Page 24 of The Night Ride
“And?She’s a beautiful woman.”Wyatt shrugged.
“Beth and I kissed a handful of years ago and Evan interrupted.I crossed the line and need to make amends.”
Wyatt pursed his lips and contemplated me.Glaciers moved faster than he did sometimes.“You sure that’s all this is?”
No.But I wasn’t going to admit that being back in her presence after all these years had given rise to feelings inside me I thought were long gone.“Yep.It’s the only way I can make amends for breaking our code.”
“Fair enough.But it’s okay if you want more too.You are allowed a life outside the SEALs.Might do you a world of good.”
“I tried that.Didn’t work out.”The memory of my marriage crashing and burning, while no longer as raw as it once had been, was still a wound that had festered.
“Yeah, because you were young and stupid and chose the wrong woman.Doesn’t mean you’ll be wrong this time.”
I knew that deep down.However, “I still have two years in.A lot can happen during that time.”
“You don’t have to be a monk.”
“Look who’s talking.”I wasn’t a monk, I was selective.I chose women who didn’t want more from me than a night, a chance to say they had fucked a SEAL.But who went on their way once the night was done.
“Never said I was a monk.I just don’t blare it like Lucas.We chose a hard life.You know this.We take our happiness where we find it because we don’t know when our number will be up.”
“I’m not going to do anything.”At least, I didn’t think I would.Although if she came out of the room in a towel or some frilly white negligee, all bets were off.“I’ll meet you guys either on the way or on the return trip.”
I vowed to complete this mission, and that’s what I would do.I owed it to Evan to complete his final mission.
“Works for me.I’m gonna sleep in the office.Lucas can bunk on the couch for being a hotheaded idiot.”
“I’ll see you in the morning before you head out.”
“And you need to examine why you’re all bent out of shape over Lucas looking at Beth and appreciating the fact that she’s a beautiful woman.”
I doubted it would solve the problem.Because being near her again, I ached to touch her.When it was something I could never do.I swore I would never touch her again, and it was an oath I made to Evan I would uphold.
“She’s Evan’s sister.”That should explain it all right there.
“So.Evan’s gone.I’d bet my pension that if his sister were to shack up with anyone, he’d want it to be one of us over some other schmuck.”
“I’m the last person she would want.”I didn’t mean to say it out loud.
Wyatt chuckled.“Yeah, you are an ugly son of a bitch.But out of the three of us, there’s this tension between the two of you and it’s palpable.Anyone with eyes can see it, including Lucas, or he wouldn’t be so bent out of shape.I say if she’s someone you want, as long as you’re not looking to hit it and quit it, then why wouldn’t you.”
I didn’t have an answer for him.Because even though it was on the tip of my tongue to mention the vow I swore to Evan that night long ago, I didn’t.
Beth couldn’t still want me, could she?
Chapter eight
“Wecool?”IaskedLucas with my hands in my pockets.
Beth had left for the bakery around four-thirty.Something about needing to get it open by seven and the baking that needed to be done beforehand.I planned on heading over once the guys left and assess the place before they opened.None of her employees arrived until eight this morning.Which would give me time to get the square footage on the place, and figure out the best spots to install the hidden cameras.
He glared then rolled his eyes.“Yeah, we’re cool.Just don’t fuck this up.”
“Don’t plan too.I’ll catch up with you boys as soon as the job is finished.”
Wyatt gave me a knowing stare.“Let us know when you’re done, and we’ll give you a bead on our location.”
“Any news on how James is fairing with his kid?”
