Page 53 of Deep Cover

“Okay,” Jolie got everyone’s attention once the laughter died down enough to hear herself speak. “We should do something after dinner. We’ve earned a game night, especially after everyone put in a hard day’s work.” She directed her attention to Monk, then to O and finally Rivers and Caryssa.

Cannon’s voice cut across the room from the opposite end of the table. “Actually, it’s team movie night.”

Jolie opened her mouth to argue, but he threw up a hand.

“Already decided.”

“But—” Stina began.

“No debate.”

A groan went up, from Rivers included.

Caryssa looked around, confusion on her face.

“What are we watching?” Stina’s eyes flashed, prepared to battle Cannon for the remote control.

He was already shoving away from the table, plate in hand. “Doesn’t matter. I’m picking, and nobody’s allowed to complain about my choice.”

The room dissolved into a low buzz of protest and negotiations that wouldn’t change Cannon’s mind.

Rome leaned over to Rivers. “Ten bucks says he picks that awful alien movie again.”

With a low groan, he shook his head. “I’m not willing to take that bet.”

He leaned in to catch Caryssa’s eye and suddenly the room faded around them as if the two of them were enclosed in a perfect, private bubble. “You in?”

She hesitated, and he held his breath. He wouldn’t let her refuse and go to her room, shutting herself away from everyone.

Away from him.

The crease between her brows smoothed. “I’m in.”

He sucked in a full breath, feeling more himself than he’d been in years too.

He’d take movie night with the woman he loved. He’d take teasing at the dinner table with his brothers-in-arms…he’d take every single piece of Caryssa she was willing to hand back to him.

One night at a time. For as long as she’d let him have her.

* * * * *

Apparently, the downfall of an elite SEAL team was going to be ice cream, bad movies and women with access to liquor.

Caryssa had insisted on cleaning up the dinner mess since others had prepared the meal. Reid hung back to help, and Townie packed the dishwasher, fitting every last pot. When they were finished, she followed the men through the underground base, moving toward the echo of voices.

When she stepped into a wide, sprawling space carved into the concrete, she stopped in her tracks.

Reid touched her elbow. “Everything okay?”

She blinked. “When they said movie night, I expected a flat screen and a couple pillows on the floor.”

He chuckled and squeezed her arm lightly before entering the space.

The big room opened up in front of her—sofas and recliners arranged in a loose semicircle and a projector already humming against the far wall. The entire place felt less like a bunker and more like a place built for a huge family.

She turned her head and was surprised to see that while they cleaned up the dinner mess, Jolie and Stina had been busy setting up a whole sundae bar along the back of the room. Bowls of toppings and three tubs of ice cream were waiting for everyone to choose their own. There were even chocolate and rainbow sprinkles.

The thought of these big, muscled special operators topping their sundaes with sprinkles made her giggle.