Chapter 46

46

Alex’s footsteps retreated down the hallway, leaving Jason alone with the echoes of unsaid words. He sank down in the closest chair and ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. Some Special Forces operative he was. He could face down armed insurgents without breaking a sweat, but asking a woman on a date?

Apparently, that was a bridge too far.

Filled with nervous energy, he stood abruptly and paced the empty great room, his boots scuffing against the hardwood floor. Maybe it was for the best. What did he have to offer Alex, really? A man who spent more time in war zones than in his own home, who wouldn’t know how to maintain a relationship if his life depended on it. She deserved better. Someone stable, someone who could promise her more than sporadic phone calls and the constant threat of danger.

The front door swung open, interrupting his self-flagellation. Tai and Fenn sauntered in, matching grins on their faces.

“So,” Tai drawled, “when’s the first trip to LA planned? Gonna sweep our girl Alex off her feet?”

Jason’s jaw clenched. “Not now, guys.”

Fenn raised an eyebrow. “Whoa, touchy. Did someone forget to have his Wheaties this morning?”

“I said, not now.”

Tai and Fenn exchanged glances. Jason immediately regretted his tone.

Fenn flashed Tai a knowing look. “He’s got it bad.”

“Copy that,” Tai agreed.

He stopped pacing. “Look, guys, I’m not the best company right now. I’m gonna head to the gym.”

But the two men folded their arms across their chests and blocked his way.

“Oh no, you don’t.” Tai sounded uncharacteristically serious. “You’re gonna sit your butt down and listen.”

“What he said,” Fenn agreed. “Consider this an intervention.”

Jason looked from one determined face to the other, realizing he was outmaneuvered. He sat in the chair again, resigned to whatever lecture was coming his way.

“She’s brilliant.”

“Driven.”

“Way smarter than you.”

“Better looking, too.”

“And for some weird reason, she obviously likes you. As in likes , likes.” Tai emphasized that last part.

Jason shifted in his seat. This was so not helping. He was perfectly aware of Alex’s amazing qualities. “Guys, you’re not telling me anything I don’t already know. I appreciate the concern, but?—”

“But nothing,” Tai interrupted, his voice sharp. “You keep telling yourself that, dude, and you’re going to be one lonely old man.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but Fenn stepped forward, his usual joking demeanor absent. “I told myself the same thing. And then I wised up. Just in time, too. I’ll never admit this publicly, but you’re way smarter than I am. Figure it out, bro. Fast.”

The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the distant sound of birds in the pines. Jason’s resolve crumbled under the weight of their sincerity.

“Fine. All right. I’ll talk to her,” he conceded, his voice gruff. Not that he expected it to do any good.

But doubt quickly crept back in. “How can you even know she’s interested in me?”

Tai and Fenn exchanged exasperated looks.

“For a bright guy,” Tai said, shaking his head, “you’re really dumb sometimes.”

With that parting shot, the two men headed out the door, leaving Jason alone with his thoughts.

Taking a deep breath, he heaved himself out of the chair and made his way down the hallway. The guest room door was ajar, and he could hear Alex moving around inside. He hesitated, then rapped his knuckles against the doorframe.

Alex looked up, surprise flitting across her face. “What’s up?”

He fidgeted in the doorway, suddenly at a loss for words. “Hey, I, uh ... Redemption Creek is a great place, you know. Not that LA isn’t. And your huge house. Mansion. It’s nice ...”

“Oh, yeah, it’s ...” Alex started, then paused, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I mean, Redemption Creek is really beautiful. The mountains and all ...”

“Right, the mountains,” Jason nodded too enthusiastically. “They’re very ... mountainous.”

They both spoke at once: “So, LA traffic must be?—”

“The ranch is really?—”

They stopped, chuckling awkwardly.

“You go ahead,” he offered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Alex fiddled with the zipper on her bag. “No, no, you were saying?”

“Just, uh, wondering about LA traffic. Heard it’s pretty bad.”

“Oh, yeah, it can be ... but you get used to it, I guess.” She shrugged. “The ranch though. It’s so peaceful here.”

“Peaceful, yeah,” Jason agreed, tapping his fingers against the doorframe. “Except when we’re chasing bad guys or, you know, waiting for babies.”

They shared a nervous laugh that quickly faded into another stretch of uncomfortable silence.

The sharp thwack of helo blades spinning up took care of the quiet.

Alex hefted her go bag. “Well, Army, that’s my cue.”

He reached for it. “Here, let me.” He took the bag, their fingers brushing for a brief moment.

They walked out together, joining Liv and Mac who were sheltered on the far side of the huge metal hangar. The wind whipped around them, carrying the scent of dust and sage.

“Try not to miss us too much, Reilly,” Liv called out, a teasing glint in her eye.

Mac grinned. “Yeah, we know how attached you’ve gotten.”

Jason felt a smile tugging at his lips despite the ache in his chest. “I’ll try to soldier on somehow.”

Mac and Liv and Gabriel headed around the corner and ducked their way onto the helo.

The helicopter’s blades cut through the air, their rhythmic thwack-thwack-thwack growing louder by the second as Kate spun up the engine. Jason raised his voice to be heard over the din.

“Hey, maybe I’ll come visit LA sometime. You know, if I’m in the area.”

Alex’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “That would be great.”

His chest tightened as Alex headed around the corner. She didn’t look back.

For a moment, his feet were rooted to the spot. His heart raced, urging him to follow, to say something—anything—to keep her from leaving. He took one halting step forward.

“Major!”

Gravy’s voice cut through his indecision. “It’s on!” He shouted, grinning from ear to ear. “Bridger just called. Jane’s water broke. Those little angels are coming early.”

Jason’s gaze darted between Gravy and the helo on the far side of the building. The choice stretched before him like a chasm.

With a resigned sigh, Jason turned away. “My truck’s by my cabin,” he said to Gravy, falling into step beside him.

As they jogged back toward the living quarters, he cast one last look over his shoulder. The helicopter was lifting off.

A bittersweet ache settled in his chest. “Goodbye, Mendoza,” he whispered beneath his breath. “Be well.”

A leaden weight settled in his gut, growing heavier with each step that took him farther from her.

He hadn’t asked her out.

No doubt about it—he’d just made the worst mistake of his life.