Page 11 of Keeping Laryn
“A few.”
Casper arched a brow.
“Fine. I get about five or six a year.”
“Laryn, you’re underestimating your worth. I can think of half a dozen companies—hell,countries—off the top of my head that would kill to lure you away and have you work for them. You want to know how many companies are trying to getmeto work for them?”
“It’s not the same. You’re in the Army. You can’t just up and leave,” Laryn protested.
“It’s a little different, sure, but my point stands. I’m a good pilot. But good pilots are a dime a dozen. Good mechanics? Who know their preferred chopper like the back of their hand? Not so easy to find.”
“Good pilot?” Laryn leaned toward him a little. “Tate, you’rea Night Stalker. The best of the best. I’ve seen videos of some of the things you can do with a chopper. It’s scary as hell and just as impressive. Good pilot, my ass.” She huffed that last part and sat back.
Casper couldn’t help but grin at her reaction. The truth was, he was a hell of a pilot, but he stood by the point he was making. “You ever think about it?”
“About what?”
“About taking one of those job offers.”
Her gaze dropped, and she looked everywhere except at him.
Casper’s heart fell. “Holy shit, Laryn. You have.”
She shrugged and straightened. “I’d be an idiot not to at least consider what’s being offered.”
“Whatisbeing offered?” Casper asked, shifting to face her.
“A lot more money than I’m making now, I can tell you that,” Laryn said, with a bit of nervous laughter.
“And?”
“That isn’t enough?” she asked a little defensively.
“Are you truly not happy here?” he asked her quietly. He felt defeated. Sad.
“It’s not that,” she hedged.
“If I’ve said or done anything to make you feel unappreciated or not wanted, I’m sorry,” he told her.
“No!” she said immediately, which made him feel a little better. “Working with you and the other Night Stalkers has made me a better mechanic,” she went on. “It’s brought home in the most visceral way possible that everything I do makes a difference. If I’m tired and don’t put all my attention on my work, it could literally have life or death consequences. If I don’t tighten a bolt correctly, or if I cut corners, you coulddie. Or your friends and the Navy SEALs you transport. And if you can’t complete a mission, a bad guy might get away, and he or she might plot against the US and execute another 9/11. That’s anextreme example, but that’s what I think about every time I get a job offer from another country.”
“What other countries have you heard from?” he found himself asking.
“Oh…here and there,” she said offhandedly.
“Where?” Casper pressed.
“Bahrain, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt…even Australia. I’d love to go to Australia. Have you heard about these adorable animals called quokkas? They’re known as the selfie kings and queens, because they look like they’re smiling in pictures.”
“Laryn!” Casper burst out. “You can’t go work for Egypt! Or Turkey! Or Saudi fucking Arabia!”
“Why not?” she asked, sounding genuinely puzzled.
“Because!”
“That’s not an answer. And I know there have been some issues between them and the US, but that’s in the past.”
She was so naïve, it was infuriating and adorable at the same time. Casper forced himself to take a deep breath.
