Page 121 of Death Wish

“We’ll be fine, Simone.” Coffee would have done the trick but he wouldn’t reject her gift.

Jesse played with Goose until a knock sounded on the front door. He scooped up the poodle and went to let in his teammate.

Sawyer set his Go bag against the wall and held out his hands for Goose. “Hey there, little man. You’re looking good.” He chuckled as the dog licked his face and neck. “What smells so good in here?”

“Simone’s baking cookies for us. She didn’t want us to go hungry on watch.”

“If you let that girl slip through your fingers, I’m calling first dibs on her. She’s a keeper.”

“That she is, which is why you aren’t getting a chance with her.”

His friend sighed and looked mournfully at Goose. “See what happens when you’re late to the party, Goose? You miss out on all the special girls. Don’t take after me, buddy. You’ll be sorry.”

Jesse and Sawyer walked to the kitchen and saw Simone take the last batch of cookies from the oven.

“Those smell amazing,” Sawyer said. “Thanks for the cookies, Simone.”

“You’re welcome. I wanted to do something for you since you’re helping Jesse and me overnight.”

“I’m glad to help, cookies or no cookies.” He rubbed Goose’s head. “I’m going to teach Goose how to keep watch.”

Simone laughed. “Good luck with that.”

“You just watch me. You might be surprised.”

“And I might not.” She yawned. “Oops. Sorry.”

“Are you ready to go to bed now?” Jesse asked.

“Depends. Are you taking the first watch or the second?”

“Second,” Sawyer said. “I have the watch until 3:00 a.m. Jesse can take over at that point while I catch a nap. Brody is a stickler for being on time to PT. Jesse might have a couple more days to lounge around and be a bum, but I don’t.”

“Since you’re taking the first watch, I’ll try to sleep for a few hours and get up at 3:00.”

Jesse smiled. Had to love a woman who would give up sleep to stand watch with him. “I’ll walk you to your room.”

After a long, sizzling goodnight kiss, Jesse walked across the hall to Simone’s guest room and laid across the bed.

His internal alarm woke him a few minutes before three o’clock. He rolled out of bed, took a quick shower and changed his clothes before making his way to the kitchen.

Sawyer handed him a mug of coffee. “Everything’s been quiet.”

Jesse scratched Goose between the ears. “Did you teach Goose everything you know about night watch?”

“Not yet, but he has good instincts and good ears. He’ll be a delightful companion for Simone when we’re deployed.”

Deployed. Jesse sipped his coffee, uneasiness settling in his gut. He didn’t want to leave his teammates without his help on a mission. At the same time, he refused to leave Simone alone and vulnerable to Trevor White in his absence.

If he did as Simone has asked and went with his teammates, Jesse would have to find someone he trusted with his wife-to-be to watch over her and the other women.

Simone staggered into the kitchen, dressed for another day of recovery and, knowing her, computer work. “Morning.”

“Good morning, sweetheart.” Jesse brushed his lips over hers. “Coffee?”

“Please.” She accepted the mug Sawyer poured for her with a nod of thanks. At the first sip, she sighed. “This brew is strong enough to melt metal. It’s perfect, Sawyer.”

He chuckled. “Glad to know you appreciate my genuine talent in life.”

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