Page 3 of Tony

“Oh yeah, he keeps up with my schedule about as well as I do,” she said. “But Sherrie, about what we were talking about earlier. Tony and you?”

Sherrie interrupted, “Suzanne, there is no Tony and me.”

Her friend leaned over and gave her a hug, whispering in her ear, “Give him a chance, honey. I really think you two are perfect together.” With that, she allowed her husband to give her an assist from her seat and as he winked at Sherrie, he tucked Suzanne under his arm as they left the room.

Sherrie looked wistfully at the receding couple.That’s what I want. But not with just anyone,she had to admit, glancing at Tony one more time. With her and Tony having the same friend group they had been together on numerous occasions, but all ended the same—him staring from afar and her leaving alone.

The last time he had come to her rescue, she had called him.He was the only one I wanted to see. Wanted to trust.But even then, other than the rescue, nothing happened.

The bride walked over and sat in the chair vacated by Suzanne, interrupting Sherrie’s musings. “Enjoying yourself?” Jennifer asked, a conspiratorial grin on her face.

“Of course,” Sherrie replied giving her a hug. “You’re an absolutely beautiful bride.”

“Well, you’re a stunner yourself in that dress. Anyone I know you’re trying to impress?”

“Nope, no one. At least no one who cares.”

Jennifer leaned in close, “Oh, honey. He cares. He just doesn’t want to, that’s all. But Gabe’s working on it.”

Sherrie’s gaze shot back over to Tony, seeing the groom talking to his boss. Her lips in a tight line, she retorted, “But that’s the problem. If I was really worth it, no one should have to be convinced.”

Giving Jennifer a look of resignation, she turned and asked Monty if he would like to dance. Eyes alight, he stood and offered his hand. Walking out to the dance floor, she purposefully kept her gaze away from Tony and tried to concentrate on the handsome man who had his arms around her.

Tony’s glare had turned murderous, but Gabe stilled him with a hand on his arm. “Captain, you’ve got no one to blame but yourself.” Even though the men had been out of the Army for several years, his former squad members still found themselves referring to their boss as their superior officer.

Tony tried counting to ten but found that his Special Forces training had abandoned him when it came to her. She filled his dreams. She filled his thoughts. And as much as he tried to push them away, they came back. Over and over.

“Captain?” Gabe’s voice finally cut through. Gabe had been joined by Vinny and Jobe. Tony looked over at his most trusted men. And friends. Gabe continued, “You’ve had your eye on her for almost a year. She’s a great woman. Smart. Tough. Not to mention, gorgeous.”

“Think I don’t know all of that?” Tony growled.

“You don’t act like it. Instead you act like you’re trying to keep her at arm’s length all of the time.”

Tony looked over at the couple on the dance floor and then turned his anguished gaze back to the others. “What…what do I have to offer a woman like that? I loved once. You were there. Nearly broke me. Can’t do that again, and she deserves better than a man who hasn’t got much left to give,” he admitted.

The silence at the table was deafening. They had accepted the fact that Tony never spoke of his wife and daughter after they left the cemetery that day, five years earlier. Never. For him to bring it up now, told them the depths of his feelings. And anguish.

With that, Tony stood from the table pushing hard against his seat. The scraping noise had Sherrie look over in surprise. For a moment, both held each other’s gaze. Warm caramel ones met the summer-sky blue ones. Longing and despair in both.

Tony turned suddenly and walked out of the door, leaving his friends hurting for him. And Sherrie hurting for herself.

3

The next Monday found the Alvarez core employees in the large conference room for their weekly meeting. While Alvarez Security had a number of people employed, it was this group of trusted friends that were the heart and soul of the agency.

“Gabe get off okay?” Tony asked, referring to the honeymoon.

“Yeah,” Vinny answered. “He’ll just be gone a week, but they’re heading to the sunny Keys.”

“That sounds lovely,” Lily said softly. “This winter has been harsh. I’m so not a fan.”

Looking down at his agenda, Tony began the briefing. “We’re pulling out of the Hollywood starlet securities after the fiasco a few months back, but we have some requests from agents with some artists or musicians signed that would occasionally want our services. I’ll take those on a one at a time basis with no long term contract unless we have been with them and want their business.”

“You get any female rockers that need an escort, I’m your man,” Vinny joked. The team laughed as Tony just shook his head.

“Next up, home and business security. Jobe, what do you have on that?”

“The new equipment that we’ve ordered has come in and when Gabe gets back, we’ll look it over and start installing it on newer customers. Didn’t know if you want us to offer upgrades to existing clients?”

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