“Then so will we,” Creed said.
Baron nodded. “I’m down.”
“Me too,” Maddox agreed.
Similar declarations came as Blaine scooted toward the cluster at last. “My pleasure,” he said, extending a fist toward the center. The men joined in. “Here’s to putting these monsters behind bars where they belong.”
The former SEAL team bumped fists and finished off with ahoo-yah!cheer that echoed over the white sands and lapping waves. A sound that had, over the years, carried over foreign and home land alike. The familiar cheer gave Jace confidence for the mission ahead of him. By God’s grace, he and his former SEAL members had overcome the impossible, and they were nowhere near finished yet.
“Hey,” Baron said, “how’s this Amy chick in the spotlight, anyway?”
Jace picked up a fistful of hot, dry sand. It sifted through his fingers as he answered. “She has a segment on the local Denver news calledAverage Amy.She tries out trendy activities on live TV and lets people know if they’re all they’re cracked up to be. You know, like an opinion from the average Jo.”
“Is she…” Maddox lifted a theatrical-looking brow, “single?”
Jace’s lips tightened over a grin. “Yep.”
“Oooh…” the group spilled like a cluster of prepubescent teens.
“Is she hot?” Blaine asked shamelessly.
“What are we—back in middle school?” He feigned disgust with a head shake, but the smile won out.
More oohs and aahs sounded. “We’ll take that as a yes, son,” Creed said. “Is she pretty?”
“Sheisbeautiful,” Jace admitted, “and I know she’s not married, but as for relationship status … shecouldhave a boyfriendora fiancé.” He considered that as a prickle of jealousy shoved over his skin. “But I doubt she’s engaged with as much as she flirts during her segments.”
“She’s hotandshe’s a flirt?” Blaine said. “You are introub-ble…”
“Ah, c’mon guys,” Logan said, slapping Jace’s back. “We’ve all been through this. Now it’s Jace’s turn. What is it they say? Always a groomsman and never the groom?”
“That’s right,” Baron said.
“Actually, if we go by Jace’s own words,” Maddox cried, “we’d say something like, another single man is about to bite the dust.”
The men chuckled.
“Well, now it’s time for our man to go find himself a bride. According to Jace here, the two had chemistry a while back, not that I ever saw it,” Logan added under his breath.
“Traitor,” Jace spat.
Logan shot him an unrepentant grin. “So here’s to Jace becoming the groom after all! What do you say, guys?”
“Here, here!”
Jace shook his head and grinned. As serious as the topic might be, he was glad his band of brothers still knew how to lighten a mood. And of course, razz him until his face warmed.
Conversation broke out in the group, Creed filling Blaine in on some of the details in the Tammy Brinkman case, Maddox griping about pulling a muscle during one of his cliff dives.
Logan bumped Jace’s arm. “So, have you figured out how you’re going to tell her?”
“No,” Jace said, recalling yet another dilemma in the case. When the famous swimmer had been at risk, Jace and his team had the element of surprise on their side. Now, after successfully taking out a portion of the dark ring, protecting Amy would prove to be more difficult. Add to that the fact that Jace didn’t know how to even tell her, and the frustration mounted like sharp, gnarled coral shoving into his shoulders, neck, and head.
“Kind of awkward since you actuallyknowher,” Logan said.
“I know,” he grumbled in return. What was he supposed to do— show up at her door and say, “Come with me if you want to live?”Send her a fan letter through the news station?Hi! Long time no see. I love your show. By the way, you’re wanted by an underground trafficking ring and you need my help.Jace’s insides revolted as if a lobster had clamped its claws onto his stomach. “Got any ideas?” he asked, shooting Logan a glance. Anything was better than what he was coming up with.
“Reconnect first, you know? Send her a Mybook message. Tell her you’ll be back in town for a while and you want to catch up.”
“Iwouldlike to catch up. Especially if she’s not dating anyone.” Boy, was that the truth. As much as he’d been into Mindy, the Dear John letter she’d sent had a peculiar effect; one Jace hadn’t seen coming. He’d started thinking about Amy Nelson. A lot. Funny thing was, he and Amy had never dated. Just flirted a lot in the one class they had together his senior year. That, and shared what he deemed an almost-kiss in the wine cellar.
A knowing grin spread over Logan’s face. “Iknowyou wouldn’t mind catching up with her. You talked about her in your sleep at the camp.Oh, Amy. Why didn’t we ever go out, Amy? Why did we let a bunch of junior high kids ruin our chance to make out?”Logan laughed, and as annoying as his stupid razzing was, Jace couldn’t help but laugh too.
“Aw, shut up,” he groaned. “You’re not helping.” His mind chewed on the idea Logan had thrown out there. Jace had considered plenty of options, but each scenario had him leading with the fact that Amy was in danger. Perhaps Logan was right. He didn’t want to scare her away, after all. And it wouldn’t be a dishonest approach, since he was genuinely interested in her.
Put that on hold, Romeo.He had a trafficking ring to take down. Too bad Amy had to be at the center of it.
No worries, he vowed to himself. He’d keep her safe come Hades or high water. Dating her —which he did hope to do—would have to come next.
