Page 123 of What About Love

Looking down, she saw and then felt the hot splash of a teardrop on the back of her hand. She hadn’t realized she’d been crying until that moment. After the last two weeks, she didn’t think she had any tears left.

“If you love him, as you say, you owe it to the both of you to fight for him.” Gently, he brushed a tear from her cheek, his hand as big as T’s. Not for the first time, she marveled over how much the two Tonys looked alike. “But if you feel a move to LA is what you need, I’ll make it happen.”

“Thanks, Cap.”

“Megan will have my guts for garters. She wanted me to warn T off weeks ago, afraid you were fixing to get hurt.”

“This isn’t your fault. She warned me, too. All the girls did, but fool that I am, I didn’t listen.”

He pulled her in for a big brotherly hug. “You only have about eight minutes before you have to meet T. Dry your tears. If you decide to fight, go for his soft spot, dig in tooth and nail, and don’t let go.”

She gazed up into deep-brown orbs so reminiscent of T’s. “His soft spot?”

“That’s you, Angie. I’ve known him for ten years and have never seen him this torn up over a woman. Get in there and show him what he’ll miss out on if he throws you away. You’re one hell of a woman. Prove to him he can’t live without you and he’d be an idiot to try.”

Chapter 28

THE TRUCK JERKED, THEwheels finding yet another pothole in the road that could be called one in only the loosest of terms. Everyone in the back stayed put, except Angie. She’d bet money that none of them—Dan, Cap, the general, and T—weighed less than 230 pounds. They swayed a little in the jarring vehicle, but kept their asses on the seat-beltless bench seats. Despite bracing herself, the next jolt sent her flying again. Before her bottom cheeks became reacquainted with the ripped and stained vinyl, firm hands grabbed her in midair and dragged her down to a hard lap, anchoring her in place with a heavy arm around her waist.

She thanked the big man who rescued her, yet again, and relaxed against him, feeling safe, however briefly. Unfortunately, the arms that held her didn’t belong to the man she yearned to make her feel that way.

“I’d have three fewer teeth if not for you, Dan.”

“Don’t mention it, babe.” He squeezed her affectionately. “You’re not as sturdy as I remember. Less padding, too, I think. Have you lost weight?”

She didn’t answer, caught off guard by a loud metallic bang. They both turned abruptly to find the general and Cap studying a clearly displeased T who sat between them.

“Problem, Lil T?” Dan’s tone and the way he emphasized theLilin T’s nickname were plainly confrontational. Angie shifted on his lap, attempting to retake her seat, but he gripped her tight, preventing it. Twisting to frown at him, she noticed a glint in his eyes, which were locked on T.

“Yeah,” the bigger man bit back. “I’d suggest getting a room, Dano. But I’m afraid you’d take me up on it. Can you at least wait until after the mission?”

Two hours in the simulator with T was tedious on a good day. Twice that when they were at odds with one another was excruciation. It turned out, they didn’t have seven hours to prepare, which in hindsight she took as a blessing.

Following Cap’s phone briefing with Dex, their departure was moved up. Add to that the stress of her first commando mission—whether or not they liked the label, that’s what they were—and the constant tension from being around T had her on edge. Now this tug-of-war with Dan, Angie had had enough.

Breaking free of Dan’s hold, she pushed to her feet. Hands clenched in tight fists by her sides, she spread her legs to keep her balance in the moving vehicle and got right in his face. “What—the hell—is your problem?”

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