Page 17 of Wild Card (The Trident Trilogy 3)

“Yes, ma’am,” Mack said, standing up. “I think we’re done. Again, I apologize.”

“There is no need. Really.” Nejra smiled at him. “George told me you would fit me for some equipment I will need tomorrow. I think he said a vest and helmet.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Mack said as he squeezed by her—his back pressed firmly against the wall. “I’ll send one of our analysts in—one of our female analysts—to help you with that.”

“I am sorry I have made you uncomfortable,” Nejra said, panic rising in her voice as she realized he was leaving. “Please call me Nejra. We will be working together. And what should I call you?”

“You can call me Mack,” he said, smiling slightly. “Or stupid because that’s how I feel right now.”

She smiled broadly again. “You are not stupid. You are the opposite of that. You are a warm and lovely person. I’ve enjoyed talking to you. Maybe we can talk again—”

“Yes, ma’am. Maybe,” Mack said, nodding at her one more time before he turned around to leave the room. “I need to get going now.”

Nejra watched him disappear through the door. The tingling sensation rushed through her body again. Somehow she knew, deep in her soul, that she wanted him to be the one. As the war dragged on, she realized her time in this life might be limited. She thought for months about things she wanted to experience before she died. Being with a man was one of those things. She ignored the feeling because there were no men in her life that interested her in that way—until today.

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