Davin gave Shayna a wry smile. “No, she’s not joking.” He turned to Alexis. “But you have to remember you’re back in the civilian world now. He’s not a target you have permission to eliminate.”
Alexis stared at him for a long moment before turning away with a shrug. “Look, they’re about to land.”
Shayna turned back to the window. She’d much rather get excited to see Ty in just another minute or two than worry about whether Alexis might actuallyeliminatethis Carey person.
“I had a word with Smoke, and he said we can use one of the briefing rooms when they land,” Davin told her. “We’ll have a chat with Cash first – give you a minute with Ty before we leave the airport.”
“Oh! Thanks!”
Alexis smiled, seemingly recovered from her darker thoughts. “Perhaps we should give the two of you the briefing room and we can talk out here.”
Shayna felt the heat in her cheeks as she waved a hand at them. “We’ll be fine. We can just say a quick hello and then join you. I want to hear what you discuss – and I know Ty will, too.” She frowned. She was thinking that she and Ty would have plenty of time alone when they got back to the house and she took him up to the apartment, but … “Where’s Cash going to stay?”
“I’m sure he’ll have arranged something,” said Alexis. She jerked her chin toward the window. “Here they come.”
Shayna’s hand came up to cover her heart when she spotted Ty. How had she gotten so lucky? Well, she knew the answer to that – it was all thanks to April! They’d have to stop by the bakery to see her and thank her.
Ty looked just as gorgeous as she remembered, maybe more so. He was wearing the same bright blue jacket and brown cowboy hat that he’d worn in Salt Lake. He was … breathtaking. She took hold of the beehive charm on her necklace and moved it back and forth along the chain as she watched him walk. Whenshe’d told April that she liked cowboys, it had just been an idea – a type. Now? Now, she had her very own cowboy. Tall, dark, built, handsome and such a good guy. He might be a little rough around the edges, but that just added to his charm as far as she was concerned.
It took her a while to even notice his brother walking beside him and … holy smoke! She’d bet that it wasn’t often that women failed to notice him. He was a silver fox if ever she’d seen one. She glanced at Davin, feeling guilty. He was a great guy – and good-looking, but to her, he was just one of the group of older guys in town. He was a sweetheart, and there was definitely something about him that said you shouldn’t mess with him, but …
She looked back out at Cash.Hewas the kind of hot that finally made her understand why some girls went for older men! He was about the same height as Ty, and he was just as broad-shouldered and muscular. He wore a brown leather jacket, and a brown cowboy hat and …
She turned when Alexis chuckled beside her. “I told you they were a good-looking bunch.”
Shayna could only nod. She shot a glance at Davin, wondering how he’d feel about Alexis saying that. He didn’t look fazed in the least. Alexis stepped around her and Davin slung his arm around her shoulders.
“Go on,” Alexis told her. “Go and meet Tyler at the doors. He can introduce you to Cash, and then we’ll have our chat.”
Shayna took a step forward just as Ty and Cash reached the doors from the tarmac. As soon as they stepped inside, she broke into a run. She didn’t care who was here with them, or what theymight think. All she knew was that Ty was here – and she needed to feel his arms around her again.
He grinned when he saw her and dropped the duffel bag he was carrying. He held his arms out, and she threw herself at him. He staggered back a step and swung her around as he grinned down at her.
“Hey, Shay.”
“Hi, Ty.”
They stared into each other’s eyes for the longest moment. They didn’t need words, or even a kiss to convey how they felt. She could see it in his eyes – he’d missed her just as much as she’d missed him. And … her heart thudded to a halt. He loved her – just as much as she loved him. She tilted her head to the side, wondering if that was really what she saw in his eyes or just what she wanted to believe.
Her heart felt like it filled up and overflowed when he nodded.
Cash broke the moment when he laughed and said, “Either kiss her or put her down and introduce us, squirt.”
Shayna laughed out loud. “Squirt?”
Ty gave her a rueful smile. “Yep, ‘fraid so. I was the smallest when we were kids.”
“Aww! I think that’s awesome! I call Booker squirt.” She smiled at Cash. “It’s a term of endearment, right?”
Cash nodded. “It is.” He winked at her. “And it’s good to remind this guy sometimes that no matter how big and tough he is these days, he’s still just squirt to his family.”
Shayna nodded happily as she turned to smile at Ty. “I’ll have to remember that if you start getting too big for your britches, squirt!”
Ty cupped his hand around the back of her neck and narrowed his eyes at her, but he couldn’t hide his smile.
“Never mind all that. Shayna, this is my big brother, Cash. Cash, meet Shayna.”
She felt a little awkward holding her hand out to shake with him, it seemed a bit formal. Apparently, Cash thought so too. He took her hand and pulled her in for a hug. Wow! It wasn’t like one of Ty’s hugs, those were special, but there was something about Cash – he felt so solid, so … reassuring.