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“F-ing cold,” Hazard said. “I grew up in Florida, and I thought the beaches of Coronado were cold, but it’s nothing compared to Kodiak in January.”
“I froze my nuts off,” Skull said. “But we had a time, right guys?”
“Yeah, survival drills, jumping into holes in the ice, and snowshoeing through blizzards.”
Kaiya’s gaze went around the table as if they were pulling her leg. “For real?” She blinked a couple of times. With her attention still on him, she leaned closer. “Were you better prepared than your teammates because you’re from there?”
“He was a monster,” Hazard said, “pushing us hard.” He met Kodiak’s eyes, and Kodiak felt the bond between them from all the shit they’d done as a team. He smiled and scoffed. “He’s modest, but after twelve minutes in forty-five-degree water, we were shivering uncontrollably. Kodiak, even though he was used to the cold, wasn't immune. He kept up the positive talk. Let me tell you, trying to build a fire and heat snow takes concentration when you’re that cold.” He smiled and looked away, met Kaiya’s gaze. “We might have been fine without him, but he turned what could have been a very miserable night into one that was tolerable.”
Kodiak shifted, not used to being openly honored. Skull raised his fist and Kodiak bumped it.
Kodiak picked up a menu and cleared his throat. “So, what’s good here?”
Kaiya turned to look at him, still enmeshed in what had just been said, her features full of fascinated interest. Heat and awareness kindled in her gaze before she looked away, but not before she ignited just enough friction to make a slow, simmering heat settle deep between his legs. Undoubtedly, he wanted this woman, but acting on his desires wasn’t an option. He would just be himself, allowing their innate attraction to smooth over her apparent problem with them. Nothing in her gaze or demeanor guaranteed him anything where Kaiya was concerned. Many lives were at stake here, especially the three women who meant as much to him as his teammates.
He’d put himself out there, always, as pursuing a good challenge and adventure were always at the forefront. Being a risk-taker was who and what he was.
She didn’t even pick up the menu. “Lots of stuff. I’ll answer questions if you have them, but you should look for yourself.”
He perused the menu and heard Boomer ask Skull under his breath. “Stinging nettles pasta. Shouldn’t that be a no-brainer?”
Skull chuckled. “Boom, they’re prepared a certain way, so you don’t get stung. They’re used in cheese, curries, and clothing.”
“How do you know this stuff?”
“My mom’s a chef.”
“Oh, that’s cool.”
“They’re good, Boomer,” Kaiya said, tilting her head. “It’s one of my favorite dishes.”
“Ok, then. I’ll have it.” He set down the menu.
Kodiak smiled. Ever since his encounter with GQ in Cheltenham on their last op, Boomer’s obnoxious behavior had disappeared, now all that was left were his less-than-worldly knowledge, and his humor.
“And you?” Kaiya asked, once again leaning into his personal space. He wondered if she was doing it on purpose to put him off his own guard, or if she couldn’t seem to help it. He was inclined to believe it was a chemistry thing. Kaiya looked like she was too buttoned up with her own demons to challenge his, and she wasn’t exactly willing to share the playground. Not exactly yet. He was determined she would be.
“The duck,” he said, looking forward to the tender meat, beluga lentils, white radish, and blood orange.
“It’s a good choice,” she said, her words soft, her lips parting as if she was trying to breathe in his scent. He was so aware of her, of the graceful way she moved, of her whole body, her breath, of the intensity of her gaze and her barely hidden distress.
“And you?”
“Baked choko with pork belly, tomato, and cheese.” She smiled when he looked blank. “Maybe you know it aschow chow?”
“I do.” He got a little thrill down his spine that they had this connection to their heritage. Choko was a green, pear-shaped fruit with coarse wrinkles and white flesh. “My mom makes it a lot. It’s got a juicy and fresh taste, like unripe pears.”
Her curious gaze settled against his. “How does she make hers?” Kaiya seemed to forget she had some kind of beef with him, her eyes lit by her interest.
“Like a curry, sambar flavored.” Sambar was a spicy powder made up of different Indian spices and peppers.
The depths of her eyes flickered with excitement. “That sounds amazing. I would love to taste it.”
“Maybe I’ll cook it for you sometime.”
She licked her lips in anticipation. It’d been a long time since he kissed a woman, a very long time, and he certainly had no business even thinking about kissing this one—but there it was suddenly, in his mind, his gaze drifting to her lips, a hot longing curling deep in his gut with something more than sex in mind…something much more dangerous.
It had definitely been a long time since he’d felt that. It threw him for a huge loop. Did he have to come halfway around the world to find this…thing between them? Something much more profound than getting her between the sheets?
