Page 116 of SEAL's Promise

She smiled at the sound of her boss’s voice. “Other than cold and bruised, I’m fine,” she told Micah Winter.

“Bruised?” Anger resonated in his voice. “You were supposed to protect her, Taylor.”

“I screwed up.”

“He didn’t,” Rachelle protested. “Knock it off, Micah. Cal did everything possible to safeguard me. He was outnumbered.”

“Sit rep, Taylor.”

She scowled at the harsh tone and clipped speech.

Cal summarized the events since they’d returned from Mexico.

“What’s your next move or do you even have a plan?”

Rachelle’s breath caught. “Micah!” What was his problem?

Cal kissed her temple before answering. “If I’m not convinced Rachelle is out of danger, we’ll be going on vacation until the rats are caged.”

“Plan to do that anyway. Leave tomorrow before the sun comes up. I’ll authorize the use of the jet. Take one of your teammates for backup. If Rachelle comes back to work with so much as a scratch on her, I’ll ensure that you take on the worst missions known to man until you’re old and gray. Am I clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Micah, that’s not fair,” Rachelle protested.

“He’s right.” Cal threaded his fingers into her hair. “I should have suspected the attack on the other safe house was a decoy. Because I didn’t, you were kidnapped. I won’t let you down again.”

She growled. Why wouldn’t either of these infuriating men pay attention to her? No matter what Micah and Cal said, she knew the man she loved hadn’t screwed up. After the events of the past week, she knew as well as anyone that sometimes things happened that were out of your control despite your best efforts. Her abduction was one of those things. “What about my job, sir?”

“Your job will be waiting for you when you return. Enjoy yourself, Rachelle. Rest and relax. Heal. Taylor?”

“Yes, sir?”

“If you don’t treat her like a princess, you’ll be unemployed.”

“Copy that, sir.”

Micah ended the call.

Rachelle rounded on Cal. “Don’t do that again.”

“Don’t do what?”

“Take on the blame for something that isn’t your fault.”

“Baby, I miscalculated, and you almost died.”

“I’m the one who chose to leave the safe room to protect Mrs. Grady. That’s on me, not you.”

“You shouldn’t have had to make the choice in the first place.”

She sighed. There was no winning this argument with Cal at the moment. Later, though, she would prevail. Time to change the subject. “So, we’re going on a vacation, huh?”

A slow smile curved his mouth. “Looks like it.” He cupped her chin and tilted her face up to meet his gaze. “Who do you want to accompany us?”

“Jackson.”

“Why him?”

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