Page 24 of Protection for Nichole

“That’s convenient because I love you, too.”

Everyone chuckled as Sharp leaned close and brushed his lips over Danika’s. Jay glanced over at Nichole, who was laughing and smiling. He was glad he could give her some happiness.

Shine lifted his chin at Jay when he caught his eye. “Are you two going to be like that?”

Sharp cleared his throat, not giving Jay time to answer. “Just because you’re jealous that we have someone doesn’t mean you can pick on Jay and Nichole.”

Shine rolled his eyes and shook his head. “I don’t want anyone. I’m happy alone.”

Griz snorted. “Sure, Shine. I’m sure you are.”

“Don’t mind them,” Jay said to Nichole. “They gripe about each other all the time.”

Apple took a drink of his beer and then set it down. “So, Nichole, what are you going to do now?”

She put her burger back on her plate and met Apple’s gaze. “What do you mean?”

“Well, you’re here. That means you’re not writing, so what are you going to do?”

Jay swore Nichole’s face lost some of its color, and her lips thinned like she was working out what to say. Surely, Apple couldn’t be asking Nichole if she was going to quit writing. That was her job, and it made her happy.

“I’m still writing. I don’t have to be in any one city. In fact, I go all over the place, working wherever I am. I’ve got the base of my article written. I’m just waiting to hear back from my editor.”

Griz cleared his throat. “What’s it about?”

Jay could see the tension in Nichole’s shoulders, and he wished they hadn’t brought this up. He and Nichole had discussed her work and how her telling everything didn’t really match with him keeping everything secret. She’d promised not to dig for information from him, and he said he wouldn’t stop her from writing.

“The reason I was at that medical facility was to write an article about how dangerous it is for the medical personnel. I think my experience will make it relatable.”

The guys shifted like they didn’t like what she’d said. Apple leaned forward and met her gaze.

“How can you write about it? You’ll have to expose us.”

She shook her head. “Actually, not really.”

Apple’s lips thinned. “What do you mean, not really?”

Jay didn’t like how hot Apple was getting. “Dude, give it a rest.”

Apple’s gaze swung his way. “How can you say give it a rest? We don’t know what she’s writing.”

Jay sat forward. “Actually, I do. I’ve read the article, and she didn’t put one word in there about us being SEALs. She didn’t identify which country sent in their military to help.”

“I never include anything really personal in my articles. It may seem like I do, but I don’t want or need people tracking me down.”

Griz stood, and Jay worried that everything was about to get tense. But Griz looked relaxed instead of worked up. “Apple, back down. If she’s letting Jay read everything, then we know she’s not going to expose us.”

Apple’s cheeks flamed red, and it was obvious he didn’t like what Griz had said. Jay trusted Nichole. Sure, journalists could be assholes, but Nichole wasn’t going to betray them. After reading everything she’d written for the article, he knew she wasn’t going to reveal anything that could identify them. On missions, they were nameless, faceless cogs who could be substituted in with any other SEAL. It was for their protection. So, if they were out on the street in Europe or if they went on vacation with their family, they weren’t at risk. And Nichole honored that.

The atmosphere in the group had shifted. He glanced at Nichole and realized she looked uncomfortable. Agitation rose, but he pushed it down. The last thing he wanted was strife on his team, but Apple had come out of nowhere with the accusation. Later, Jay would discuss it with Apple, like when Nichole wasn’twith him. His buddies needed to know that he would never put them in danger.

Hell, he figured if anyone had a problem, it would be Sharp, not Apple. But what did he know? Maybe something else was going on with Apple.

“Hey, who wants to toss the frisbee?” Shine asked.

A couple of guys headed out to the open space in the park. Jay stood and held out his hand for Nichole. “Want to play?”

Nichole smiled, but her expression lacked sincerity. “You go ahead. I’m going to relax.”

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