Page 38 of Dangerous Mission
He lifts the sleek black device, slides his man-sized thumb that would feel really good in tight, wet places, and puts it to his ear.
Something in my brain sizzles. But it takes zero-point-one seconds to tell it’s Griff on the call.
I cringe as my brother yells something really profane.
Scout doesn’t utter a single word. He hits the End button and tosses the phone in the cup holder.
I stare at the silent device. “Wait! What? You hung up on him.”
“Didn’t have anything to say.”
So matter-of-fact.
This time it’s my turn to smile. “Wow, just like that?”
“That’s me, buttercup. I don’t waste my time on espousing hot air.”
I turn to look at him. More closely this time.
Beautiful.
He called me beautiful. Actually said the word.
I drag my gaze away, but a small smile lingers on my lips. “I’ll remember that.”
A glow of pleasure builds in my chest, slides down to my tummy where it warms me. I might have given up on the horizontal olympics, but it sure feels nice to have a man like him give a compliment that’s not hot air.
When his phone rings again, the ringtone is different.
His expression darkens this time as he picks up the call. After listening for a beat, he says, “Copy that. We’re almost there.”
My warm glow is chased away by concern.
“What’s wrong?”
“The professor who has been advising us on the caves said you need to dive today. The rain we’re going to get tonight will cut us off from one of the main entrances. It’s going to be dangerous today, but tomorrow that area will be out of the question.”
He pauses, looking troubled when he glances over. “Are you up for it after what happened last night?”
Even though something tenses inside of meI nod. This is why we’re here. This is what we do. We rescue people from caves that are filled with water.
“Brundage and I can handle it.”
I just know it’s going to be ugly dealing with the man.
My nerves are humming by the time Scout and I pull up to a ranch house on an agave farm.
Scout catches my confusion. “This is our temporary headquarters.”
The place looks like a normal house, minus all the SUVs and trucks parked outside. They don’t look so normal. The blacked out windows, winches on oversized bumpers, snorkels for deep water, gear strapped on top, and insignias on the sides make it look like a CSI crime scene on steroids.
Brundage is outside. At his feet, are several bags of our dive gear. He stares at me through the windshield with open disdain.
“He always like that with you?”
It takes me a second to register Scout’s question. “I just started working with Griff’s company. Brundage is… slowly adjusting.”
When I reach for my door handle, Scout clicks the lock button so I can’t open it.