Page 22 of Ruining His Smirk

“I intend to.”

“And if he starts anything…” His expression hardened. “You let me know.”

A real smile finally found its way onto my face. “Sometimes I’m reminded how useful it is having my best friend as an ex-Navy SEAL.”

He snorted. “Occupational perk.”

“Thank you.”

Keith bumped my shoulder. “Anytime.”

Yeah, I’d be okay. I’d just set firm boundaries with Landry. It was a work collaboration, nothing more, nothing less. After that, he would leave and I’d never see him again.

Beyond the ship, the midnight sun rested on the horizon, turning the sea ice pale gold. The Weddell seal hadn’t moved. It remained exactly where it had been, indifferent to the existential crises of passing marine biologists.

“Can I say something?” he asked.

“Of course. Since when do you need permission?”

“I know you’ve been hurt by men with his profile. Men who work with their hands. Men who are naturally built. Men who didn’t spend their twenties in universities earning degrees… So you swore off men like him. When he reduced you to a pretty face, it was more, Nate. More than just your crush turning out to be a sore loser. I think it hurt your old wound. Especially because this time, he was different.”

I studied him for a moment. He wasn’t wrong. In fact, he was spot on.

“You know…”

“What?”

“You surprise me sometimes.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“The things that come out of your mouth don’t always match the image.”

“What image?”

“The former Navy SEAL.”

A grin spread across his face. “Hostage negotiation training.”

I bumped him with my sketchbook. “That explains an alarming amount.”

“It doesn’t help me with my six-year-old niece, though.”

My mood perked up. “How’s she doing?”

His entire face softened. “When I spoke to her last week, she informed me she couldn’t possibly do her homework on Wednesday.”

“Oh?”

“Apparently she was having a stressful day.”

My smile widened. “And?”

“So she’d decided to take a mental health day.” Keith was grinning now too.

“My sister made the catastrophic mistake of suggesting she still had homework to finish.”

“And?”