Page 32 of Dangerous Mission
That’s a hard no.
“There’s nothing going on with me.”
“Then why?—”
“Look, I respect the hell out of you as team lead. You’re a great SEAL. An outstanding boss.”
As he studies me, I kick the broken running board, breaking the dangling part loose. After it clangs to the ground, I turn to face Beast.
“But you are not picking apart my sex life. Or anything else about me. I do my job. I get results. You need me to be locked on. Every minute that passes, is another minute that our missing woman needs us.”
“You’re right. We do need you locked on.” Beast crosses his arms and leans against the truck. The fender groans under his weight. “But I need to know you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. The truck is not.”
The light in his eyes goes hard. I know this topic is far from over, but he cuts me a moment of slack.
Maybe I look as unhinged as I feel.
“You assholes keep destroying our trucks.”
I feel a presence at my elbow—the small feminine kind that smells good and makes my wiring light up—causing me to grit my teeth.
Aria holds her hands up toward me. My baseball cap is in her palms. It’s filled with packs of Twinkies and a plastic bottle of water.
“You should eat and drink water.”
After she shoves the contraband goods at me, she turns to give Beast a lift of her chin. “Technically, I wrecked the truck. Or the bad guy did. He rammed me four times. I got in the way to save your boy’s life. Since I know it’s expensive to replace someone like him, I think that should knock down the cost for me to replace this behemoth. But send me a bill for the balance.”
By the time she finishes, her hands are on her hips.
Beast chuckles.
I do nothing but stare at her because I can’t get a damned thing in my mouth to work.
With one more glittering glare in my direction, she turns to leave. “I’ll be in your boss’s truck since it’s clear you don’t want my company this morning.”
My mouth slides open as my forehead wrinkles.
Hellcat.
When she walks away, Beast grins so hard his face might crack. “Sassy. I like her already. I think I’ll make you two ride back to the ranch together.”
Chapter Sixteen
Well that was awkward.
God, what was I thinking?
Scout makes me so anxious that my mouth just does its own thing. I’m possessed by some sassy monster—probably wearing red stilettos—that is laughing right now as it sits on my shoulder.
Well, I’m not laughing. I definitely don’t wear stilettos. And I’m hanging by a thread. What a freaking nightmare. All of it.
Camile is standing by the other truck.
Thank heavens, she and Beast are here. I have an escape from the grumpy commando. They’re saving me from having to sit in a passenger seat next to a man that’s making my heart hurt and my head spin.
Stupid, I know.