“We’ve seen shit.” It was the closest thing he could say without going into too much detail, and he hoped it wouldn’t trigger another attack for her.
Fuck, how could he have let his mouth run off like that? She was beginning to look comfortable, and he had to go and talk about Growler and his protective instincts.
“Oh. Yeah.” She sipped her drink, but he didn’t miss the slight tremor of her hand.
“Food’s ready. Come and get it while it’s hot,” Angelo hollered, and Jag grasped at the unwitting lifeline his friend had thrown.
“Why don’t you stay here, and I’ll fix you a plate?” Jag suggested.
“You think I can’t do it myself? That I’m going to collapse in a heap?” Steff’s anger was justified.
“No, I don’t think that at all, and I’m sorry. You’re right, I should’ve asked if you wanted to join me and not assume that you couldn’t. Can I try that again?” He smiled in what he hoped was an endearing way.
He was doing a great job of putting his foot in his mouth.
Her shoulders slumped a little. “I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have flown off the handle.” He opened his mouth to protest that she had every right to, but Steff held up her hand. “Given what happened earlier, it’s totally reasonable for you to want to try and keep me safe. I appreciate it, but I need to do this.”
“Then I will be right by your side as you do it. Shall we go see what delights Astrid has cooked up?” He stood and crooked his arm, giving Steff the option to either link her arm with his, or to rest her hand on it. Or ignore it totally. He relaxed when she chose the second option. It was a touch, and that’s all that mattered to him. “I hope she made some of her stuffed mushrooms, they’re so good. I don’t know what she does to the ground beef she fills them with, but it’s flavorful. They’re a meal in themselves. If she’s trying a new recipe out, sometimes Growler will bring in samples for us. Those are the best days in the office, and it’s lucky we keep up a strict workout regime, otherwise we wouldn’t be effective with our jobs.”
Jag was aware that he was rambling, but if his chatter helped to keep Steff’s mind off being amongst a group of people, albeit a small group, then that’s what he’d do.
By the time they’d reached the table inside, the chatter amongst his friends was loud, and Steff tensed beside him. He curled his hand over hers where it rested on his arm. He leaned down, hoping that he didn’t freak her out too much when he spoke in her ear. He caught the faint scent of cherry blossom, something he hadn’t noticed before. “If you need to head back out, we’ll do that, and wait until everyone has got their fill and then come back,” he offered as they entered the house where all the food was laid out.
“No, it’s fine.” She may have said the words, but her body language was saying something completely different, but he didn’t question it. If she said she was okay, then he would trust her.
Jag grabbed a plate and held it out toward her. “Yes! There are still some mushrooms. You want to try one?”
He probably sounded like a kid on Christmas morning, but they were that good.
A small smile played across her mouth, he wanted to hear her laugh again, but he suspected she didn’t laugh easily. If he could get another one out of her today, then he’d consider that a victory. The fact Steff was still at the party was a win as well. “With the way you’ve been talking about them, I’d be a fool not to.”
“You won’t regret it.” Jag placed one on Steff’s plate and then added two to his.
“There might be a container in Teresa’s fridge with your name on it.” Astrid came up to where he was deciding if he wanted to be healthy and add some salad to his plate. Steff had already done so.
“Don’t be playing with me, Astrid.”
She laughed. “As if I’d do that. I know how much you love my stuffed mushrooms, so I made sure I kept some of them aside, just for you.”
“If you weren’t already married, I’d marry you myself.”
“Keep your hands off my wife.” Growler came up, pulling Astrid close while piercing Jag with a look that would have most people trembling in their boots.
Astrid rolled her eyes and patted her husband on the belly. “Stand down, sailor. You know I only have eyes for you.” As if to prove her point, she pulled his head down for a kiss that had Jag looking away.
“Right, well, Steff you good?” The love between Growler and Astrid was palpable, just like what the other guys who were married or in a serious relationship shared with their significant others.
There was a true sense of family in the Alliez offices, and Jag was glad he and his former SEAL team had landed there after they’d chaptered out.
The fact Alliez had an arrangement with the FBI, which allowed them to go on missions and do some of the things they’d done as a SEAL, made it even better.
Once they were seated at the small table they’d been sitting at earlier, Jag waited for Steff to take her first bite of Astrid’s mushroom. Satisfaction filled him when her eyes widened. “Wow, they are good.”
“Told you.” Jag tucked into his food. This party was turning out better than he thought it would.
When it came time to head home, he’d leave it up to fate to decide what happened next. Even if it let to nothing, he was glad he had this time with Steff.
Chapter Three
