Page 92 of SEAL's Resolve
“No good night kiss from my favorite Navy SEAL?”
Rafe tapped her nose. “Not wise, beautiful. My legendary control is like mist around you.”
Kristi smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment. See you in the morning.” She closed the door.
Rafe headed to the kitchen to get his laptop and continue reading the files before he began his shift. He wanted to reread the FBI file as well. Hopefully, he’d be able to view the file without strong emotion blindsiding him.
He sighed. Fat chance of that happening. Studying that file without wanting to kill the men responsible for hurting Kristi wasn’t possible with his emotions tied in a knot.
Jackson was alone in the kitchen, standing watch at the back door. The medic seemed to be a million miles away. “Jackson.”
His teammate glanced over his shoulder before resuming his perusal of the yard. “How’s Kristi?”
“Exhausted.”
“Understandable.”
Rafe waited, hoping his friend would talk to him. Nothing. Should have known. “What’s up, Jackson?”
“Nothing.”
He snorted. “That’s the same answer Mom gives me when I ask what’s bugging her. Try again.”
“Are we going to be BFFs now, Torres?”
“You’ve been out of sorts for weeks. I want to help. Wolf Pack had my back when dismantling the Hunt Club renewed the pain of losing Callie. I’m returning the favor.”
“Appreciate the offer.”
“But mind my own business?”
The medic lifted one shoulder. “You said it, not me.”
Rafe rolled his eyes. Stubborn man. All of his teammates were mule stubborn. “If you want to brood, I’ll let you. For now. Kristi’s worried that our dating relationship upset you. Dial it down around her. She has enough to worry over without adding your resistance to our dating into the mix.”
Jackson spun, frowning. “This has nothing to do with Kristi. In fact, I’m happy that you’ve healed enough to let go of Callie. Her loss was eating you alive, and I hated that I couldn’t help.”
“You didn’t sound supportive a few hours ago.”
The other man growled. “Look, I want a wife and a family. I thought I met the right woman. Turned out that she was nothing like I thought. Jon and Eli are married to women they adore. Cal is engaged to Rachelle, and now you’re with Kristi. It’s not easy to be the only one alone.”
Rafe picked through all the peripheral stuff and focused on the bottom line. “The dating relationship was that bad?”
“She’s toxic, and I’m better off without her,” Jackson said flatly. “I’m disappointed. I’ll survive. I have the right to keep my own counsel, Torres. The last thing I want to do is talk about my disastrous relationship with a bunch of SEALs who are in committed relationships. Might take time, but I’ll pull out of my funk. And don’t even think about having Eli or the boss pull me from duty. I can handle the job while I brood.”
“I’m sorry. Don’t give up hope.”
“My business.” He folded his arms over his chest, lips curled in a half-hearted sneer. “Are we going to sit around discussing our feelings and braiding each other’s hair or get back to work?”
He snorted. Smart aleck. “I’ll say one more thing, then shut up on the subject. I thought I’d never be happy again after I lost Callie. I was wrong.”
Jackson studied him a moment. “You’re in love with Kristi.”
Rafe gave a slight nod.
The other man whistled. “Does she know?”
“Do I look stupid?”