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Jane woketo a wall of fog obscuring the coastal views outside the bedroom window. It took a minute to realize where she was. And why. Less than twenty-four hours ago, she’d been behind the counter of the store, facing down four huge strangers with badges and guns.
She spared a thought for Wes, opening the store by himself. No. Not by himself. Tai and Mason and the others would be pitching in. The thought of the rugged special ops agents wheeling around displays of petunias and pansies made her smile.
She pulled a robe over her pajamas and shuffled to the kitchen, following the scent of freshly-brewed caffeine. Pegs looked up from her perch at the sink, raising her mug in silent question.
Jane nodded and slipped into a seat at the breakfast bar.
Bridger was passed out on the couch, his good arm flung over his eyes. Jane smiled slightly at the sight of the rugged SEAL looking so vulnerable.
Pegs handed Jane a mug and gestured at the mist-choked landscape. “This isn’t gonna clear today. Don’t worry, though, I’ve got two kinds of sensors, infrared and heat-detecting. Nobody’s getting close to this place.”
Jane sipped the hot coffee, letting it warm her from the inside out. Between Bridger and the obviously-talented Pegasus, she hadn’t even been concerned.
Bridger stirred on the couch, sitting up and scrubbing a hand over his face. His dark hair stuck up in tousled spikes. Jane felt a now-familiar pull of attraction as she watched him blink sleepily.
“Morning, sunshine,” Pegs said wryly. “Coffee?”
“Please,” Bridger rasped.
Jane set her mug on the counter as Bridger shuffled into the kitchen. His t-shirt stretched taut over muscular shoulders. The bandage Pegs had wrapped around his bicep didn’t show even a drop of blood.
She lifted a silent prayer of thanks for that.
Bridger caught her gaze for a brief moment before looking away.
Pegs pressed a mug into his hand, interrupting the moment. “You look awful. Late night?”
“Bite me,” Bridger grumbled, though his mouth quirked up at the corner.
Jane rested her elbows on the counter. The easy banter between Bridger and his mentor made her wonder again about their history together. What bonded this unlikely pair so strongly?
Bridger took a long swig of coffee, then set the mug down with a thud and turned to Jane, his piercing blue eyes meeting hers. “How are you holding up?”
She tried to shrug casually. “As well as can be expected when being hunted by my psychotic ex and whoever he cheated. Outside of that, I’m good.”
Bridger’s jaw tightened. “This’ll be over soon. Once we’re done with him, your ex won’t be a problem. Ever.”
She bit her lip. The familiar shame heated her cheeks when she thought of how stupid she’d been to be taken in by Pete.
Peg gave her a gentle smile. “We’ve all been there, hon. Every one of us.”
“Not me,” Bridger quipped. “I mean, not recently,” he added after a sharp glance from Pegs.
He held her gaze for a moment before turning to refill his coffee. Jane watched the play of muscles under his t-shirt as he moved. For a man who had just woken up, he looked unfairly attractive.
“So how did you two meet?” she asked, hoping for another glimpse into his past.
Bridger chuckled. “Now that’s a long story.”
She held up her mug. “I’ve got time.”
“Alright, well...” Bridger leaned back against the sink across from her. “You want to start?” he asked his mentor.
She waved him off. “You’re the story teller, North.”
“She means that in a good way,” he assured Jane, making her laugh.
“It was about ten years ago,” he said. “I was on a solo op in Kiev that went sideways. Found myself cut off without backup, hunted by some very nasty mercs.”
