Page 76 of Hard Pursuit
“What happens now?”
He searched her eyes, and whatever answer he had hurt enough that he couldn’t speak it.
So he kissed her instead.
And Jolie understood that sometimes silence was crueler than the truth.
FOURTEEN
Archer stood outside Jolie’s bedroom door with his fist raised.
He pressed it to his mouth instead—he couldn’t make himself knock.
He had breached compounds under gunfire with less hesitation than this. Now he was avoiding the woman waiting behind this door.
Everything in him fought Cannon’s order.
He didn’t regret joining Blackout for one second. He’d trained his ass off to get here, and this life fit him too well. Having a clear purpose again felt good. And for the first time since captivity, he had begun to feel useful, and part of the reason for that was the men of Sierra team.
Then Jolie crashed into his life and made him wish he could lead two lives at once.
He pressed his fist into his lips until he felt the sting of his teeth. Orders were orders—he had no choice.
He dragged in a deep breath and rapped once on the door.
Jolie’s soft voice reached him. “Come in.”
He opened the door and saw her standing near the bed folding the T-shirt of his she’d slept in. She saw his face and stilled.
“It’s time, isn’t it?” she whispered.
All he could do was nod.
For a moment they stared at each other, then she set his shirt down with the kind of care someone would set down a newborn.
“Okay.” The quiet rasp of bravery in her tone almost ruined him.
She reached for a small stack of clothes. “I just need to change back into my own things.”
“Don’t. Keep what you have on. Just take yours with you.”
She glanced down at the bellbottoms that looked like they were made for her. “You sure?”
He cocked his head. “What is a special ops team going to do with a pair of women’s jeans?”
She let out a soft snort. “I guess they wouldn’t fit you guys.”
He reached for her parka hanging off the back of the chair and held it out for her to slip her arms into. Throat tight, he drank in the scent of her one last time before she gathered her clothes to her chest.
“I’m ready.” She tipped her chin with another measure of bravery.
He led her into the hallway. Word had spread on base and the guys emerged to say their goodbyes.
Townie pushed off the wall first. “You get home safe.”
She smiled, her eyes already too bright with tears. “It was nice to know you.”
Rome stepped forward next and held out a fist. She bumped knuckles with him. “Bye, Rome. Thanks for…” She dropped her stare to her boots. “Well, thanks.”
