Chapter 25
Rob lost track of how long he rested next to June just watching her sleep.Sleep alluded him for some reason.By all means, he should be passed out with June, but he felt wide awake.As if he were afraid this was all some sort of dream and if he closed his eyes, when he next opened them, June would be gone.
He still couldn’t believe what an idiot he had been, never noticing what an incredible woman she was until recently.But that was all over now.June was his, and he couldn’t wait for what the future held for them.
His phone lit up before it started ringing.Rob reached for it and answered before it could wake June.He headed down the hallway to the living room before speaking.He hadn’t bothered looking at the caller ID.Only one of his teammates would call him at this hour, and it had to be important for them to be calling instead of texting.
“It’s go time.Be at the airport in one hour.”The line disconnected.
Shit.The mission.He knew it had been coming up, but he hadn’t realized it would be now.An hour was barely enough time to get home and collect his gear to get to the airport before departure.
Rob stowed his phone as he looked back toward the bedroom.Should he wake June and tell her he was leaving?No, he would let her sleep.She was overworking herself, and he had depleted what energy she had left.June needed her sleep.He would text her later and explain.Time was of the essence.June would have questions that he didn’t have time to explain.
Rob let himself out of the house, making sure it was locked up before speeding to his house and getting to the airport where everyone was already waiting.
“About time you showed up,” Jack heckled him as he took his seat on the plane.“What way did you come, by Australia?”
“I was at June’s when you called.I had to go home and get my gear to get here.”Everything was on the opposite side of town from each other, and traffic was always heavy in this town.
He should have had his bag in the car ready, just in case, but he hadn’t thought they would get the green light yet.
“Oh yeah?”Jack looked shocked by his answer.
“June and I are dating.”They hadn’t made it official, but after sleeping together, it was as much a declaration as any.He wasn’t a casual dater, and it was something he would talk to June about when he got back.Rob felt bad leaving without a word, but he would explain everything when he could.
Rob couldn’t tell her what he did for work, but he would come up with some excuse why he was called out of town in the middle of the night.
“Good for you, man.”Jack slapped him on the shoulder with a grin on his face.
What?That was it?“You’re not upset?”
“Far from it.I’m happy for you.”
“But you said you were interested in June.That you were going to ask her out.”
“She’s a nice girl, Rob, don’t get me wrong, and a hell of a cook, but I’m not a relationship guy, and I knew you wanted her but were too dumb to see, so I gave you a little push.”Jack winked at him.
Rob didn’t know what to say.“You faked a friendship with June to get me jealous, on purpose.”
“I wouldn’t say faked.June is sweet and funny.There was no hardship on my part being her friend, but that’s where it stopped.I like certain types of women, and June isn’t it.Again, no offense to your girl.”
“But you still showed interest just to get me interested.”
“It got you to ask her out in the end, so I see it as a win-win.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Thank you works, but hey, none is needed.Or maybe name your first kid after me.That works too.”
Rob was torn between punching Jack and laughing.It was close, but laughter won out.What the hell did it matter now?Neither June nor Jack had been interested in the other, and he got the girl.
“I’ll consider it.”Never.
Rob pulled his laptop out of his bag and started his search.They had a few hours to reach their target.Once they got closer, Luke would go over the plan.He had some time to kill before then.Might as well get some research done.He spooked when Jack leaned against his shoulder and stared at his screen before looking up at him.
“If things are so good between you, why are you back to looking into her brother?”Jack asked with a cocky grin.“Looks like trouble in paradise to me and not love.Perhaps I should warn June you’re doing a background check on her brother.Or is it you don’t trust her?Is that why you’re finally pursuing her?Pumping her for information?”Jack chuckled.
Rob tossed his laptop to the side and stood up, glaring down at Jack.Jack just sat there with a smile on his face, uncaring that he faced danger.
