Yeah, because the guys wouldloveto have her high-functioning alcoholic grandmother running around with loaded firearms in the middle of their bachelor party.Good God, Grandma really was terrifying sometimes.“So then get a facial and a pedicure instead of a massage.”
Grandma made another face, though she refrained from commenting this time.
“There she is,” a familiar, slightly Spanish-accented female voice said from behind her.
Candace swiveled on the stool and let out an excited squeal when she saw two of her roomies and their men heading toward them, Maya in the lead.“Hey!”
Grinning from ear to ear, she rushed over and grabbed the former Air Force Security Forces officer in a crushing hug.Maya was shorter than her, but all muscle and attitude.Always badass.
Some things never changed, even though there was more of a feminine softness to Maya than there used to be.“It’s so good to see you guys!”Candace said.
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Erin, the bride-to-be, joked behind Maya.Green eyes sparkling, she spread her arms wide for the next hug.
“You look fantastic,” Candace told her, leaning back to run a hand over her friend’s shiny brown waves before shifting her gaze to the tall man behind her.“Definitely prettier than the groom.”
One side of Wade’s hard mouth tugged up at the corner, his eyes shaded by the trademark wide-brimmed black Stetson he favored.“Well, thanks for that.”
“Just calling it like I see it.”She turned back to Maya.“I can’t get over you!So polished.”
The matron of honor grinned and fluffed her sleek chin-length, chocolate-brown bob, her pretty sea-green eyes dancing with humor.The simple black sheath dress fit her athletic body like a glove and showed off the killer muscles in her bronzed arms and legs.“I know, you still expect to see me in ACUs all the time.”
It was a stark contrast from the tough, tomboyish woman she’d met back at Bagram.“You look like a Bond girl.”
“Hey, I like that description,” Jackson, Maya’s husband, said in his slight Texas drawl, stepping up next to Maya to snake an arm around her waist and nuzzle her hair.Candace adored him, and his and Maya’s story was epic.“FBI Special Agent Maya Thatcher, Bond girl.”After the harrowing ordeal they’d been through together as POWs in Afghanistan, Maya had applied to and been accepted into the FBI, with a glowing letter of recommendation from the Secretary of Defense.The least he could do, since she, Jackson, and Wade had saved the man’s life.
Maya bumped him gently in the ribs with her elbow, the way her lips curved upward telling Candace she was pleased by the comparison.“That’s right, and don’t you forget it.”She glanced at Candace.“Are the others here yet?”
“Not yet.Their schedules were still all over the map, but with any luck, everyone will be here by the ceremony on Saturday morning.”She wished she could have a few extra days with Ryan, like her friends were getting with their husbands, but a couple days together was still better than nothing.“You all remember my grandma Ruby?”
“Oh yeah,” Maya said with a smirk, and shook Grandma’s hand.“You’re a hard woman to forget.”
“I try to leave an impression,” Grandma said, looking pleased by the compliment.
Candace bit back a smile.Oh, Ruby certainly left an impression all right.“So, you guys hungry?”
“Starved.”Erin hooked her arm through Wade’s.“And thanks again, Ruby, for comping us the rooms and helping set this up for us.We didn’t expect that, but we appreciate it and it means a lot to us.”
“Not at all.I’m happy you wanted to have your wedding here.”She wagged her eyebrows.“And your wedding night.This mountain air is famous for working up an appetite, if you know what I mean.”
Wade’s expression froze and Erin seemed at a loss for words for a moment before she cleared her throat and changed the subject.“They have some place good to eat around here?”
“I hope none of you are vegetarians,” Grandma said as she climbed down from her stool and stepped up beside Candace.“Around here it’s steak and potatoes for the most part.Real food that’ll stick to your ribs.And from where I’m sitting, it looks like some of you could use several good meals while you’re here,” she added, giving Maya a pointed look.“This way, everyone.Follow me.”With that, she turned and marched away toward the direction of the grill restaurant in the next building over, expecting them all to follow.
Erin snickered as Maya leaned in to murmur to Candace, “Your grandma’s a riot.”
“Oh yeah,” she agreed.“Believe me, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”The Bagram group had been at her and Ryan’s wedding last year, but Grandma had been shockingly tame throughout the whole thing.Candace was pretty sure her dad had threatened his mother with some dire consequence if Grandma didn’t behave.
“So,” Maya said quietly to her as they fell in behind the others.“Your contract with the force is almost up.”
“Yes.”
Maya gave her a knowing smile.“You decided if you’re gonna re-up yet?”
“Not yet,” she lied.She’d actually made her mind up a couple weeks ago, but didn’t want to tell Maya before she talked to Ryan about it.She was done with combat missions, with being in a warzone and fighting her lingering demons on a daily basis.
Still, the decision hadn’t been easy.
It had taken years for her to become part of AFSOC, let alone make captain and become the first officer on a Spectre gunship.Whenever she became a civilian again, she worried that it might feel like a piece of her was missing.“I’d miss my crew, and the aircraft itself if I left.I’d never get to be at the controls of a Spooky again, and that makes it hard to let go.”Ryan wasn’t going to like her decision.But flying wasn’t the same for her now as it used to be.Hadn’t been for a long time.
