“You do know that sooner or later, you’re going to have to forgive yourself, right?”
“I let you down.”
“And you’ve saved my life ten-fold, since. Try thinking of it as a five-year engagement. Spent OCONUS.”
His eyes widened, then he laughed. A rich full one that made her smile more. “Only you would think of all that time as an engagement outside the continuous United States, sweetheart. Okay. I’ll work on the forgiveness. Now about the wedding. You really don’t want a big one? Here?”
“And give up getting hitched by Elvis? Now, who’s the crazy one. Ice said he knows just the place.”
“I don’t have a tux. You don’t have a dress. And we need rings?—”
“I thought you Delta guys were all about adapting?” She laughed at the attempted death glare he gave her. It wasn’t even close. “We can hit up a jewelry store there. I’m sure we’ll find something. If not, you can get me a ring pop as a stand-in. But I expect blue raspberry. Not just cherry. And we can go to one of those chapels that have costumes. I’m thinking you. Chain mail…”
“I’ll consider the chain mail, but blue raspberry? It’s strawberry or nothing.”
“Fine. Strawberry. I also thought we might make it a double wedding. Get Cannon and Jericho to join us.”
“Get Cannon and Jericho to do what with you?”
She jumped at Cannon’s voice, glaring at the man over Brett’s shoulder. “Christ, Cannon. I would have drawn my damn gun if I wasn’t holding onto Brett. All you guys need to start making some noise while inside.”
Jericho swatted the man in the chest. “See? I’m not the only one who thinks that.”
Cannon smiled, dipped down to give her a kiss. “I’ll try harder. And after all we’ve seen and heard, I think Ellis is the one we should be afraid of. All those spooky skills of hers.”
Ellis snorted. “Are you ever going to get tired of using spooky whenever you can fit it in?”
“Nope.”
“Men.”
“So, what were you hoping we’d join you for?”
“Vegas. A chapel. High probability Elvis will be involved.”
Jericho’s eyes widened, and she all but squealed. “You guys are getting married, now? In Vegas?”
“Just have to pack a light bag.”
Cannon shook his head. “Women. They spoil the surprise every time.”
Ellis frowned. “Surprise? What surprise?”
Brett beamed. Actually beamed. “You act as if you’re the only one who knows how to read people. I had a feeling you might want to bug out. Head south. So, while you were sleeping in my arms on the ride home, I was grilling Ice for all the details. Told Cannon he should join us. Surprise Jericho once we got there. Make a team party out of it.”
Jericho’s mouth gaped open as she turned to Cannon. “Do what, now?”
“Long overdue, sweetheart. If, you’ll have me?”
She slapped him on the chest, again. “Like there’s any other answer but yes.”
“Hooyah. My bag’s already packed. Why don’t you go throw some stuff together?”
She lifted up—planted a wet kiss on his lips, then darted out.
The other man watched her go, and the look on Cannon’s face—Ellis swore it was borderline dreamy. He turned back to them, nothing but hard lines, again. “I also wanted to tell you that Art just called. It’s no surprise the CIA wants to handle things…internally.”
A sick feeling tumbled through her gut. She’d been dreading this. “Which we all know means McCormick will get some kind of hall pass.”
