sure it was only a matter of time until Chris spilled the details to A.J. Surely, they had a code of sorts. “Jesse is exaggerating.” And I barely told him anything.
A.J. pushed away from the truck and strode closer. She saw the worried look on her face reflected in his sunglasses as he reached for her cowgirl hat and tipped it up to peer into her eyes. Not fair. She didn’t have sunglasses on as a layer of protection against his scrutinizing stare. “It must have been a pretty big deal if he asked me to do some digging. Use my government contacts to try and find out what you’ve really been up to for the last few years.”
Her shoulders slouched with relief. He wouldn’t find anything—she’d been a ghost. The last records he’d be able to pull were from when she was still working with wreckage vessels five years ago. “Okay.” She started to turn, preferring to go distract herself with confused feelings about Chris Hunter than face an inquisition from A.J. Hawkins.
“Rory, you know you can trust me. If you’re in danger . . .” He removed his sunglasses, showing his brows pulled tight. A stern big-brother look on his face.
“I’m safe. I’m also living in the home of a Navy SEAL. I’ll be fine. He can protect me.”
“I know that, but I don’t like the idea you might need protecting.” He gently placed a hand on her shoulder. Concern continued to pour out of this man.
She’d never forget the time one of the linebackers from their high school football team got a little handsy at a senior party. She’d only been a freshman, but A.J. had been there, and he’d done some damage to the guy. She didn’t want to imagine what her brother, who was prone to fighting, would have done had he been there that night. A.J. had more restraint. The kid might’ve died if Jesse had gotten his hands on him. Fortunately, the Army helped tame her brother some, thank God for that.
Over the last ten years, she’d gotten used to defending herself. Plus, she had martial arts skills and four guns to aid in that protection. But she wouldn’t deny the fact she did feel safer with Chris down the hall.
And yet, last night, he worried she’d feel threatened given his nightmare.
I have to tell Chris. Even if no one were to discover her past, or came for her, she still owed Chris the truth if she wanted a shot at something more with him. She knew that much in her heart. He deserved all of her, not just the bits and pieces she felt were safe to share. But how the hell would she start that conversation, and would he turn on his operator-mode switch and want to solve all of her problems? He had too much to worry about already.
“I’m fine,” she insisted and removed A.J.’s hand from her shoulder. “I’m not that fourteen-year-old girl anymore.”
“You’ll always be family.” His hands went to his back pockets once again. “Just promise me you’ll let me know if—”
“I’m not Supergirl. If I need help, I’ll ask.”
He scrunched his brow, continuing to observe her. “Jesse also mentioned Andrew Cutter would be in town this weekend, and he sent you an invitation for some fancy event on Friday.”
“For the love of God, I’m gonna whack my brother in the head the next time I see him.” She huffed out a breath, removed her hat, and slapped it against her outer thigh. “He’s always up in my business.”
“Aren’t you up in his, too?” A.J. challenged, a smile sneaking onto his lips.
The man thought he was so smart. Well, for such a smart guy, why’d it take A.J. years to see the tension between Ella and Jesse? The kind of tension that usually ended with people getting naked.
“Why are you asking about Andrew?” She positioned her hat back on and peered over to see Chris and Elaina running with Bear.
And if that wasn’t a sight to see, she didn’t know what was.
Elaina’s long hair flew behind her, and she was smiling with arms spread open, catching the wind as she ran. Chris was acting as though he
couldn’t keep up. Pumping his arms but moving slower, pretending to be fatigued so Elaina would beat him in whatever race they were partaking in.
Bear would obviously be the winner, but when he looked back to see Elaina, even he slowed a little to let her catch up. Awwwww.
“You going to have kids?” she asked.
“We were talking about Cutter.” A.J. wasn’t going to let her off the hook so easily. “I think Jesse is worried he might offer you another gig.”
She crossed her arms and faced him. “I would never take another job with Andrew. Plus, I’m committed to Bear right now.” Bear, not Chris. But in her heart, she already knew that was a lie. Today, at least, she was committed to them both. “He probably invited me because it was my research that most likely enabled him to find that ship in the first place.”
“Wait, really? And you don’t get a cut?” he asked in surprise.
“Don’t want one.”
He considered her words in silence, then asked, “So, you’re not going to the event?” He arched a brow. “Ella said you might go.”
Damn you, too, Ella Mae, she thought with affection. “She thinks I need to officially close some metaphorical door on my relationship with Andrew.” She waved a dismissive hand between them. “The invite was for four people. Hey, if I do go, you and Ana should come with me.”
“Fair warning, I have specific instructions from your brother to punch Andrew if I see him.” He held a palm in the air. “There’s a best friend code I’m obligated to follow, so you see, I’ll have no choice.” He placed his shades back on. “But it looks like you are thinking about going.”
“And why don’t you like Andrew? Same reason as Jesse? Because y’all think he stole me from Bama and put me in danger?”
And his sunglasses were back off again. “You have scars on your back from being whipped because the man got y’all abducted and beaten on a gig after only your first year working with him.” His scowl grew.
And you helped Jesse exact revenge on those men. “That wasn’t Andrew’s fault. Freaking real pirates still exist. What can I say? Comes with the territory. And it was his million-dollar promise to them that got us free.” She shrugged as if it was no big deal.
“I have other reasons I don’t want you to go. Well, one reason.” A.J.’s tone was softer this time, but still chilly enough to cause frostbite.
“What?” She set her hands to her hips and studied him, even though she wanted to return to watching the race out back.
“Chris likes you. I’m sure that’s obvious to you. But Chris doesn’t let himself like a woman. Not the way he likes you, I mean.” His mouth pinched tight as if torn about revealing more. Worried he’d betray Chris or something.
“And you think I’ll hurt him?” She blew out a shallow breath of unease. “Ella already warned me not to do that.”
“The thing is,” he said while pinching the skin at his throat, clearly uncomfortable, “I’m not sure how Chris would handle a woman he cares for leaving him again.”
Again.
Her stomach dropped.
Her heart squeezed.
She closed her eyes and took a moment. “He told me about his mom.”
“He did?” A.J. asked abruptly, surprise in his tone.
“And about his PTSD.”
“His what?”
She blinked her eyes open at the realization she’d just betrayed Chris. No, no, no. How did A.J. not know that? “Ignore that, but um, yeah, he told me the story behind why he joined the Navy.”
A.J. dropped his attention to the ground, his jaw tight beneath his beard. “So, you know that he’s never put himself out there before, too afraid to allow himself to fall in love because a woman might leave him the way his mom did. I mean, he hasn’t said this specifically, but it’s obvious.”
Chills erupted across her skin, and she pulled down her rolled-up sleeves in search of warmth. “Why am I different?” She knew the answer. She’d felt it in their kiss last night. An undeniable connection between them from the moment they met that went way beyond the physical, and no amount of trying to sell herself on the idea that what she felt was only lust would work.
“You really need to ask me that? You’re a kick-ass woman.” He allowed a brief smile to sit on his lips before his gaze journeyed back to Chris, Bear, and Elaina. They were setting up an obstacle course, and Chris had a big, fat tire over his head. His biceps flexed as he carried it.
“I don’t want to hurt him,” she said softly.
“But, you’re afraid you will?” He faced her, shades concealing his eyes again.
“I won’t take off for a gig.” I can’t. I don’t have a choice.
“But?”
“But there are no guarantees in life. Just because I don’t want to hurt him doesn’t mean it won’t happen anyway.” She frowned. “The timing right now isn’t great, though. So, I should probably keep my distance.” Until I figure out how to open up about my past.
A.J. reached for her wrist and gently pulled her around to face him when she’d started to pivot away. “That’s not what I want,” A.J. said with a shake of the head. “I didn’t say that.”
“He’s one of your best friends. And you rely on him having a clear head when you’re working a job. You’re just looking out for him. It’s okay.”
A.J. angled his head. “And I’ll always look out for you, too. You know that, right?”
She nodded, emotion choking her up. “Why’d y’all recruit him to join your company?” she asked when her attention moved back to Chris navigating the obstacle course with Bear and Elaina.
“Ain’t it obvious?” He pointed to Chris as he went to his knees, and Elaina wrapped her arms over his shoulders. Chris hoisted her up as he stood, carrying her on his back as he completed the obstacle course. “In the field, you need to know someone will have your back. In a split-second decision, you gotta know they’ll have the team’s best interest at heart.” He glimpsed at her from over his shoulder. “But Chris also has everyone’s back when we’re not operating. He’s the guy making sure everyone is solid. Eating. Happy. Never alone.” He fully faced her. “What’s this about PTSD?”
“I don’t think it’s my place to say,” she whispered. “But he’s strong like you said. Caring and compassionate.” She chanced a look at her friend, not sure if he’d let this go. “I’m going to go join them, but thanks for the talk.” She started for the backyard, but A.J. called out her name, and she halted. When she turned, she found him on her heels.
“Rory, Ella might be right,” A.J. began, his voice soft. “Sometimes, you gotta shut one door if you want to open another one, especially if you’re looking to open the right one.”
Chapter Twelve
Chris stopped in his tracks, eyes wide when he entered the kitchen. A country music song was blasting from the radio while Rory belted out the words, using a spatula as her microphone. Bear was on his hind legs hopping and howling along as Rory swayed her hips side to side, then threw her free hand into the air and hollered out what sounded like the song Born Here Live Here Die Here.
She grinned but just kept on singing when Chris spotted her. No, she wasn’t the least bit shy or embarrassed he’d caught her during her performance. “Luke Bryan,” she tossed out with another smile as Bear came running to his side, urging him to join the fun.
“Okay, boy.” Why not? He grabbed another spatula and stood before Rory, doing his best to follow along with the words, and though he was only mouthing them, he was completely butchering the song, but it had Rory laughing, which was well worth this moment.
“You always put on a show while you prepare dinner?” he asked when Rory set the spatula back into the pan of meat sauce she was cooking for a spaghetti dinner, which made the Italian part of him happy. His Italian background had come from his mom’s side, and it was about all he was grateful he’d inherited from her.
“I dance and cook when one of my favorite guys is singing.” She stirred the sauce, and Bear tr
otted over to his new water bowl. Rory had found the upside-down cowboy hat bowl online and had it overnighted her first day in town.
“Favorite guys, huh?” He dipped a finger into the sauce, half-expecting she’d swat his hand like his grandmother on his dad’s side always did when he was a kid and tried to sneak a taste of her cooking. “Delicious.”
“Special recipe.” Rory pointed to a spice bottle on the counter labeled “Special Shit” and smiled.
Chris barked out a laugh. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the counter by the stove, wanting a better look at her. “So, what other guys do you like? Kenny Chesney? Blake Shelton?” He called up to mind some of A.J.’s favorites. “Chris Stapleton?”
Rory set the spatula down and shifted to face him, now only inches away. Those inches felt like miles when he wished there was no distance at all.
“All of the above. What kind of music do you like?” She reached up and placed a hand to his chest. “This is a make-or-break moment, just so you know. No pressure.” The laughter canceled out the serious expression on her face and in her hazel eyes.
“Oh?” His heartbeat ramped up the moment she touched him.
The last two days had been tough. He was unsure what to do or say about the conversation they’d had in the middle of the night Tuesday. He’d never opened up to anyone, so he was in new territory with zero clue how to act. And, of course, there was the kiss. The kiss that obliterated all other kisses. The kiss that made him wonder if maybe he wouldn’t be forever single.
But Chris still couldn’t believe he’d pointed a gun at her. He mentally cringed at the memory. And although he liked having a weapon within reach beneath his bed, he’d locked it up. He couldn’t take the chance of another incident.
It’d been easier to get through the day yesterday with A.J. and Elaina over, but they were on their own tonight.
And those outfits she wore while training would be his undoing.
Chasing Fortune (Stealth Ops Book 8) Page 13
