Page 33 of Married to the SEAL
Cowboy counted on his fingers. “Just give me Hawk, Doc, and the new guy, Austin.”
“I thought Austin turned you down,” said Jax.
“He did. But he’s about to find out how persuasive I can be.”
“I’d really like to stay here and work on these recordings some more,” said Logan.
“So fire up your gigantic laptop and get on the plane,” said Cowboy.
“The download speeds aren’t sufficient compared to how fast I can go here at headquarters.”
Cowboy dropped his chin and looked at Jax from beneath his brow. “The download speeds aren’t sufficient.”
Jax stood up. “Get on the damn plane, Logan. We need you.”
“Sir, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Cowboy and Jax looked at each other, then looked at Logan.
“This could be important,” Logan said.
Jax pointed at him. “Not as important as backing up your teammate when he’s got his balls against the wall. Now move.”
23
Matteo and Gracewere driving to the speaking engagement she’d taken over for her father. It had been a beautiful day up until about an hour ago, but clouds were moving in, darkening the landscape. He’d checked the weather before they left the house, the future radar showing their destination on the edge of a winter storm.
It was expected to rain, but it wouldn’t be cold enough for the icy mix or snow that was expected just to their north.
He stole a glance at Grace. “How is it to be out of the house without the baby?”
“I don’t know. I have moments where I feel blissfully free and unattached, followed by this yearning sort of desperation I can’t even explain. It’s weird.”
“You should try to enjoy yourself while we’re there. You don’t get to do enough for yourself these days.”
She looked out her window. “I’m worried about leaving Nico with a bottle. He’s not used to that.”
“I’m sure he’ll be okay.”
She didn’t respond. He was missing the mark, and he knew it. “I know it isn’t easy. I see how you two are together and I can only imagine how hard it is to be away from him.”
It’s going to be hard for me when it’s time to go.
She turned back toward him. “Thank you.”
“It will only be six or seven hours, tops. Are you all set for your speech tonight?”
“I am. I used to do this a lot during my father’s last campaign. I like politics, and I know he’s good for our country. My mom always encouraged me to help him. I think she wanted us to be closer.”
“What about you? Is that something you want?”
“For my father and me to be closer? I stopped believing that was possible a long time ago.”
Matteo decided to let that go for now.
They’d just reached the city limits when the rain turned over to sleet. Matteo frowned. If the temperature was dropping, they could be in for a hell of a time. It was too late now to turn around, so he kept his concerns to himself as they checked into the hotel Grace had insisted they book, claiming she needed a home base.
It took her an unusually long time to get ready, and they made it to the auditorium with only fifteen minutes to spare before her speech. Grace was calm despite the pressure, as if she did this sort of thing every day and could simply swing in on a rope dangling from a jet plane, give her speech to thousands of people, and swing back out again.
