Page 30 of Trusting the Team

Maddox had sized up Dari, from Cowboy yelling at Chaos to her being stuck against him. She was Maddox's height, all muscle, no curves. Cowboy was the tallest of the group, making her seem even more waifish against him. She had natural tan and eyes that lent credit to her half Afghani heritage.

She smiled easily with Cowboy, “Hi. Ferret won't shut up about you.”

Maddox could tell her brashness was more to unsettle Ferret than her. She liked her immediately. “Based on Embry's reaction, I would assume that's true,” Maddox responded. Embry blushed embarrassed, looking at Duke. He shook his head.

“Swim time?” Trey asked as he stood, letting Arianna up and stripping his shirt off.

“I'll stay,” Dari said as the guys looked longingly at the water.

“You will too,” Maddox looked at Ferret as she stripped off her long sleeve shirt. Revealing herself in a bikini top.

“What the hell?” Ferret muttered as she walked past him toward the ocean. He did not have to guess what she might look like dressed like she was, and he could not even be near her. She was slender, she had visible muscle for simple lack of fat, her full B cups accentuated because of her slight physique. He wanted to feel every inch of her and trace her tattoos with his fingers.

“She’s going to fit in fine,” Dari stated, finishing her drink. “What's her story?” she asked turning to the grill.

“What?”

“Ferret, we all have something that draws you to us.”

Ferret looked at her, thinking.

Dari lifted an eyebrow and shrugged, focusing on the food. “Can you check the cooler and see if Chaos brought some wine? He always seems to be able to find Bold in Red.”

27

MADDOX

Twenty minutes later the group came back up on the beach. Ferret and Dari were laying out the options; burgers, vegetables, and chicken. The team picked through the food like a family at an open table and then settled down around the fire pit.

“You ok?” Ferret asked Maddox as they were finding their spot.

“Yeah, they all seem really nice. You all pal around like you've been together forever.”

“It feels like it. We're a family.”

“Not a family that I've ever known.” Ferret nodded slightly.

“What are you whispering about?” Trey asked.

“How shitty a swimmer you are,” Ferret retorted back. Trey passed his plate to Arianna, causing Ferret to set his down by Maddox as Trey came across the sand, tackling him. Chaos dropped his plate and threw himself on the two. Collectively the women sighed, realized it and all started to laugh.

“So, what is it you all do?” Maddox asked the women around the fire pit.

Dari answered first, “I’m with NCIS.” Maddox immediately worried she was about to be surrounded by really smart women. She made it through high school, but traditional learning hadnever been an experience she enjoyed. She had attempted community college but had not completed a program.

“I’m a Gas Turbine Systems Mechanic,” Embry replied next.

“What?” Maddox looked incredulous.

“They call it GSM for short and basically I work on anything the Navy has that runs on gasoline.”

“Holy shit,” Maddox muttered. Looking at Arianna, Maddox pleaded, “Please don't tell me you're like a brain surgeon.” The women laughed.

“No,” Arianna replied, “I’m a school principal.” Arianna smiled, “How long have you been a tattoo artist?”

“I finished my apprenticeship about 6 years ago,” Maddox answered.

“An apprenticeship?” Dari asked surprised. “I didn't realize it was a trade like that.” Embry nodded in agreeance to Dari's statement.

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