Page 36 of Protecting Josie
She shook her head almost violently.
“Right. We’ll do our best. You’re all dismissed. Kevlar, I’m sure one of your team is waiting nearby. All three of you can head to the bunk area where your team is staying. You can get cleaned up and eat. We have a psychologist available if you want to talk about what happened. Otherwise, tomorrow we’ll get you all flown to Germany, and then you can catch a ride back to the States from there. Any objections?”
“No, Sir,” both Nate and Kevlar said at the same time.
Josie felt almost deflated. That was it? That was all he was going to say about her appearance on his ship?
Apparently so, because Nate took her elbow and helped her stand, but not before re-wrapping the blanket around her shoulders. Then she was once again led toward the door. Itwas opened almost magically by the man standing outside, and then they were walking back through the ship.
“Josie?” Kevlar said, pulling her to a stop after they’d gone less than a couple dozen feet. They were standing in the middle of a walkway, blocking it entirely, but thankfully they were alone at the moment.
She looked up at him, wondering what he was going to say. Maybe tell her that she was an idiot for coming to Kuwait in the first place? Reprimand her for going on a fucking pleasure cruise with Ayden in a very volatile area of the world?
Instead, he pressed his lips together briefly before blurting, “I mentioned this before, but Remi’s going to want to meet you.”
Huh?Josie was confused.
“Sorry. Remi’s my girlfriend. And the two of you have both been through some pretty intense trauma. And she’s really great at befriending people. I just know you’re someone she’d want to take under her wing. Please say you’ll come to Riverton when we get back to the States.”
“Kevlar,” Nate said, in a tone Josie couldn’t interpret.
Still confused, she glanced at Nate. He was glaring at his friend.
“I’m only doing the asking because I have no idea what’s going on behindthisguy’s stoic exterior. There’s a reason he’s known as Blink. It’s because he doesn’t fucking blink when he’s about to rip someone a new asshole.”
Looking again at Nate, Josie had no doubt what Kevlar was saying was true.
Kevlar grinned, then said, “Youdidtell me to look after her.”
Instead of replying to his friend, Nate took hold of Josie’s shoulders and gently turned her to face him. “Kevlar jumped the gun on me, but yes…I’d like you to come to Riverton with us. You can’t go back to Vegas, Josie. No one even fucking reported you missing. And if Ayden’s mother and sister knew you were going, like your report to the admiral said, why the hell didn’ttheysay anything? Especially when the Army would’ve notified them of Ayden’s death weeks ago.”
Josie had written in her report that Ayden’s relatives had helped him talk her into going, so the admiral would understand why she might choose to go to Kuwait. In fact, when she’d decided to take the trip, she’d asked if they wanted her to bring anything to Ayden. And they had. Half the crap in her suitcase was stuff they’d sent for Ayden.
She’d wondered the same thing as Nate. But she also didn’t know what happened when they found out about Ayden’s death. It was very likely they just assumed she’d been killed too.
“But that doesn’t matter. Trust me when I say the shit that happened…it can eat at you. Come out when you least expect it. Spend a few weeks in Riverton. You can stay with me. Get your bearings. Ease back into life.”
She wanted to. Josie was surprised at how badly she wanted to accept. What did she have back in Vegas? Nothing. No one. Besides, the thought of being able to stay near Nate was irresistible.
She gave him a small nod.
“Yes? You’ll come back to California with us?”
She nodded again.
The smile that spread across Nate’s face made a warm glow move through her body.
“Good. And yeah, Remi’s gonna love you. Wren too.”
“Don’t forget Caroline, Alabama, and the whole gang,” Kevlar added.
“Can you not freak Josie out right when she’s agreed to come back with us?” Nate complained, as he grabbed her hand and began walking again.
“Sorry. But seriously, this is great!”
Josie felt a little weird about how happy these men were that she’d decided to go to California. If they knew how pathetic she was, and that she literally didn’t have anyone who would be glad to see her back in Nevada, they might not be so excited to have her join their little group.
They didn’t get much farther before MacGyver joined up with them, leading the way. They walked down so many corridors, Josie was completely lost by the time they reached yet another hall filled with doors and MacGyver finally opened one. She recognized the men inside. They were the ones who’d gotten her and Nate out of the cells. She was relieved they were all okay, especially after the terrifying escape to the ocean they’d all endured.
