So why did it feel like a loss?
She swiped angrily at the wet tracks on her cheeks. She refused to spend her last hours here crying in a room full of camping equipment.
Archer had feelings…and she did too.
What they didn’t have was more time.
At that moment, he was sitting on the gym floor meditating over something. Maybe his captivity. Maybe her. Maybe nothing to do with her at all.
He could sit there and sort through it as long as he wanted.
The second he stepped into her path again, she had plans of her own.
THIRTEEN
Archer found Jolie in her room, sitting on the floor across from the bed, knees drawn up and her arms hugged around them. The pose was so full of despondence—despair even—that his chest tightened with a painful squeeze.
When he entered, she lifted her head and went stiff. “What happened?” she asked.
“Nothing yet.”
Her gaze darted to his hand and the black hood he held.
“That is not comforting.”
He approached her in measured steps the same way he’d get near a frightened animal. He held up the hood.
“I’m leaving now?” Her voice faltered.
“Not yet. This is a surprise.”
She eyed him warily. “SEALs don’t do surprises.”
He extended a hand to her. “Trust me.”
After a beat of hesitation, she slipped her hand into his and let him pull her to her feet.
“Am I dressed for whatever this surprise is?”
He huffed out a laugh. “You’re perfect.”
Her eyes turned warm as melted chocolate. And he wanted to kiss her so goddamn bad.
But he held back.
“Come on.” He took her by the hand and led her out of the room and down the hallway, turning corners until they couldn’t anymore.
He stopped and lifted the hood. “Let me put this on you.”
She paused only a second before nodding.
He slid the blackout hood over her head and adjusted it so she could breathe easily while seeing nothing.
“Archer.” Worry tinged her tone.
“I’ve got you.” He clasped both hands in his and led her out of the hallway…and up into the ski resort above base.
Her steps were slow and careful, and her grip tense on his palms. He guided her through a narrow service door most people assumed was flat concrete.
