Page 28 of Spencer

“Your Coastguard brother who isnothappy right now,” Buck snapped. “If you weren’t already down and out, I’d kick your ass. What are you doing out here and why did you disappear off everyone’s radar?” he growled.

“Not now, sailor,” Shrinker admonished brusquely

Buck immediately backed off.

Huh.How about that. Shrinker must have rank on his brother.

Shrinker continued. “Your brother needs to be put in the cutter’s hyperbaric chamber, ASAP,” he ordered. “Then you can take issue with whatever’s eating your ass.”

“Yes, sir,” Buck clipped out, and Spencer immediately felt himself being lifted onto a canvas stretcher which had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

Tabitha’s hand came off his, momentarily, and he felt the loss like a blow to his gut. Before he could complain, she was right there again, laying her palm into his.

Spencer relaxed again and acknowledged to himself that it was probably one of the last moments of peace he’d get for a while. Once he was settled inside the decompression unit, his brother would be barking at him over the comms, wanting answers.

Spencer hoped he’d be able to make Buck understand.

CHAPTER 10

Tabitha satin the mess hall of the Atlaua, waiting there as had been requested by the captain. She knew his orders had come from someone on the Coast Guard cutter, but she wasn’t going to stress over it. Too much. She was far too relieved that Spencer was going to be fine to fight the powers that be.

After having been put into the hyperbaric chamber on the Coast Guard vessel, the medic had sent word that Spencer’s case of the bends was mild, and would mitigate within several hours of him enjoying the hospitality of the chamber. Exactly what Spencer had assured her. But hearing it from a professional put any doubts she might have had, to rest.

So why was she pouting? Because her physical connection to Spencer had been severed with his transfer to the other ship, and his touch—in a very short time—had weirdly become almost as necessary to her as breathing. But she needed to get the hell over it. She’d damned well take the trade-off of his good health, over her strange-assed fixation.

Still…she missed him, and hoped once his “debrief” with the Coast Guard was finished, they’d let her hang around outside where Spencer was sequestered, and at least let her talk with him.

The powers-that-be for whom she waited, were currently questioning the captain and Pietro who had both been integral to the dangerous operation that had taken place, albeit from their position above.

The Coasties, like all other branches of the military, had their protocol when they performed a “rescue”, so she wasn’t going to begrudge them any information she could offer up, regarding what had occurred today.

The door opened, and three Coastguardsmen strolled in. Two of whom she’d already met.

One of them was Buck, Spencer’s brother.

Tabitha hadn’t been expecting him.

The other was the guy who’d called himself Shrinker, and if he thought he was getting out of this room without spilling whythatwas his nickname, he was sadly mistaken.

The third man, just as tall and broad as the others, but graying at the temples, stepped forward first with an outstretched hand.

“Ms. Miers, I’m Commander Billingsgate. I know you have to be exhausted after what you’ve been through today, but I just have a few questions.”

“Have a seat, Commander,” Tabitha told him with a nod and a smile, then turned to the lurking pair. “You too, Shrivel, Buck.”

Shrinker colored up. “Uh, it’s not Shrivel, it’s Shrinker.”

Tabitha should feel bad for teasing the guy, but she didn’t. Sometimes puckish was her middle name.

“Oh. I’m sorry. In my head, shriveling and shrinking are kind of the same thing.” She winked. But in deference to his fellow Coasties being present, Tabitha didn’t glance at the man’s junk.

But oh, she wanted to. She justknewhis nickname had to have come from something to do with his manly equipment.

Shrinker blushed again, but cleared his throat and sat down. Buck had already taken a seat, sporting a big-ass grin on hisface. If Buck had wanted to add to the ribbing—which it looked like he did—the man clearly had to refrain because…superior officer and all. Tabitha had since found out that Shrinker was a Lieutenant, while Buck was a W-4 Chief Warrant Officer.

Tabitha turned her attention to the Commander. “Okay. Shoot. I’ll do my best to answer any questions you have.”

Billingsgate looked a little…uncomfortable.

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