Colonel Vane excused himself, and Forest surveyed the room. “That chow line doesn’t look that inviting.”
“Are you kidding?” She grabbed his arm and pulled him to the end of the line.
Several of the enlisted tried to let him cut to the front, but Forest gave a sharp shake of his head and planted himself at the end. Lyons returned to the table in the back corner. He sat beside Warren rather than across, clearly intent on watching her with Forest.
“Who’s lover boy?” Forest asked.
“Excuse me?”
Forest jutted his chin toward Lyons. “The one who didn’t like me hugging you.”
“Don’t be silly. Lyons is the RT on my team. We’re all a little protective of one another. He’s more like an overprotective brother.”
“Really?” Forest and Lyons seemed engaged in a stare-down. “Because brothers don’t look at their sisters the way he’s looking at you. Not to mention, he’s sizing me up like I’m competition.”
“I seriously doubt he’s sizing you up. Besides, I have a fiancé—one Lyons kind of hates, to be honest.”
“Fiancé?” His brows climbed up his forehead. “Why is this the first I’m hearing of it?”
“Because you’re super busy being all badass; that’s why. I don’t run to you with every little detail of my life.” She’d stopped doing that after she graduated high school and got over a ridiculous crush on the man who’d saved her from hell.
“Why not?”
“Um, because you’re worth, like, a gazillion dollars, manage I don’t know how many billion-dollar companies, and—oh, yeah! I guess you’re now the manager of the most popular rock band in recent history. You’re simply not a man people bother with simple things.”
He slung an arm over her shoulder. “That doesn’t apply to you. Getting engaged isn’t exactly a simple thing. I’m hurt.”
“I can’t come to you with every little thing, Forest. I’m just one of your rescues.”
“Well, you make me sound like shit when you say it like that, but so what? You’re one of my rescues, but that makes you family. You know what that means to me. Unlike your friend, I have legit big-brother status.”
“You saved my life. I’ll always be grateful for that.”
“I did what needed to be done.”
She lifted on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. He had to stoop down, so it wasn’t as spontaneous as she would have liked. “And you’re an amazing human being because of it.”
“Lover boy is about to blow a gasket. Doesn’t like it when I touch you. Hates it even more when you kiss me.” He removed his arm from her shoulder with a chuckle and moved forward with the line. His eyes narrowed and lips pinched when he glanced at the offerings. “Ugh, what is this slop?”
“It’s called food,” she said. “I’d suggest the meatloaf or the hamburger mac ’n’ cheese. We call it chili mac. Those are my go-to foods.”
“Looks like you need to go to the food more often, Tia,” Forest said. “You’re thinning out. You’re nearly skeletal.”
“You shouldn’t be checking me out.”
“Not checking you out, but you’ve lost weight since I saw you last. How long has it been?”
It was right after she’d received her acceptance into CRNA school. “A few years.”
“Wow. That’s too long.”
“It’s what happens.”
“And how much longer do you have with the military? I wish you’d taken one of our scholarships, but you were always an independent shit.”
“I could’ve, but you know me.”
“Don’t I? You always have to do things yourself.”
