Apparently, former Navy SEALs.
“I went rogue,” she reminded him. “I split when I should’ve stayed. I make trouble wherever I go.”
“Bullshit!” Alex snapped as he flung the cubicle curtain aside and stalked to the foot of the bed. “Heard you've always wanted to be a Marine, Junior Agent.”
She nearly snapped to attention. Junior Agent? “Yes, I did. I mean, I do. But I’m not a—”
“Junior Agent? Yes, you are. I can’t recruit you into the Corps, but I can give you the next best thing. My TEAM. My rules.”
Her head bobbed so hard, her back teeth were grinding.
“Is that a yes?”
“Y-y-yes,” she answered accordingly. But her throat was dry. She squeaked instead of sounding confident. And she’d done it again. She’d said what she’d thought Alex wanted to hear. Not anymore. “I mean, err, n-n-no.”
“Breathe,” Jameson murmured, squeezing her fingers again. “You’ve got this, babe.”
He was right. Her dad had been cruel and heartless. But Jameson was always on her side, and she could do this. She could stand up for herself. It was time.
With a deep breath, Maddie smiled, then laughed as she embraced the darnedest feeling of being free at last. She grabbed Alex’s hand and told him, “Thanks, Boss, but I don’t want to be a junior agent. I don’t have nerves of steel, and I don’t want to ever smell tear gas again or get shot at or have to kill anyone. I’d rather just be your Protocol Officer and take care of you. That all by itself sounds pretentious enough, me being any kind of officer. I’ve never served my country like you guys have, but I like working with you and for you. I like supporting the warfighter behind the wings, and I love everyone in this brave company of snipers. Can’t I just be who I already am? That’s all I want. To serve you and your guys. Your TEAM.”
He had the nerve to smile like he’d already known everything she was going to tell him. “Everyone who marries into, or is a part of, a military family serves,” he said extra gently. “Husbands, wives, children, and friends. Hell, even pets. Combat is never about what lies ahead, Maddie. It’s always about the people we leave behind. What’s this I hear about a loan shark?”
How embarrassing. “Yes, my ex… he left and…” What else was there to say? Good grief, she’d made a lot of bad choices in her life.
“Stop worrying. Those lucky bastards were inside the Black Rose when it blew. They won't be bothering you again. You’ve also got a new picture window, courtesy of Adam and Walker. A clean living room, too. Take a week off. Come back refreshed and ready to work. You’re needed here, Maddie. Sure hope you know that.”
Jameson had taken possession of her entire hand, and he was squeezing it, letting her know he was there for her. Like he had been since this scary, exhilarating, crazy operation began.
“Deal?” Alex asked.
“Deal. Thank you.”
“And you…” He turned on Jameson. “You’re quite an asset to my TEAM. Mark tells me you’re an expert in Krav Maga.”
“I’m a student,” Jameson clarified, his head cocked as if he were trying to figure Alex out.
Good luck with that.
“You took Delaney’s top assassins out inside that farmhouse. I’d say that makes you more than just a student.”
The sexiest blush crept up Jameson’s neck and spread over his cheeks. He cleared his throat, then said, “I’ve learned a lot since the incident. And yes, studying Krav Maga has opened doors for me.”
“I see that,” Alex murmured with something akin to respect. “You’ve earned a week off. Be in my office the following Monday. Until then...” Alex tossed the curtain aside and stalked out.
Jameson still had Maddie’s hand curled inside of his. He lifted her knuckles to his lips and asked, “Did you hear what he said about everyone who marries into military families?”
“I did,” she whispered, remembering his proposal. But she’d been married before. It hadn’t been much different than living under her dad’s thumb, well, except for the sex part. Even that she could’ve lived without. Until Jameson kissed her. He was different, more giving than taking. He tasted good and he smelled like heaven, even now when they were both grimy and sweat-stained. She’d orgasmed for the first time ever in his arms. She wanted to do that again. Did she dare believe she could ever be good enough for a man of his caliber?
“Are we going to your place or mine?”
Sucking in a trembling breath, she told him, “Yours, please.” To your bed, into your heart, anywhere… with you.
He closed his eyes, a dreamy smile on his lips. “Good answer. Let’s get out of here.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
There was something good and right when a man brought the woman he planned to marry, home to his apartment, no matter how humble the place was. Didn’t matter that she’d already said no, and that she needed more time. Jameson was no quitter.
It was well after midnight by the time The TEAM’s helicopter had touched down at Reagan National, after flying in from Boston. Mark and Harley both had someone waiting for them, probably their wives. Jameson ordered an Uber driver. But Alex and his father stayed onboard. Guess he lived near the Shenandoahs and flew back and forth by TEAM chopper every day. As Jameson’s mom would’ve said had she been there, “Well, la-di-da, aren’t we fancy?”
“Uh, Jameson?” Maddie asked from the doorway to his humble abode, where
