Page 19 of Protection for Rowan

“I went to see her in a professional capacity,” Shine said.

She wasn’t sure Shine wanted her to tell everyone what type of work she did so she kept quiet. She never liked outing her patients. It was just something better kept confidential.

“She’s an aerospace psychologist,” Shine said.

Ava smiled and squeezed his shoulder. “Okay, that’s cool. But you do more than astronauts, right?”

"Yes. Anyone working in flight of any sort. So, air traffic controllers to NASA employees. However, since I'm here in California, I don't do too much with NASA. I did fly out to Florida for a few days with them."

“That’s exciting.”

Rowan chuckled. “Astronauts are boring. I mean, they are great people, but they are very much geeks, and not like SEALs are geeks. Astronauts are very technical. And they should be because their job is very technical.”

Wild chuckled. “They are a different breed.”

“It was good meeting you. I need to finish my run,” Apple said before waving goodbye and taking off.

Shine took her hand and squeezed. “We should get back to our walk.”

Wild nodded. "I need to get this finished before the sun goes down."

Rowan smiled and waved. “It was nice meeting you all.”

After saying goodbye, they continued their walk. She liked how close the men were. It spoke of healthy relationships between the guys. She’d met with individual special team operators in her course of work. It would be interesting to see them in action. Not that the military wouldallow that. She wasn’t with Shine for that, but it would be an interesting part of dating him.

“So, what do you think of them?”

“You know, they seem real. I like them.”

"I do stuff with guys on other teams, but mostly hangouts are with the guys on my team. We drink together a few times a month and try to do something on the weekends. Jay and Sharp both have women they're involved with. The other three guys aren't with anyone."

“I’m looking forward to meeting them.”

“Good. Maybe this weekend.”

Nervousness sizzled through her, but it passed quickly. She was secure in her feelings for Shine. They had only recently gotten back together, but they had a very traumatic experience binding them forever.

In that moment when the plane had been going down, they'd really seen each other. Her relationship with Shine wouldn't follow normal timelines. She could almost guarantee it. She knew she would be in bed with him long before she would have sex with anyone else she dated. Trusting Shine wouldn't be an issue. He had already proved she could trust him and more.

Chapter 13

Charles stalked around the cabin,angry that the key wasn't under the doormat and it wasn't hidden in the light fixture beside the door. There were none of the fake rocks sitting in any of the pots under the windows. He knew they had a hidden key, but he didn't remember where they'd placed it. It was so unfair of them to hide the key where he couldn't find it.

After walking around the cabin a second time, the sun dropping lower in the sky, he let out a frustrated scream. Birds took flight near him, and he watched as they fussed and fretted. It made him feel better to have disturbed the birds. He needed to disturb more. For far too long, he'd been complacent, but he wasn't sitting back on this. No, he would force the psychologist to listen.

Why the fuck was he having so many problems? This should be easier. His life should be easier. He was one of the good ones.

He was about to get into his car and head back to the city when he spied a birdhouse. There was something about the birdhouse. Something his ex had said. What wasit? It pissed him off that he couldn’t remember exactly what had been said about the stupid birdhouse. It was something she’d said in an offhand manner. What was it? He beat his hand against the steering wheel, accidentally honking the horn. The birds flew again, and he laughed. They were so easily manipulated.

His thoughts turned back to what his ex had said about the birdhouse. Was that where the key was hidden? He moved to the tree, realizing the birdhouse was low, and the front of it was closed off with a black piece of wood to make it look like it was open. It wasn't a birdhouse any bird could use.

Yes. This had to be it.

He pulled the birdhouse off the nail and spied the key attached to the back of the box. Relief filled him. He removed the tape holding the key to the box and pocketed the key.

He had to make a copy and return the original to the back of the box, or not. He didn’t really care if they had access to their cabin when they wanted. A part of him wanted to toss the birdhouse into the forest since they’d caused him to be out here traipsing around at night, almost making it where he couldn’t use the cabin. They were stupid for having the key in this location and not somewhere closer to the door.

He entered the cabin, thinking it smelled stale. He flipped on a light, thankful they’d run power to this cabin so he wasn’t in the dark. At least that was going for him. He hated how inconsiderate some people were.

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