He did all of it to forget, but damned if a certain woman with auburn hair and eyes that could see into a man’s soul would let him. Hell, even the blonde in Germany hadn’t tempted him, and she’d all but stripped naked in the middle of the hotel lobby.
He was grumpy as hell, tired, and wanted nothing more than to sit in the dark and nurse a bottle of Scotch.
It was late, Friday night — the eve of the long Labor Day weekend, and Gus had been back in DC for exactly two hours. He’d been doing what he’d wanted to do and was halfway through a bottle of single malt when his doorbell rang out.
“The fuck?” He glanced at the TAG Heuer on his wrist and frowned. When he opened the door, his scowl deepened. “Little late for house calls.”
Walker grinned and pushed past him. “Your fault. You didn’t answer my text.”
“Just so you know, when a person doesn’t answer a text, it usually means they don’t want to be bothered.”
“I see it as a cry for help.”
If looks could kill, Walker would be a puddle of blood and guts. He held up the bottle of Scotch and poured a glass when Walker gave a nod. He handed it to Walker, then proceeded to chug straight from the bottle. He let the fire burn and settle in his gut, then turned to his buddy.
“Just say it.”
“You look like shit.”
“I’m nearly a bottle deep.”
“About that.” Walker sipped from his glass. “You’re not the guy who drinks alone unless something’s wrong.”
Annoyed, he snarled, “Why the fuck are you here? I closed our deals.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s officially the kick off to the long weekend, and I’m not back in the office until Tuesday.”
Walker was quiet for a few seconds, and when he spoke, his voice was low. It was full of memory. “Dalton Daniels, remember him?”
How could he forget the man who saved their lives on that last mission?
“He could never head out until he spoke to his wife. Do you remember how we used to tease the hell out of him for it?” Walker looked down at his glass. “He would just look at us and call us—”
“Dumb fucks.”
Walker nodded. “Dumb fucks with nothing to lose. Then he’d tell us that he had everything to lose.”
“That having everything to lose made him a better SEAL. A better man.”
“Why are you bringing him up?”
Walker turned to Gus. “He was right, about that. Having more. Wanting more than just to follow orders.”
“I don’t understand where this is headed.”
“I’m talking about love.”
“You can screw a woman without wanting her forever.”
“You’ve never been in love?” Walker asked, his surprise obvious.
“No. Have you?” Gus was curious.
Walker shrugged. “Maybe. But I was young and dumb and who the fuck knows.”
“What did it feel like?”
“Jesus. We sound like a goddamn Hallmark movie.” Walker had a pained expression on his face. “Look, this is what I know.You and I have seen the worst of humanity and then some. I think it fucks with our minds knowing the damage a human being can do to another. Maybe it makes us question the validity of what it means to love someone.”
Gus set down the bottle as he considered those words. “My experience with love is different. And maybe that experience molds a person, but it doesn’t mean they’re wrong.”
