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Zeke cradled Mia closer. His fingers were numb, but he could still feel her. All of her. He wasn’t bothered at all holding her close. All he was bothered by was Commander Blaine Lewis. Everything about the guy bothered him.
“I’ve got her,” Zeke said. “I need to get her warm.”
“I’ll take care of the commander,” Joseph told him.
“Don’t worry about Lewis,” Keith echoed the reassurance. “Do you want us to send Alivia in to help with Mia?”
“No,” Zeke growled at them. “I’ve got her.”
He didn’t need to look to see that they were exchanging significant glances. Well, let them. He would be respectful of Mia, but she was his assignment. His to take care of, and he’d failed her. He’d let himself lose focus and now she was an ice cube.
She had to be all right. He’d make sure of it. His rational mind knew he was overreacting. She hadn’t been in long and she’d be fine. But he blamed himself for endangering her, for her discomfort right now and how miserable she’d be for the next little while. Even after she warmed up, she’d feel groggy and achy. He never wanted her to hurt, and he especially didn’t want to be the reason she ever felt pain.
Zeke didn’t let anybody get too close. He respected and cared about his men and would die for them, but still he didn’t let them into his heart or anything like that. Right now, it felt like his heart was wide open and all that mattered was the woman in his arms. He’d clamp down on any emotion and be in control soon, but Mia was his sole focus right now.
“Z-Z-Zeke,” Mia chattered out as he rushed across the patio and up the stairs.
Joseph had jogged after him and swung the door wide.
“Thanks,” Zeke managed, hurrying into the too-warm house.
Joseph shut the door behind him and disappeared. Zeke imagined Joseph would get Holly’s wrath later for not insisting Alivia help Mia get out of her wet clothes, but not even Joseph would dare mess with Zeke right now. He was angry at Lewis, himself, and all the Deltas who hadn’t stopped Mia from going into the water. He was also warm from the simple act of holding this woman who meant far too much to him already.
“Yes?” he asked Mia, leaning closer as he hurried through the main room and into Papa’s bedroom, slamming the door behind him with his hip.
“Are … y-y-you … okay?” she asked, her dark eyes cloudy and obviously fatigued. And she was concerned about him.
“Oh, Mia.” He had to clear his throat of the emotion that suddenly lodged there. “Nobody in the world cares if I’m okay.”
“I do,” she whispered, gazing up at him as if he were her entire world.
He had to push away the insanity of this incredible, desirable, and perfect woman caring if he was okay. The Deltas and his men cared, and he knew it would be disappointing to the Navy if they lost a specialized and accomplished warrior, but nobody was as deeply invested in him as Mia appeared to be. Was this real? Could a woman this impressive, who had dated half the world, truly be invested and interested in a backward soldier like him?
He carried her to the bed, shifted her weight so he could pull the covers back, and then gently laid her on the sheets. He took off her boots and set them down, peeled off her socks, and slid her out of her coat. She stared up at him the entire time.
“I’m not going to look, but I need to get your pants and sweater off. Okay?”
“I-I-I can.”
“Are you sure?”
Her fingers were trembling and she was a mess. She tried to pull at her waistband, but the wet clothing was plastered to her and there was no way she was getting out of it without his help. He placed his hands at her waist and a thrill went through him. A thrill? From touching a woman who was hypothermic? True, she was the most beautiful and intriguing woman he’d ever known, but Captain Zeke Hendrickson didn’t get “thrills” from touching women, and now was definitely not the time.
Get in control, Cap, he commanded himself.
The door burst open. “Zeke Hendrickson!” Holly scolded. “You get on out of here and let me take care of her.”
“I am not leaving her.” He scowled at Holly fiercer than some of the enemies he’d captured and questioned for information. At the same time, he was grateful she was here. He absolutely shouldn’t be taking off Mia’s wet clothes.
“Move out of the way and turn your back,” she demanded, not cowed by him at all.
He clamped his jaw and nodded, striding to the window and turning his back.
“Ah, sweet girl,” Holly crooned.
“I’m … okay,” Mia managed. Zeke could hear her teeth chattering from across the room.
“You are absolutely not okay. What were you thinking jumping in that freezing lake fully clothed?”
