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Alex had the good grace to blush. “True. Three surgeries later.” And then he teased, “You did not have to shoot me so well in the leg, Sinclair.”
Cal grinned. “You said a through and through, Alex. I did what you asked.” As part of their plan for escape, Alex had asked Cal to shoot him in the calf. That way, it would appear the American shot him, rescued Sky, and escaped because he’d been wounded. The Russian team had bought the story.
Sky sighed and leaned up and kissed Cal on the cheek. “This is just the best of surprises.”
“Hope you didn’t mind if I invited Alex up here to stay with us for a few days?”
Sky beamed at Alex, who was really quite shy despite his bulk and size. “I’m GLAD you’re here, Alex. And we love having you! How on earth did you hook up with Jack and his security company?”
“Come on,” Cal murmured, pointing toward the stairs and door leading up to the first floor, “let’s go inside. Alex will tell you everything.” He clicked his fob and the garage door slowly shut, making it darker within the area. A light automatically snapped on as he led Sky to the stairs.
Alex followed them into the massive cedar home. His eyes widened as he absorbed the floor plan. “This is a beautiful home,” he murmured in awe. He ran a knowing hand over a cedar post, noting how smooth it felt beneath his exploring fingers.
Cal saw the kitchen was, indeed, close to becoming a certifiable disaster in the making. Sky had flour strewn across the black granite counter, several bowls in a row, and was halfway through making a huge salad for all of them. “I built this house over a seven-year period. It was a labor of love.” he told Alex. “Have a seat,” and Cal gestured to the stools at one side of the island. “Want a beer?”
“That sounds good,” Alex agreed, sitting down. He folded his hands and smiled as he watched Cal and Sky work together in the kitchen. Cal opened a bottle of beer and slid it across the island to him. “So,” Alex murmured, holding up the cold bottle, “a toast to your coming marriage?”
Sky washed her hands and dried them off. She let Cal take over in the kitchen. “Thank you. You’re going to be able to make our wedding, aren’t you Alex? We truly would love to have you there with us.” She opened another beer, handed it to Cal, and took one for herself. They raised them in a toast.
Taking an appreciative swig of the beer, the bubbles dancing on his tongue, Alex said, “I will be there if I’m not out on a mission assignment. I promise.”
“You and half of SEAL Team Three,” Sky noted wryly. She worked around Cal and placed three plates on the island. They had a formal dining room, but they tended not to use it. The delicious smells originating from the kitchen, the warmth and coziness of the area was something Sky cherished. She’d never had it growing up and appreciated it so much more now. Taking off her apron, she set it aside.
“And many of Mr. Driscoll’s people will be at your wedding, as well,” Alex noted. He moved his hands off the island so that Sky could set up the three plates for dinner.
“Did you meet Lauren yet?” Sky wondered, adding flatware and red linen napkins to the place setting. “She’s going to be my maid of honor. And she’s helping me with my wedding dress fittings.” Halting, Sky added, “And she’ll be coming up here tomorrow! I have my last dress fitting in the late afternoon.” She saw some of Alex’s joviality disappear.
Cal called over his shoulder as he finished making the salad, “Lauren and Alex didn’t exactly hit it off at the meeting. She hated him on sight,” and he chuckled.
“What?” Sky eyed Alex, whose cheeks turned a dull red. He wouldn’t look at her. Instead, Alex stared at the beer bottle and slowly moved it around between his massive hands. “Alex? Lauren is one of my best friends. Didn’t she know you saved our lives?”
Shrugging his massive shoulders, Alex said, “I do not really know, Sky.”
Sky sat down next to Alex, watching Cal quickly clean up her mess and get everything militarily organized once more. The man was a perfectionist and her heart opened wide with a fierce love for him. “What happened between you two, then?” she demanded. She saw Alex’s hazel eyes darken and he bashfully shrugged.
“I do not really know. We just… I guess you would say… did not hit it off?” He gave her an apologetic look. “Since the US has given my sister Kira and I a path to earn our green card, we are on our way to becoming American citizens. I have been trying to learn and understand your American slang.”
“Good luck on that one,” Cal called, laughing. “We got more slang per square inch than any other country on Earth. We make ’em up as we go.”
Chuckling, Alex nodded and drank more of his beer, savoring it.
“Alex,” Sky chided, poking his forearm with her index finger, “tell me about Lauren.”
Sighing, he said, “Not much to tell. Mr. Driscoll introduced me to his team members in the briefing room earlier this afternoon.”
“He’s the first Ukrainian to be hired by Jack,” Cal added, dropping diced tomatoes into the salad. He brought the large wooden bowl over to the island and set it down. Giving Sky a look, he added, “Everyone welcomed him except Lauren. She refused to shake his hand.”
“Wow,” Sky murmured, “that’s not like her at all….”
Alex shrugged. “She is beautiful. I have never seen red hair the color of hers. And her eyes remind me of emeralds I have seen in the Columbian Mines of South America.”
Cal gave Sky an amused look. “I think Alex has fallen head over heels for Lauren.”
“Wait,” Alex protested, “what does head over heels mean? I see this in English, and it is a very odd movement of a body if I try to visualize it.”
Sky squelched a smile and reached out and patted Alex’s arm. “Slang for you have fallen hopelessly in love with Lauren.” She instantly saw his frown disappear. His chiseled mouth, the softest part of his hardened, weathered face, moved into a hopeful, crooked smile.
“Ah, I see. Well, yes, I was very drawn to her but,” he shrugged, “I do not love her.”
