Page 6 of Wild Hearts

“Way to make an impression, Shane,” I mutter.

My cheeks turn a light shade of pink as I imagine what Mick must think. Someone as hot as him must think I’m a basket case.

I strip naked, letting my hair down before jumping into the shower.

“They can wait.” I sigh, reaching for my razor.

My second impression is going to be much better than the first,I think as I push away the nagging thoughts asking me why I care.

* * *

Mick

I takea subtle deep breath after Shane leaves the room and Striker turns back to the fridge. When she walked in, she took my breath away, and not because her hand was resting on her firearm.

She’s tall for a girl, with chestnut hair tossed in a messy bun, and toned sun-kissed body. When she stepped forward and shook my hand, I got lost in her dark brown eyes for a split second. A rightness settled over me I can’t explain. It was a lot like the feeling I got when I first stepped into this house.

“So that was Shane,” I say lightly, leaning against the counter. “She’s something else.” I rub my face.

“That’s one way to put it. She’s a spitfire. When we were kids, she would always give the boys a run for their money. Never one to play with dolls and makeup. I think she broke more bones than I did.” He smiles at the memories.

I smile too. “Sounds like one hell of a woman.”

He narrows his eyes slightly at me, but before he can delve any deeper, I change the subject. “Hey, have you heard from Montgomery?”

“Yeah, I shot him a message when we decided to come here instead of stay in town. He’s just going to have his brother ship the wine here instead of bringing it to us like we had planned.”

“I’m glad one of us remembered before now.”

“Tell me about it. If it weren’t for me, you would’ve lost so much shit by now. It sucks though, who knows when we will see him next.”

“Can’t hate him for not wanting to leave Brynna and the kids.” I shrug.

“That’s true.”

“Besides, I know you guys have a retirement party planned for me.”

Josh freezes. “Never could get anything by you.”

“Profiling is part of the job,” I joke.

“So what are your plans for after you get out? You haven’t really talked about it much.”

I shrug. “Haven’t made any. I’ve been taking it one day at a time.”

He shakes his head. “That’s what they teach us, but you’re getting out. You need to work on leaving that mindset behind you. What if you meet the girl of your dreams? You know women, they love their plans.”

I chuckle. “I’m sure I have time before I settle down. You worry too much about me. Worry about yourself. You’re the one staying in the line of fire.”

“You’re my brother, Mick. Of course, I worry about you acclimating back to civilian life. Just like I worry about Shane finding good help so she can actually live her life instead of surviving it. Same way I worry about Jake with each call he takes or the way I worry about Montgomery when he says his wife’s on bed rest for the rest of her pregnancy. You’re my family, it’s my job to be concerned.”

I hold my hands up to stop him. “Okay. I get it. I have six months to figure my life out before I’m out for good. One of those months we will be here. I’ll be okay.”

He nods. “I hope so, but you know I’m only a call away.”

I chuckle. “Unless you’re on a mission. Besides, can you imagine my mom letting anything happen to me? If anything, I’m worried about you being out there by yourself. I won’t be there to have your back anymore,” I tell him, letting out the one hang-up I have about discharging. It’s been me and him for ten years. We moved up the ranks together and were able to get stationed together. We worked like a well-oiled machine.

“Don’t worry about me, brother. I’ll be fine. Promise me one thing, though.”

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