“You don’t think he’ll split us up as partners on the team?”
“Are you kidding? My husband has been rooting for you two to get together as long as I have. He can’t tell you that, though, because he’s your boss. It would probably go against some sort of stupid HR rule or something.”
Mac started to laugh when the door to Olivia’s room opened and the rest of Alpha Team and their wives rolled in.
“I hope Bravo Team isn’t too upset they missed all the excitement,” Brynnon, Grant’s wife, commented as they entered the room.
“Nah.” Olivia shook her head. “Jake called Gracie and told her to spread the news. Gracie and Kat are going to come by tomorrow, and Bravo’s on assignment overseas for Homeland. We’ll invite them all over to see Lillian when they get back into town.”
Mac kept ahold of the baby, and before long, the others began saying their goodbyes. When it was Coop’s turn, he looked over at Mac with an almost pained expression before congratulating the blessed couple and walking out the door with Derek.
Almost as an afterthought, Jake turned back around and hollered, “Hey, Coop! Wait up a sec.” To his wife he said, “I’ll be right back, sweetheart. I promise.”
“Take your time.” Olivia smiled at Jake. “I’ve got this little girl to keep me company.”
With a wink, Jake took off down the hall to catch up with Coop and Derek.
Handing little Lillian Rose off to her mama, Mac gave Olivia a tight squeeze. After telling her how happy she was for them again, she started to pull back, but Liv held her there.
Whispering low enough only Mac could hear, Olivia said, “Life’s too short to wait, honey. If you want him, go after him.”
With a tight smile, Mac told her friend she’d see her tomorrow and headed for the door. She started to open it but stopped.
Knowing Trevor was about to follow her so he could drive her home, she asked, “Could you give me and Coop a second? I need to talk to him about something before he leaves.”
“Sure. He should still be out there. I know Jake wanted to run something by him, too.”
“Thanks. I’ll be quick.”
She told the others goodbye and gave one last glance in Olivia’s direction. The other woman was watching her with a smug, knowing grin.
Giving her friend a single nod, Mac left to find the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
Enough with all the waiting and worrying. Coop had been right all along. If they wanted to be together, there was no reason they shouldn’t go for it.
She scanned the hallway as she walked but didn’t see him. Picking up the pace, she made her way to the large, glass doors, not bothering to wait for them to open completely before squeezing herself through to the outside. With her head on a swivel, Mac scanned the secured parking lot.
When they first got here, she’d been pretending to sleep. Juvenile, yes, but she simply couldn’t bear to face him after ruining his sweet proposal so spectacularly.
By the time they arrived, her focus had been split between putting some space between them, and Olivia being in labor. She hadn’t bothered to notice where they’d parked.
Feeling as though she was walking around aimlessly, Mac’s heart pummeled her ribs when she finally spotted Coop standing next to his truck with Derek and Jake.
“Coop, wait!” she hollered out as she got closer. The three men turned to her.
“You got a second? I really wanted to talk to you before you leave.”
He hesitated. “Sure.”
“I’ll take these inside and give them to Trevor,” Jake offered. “Coop said Trev was driving you home.”
Mac glanced down, only then noticing the suitcase and shoulder bag she’d taken to Coop’s parents’ house were both sitting on the ground next to her boss’s feet.
“I can get them.” She gave her boss a smile. “You get back to that beautiful new baby of yours.”
If things went according to plan, those bags would be going right back in the cab of Coop’s truck.
Jake’s crystal blue eyes beamed in the light of the lot’s nearby security lamp. “Thanks. And thanks again for coming. I know Olivia really wanted you to be here.”
