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“I could have gotten it,” Stryker said firmly.
“So, Cass, where were you stationed most often?” Memphis asked, obviously trying to change the subject.
“I was mostly in the Middle East. Did some time on my first two tours in Germany at a hospital where we treated more serious injuries. You know, to get them well enough to be transported back to the states.”
Memphis and Orlando sat down, and they all started making plates. She noticed that Orlando served her bacon first before himself, and Memphis served her eggs before anyone. Stryker just sat there. She couldn’t help but wonder if he were eating. He needed to eat to be strong.
“That’s impressive. Had a few buddies that wound up in Germany,” Memphis added.
“Had a few who never made it there,” Stryker said under his breath.
She looked at him from across the table.
“It’s never easy losing our fellow soldiers. It’s all part of it I guess.”
“Is that what they teach you as a nurse? That we’re just another number, another lost body who can’t fight another day?” Stryker got aggressive with her.
“That’s not what she’s saying, Stryker,” Orlando said, but Cassidy held her hand up.
“None of the soldiers I met and saw during my tours were just names and numbers. We all did our best,” she replied to him.
He held her gaze. He let his eyes graze over her breasts, and she picked up the fork and took another bite.
“Garrett said you worked with one of the best ER surgeons in the field,” Memphis said to her.
“I did. Dr. Reynolds is amazing. He’s still active, although I think he’s going to retire soon. He doesn’t want to get shipped out of the country again. He’s getting older, and it’s just too much physically and emotionally.”
“It must be ni
ce to just walk away. You never feel the pain or have the reminders of combat from scars or not being able to feel whole again. Maybe I should have become a nurse.” Stryker crossed his arms in front of his chest.
He had such a dark, mean expression. He looked ready to kill. She didn’t want to think about Blaze, but he came to mind. Not that Stryker had that look, but it was pretty damn close to it. She felt as if he was trying to rattle her on purpose. Maybe he thought his father and his team wanted her to counsel him and help him. Maybe that’s why it seemed he set out to rile her up.
She held his gaze as she thought about it, and he raised one of his eyebrows at her as she stared. It was a few seconds of silence as he waited for her response to his comment.
“Nah, you don’t seem to have the patience or right bedside matter,” she said to him. Memphis and Orlando chuckled.
“She’s right. You’ve always had a bad attitude. Although Cash would be the one to confirm that,” Orlando told them.
“You don’t know me. You think you know me because you worked with a doctor in the Corps and handed him bandages and ran around doing errands?” Stryker asked, leaning closer to the table.
His eyes bore into hers, and she felt on the defensive and ready to protect herself.
“I’m sure her job consisted of more than that,” Orlando said, but it wasn’t with much enthusiasm.
She was starting to feel as though these men might be like lots of other soldiers who assumed very little of her capabilities as a nurse, as a soldier and a Marine. She felt her blood pressure rising.
Cassidy was getting really annoyed. She wanted to tell him all about her experiences and about being shot and nearly dying and how she had numerous medals and commendations for her bravery. That would show this angry, nasty Marine who he was talking to. Instead, she bit her tongue and waited to put him in his place.
“Her silence says a lot,” Stryker pushed.
“I worked in a triage unit in Iraq not too far from the front lines. I did a hell of a lot more than passing out bandages. I did a lot of things I don’t like thinking about because they sadden me. Why don’t we make a deal, Stryker? You don’t tell me about what I may or may not have done in the Corps, and I won’t ask you about how you sustained your injuries and how insane I think you are for giving up when true Marines never do.”
He lurched up. The chair flew back, banged against the wall, and floor. Memphis immediately placed his arm on the back of Cassidy’s chair. The door opened, and Cash and Coast were there.
“You don’t know shit about getting shot, about seeing men, friends, die in your arms while you live. You’ve never been caught in gunfire. Patching some wounds and helping some soldiers in hospital beds sip from straws while they dealt with losing their limbs doesn’t make you a soldier.”
She held his stare, took a deep breath, and tried to not let the man piss her off so much. But he did. He got under her skin in a flash.
