Page 21 of Her Wild Warrior

“Even though it was pink?” Amy giggled.

“Especially since it was pink. The big sparkly eyes were a nice touch. When my nieces see this they’re going to be green with envy.”

“Well, I’m still debating whether I liked the French maid apron,” Amy smiled. “You do realize I’m not a chef and I’m not that great at cleaning, right?”

“How would I know, you haven’t let me come and visit.” She could hear the frustration in his voice and she hated that.

“I only have the one day off, you know that. It’s just not worth the time, Ryker,” she sighed.

There was a long pause, the longest pause they’d ever had on one of their calls. She was afraid he’d hung up.

“Okay, now to happy things. Have I dished on Gideon and Jada?”

“Are all SEALs as gossipy as you are?”

“Well, we can’t talk about our work, so hell yes, we love butting in on one another’s personal lives and spreading the news. Anyway, Gideon is so head over heels in love with Jada, the news on the street is that he spent over five grand on a purse and three pairs of shoes for her.”

Amy gasped. “That can’t be true. Tell me you’re lying.”

“I can’t. Jonas confirmed it with a woman he’s dating. Apparently, these shoes are made by a guy named Jimmy Choo but I don’t understand the purse—it is tiny. How can a tiny purse cost so much? Hell, I don’t think she can even fit her wallet in there.”

Amy giggled. “Do you know who made it?”

“Jonas rattled off a bunch of possible names, but I lost track I only remembered Jimmy Choo because it sounded like a sneeze.”

Amy started laughing. “A sneeze? Did you say a sneeze?”

“Well, yeah.”

“That’s priceless. So do you have any dirt on Kostya and my friend Lark?”

“Uhmm.”

“That means you do, you have to spill. I want to be able to torture Lark. Come on, be a pal.”

“Is that all I am? A pal?”

Amy bit her lip.

Dammit!

“You’re more than a pal. You’re my very good friend, but I told you, long-distance relationships don’t work, and I’m a bad bet. I told you that from the very beginning.”

Ryker sighed.

“Yeah, I heard you. But Amy, tell me the truth, have you ever felt like this with any other man in your life?”

“No,” she said slowly. “Not ever.”

“What would happen if I lived in D.C., would we be at a restaurant right now?”

Fuck!

“Yes.”

“Then that’s the last I want to hear about us only being friends and you being a bad bet. I’m willing to put up with this bullshit right now because apparently, that’s what you need. But pretty soon it’s going to come to an end.”

“But not now, right?”