Page 23 of Protection for Nichole

“Cool.” His lips spread into a wide smile.

Heat shot through her. She didn’t know if he was laughing at her or just happy. “What?”

“I knew we would fit together well. I mean, it’s only one night, but I feel like you fit in so well with me.”

She nodded. “Yeah, we do fit well.”

Being with Jesse was easy. She’d worried a little on the flight out that maybe they wouldn’t get along, but it was like they really belonged together. If they’d clashed, she would have left and found a hotel. That wasn’t necessary at all. Jesse was just as good in bed as she remembered, and they were very compatible outside of sex. She just hoped the feeling lasted.

Chapter 20

Jay couldn’t believehow good living with Nichole was. She wrote and did research while he was at the base, and then, in the evenings, they spent time making love, cooking, reading, and chatting. It was exactly what he’d wanted from a partner. Their relationship almost seemed too easy, like they’d been together for a long time. They hadn’t, and he didn’t want to forget that they had a lot of work to do to make a solid relationship.

When the first argument hit, he almost felt relief. They’d clashed over something small. She’d wanted the bathroom door closed while she showered, but he thought it made the room too moist. He’d said something snippy, and that had started the argument. The last thing he wanted to do was be intensive or dismissive, so he really listened as she explained how being held captive had affected her. He got it. She felt insecure having the bathroom door open if she was alone. They decided to buy a small dehumidifier for the bathroom.

He thought she was almost too forgiving, though. When he’d snapped at her about the wetness in the bathroom, he’d been being a jerk. One thing he wanted to make sure of was that sheunderstood that she could say anything to him. Which meant he needed to work on his reactions.

In the time they’d been together, she’d woken up three times from nightmares. It had been worrisome to see her so frightened. Holding her as she calmed seemed to help, but he knew she needed to see a therapist and get help.

On the second Saturday she was in town, they headed to a park with his team to grill burgers and hotdogs. Since they all lived in smaller spaces, it was easier to get together at a local park than to try to have time together at one of their houses. The park gave them space to play frisbee or volleyball.

He hoped Nichole liked his friends. Not that it would be a make-or-break deal for their relationship, but her getting along with his buddies would make everything so much easier. He couldn’t imagine any of the guys having an issue with her. She was genuinely a good person and kind, too.

They pulled up at the park, and she hopped out, a smile on her face. One thing for sure, she wasn’t shy. Maybe that had a lot to do with her job. When she met the guys, she thanked each one of them, telling them she was thankful for what they did. Of course, the guys waved off her thanks, saying that their rescue of her was nothing, that it was part of their jobs.

For a bit, he worried that she wouldn’t get along with Danika, but it was like they’d been friends for years. In no time flat, they were laughing about something as they pulled out the plates and napkins.

Griz came over, his eyes staying on Nichole as he spoke. “Everything going okay with you two?”

Jay nodded. “Yeah. She’s special. I can’t describe how easy it is. It’s like we were made for each other.”

“That’s good. But you’re taking things slow.”

He snorted. “About as slow as Sharp and Danika took things.”

Sharp shot him a look. “Hey, we grew up going to the same school.”

Jay nodded. “Yeah, but you’re a different man than you were back then.”

Sharp lifted one shoulder and flashed a smile. “True. We’re both different but the same.”

The burgers were almost done, and they started grabbing plates. Nichole laughed at something Danika said. His heart nearly exploded with happiness. Seeing Nichole happy after everything she’d been through was the best.

“You have everything you need?” Nichole asked as she came over, a burger on her plate.

“Yes. Come sit.”

She settled next to him, taking in everything as they ate and joked about life and things they’d seen. When she was almost done with the burger, she turned to Sharp and raised her eyebrows. “Danika told me you two went to high school together.”

He nodded. “Yeah. We knew each other when we were kids.”

“How is that now?”

Danika burst out laughing. “It’s sweet. But I do remember when we were both little dorky kids.”

Sharp snorted. “We were never dorks. We were always cool.”

Danika rolled her eyes and patted Sharp on the knee. “I love you no matter how much of a dork you were in high school.”

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