“You’re blind?” she asked, a completely different tremor in her very lovely voice.
People often asked the obvious. “Yes. Five years now.”
“If you don’t mind my asking, how’d it happen?”
“I’ve never minded honest curiosity. It’s what keeps life exciting. Simple answer: improvised explosive device. Iraq.”
“How awful!” Another obvious response, although this one had been honestly spoken.
But awful didn’t begin to describe the terror of waking up sightless in a strange place. Jameson had learned early during rehabilitation that he could either stay in bed snuggled up with pity and survivor’s guilt, or he could throw himself back into the deep end of life, learn how to swim all over again, and continue to contribute… something. Somehow. Man, he hoped The TEAM was that something.
“How long were you in the hospital?”
“A couple weeks,” he answered easily. “Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. It’s near Ramstein Air Base. But I wasn’t crippled or anything. Most of that time was just spent taking tests and more tests. You know how the military is. If it ain’t broken, fix it till it is. In the end, there was nothing to be done that hard work and rehabilitation couldn’t resolve. The IED my team encountered blew me backward into a brick wall. I hit my head pretty hard. When I came to, I thought I’d gotten off lucky. Still had all my fingers and toes. I wasn’t bleeding anywhere that I could see…” Which should’ve been my first clue. “Actually, I couldn’t see anything, but I could feel my helmet. It was still on and wasn’t damaged, but…” He tapped his temple. “Both retinas detached from the impact. Everything went black. No big deal. I’m still alive, and I’m doing just fine.” Because I’m no quitter, and I freakin’ love lemonade!
They were inside the circular aisle that led to the work bay before she murmured, “I’m still sorry you lost your sight. That must’ve been hard, going from being able to see everything to seeing nothing.”
“Was. Not is. It happened a long time ago, Maddie, and I’ve moved on.” He turned toward her and changed the subject. “Why were you late? Traffic?” Or something else? Someone maybe?
“No. Traffic’s not a problem.”
Not a problem or not the problem? Jameson detected the coverup and the twinge of panic behind it. Fear maybe? Or was she just brushing him off?
Reaching out, he grabbed her hand and secured it under his elbow, patting it when she closed her fingers around that pointed joint. “Sorry, but it’d be easier if you directed me where to go while I’m meeting everyone. I might become disoriented. We’re going in a circle, right?”
Which Walker had explained thoroughly, but Maddie didn’t need to know that. It seemed she needed something to hold onto, and an elbow was, well, an elbow was so damned genderless it couldn’t pose a threat to anyone.
He turned toward his new teammates, eager to meet the men and women of The TEAM Walker was so enamored with. At last, Jameson Tenney had a real job and an upcoming mission. All in the same day!
Chapter Four
Maddie licked her bottom lip, flustered at the seemingly innocent, useless assignment she’d been given. But that’s what she got for being late. Leftovers. This was her third tardy in two weeks. If Alex knew why she couldn’t make it on time, he’d fire her for sure.
Jameson Tenney was a good fit for The TEAM. He already knew former SEAL, Walker Judge, who was on that black op into China, with his wife, Agent Persia Coltrane. Jameson also knew Adam Torrey, another former SEAL. They were still good-naturedly insulting each other like guys did.
Maddie was eternally grateful she’d landed this job as TEAM Protocol Officer, but working with all these handsome guys was nearly more than she could handle some days. They were the deadliest eye-candy. Every last one of them was walking, talking, manly sex on steroids. Not only were they breathtakingly handsome, but they were real men. Not whiny boys. Not pretty white-collar college guys who primped and sent out hundreds of selfies to their adoring, do-nothing fans, either.
Strong, capable, intelligent men comprised a good ninety percent of The TEAM. They worked hard every day, and earnestly strived to serve their country. Sometimes, they even put their lives on the line during missions. Not just anyone could or would do that. These men really were the few and the brave. That much she knew firsthand.
This new junior agent seemed to be another rock-solid warrior. Jameson walked like he knew where he was going despite being unable to see. She’d kept close to him like he’d requested, her hand under his elbow while he’d chatted and joked with everyone, even Beck’s wife, Camilla. She’d sure changed since she’d come back from maternity leave and started working fulltime. Beck had changed, too. Both, in good ways. They seemed happy, something Maddie had yet to find. Certainly wasn’t in marriage.
“Donuts!” Harley Mortimer bellowed. He cleared the elevator, his arms stacked high with pink bakery cartons, his chin resting on the top one to keep the rest from slipping.
Maddie would’ve run to help. She loved working with Harley. But she was supposed to stick close to Jameson, so she resisted the urge.
Thankfully, Ember and Rory burst through the fire doors at the opposite end of the work bay, both out of breath, with her giggling, “I win. You owe me a bubble bath.”
“How about a glazed confection instead?” Rory asked as he aimed for Harley and took over half the boxes. “TEAM! Ready room!” he called out, walking straight to the Sit Room where Alex held morning staff meetings.
“Are you hungry?” Jameson asked quietly.
Maddie looked up into a handsome, albeit expressionless face. He’d gotten too close, yet he stood there with his head cocked, his round, dark glasses facing her, as if he were intently waiting on an answer. Maybe
