He gave the packs a glance. “We can’t leave the packs unfinished. I’m not leaving these for Warren.”
She gave a sharp shake of her head. “Okay, but let’s hurry.”
Moving quickly, they inventoried the remaining bags, filled out the resupply lists, and marked down notes. When they finished, Lyons grabbed her hand.
“We’re getting out of here,” he said.
“This feels a little like déjà vu,” she said. “Last time we were here, all I wanted was a hot shower and a soft bed.”
“Well, you’ll get that shower,” he said, his tone cocky and once again full of himself, “but not before I give you a good reason for it.”
“About that,” she said, “Warren’s suspicious.”
“Suspicious?” Ryker laughed.
“Yeah.”
“He’s not suspicious. The bastard is laughing his ass off.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“He’s laughing that it took us this long.”
She covered her mouth. “You told him?”
“Didn’t have to tell that rat bastard anything. That man knows love. He carries it with him every day. Have you seen how he totes his wife around in his heart? He knows.”
“This is exactly why we never should have…”
Ryker placed an arm over her shoulders and dragged her out of the medical center. “Warren isn’t going to tell a soul. I think he’s known longer than I have.”
“And how long have you known?”
“That is a secret I am keeping close,” he said.
“Keeping close? How can you keep something like that close?”
“Okay, here’s the truth. I’ve known for a while.”
“Why didn’t you ever say anything?”How had she not known?
“Duh, because you were engaged. A man doesn’t move in on another man’s woman. Not if he has any self-respect.”
“Is that why you hate Scott?”
“No, I dislike Scott because he never put a smile on your face. I told you, a man who can’t do that is a man who doesn’t deserve his woman.”
“I thought I loved him,” she said. “Until I didn’t.”
“It’s okay to let it hurt,” he said. “The guy was a douche bag, and I’m going to spend every waking breath erasing all thoughts of him from your mind. I’ll invade your dreams until all you can think about is me. Scott will become a very distant memory.”
“He already is,” she said. Looking up, she stopped, surprised at their destination. “Why did you bring me here?”
He’d taken her to the hangar where Angel Fire played for the troops.
TWENTY-TWO
Dreams
