When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing hard. His forehead rested against hers, and she could feel the tension in his body, the careful control he was maintaining.
“I should go.” She made no move to leave.
“You should.” But his hands were still framing her face, his thumbs tracing along her cheekbones.
“I have work to do.”
“I’m sure you do.”
“Carson’s probably wondering where I am.”
“Probably.”
Neither of them moved. The air between them was thick with want and the promise of things that couldn’t happen. Not here, not now, not with so much at stake.
Finally, she forced herself to step sideways, breaking free of the cage of his arms. “I really do have to go.”
“I know.”
She moved toward the door on unsteady legs, hyperaware of him tracking her every movement, her body screaming for her to turn around and run back into his arms. When she reached the threshold, she turned back to find him watching her with an expression that made her pulse race.
“I forgot to tell you—the whole team’s going to the Rusty Spur tonight to celebrate you coming on board.”
He nodded. “I’ll be there.”
She started to leave again but paused. “And Decker?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t avoid me anymore. Please.”
He was quiet for a long moment, and she could see the internal struggle playing out across his features. Finally, he nodded.
It wasn’t a promise, but it was enough. For now.
* * * * *
The beer bottles rattled on the table from the thump of bass music. Since it was the middle of the week and not a busy Friday night, only two older couples were performing a line dance that had Decker’s own foot tapping to the beat.
Slanting a look at his new team, he brought his bottle to his lips. Being here like this, it was impossible not to think of his SEAL brothers-in-arms.
Damn, he missed those guys. But when he walked away, he always knew he wouldn’t keep in touch. They’d watched thecracks form in him, growing wider and wider until he was no good to any of them and he was too humiliated to try.
He vowed that wouldn’t happen again.
Carson and Oaks were as silent and still as sentries at a castle gate, their gazes constantly scanning the nearby dance floor. Colt bobbed his head to the music, and Gray leaned back in his chair, arms folded as if daring someone to fuck with him, while Denver smiled at some text he received, probably from his soon-to-be wife.
They didn’t know if Theo would make it back from his overnighter with Juliette, who had given a violin performance to a packed house.
Last, there was Willow. The only female from the family here.
Judging by the way her brothers were watching every guy who watched Willow, Decker believed their reason for this celebration wasn’t just him joining. They were trying to draw out the person who had been sending her gifts.
They already determined that the guy who knifed Decker had left the ranch where he worked, and Wyoming too. Didn’t mean he couldn’t send the gifts, but they didn’t think so.
Willow watched the dancers, perched on the edge of her seat as if prepared to leap up and join them.
A slow song came on, which gave Carson the chance to be heard over the music. He set his bottle aside and eyed the group.
