Page 23 of Protection for Rowan

“Three years.”

“That’s cool. Do you like it?”

She nodded. "I do. The weather is great, and I have plenty of work with so much military close by. It's really a great place for me to live and work."

“That’s good.”

“What about you? How long have you been in California?”

“Not long. I knew Sharp from high school.”

“Wow, so we both knew them from high school. That’s wild.”

Danika smiled. “It is.”

Nichole sat down across from her. "I met Jay before I came out here. We were at the same resort. Then I saw him again, and now we're together."

Danika laughed. “You saw him by being rescued by his team.”

Nichole shrugged. “I was being held captive overseas, and he was on the team that was sent in.”

Shock pulsed through Rowan. “Wow. I’m glad you were rescued. That must have been scary.”

Nichole shivered. "Yeah, it was. I'm a reporter, and I was doing a story on medical facilities that operate near war zones."

“Oh, I remember that. It was very disturbing to watch from home.”

Nichole’s lips turned down in a frown. “I haven’t gone back and watched the videos. It’s too traumatic. But yes, it was disturbing.”

Rowan couldn't imagine being held captive. It would be difficult to get over that. None of her patients had ever had to deal with something like that. It wasn't her area of practice, so she didn't have to really think too deeply about how to recover from something so traumatic. It was nice seeing Nichole happy. Then again, who wouldn't feel safe with this group of guys around? They inspired confidence with their size and how in control they seemed. She really hoped things with Shine worked out because she wanted these people as friends.

Chapter 16

Shine kepthis eyes on Rowan for the first few minutes, making sure she was okay. It seemed like she was getting along with Danika and Nichole, which he hadn't really worried about. Both Danika and Nichole were good people. The guys seemed to be okay with her, too.

Once they had the meat on the grill, Sharp turned toward him. "You ready for whatever they throw at us tomorrow?"

Shine shrugged. “I’m ready.”

Griz was right there. “Any idea what they’re talking about?”

Sharp’s lips twisted up to one side. “Maybe. It might be in relation to the unrest that is happening. We’ll find out soon enough.”

Shine agreed. They would find out soon enough. He liked being a SEAL, but part of the gig was not overthinking things like when they would be called out and where they were going. The people that drove those decisions were a much higher pay grade. He’d learned that his thoughts about circumstances shouldn’t play into how hefelt about a mission. They were there to carry out orders, not make them.

Griz angled his head toward Rowan. “Everything going okay with your new girlfriend?”

Shine couldn't help the smile that came to his lips. "Oh yeah. It's great."

“So you think you’ll last?”

Shine wasn't sure how to take Griz's question. Was the guy asking it flippantly, or did he want a deeper answer?

“I think so. I mean, who knows, but I have a good feeling about Rowan.”

Griz nodded slowly. “You haven’t really known her for long.”

Shine slowly shook his head. “No, I haven’t, but there’s this intensity between us.”

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