Jay scooted her chair closer and touched Ethan’s shoulder, her voice lowering. “What you’re feeling is really fucking valid. But there’s enough shit going on in the world without you needing to worry about stuff that didn’t even happen. Did she get really fucking close to a shitty situation? Fuck yes, she did. But she’s okay.”
His lips twitched. “You know you cursed like five times in one breath.”
“Of course I did. I’m in the fucking military.”
He laughed and turned his head—that was when he saw Maggie in the doorway.
How had he not heard her enter?
Jay leaned back. “Maggie, hey. Just in time. I was talking some sense into your man. But fuck, he’s a tough nut.”
Ethan stood and crossed the space between them. “Hey.”
“Hi.” She smiled up at him, but the smile wasn’t quite as wide as usual.
“Is everything okay?”
“I came to surprise you.” She lifted a coffee.
“You better drink that fast, Squid, or it might get stolen,” Jay yelled, as she stepped into the hallway.
Maggie frowned. “Squid?”
“From my SEAL days. Nicknames die hard.” He tugged her closer, studying her eyes. “You sure everything’s all right?”
Her chest rose on an inhale, and then her smile seemed to soften as she leaned into him. “I just missed you.”
“I always miss you when we’re apart.” He lowered his head and kissed her, and fuck, she tasted good. A mix of matcha and something sweet, like strawberries or pastry.
His radio crackled from the desk, then Ryan’s voice sounded. “Ethan, can you bring us some ice packs?”
Ethan lifted his head. “Damn.”
She chuckled. “Go. I’ll see you tonight.”
“You’re not going to wait for me?”
“Do you want me to?”
“How is that a question? Of course I do.” One more kiss, and he forced himself to step away, but yeah, he hoped she was still there when he got back.
Maggie heldthe smile until Ethan turned around. Then the image of Jay’s hand on his arm flashed in her mind. The way Jay had been leaning in close and speaking quietly to him while he’d smiled at her, like he enjoyed the closeness.
She shook her head.
Stop it, Maggie.
Jay was a friend. Same as all the other guys on the team. Being a woman didn’t make her any different. If Maggie wanted her relationship with Ethan to work, she had to trust him.
“Did I scare him off?”
Maggie turned at Jay’s voice. “Sorry?”
“Ethan’s gone?”
“He’s taking some ice packs to the guys.”
Jay laughed. “That reminds me of when the guys needed him to get to a location in Jordan. I was so scared he was going to use his busted-up compass. It wouldn’t have gotten him where he needed to go. But he wore it all the time because he swore it brought him luck. Wouldn’t let me or any of the guys replace it.”
