Carter shoved his hands into his pant pockets, looking out over the water. "I'm working graveyard shift at Lost and Found. We do domestic investigations, personal security, forensic accounting, surveillance, undercover operations. Companies come to us when they're having abnormal workplace thefts. Background checks. You name it, we do it."
Drake looked at him out of the corner of his eye. "That's a long list."
Gabe nodded. "Yes, but the company has morphed as it's grown, from what I understand. When they opened years ago, they started with background checks and court records searches. Pretty mundane stuff. You have to change with the times, you know?"
That struck Drake as ironic and he chuckled, looking out over the pond. "I guess."
Gabe placed a hand on his shoulder and Drake looked at him for a long second. The other man seemed to understand what he wanted. "You're trying to figure out what comes next?"
Drake blinked. Yeah, maybe that was what he was looking for. Did he dare open up to his old friend? What the hell. "I see you guys laughing with your women, and I wonder what that's like, you know? I mean, for years I was completely for the teams, you know that. But I'm starting to wonder what the point is. I've had a gun in my hand my entire adult life, and I'm tired." He gave Gabe a lopsided smile. "At thirty-seven, I'm the old man of my crew. Have been for a few years. Seeing everyone here tonight has just brought it into very sharp focus."
Gabe huffed and nodded. "I totally get you. Well, if you ever want to make a change, give me a call. Duncan usually only takes vets that have retired from injuries, but you've worked under the plow long enough he might make an exception for you."
Drake winced and grinned, clutching his chest. "You really know how to make an old fucker feel older. Thanks, buddy."
Gabe nodded at the crowd on the patio. “Brookheart is starting up his group, too. This area is a hotbed for rich, valuable talent, and apparently there's plenty of work keeping them out of trouble. You have more than one option if you do decide to get out."
Drake didn't know what he wanted, but tonight especially, he was feeling out of sorts. Not in total sync with his team. "Thanks, Gabe. I know you'll always give it to me straight."
They talked of inconsequential things as they wandered back to the party and once again Izzy captured his attention. On the far end of the patio, she sat with her girlfriend Ginny and another woman he hadn't been introduced to. They were laughing, but something about her expression seemed pensive. When she looked up straight at him, as if she'd felt his gaze, he had to wonder if something stronger than the both of them was urging them together.
With a tip of his head, he acknowledged her. She lifted a wine glass in response, then seemed to shiver. For some reason that sent a surge of heat through his body. He could imagine making her shiver like that, almost like an aftershock from an orgasm.
Though he wanted to cross the stone to her and steal her away again, he forced himself to stay strong. They'd had an interesting interlude, but he didn't think they could do any more than that. It seemed almost deceitful to try to prolong their time, because it couldn't go anywhere.
Could it?
With a final, lingering glance he forced himself to turn away.
Where had he left that bottle of Woodford?
Izzy worried at her fingernails, wondering what the hell she was plotting.
"You have that look in your eyes like you're about to get into trouble. Even if it's for a good cause."
Izzy grinned at Ginny. "You know me so well. I want to go see him again, but I don't know what to do. I mean, we're on very different paths. He's probably leaving tomorrow to go save the world, and I'm going back to work."
"Yet the universe saw fit to unite you here, at a wedding of all places," Ginny said softly. "It looks to me like you've already connected, but if you don't pursue it then nothing will happen. When does he leave?"
She turned her head to look at him again. Leaning back in a chair, his long legs were stretched out on front of him and crossed at the ankles. That seemed to be a favorite pose. A long-neck beer balanced on his belly, held negligently in one hand, the other in his pocket. A gaggle of good-looking young men were grouped around him, talking, joking, but they paid attention to Drake. Not verbally, but they looked to him as if for affirmation. Several times they asked him questions, and he responded with a look, or a raised eyebrow. From the outside looking in, he appeared to be the leader of the group, the wiser, older male the younger bucks looked up to.
"I'm not sure exactly," she murmured.
Izzy winced physically at the thought of never seeing him again. Drake was out of her league, way out, but in many ways he suited her very well. Sexually, he had no equal. For curiosity's sake, she glanced at the gathering around her. There were men here she'd seen in movies before, and playboys, other SEALs. There was a very diverse group of testosterone driven hunks gathered here, but she only had eyes for one.
Her blood heated and her heart raced at the thought of marching over there and dragging him back up to the room. Or home with her to Colorado Springs. That was a military community. Maybe he could find something to do there.
No, she would never ask him to change like that.
The band at the far corner of the patio paused and the wedding coordinator took the mic.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, how about a round of applause for the bride and groom as they take their first dance together."
Not only was there applause, there were catcalls and wolf-whistles as well when Tyler and Kiko took the floor. The color in Kiko's cheeks deepened as Tyler spun her into a slow dance, knocking some of her dark hair askew, but Kiko didn't even notice. The two of them held each other like they couldn't do anything else. It was obvious from the way that they gazed at each other that they were deeply in love.
Izzy watched the entire dance, reaffirming that this was the kind of love that she wanted in her life. Yes, it was sappy and overly sweet, but it was true, and she hoped that the two of them lived a long and healthy life together, in spite of his job.
The song ended and there was a fresh wave of applause, then more couples drifted onto the dance floor and the music picked up. She felt him behind her before she heard him.
