Tace shook his head, trying to get his bearings. “Um.”
She held up a hand. “I know cat food is scarce and he’ll have to eat something else soon, but a pet would be nice, right? You’re always so alone.” She let the kitten go on the tile, and he licked her foot. Her bare feet were small and perfectly adorable, and Tace had spent a good part of an hour a while ago torturing her by tickling them. Now they were the wrong feet. “What do you say?” she whispered.
He shook his head. “I, ah, can’t keep a cat. But I appreciate the offer.” His gaze narrowed on her face. Soft eyes, turned-down lips, pink cheeks. “Ah, why did you bring me a cat?”
“I . . . I wanted to, well . . .” She looked away.
He caught his breath and stilled. “Are you dumping me?”
She grimaced. “We’re not dating, remember?”
Amusement tickled his mouth. “Barbara.”
She turned her gaze back to him, her head still down. “I’m sorry.”
He chuckled, feeling better than he had all day. Man, she was adorable, and a good friend. “You brought me a kitten to make up for the fact that you’re breaking up with me. Or rather, that we’re no longer going to engage in casual sex.” How sweet was that?
She slowly nodded, her eyes glistening.
“Shit, Barb. It’s fine. We were casual.” He leaned toward her. “Why, though?”
She bit her lip.
Ah. “You’ve found somebody. Something real.” Tace smiled. “That’s good. Who?”
“Derek Diamond,” she said.
Tace ran through names and faces. “The mechanic. The one who has fixed every machine or vehicle we have.”
She nodded. “He’s funny, and I like that he isn’t a soldier, since I am. You know?”
“I totally get that.” Tace smiled. “He’s a good guy, Barb. I hope you two are happy, and I admire the hell out of you.”
The soldier lifted an eyebrow. “You do?”
“Yeah,” he said, meaning every word. “This world is crappy, and it’s really brave of you to take a chance on something real. I’m happy for you.”
Finally, she smiled. “I’m so relieved. I don’t want to lose you as a friend.”
“You won’t, and if Derek hurts you, I’ll gut him.”
“That’s so sweet.”
Yep. That was him. Sweet. He glanced at his closed journal, where he’d put all of his Sami sketches. “If you say so.”
She blinked. “What about you? You’ve been distracted lately. I was thinking that maybe you’d found somebody?”
He winced. “I’m not sure.”
Barbara chuckled. “What about Sami?”
He sighed. “It’s that obvious?”
“Yeah, but I wonder, you know? You guys are shooting buddies. She can kick your ass three ways to Sunday, and a guy like you can’t deal with that. Neither can she, probably.”
Enough truth existed in the statement that anger tried to catch hold of him. He shoved it down. “That’s not true. I’d like to think we’re both more evolved than that.” Yet were they? He hadn’t made a move until he’d forced her to tap out on the mat. Was he that much of an asshole? Probably. “I like that she can fight.” Hell, that was true. She was hotter than hell when she grappled. His groin hardened.
“That’s good, then. I think you two make a really great couple. A power couple.” Barbara chuckled.
