Page 36 of Last Chance

“Not really, but I need to eat.” Even if the sun wasn’t up yet. She’d never been a morning person. Running her own retail business meant she’d learned to adapt. The business world didn’t run on her preferred schedule.

“Something light, then?”

“Please.”

He turned toward the refrigerator.

“I can cook.”

“Excellent. Tomorrow morning is your turn.”

Jesse strode into the kitchen to pour coffee into a mug. “You’re up early, Janie. Feeling okay?”

“Fine.”

He folded his arms across his chest, staring at her.

Janie’s cheeks burned. So, it was a slight exaggeration. Did he have to call her on it? “I’m exhausted and achy, but I have to help my workers make stock for the store before we open for business.”

Jesse looked at Sawyer, who held up his hands. The medic shook his head. “Don’t push yourself,” he said to Janie. “You’re still dealing with jet lag and the stress of the hijacking. I know you need to help your employees, but don’t push.”

“I hear you.”

The man snorted. “And you’re going to do what you want, right?”

She smiled.

“You are as stubborn as the woman I’m going to marry soon. So, what’s for breakfast, Sawyer?”

“Scrambled eggs, bagels, and fruit.”

“Sounds like a winner to me.”

Dismay filled Janie. “That’s what you call a light breakfast?”

“Normally, I have bacon and potatoes along with this,” Sawyer countered. “This is light. Besides, you decide how much you want to eat. I will not fill your plate with heaping portions. Remember, we train hard every day when we’re not on missions. That includes five to ten-mile runs. If we didn’t eat like this, we’d lose weight and muscle. We can’t afford to do either.”

Hmm. Well, she couldn’t argue with the results of their regimen. Every member of their team was ripped, especially Sawyer.

After breakfast, Jesse joined them in Sawyer’s SUV. He insisted on riding in the backseat and giving the shotgun seat to Janie.

Fifteen minutes later, Sawyer parked his vehicle behind Natural Bliss. Janie reached for the door handle.

“Wait,” Sawyer said. “Let me check the area first to be sure there aren’t any visible threats.”

Oops. Fifteen minutes into their day, and she’d already forgotten his rules. “Sorry.”

He squeezed her hand, then exited the SUV and scanned the area. After a moment, he must have been satisfied because he came around to open her door.

Sawyer held out his hand. “Keys to your shop?”

Of course. He’d want to check the premises before he allowed her to step foot inside the building. The problem was, she had nothing. The hijackers had forced her to leave everything behind on the plane. How could she have forgotten? “They’re still in Mexico.”

“No problem. Do you have an alarm?”

No problem? Was he going to break down the steel door? Good luck with that. Janie rattled off the code and watched as Sawyer pulled something from his pocket, crouched in front of the door, and seconds later turned the knob and stepped inside. “Did you see that?” she asked Jesse. “It took Sawyer about ten seconds to unlock my door.”

“Slow for him. He’s usually faster than that.”

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