“I like wearing your shirt.”
Oh, he was really gone.“I like seeing you in my shirt.”
“What’s it like in special ops?”Mila asked.“Do you have to drop everything at a moment’s notice?”
“Sometimes,” he said.“Other times it’s day-to-day training.”
“Is it difficult to have a normal life?”
“We can get deployed for long periods at times which is hard for partners.We can’t tell them where we’re going and often can’t contact them at all.”
Were these questions just to make conversation, or did she really want to know about his life?Should he read something into that?“What will you do now?”
She shrugged.“I hadn’t thought past getting off the island.I would have stayed to help with the recovery, but Agus has taken that option away from me.”
He squeezed her.“Many people survived because of you.That’s the most important thing.”
“I know but it feels as if I’m abandoning them.”She sighed.“I don’t have any job to get back to in Sydney.”
Dobby hesitated, not sure whether he should say anything.No, he took calculated risks every day.“There might be jobs on the west coast.”He held his breath.
She glanced up at him, her eyes searching his.“Would you like that?”
“Yeah.”
They looked at each other for a long moment, each of them searching for something in the other’s eyes.Finally Mila nodded.“I’ll have to see what’s available.”
Warmth spread through him.He kept the conversation light.“Do you have any siblings?”
“Two older brothers, one in the army, the other works with Dad.”
He smiled.“You took your own path.”But it reminded him.“Where did you learn how to get out of restraints?”
“My brother, Jared.He taught me when he learnt how to in the army.”
“Remind me to thank him.”
She nodded.“What’s your family like?”
“A younger sister, currently engaged to a real idiot.I’m hoping she’ll see his true colours before the wedding.”But he doubted it.“And an older sister who is married and has twin girls.”He smiled.“They’re adorable but I don’t get to see them as much as I’d like.”He shrugged.“Dad drives trucks and Mum’s a bookkeeper.”
He waited for her reaction.He’d dated a couple of women who’d turned up their noses at his parents.
“I’ve always wondered what it’s like to drive trucks all day.Does he get bored?”
Dobby’s muscles relaxed, and he shook his head.“He’s the most well-read person I know.Listens to audiobooks all day.”
“Bliss,” Mila responded.“I bet he’s an interesting person to talk to.”
And just like that, Dobby fell in love with her.
Chapter 15
Mila snuggled deeper into Damien’s warm, strong arms.For the first time since she’d seen Vance on the island, she felt happy.She could pretend they were on a date as they got to know each other.
Trixie lay within arm’s reach and dozed.
Damien had saved the dog for her, though she wasn’t sure what they would do with her now.A problem they could discuss before they left for the rendezvous, but right now she wanted to bask in the good feelings.
