Chapter 14 #3
“Kind of. Or, more like a trickster. You know, like life was Lucy, and they were Charlie Brown, always believing that this time, the football would be there when they kicked. They always landed on their…pride, so to speak.”
“They must have been thrilled when you made it.”
Had they been? If so, they hadn’t shown it. “They quit worrying that I’d wash out and started worrying I’d be killed.”
“They sound…” Her words trailed.
“They’re really good people. They just think differently than I do. They see themselves as victims, and I never did.”
“You liked being a SEAL.”
“I loved it, the camaraderie. There’s nothing like knowing people are depending on you—and knowing you’re capable and can come through. And they came through for me. You figure out who you are, what you can do, and what your limits are real quick when the bullets are flying.”
“And you learned you’re amazing.”
He grinned. “If you say so.”
“And then you were injured, right?”
He rubbed his knee, not that it ached. It rarely did, only if he pushed it too hard. “Wasn’t a big deal, but I had to leave the SEALs. I didn’t want to do anything else in the Navy, so I got out.”
“You like being a bodyguard?”
“I don’t…hate it.” That wasn’t an easy question to answer.
“Most of the time, I stand on the edge of the room and observe other people living their lives.” He thought of his previous client, the way he’d practically attacked his assistant while Asher stood by and watched.
The guy probably thought having Asher in the corner made him invincible.
He could still picture the agony on the guy’s face after his assistant kneed him in the groin. Until this assignment, that had been the most exciting thing he’d witnessed on the job. “Most of the time, it’s pretty boring.”
She made a show of looking around. “Yeah, I can see that.”
“As usual, you make everything more exciting.”
Her eyebrows hiked.
Whoops. “Not that…I mean, it’s only…” His bonehead remark had no backpedals.
She laughed. “You’re hilarious when you get flustered.”
“Shut up.” But as he ate another bite of fish, he wasn’t annoyed with Cici. He was having fun.
They ate for a few minutes in comfortable silence, something he’d never have guessed possible after the morning’s awkwardness.
Thunder cracked overhead, and Cici practically jumped out of her skin.
She was obviously on edge. Though he remained vigilant, he was nearly certain they were safe.
“Tell me about you,” he said, wanting to distract her from her worries. “Do you like what you do?”
Her shoulders relaxed. “I love it. I’m doing exactly what I always wanted.”
There was a hint of something in her voice that told him she wasn’t telling the whole story. “But?” He prompted.
“I’ve always had this…this silly dream. Sort of a secret dream.”
He leaned toward her, wanting to know what it was.
“I’d like to open my own jewelry store in downtown Shadow Cove.”
“Why don’t you?”
“It costs a pretty penny to start a jewelry store.”
“But your family—”
“My parents are wealthy. I’m not.”
“They wouldn’t loan you money?”
“They probably would, if I asked.”
But she wouldn’t ask. Interesting.
“Right now, I’m enjoying appraising, and I love the travel. When I tire of it, I’ll look at opening a store. How about you? What’s your secret dream?”
“Oh, well… It’s not that ambitious, actually. I just want…”
To not tell her his secret dream. She’d think it was stupid and small.
She worked on her burger—she’d hardly eaten any of it—and watched him.
“It’s not really a dream so much as just…what’s next.” He chewed a fry and swallowed it. “I’ve got my eye on this condo just outside of Boston. I can’t afford a house there. It’s a nice place. Not one of those new, fancy high-rises. It’s one side of a duplex with a little yard in the back.”
“Sounds lovely.”
“It’s small and old.” Why was he downplaying it? Because for someone who grew up in a mansion, it would seem dingy. “The plan is to hang onto it for two years, then, if the market cooperates, sell it and buy a house on some land.”
“You’ll stay in the Boston area?”
“That’s where the job is.”
“You like the job enough to stay there? Because I’m sure there are security companies in Maine or wherever you want to live.”
He ate the rest of his fish, thinking about that. This job was secure, and as much as he liked to think of himself as a risk-taker, the truth was, risk was scary.
Risk meant landlords tacking eviction notices on doors.
Risk meant no food in the fridge.
Risk meant danger.
He’d take on terrorists and crazy murderers bent on silencing witnesses. No problem.
But risking financial ruin? That was something he didn’t dare flirt with, not after watching his parents all his life.
Cici was watching him like she was trying to read his mind.
“I like Boston.” Aside from all the people and cars, anyway.
“That surprises me. I see you as more of a—”
“Country bumpkin?”
That brought a laugh. “Hardly. I guess just because I know you’re from Maine, I can see you there, not in a condo but in a nice house with lots of land, lots of trees. Maybe a garage where you could tinker on…whatever it is men tinker on.”
The picture she painted was exactly what he wanted. How did she know?
She was much more insightful than he’d have guessed.
“I wouldn’t hate that. It’s just that the job is in Boston.”
“There are other jobs.”
“Well, for now, it’s where I am. I guess it’s like what you do. As long as I’m still enjoying it, I’ll keep doing it. When I tire of it, I’ll look for something else.” He peered through the glass outside, then back at her. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Get me to talk about myself. I never talk about myself. You should’ve been a detective or a trial lawyer. Prying is your superpower.”
“Uh, thank you?”
“That wasn’t a compliment. It’s the most annoying superpower I’ve come across.”
That brought a grin his mouth wanted to answer. He forced his gaze outside again. “I think the rain’s tapered off. We should go.”
She finished her drink and then went to the restroom, giving him a minute to regroup.
Not only did Cici remind him of the crush he’d apparently never gotten over, she represented everything he wanted in life. She was free and hopeful and comfortable in her own skin.
She had the kind of security he’d only ever dreamed of. And the way she talked to him, questioned him, as if she really wanted to know him, to know everything about him…
She made him long for things he’d given up on.
Being around Cici was downright dangerous.