Page 16 of Stone
Bastard.
He lifted his sunglasses briefly, giving me a once-over as if I was awaiting inspection. His scowl put one on my face.
“Commander Jenkins. I can’t say I’m happy to see you.”
“Same old Stone Bellows. Still flipping off anyone in authority, I see.”
I grinned and nodded several times. “Where did you get the guy, one eight hundred fly a bird?”
He laughed.
I didn’t.
The man had aged. He’d been like a rock to the team, always the first one in and the last one out of a mission. I’d heard he was a tough old guy, still taking no shit from anyone. That’s one reason I’d given him my respect all those years ago.
That and because he reminded me of my own dad.
The awkward silence that followed didn’t bother me as much as it obviously did the man standing in a hot suit.
He turned slightly toward the house. “This your place?”
“Since you arrived on a helicopter that landed in my backyard, I think you already know the answer to that.”
It was obvious the heat was already getting to him by the way he fingered his tight collar. “Any chance we could head inside and talk?”
“Depends on the subject of the conversation.”
“Kage told me you were a tough guy to crack.”
“Don’t you mean a tough nut?” Sighing, I glanced toward the ocean before making a decision to hear him out.
“Colorful swim trunks.”
I peered down at the pair I’d grabbed from the dresser. “I like hibiscus flowers. Sue me. Come on. Let’s go inside. Time for a drink.” I didn’t wait to see if he was following me, taking longstrides toward the house, only waiting when I reached the top of the stairs.
When he was on the landing, he took a few seconds to empty sand from his shoes. Served him right for suddenly appearing.
He hesitated when I opened the lanai door and I could tell as soon as he walked in he was surprised.
“Don’t look so shocked, Commander. Seems likes you expected I’d live in squalor.” I immediately headed for the bar, pulling two glasses off the shelf. “Make yourself at home and if I were you, I’d lose the jacket. I haven’t turned on the air conditioning yet.”
“This is a nice place.”
“Yep. It’s amazing what money can buy.”
“You did good for yourself.”
He knew about my past and that my father had managed to turn almost every extra dime he made into a fortune. I’d done the same, taking cues from him even though money meant absolutely nothing to me.
“I did okay. Bloody Mary?”
“It’s a little early in the day.”
I tilted my head in his direction and he finally half laughed. “Never too early. Island time, mon.”
“Fine. I’ll have one.” He put the briefcase down and shucked off his jacket, even rolling up his long sleeves before ripping at his confining tie.
Seeing him do so immediately reminded me that I was thankful I’d never committed to a nine-to-five job. That just wasn’t mything. As I prepared the drinks, he looked around the living room, chuckling when he saw the few photos of me with a surfboard or the marlin I’d caught the year before.
