Page 91 of Cold Silence
“We try.” Gage may have downplayed the compliment, but he stuck out his chest as he drove past the training facility. Further down the road, he approached a treelined town with building facades lining the paved street. They included a bank, post office, grocery store, and other retail stores. It even had a Starbucks.
“We use this street for our urban tactical drills,” Gage said. “I patterned it after the FBI’s Hogan’s Alley but on a much smaller scale.”
“Impressive.” Travis leaned forward. “I hope you’ll include me in one of your drills. Or two or three or all of them while I’m here.”
“You got it. You can show the participants what not to do when under siege.” Gage laughed and glanced at Claire. “Don’t worry. We don’t use live ammo.”
“I would hope not.”
He drove into a clearing holding a small hangar and helipad where a large helicopter was tied down to the pad. Claire knew nothing about choppers, but this was a pretty blue and white number sparkling clean under the soft sun filtering through the trees.
Travis let out a low whistle. “She’s a beaut.”
“I know, right?” Gage grinned and parked the vehicle. “Coop heads up air assault classes, and in the distance is our firing range.”
“I’m sorry, honey.” Travis reached for her hand. “I’m about to totally ignore you, and I apologize in advance.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “As long as it doesn’t become a habit.”
He frowned. “No habit, but I suspect there will be more times this week than you would like.”
She smiled at him. “I’m good with that. Go. Enjoy yourself.”
He dropped her hand and bolted out of the vehicle. She took her time getting out, listening to Gage describe his helicopter and its versatility in hauling people and cargo. She’d had no idea his operation was so grand and that they faced dangerous situations such as kidnapping.
Travis took it all in, his eyes filled with longing. Intense and unyielding. Had he made the right decision to leave his team?
Her stomach twisted into a hard knot.
Would he come to regret his decision? Resent her?
If so, how would she handle such emotion coming from the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, and could their relationship survive?
Travis needed to get Claire alone for a few minutes before meeting up with the team in the training room. So he’d sent Gage ahead with the SUV, and Travis walked with her toward the facility, giving them an even closer look at the small town.
Wow, Gage had it all. Top-notch operation all the way. Not a surprise. Gage was a top-notch kind of guy.
Travis suspected he was still drooling over the helo. A pricey number for sure. Travis didn’t want to experience a life-altering injury, but he wouldn’t mind working on a team like Gage’s. Or maybe once Claire finished her project, he could even start his own team.
The odd look on her face said she wouldn’t like that idea. Not at all. But she’d said she was good with him staying on the team, and a tactical group like Gage’s was less dangerous than military ops. He would only consider it if Claire agreed. She was top priority in his life right now, and he would never do anything to upset that.
At least he hoped he wasn’t about to upset it.
He stopped in front of the picturesque chapel at the edge of Gage’s fake town. A rustic bench sat out front of the small white building, and he urged Claire to sit.
She peered at him. “But Gage and the team are waiting for us.”
“They can wait a few minutes. I want to ask you something.” He got down on his knee and pulled out the ring box he’d tucked into his pocket.
She gasped. “Is this…?”
“Yes,” he said, trying to see through her shocked reaction to the happiness he hoped to find.
She fanned her face.
“This might seem sudden since we’ve only been back together for a month, but I’ve had this ring for years. I was going to propose when you asked me to leave.”
She grabbed his free hand. “I’m so, so sorry I did that. I ruined everything.”
