Page 17 of Over the Edge

Whoa, wait. What?Ourfeelings? He had feelings for her?

“If this were a regular mission, Anna, I would tell you to hold your thoughts on us until we get home. But I don’t know that I’ll be making it home with you.”

Okay, that was real regret vibrating in his voice.

Am I wrong about him having no feelings for me, after all?“What do you mean by holding my thoughts on us?” she asked cautiously. “Is there an us, or the possibility of an us?”

His gaze met hers candidly for once. He looked pained, but he didn’t look like he was bullshitting her. Did she dare believe him? Thing was, all SEALs were accomplished liars. They were actually trained in how to do it convincingly. It was a big reason they were hell to be in relationships with.

Surely, he felt the ridiculously magnetic pull between them that happened every time he and she got into close proximity like this. She couldn’t believe it could be faked. It was too primal. Totally elemental. His mere presence reached down into her innards and gave them a hard twist.

“Here’s the thing,” he said slowly. “The timing is all wrong. We’re heading out on an exceptionally dangerous mission. Now is not the time to jump into something personal.”

“But there’s something personal to jump into?”

“I—" A long pause. “—don’t know.”

Liar. She knew that hedging tone from him. He bloody well did know. If he knew there was nothing between them, he would never have started down this conversational road. Which meant therewassomething between them.

He seriously had feelings for her?Mind. Blown.

The hovering sense of humiliation lifted from her shoulders. She breathed deeply for the first time since he’d raced away from her in Mabel’s parking lot. She hadn’t read him wrong, after all. Thank God.

But that raised a whole new set of questions. Like, how were they going to work together on this mission? Should they make a pact to set aside their feelings until it was over? Or was now the perfect time to explore whatever was happening between them? When would they ever get another opportunity to be alone together for any extended period of time like this?

Did she dare ask him?

If only she knew more about how to have a relationship with a man like him. But…she didn’t. She was operating blind.

CHAPTERFIVE

Somewhere in Pakistan, or maybe Afghanistan, or maybe Zagistan

Is this madness?

Or does asking if I’m crazy make me not crazy...or does asking about asking make me batshit…

Cold…see my breath…I can blow smoke rings...steam rings…breath rings…air rings…earrings…hearing…herring…herr…hair…hard...hoard…hold…home...fuck.

Do not think of home.

Do the count.

Two-hundred-fourteen days.

Thirty-two beatings.

Eleven moves to a new location.

Eight broken bones. Well, eight I know about. Odds are good I’ve had more fractures from the beatings.

Four lost teeth.

Three times I’ve broken and talked. Not bad for thirty-two torture sessions. And all three times involved car batteries and filleting knives. Not much to do against those but spill some beans.

Only two names given up. Sorry, Sherri and Griffin. I owe you guys one.

Zero fucks left to give.

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