rest of his team members who hadn’t been sent on the Bayla clusterfuck had been toasting their fallen brother. Will still couldn’t believe that Kincaid was gone. The reality of how quickly their lives could be snuffed out while on any given mission was all too real. And it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy, either.
Out of all of his comrades, Spider had been the most family oriented. All he could talk about was his new wife and his newborn baby girl. But of course, there was a reason why it was recommended in their line of work that they kept their life insurance policies up to date.
Needless to say, he’d already been in a piss-poor mood when he spotted Olivia Lewis out of the corner of his eye. And after charming some information out of one of the nurses whom Olivia had been chatting with earlier in the evening, he found out that she was here on special assignment. Apparently, Olivia had arrived in Africa about a month ago for additional training in military trauma surgery. And of course, she had to look as striking as ever—radiant, even. She would give even a young Mariah Carey a run for her money.
Will briefly entertained the idea of sauntering up to her and saying hello. But given their last encounter, he had a real concern that he might end up with a knee to the groin. Besides, she looked completely enthralled in the conversation she was holding with a couple of his teammates, Hank Kellerman and Joshua Laurent. Hell, forget the knee to the groin, by now, she had probably forgotten that he’d ever even existed.
Will didn’t know too much about Hank—he was new to the team, but Joshua was one of his best friends. He was probably talking with Olivia about out his upcoming nuptials. But the way she was hanging all over Hank? Now that shit really stuck in his craw.
Will understood that any type of envy that he may be feeling was a lost cause. He didn’t have a right to be jealous and he knew it. He didn’t have any type of claim on her. He’d had his chance with Olivia months ago, and he’d royally screwed things up. He didn’t just burn that bridge; he’d dropped an atomic bomb on it. Or at least that’s how Olivia had taken what transpired between them.
In an uncharacteristic act of desperation, he’d gone to her apartment months ago in an attempt to apologize to her, to make things right. But he should not have even bothered. She had no interest in forgiving him.
Licking his wounds, he had done what any other prideful, red-blooded male would have done. He had fallen into bed with the next attractive woman he met after Olivia shut him out of her life.
For the first four months, he’d dated a waitress near Team Fourteen’s home base in San Diego. The fact that he and Stacey had dated so long had to be a record for him. The relationship was probably as close to monogamous as he had ever approached.
Will really hadn’t had the right to complain about anything. Stacey was cute, quirky, good in bed, and had a decent head on her shoulders. She wanted her own career and was taking night classes to obtain her degree in dental hygiene. Not to mention, he should have been damn well ecstatic that he had managed to hold down a relationship that lasted longer than it took to microwave a bag of popcorn.
But he hadn’t been happy. Not completely. And he wouldn’t be, not until he could dream without seeing Liv Lewis’ face. And God only knew when that would be.
In an atypical moment of self-awareness, he’d broken up with Stacey right before his last mission. They just weren’t a good fit , he’d told her. He’d needed his space , he said. He was a self-absorbed manwhore , she’d screamed. Despite Will’s hope that the breakup would be a nonevent, it’d ending up being violent, tear-filled, and messy—at least on Stacey’s part.
“So what about it, sailor? Want to get out of here?”
Will didn’t even glance up from his drink. The buxom brunette with the neverending, slender tanned
Out of all of his comrades, Spider had been the most family oriented. All he could talk about was his new wife and his newborn baby girl. But of course, there was a reason why it was recommended in their line of work that they kept their life insurance policies up to date.
Needless to say, he’d already been in a piss-poor mood when he spotted Olivia Lewis out of the corner of his eye. And after charming some information out of one of the nurses whom Olivia had been chatting with earlier in the evening, he found out that she was here on special assignment. Apparently, Olivia had arrived in Africa about a month ago for additional training in military trauma surgery. And of course, she had to look as striking as ever—radiant, even. She would give even a young Mariah Carey a run for her money.
Will briefly entertained the idea of sauntering up to her and saying hello. But given their last encounter, he had a real concern that he might end up with a knee to the groin. Besides, she looked completely enthralled in the conversation she was holding with a couple of his teammates, Hank Kellerman and Joshua Laurent. Hell, forget the knee to the groin, by now, she had probably forgotten that he’d ever even existed.
Will didn’t know too much about Hank—he was new to the team, but Joshua was one of his best friends. He was probably talking with Olivia about out his upcoming nuptials. But the way she was hanging all over Hank? Now that shit really stuck in his craw.
Will understood that any type of envy that he may be feeling was a lost cause. He didn’t have a right to be jealous and he knew it. He didn’t have any type of claim on her. He’d had his chance with Olivia months ago, and he’d royally screwed things up. He didn’t just burn that bridge; he’d dropped an atomic bomb on it. Or at least that’s how Olivia had taken what transpired between them.
In an uncharacteristic act of desperation, he’d gone to her apartment months ago in an attempt to apologize to her, to make things right. But he should not have even bothered. She had no interest in forgiving him.
Licking his wounds, he had done what any other prideful, red-blooded male would have done. He had fallen into bed with the next attractive woman he met after Olivia shut him out of her life.
For the first four months, he’d dated a waitress near Team Fourteen’s home base in San Diego. The fact that he and Stacey had dated so long had to be a record for him. The relationship was probably as close to monogamous as he had ever approached.
Will really hadn’t had the right to complain about anything. Stacey was cute, quirky, good in bed, and had a decent head on her shoulders. She wanted her own career and was taking night classes to obtain her degree in dental hygiene. Not to mention, he should have been damn well ecstatic that he had managed to hold down a relationship that lasted longer than it took to microwave a bag of popcorn.
But he hadn’t been happy. Not completely. And he wouldn’t be, not until he could dream without seeing Liv Lewis’ face. And God only knew when that would be.
In an atypical moment of self-awareness, he’d broken up with Stacey right before his last mission. They just weren’t a good fit , he’d told her. He’d needed his space , he said. He was a self-absorbed manwhore , she’d screamed. Despite Will’s hope that the breakup would be a nonevent, it’d ending up being violent, tear-filled, and messy—at least on Stacey’s part.
“So what about it, sailor? Want to get out of here?”
Will didn’t even glance up from his drink. The buxom brunette with the neverending, slender tanned
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