Chapter 12 #2
“Heard we’re having a party,” Oz called out cheerfully.
Grover and Devyn arrived next, and Lefty and Kinley weren’t too far behind.
The four women quickly huddled together in the kitchen, getting reacquainted. Brain hesitated to leave Aspen, but Trigger pulled him away. “She’ll be fine,” he told him.
“Of course she will. I just wanted to make sure they had everything they needed,” he bluffed.
Trigger smiled knowingly, but didn’t comment.
Luckily, it was a nice day outside, so the seven men hung out on Brain’s deck, shooting the shit.
Normally, Brain loved hanging with his team when they weren’t at work.
Just relaxing and enjoying each other’s company.
But today, he couldn’t keep his gaze from straying inside, where Aspen was still hanging out with the other women.
She looked like she was having a good time, but the last thing he wanted to do was abandon her if she was uncomfortable.
“You had time to translate the latest bullshit message from Shahzada?” Lefty asked.
Pulling his attention away from Aspen was harder than he thought it would be, but Brain did his best to concentrate on the conversation at hand.
Shahzada hadn’t wasted any time, ordering one of his followers to read a manifesto on a local radio station about the evils of the Western World, and how they were going to be the downfall of their way of life and religion.
He’d also threatened any and all Americans working in the area and warned that no one was safe.
Brain nodded at Lefty, telling him and the others everything he’d been able to decipher from the message, which led into a deep political discussion about the United States’ presence in the Middle East.
Aspen glanced out onto the patio and saw Kane and the rest of the guys engaged in a somewhat intense-looking conversation.
“They’re probably talking about work,” Gillian said with a small shake of her head. “Walker always swears that they’re going to keep things light and not talk shop when they get together, but they always do. They can’t help it.”
Kinley laughed. “I’ve noticed that. Although, to be fair, when we join them, they’ll stop.”
“Of course, they can’t let us mere mortals know what they’re talking about,” Devyn added. “Although, I suppose if you went out there, Aspen, they’d probably keep on talking shop, since you’re one of them and all.”
Aspen blinked in surprise. “No, I’m not.”
“Sure you are,” Devyn returned.
“I’m a combat medic,” Aspen said.
“Right, who’s on a Ranger team. And Rangers are special forces. So are my brother and his friends. Therefore, you’re one of them,” Devyn reasoned.
Aspen couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, but officially, on paper, I’m a combat medic, not a Ranger.
And Kane and the others have way higher clearance than I do, so whatever they’re talking about is probably need-to-know only, and the only thing I need to know is how long my team’s going to be gone and how many medical supplies I need to pack. ”
Gillian leaned against the counter and, after taking a sip of the glass of wine in her hand, asked, “So…how is it being the only woman on your team? Walker told me that, by the way. I’m not just being stereotypical and assuming.”
“It’s…hard,” Aspen said. That wasn’t really the right word, but it would do for now.
“I bet. Are the guys all as good-looking as our team is?” Kinley asked.
Aspen chuckled. “Our team?”
Kinley smiled. “Well, yeah. I might be with Gage, but they’re all kinda ours.”
That was true, Aspen realized. The men had all greeted the women with huge hugs and genuine affection. They weren’t just tolerating them because three of them were going out with their friends.
When she realized the others were staring at her, she remembered Kinley had asked her a question. “Oh, well, if I’m being honest, I’d have to say no, they aren’t as good-looking as them.” She gestured to the men out on the patio. “They’re all in shape though, six-pack abs and all that stuff.”
“There’s more to a guy than looks,” Devyn chided them.
“Oh, really?” Gillian teased. “So the lustful looks I’ve seen passing between you and Lucky don’t have anything to do with his looks?”
Devyn blushed and took a large gulp of her wine before she shrugged. “Hey, I’m not saying he’s isn’t nice to look at, but I’m not going there. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Guys are trouble.”
“Are you into girls then?” Aspen asked.
“No. I’ve just learned the hard way that most men are manipulative little fucks.
They’ll use you until there’s nothing left, then they’ll still try to make you out to be the bad guy.
I’ve had enough of it. Give me a nice, shy man with no siblings and no other family and I might give him a chance. In five years. No, ten.”
Aspen wanted to laugh, but there was so much bitterness in Devyn’s words, she couldn’t. She didn’t really know her all that well yet, but she couldn’t help saying, “Hey, if you ever want to talk…I’ve been told I’m a pretty good listener.”
“Same here,” Kinley said.
“Me three,” Gillian added. “I think we’ve all had our share of asshole exes, and we’re happy to share whatever burden you’re carrying.”
“I never said it was an ex,” Devyn mumbled, then shook her head.
“But thanks, guys. I’m just a little resentful right now, I’m sure it’ll pass.
And in the meantime, you’re right, there’s nothing wrong with looking at a little eye candy.
Although you’ll have to forgive me if I say that lumping my brother in with that gives me the willies. ”
They all laughed.
“But Grover’s hot,” Gillian said.
Devyn rolled her eyes.
Aspen enjoyed the gentle ribbing the women gave each other.
It had been a very long time since she’d been included in any kind of teasing among female friends.
And while she hated that Devyn seemed to be going through a hard time, she liked how she was doing her best not to wallow in whatever was going on.
“So, Aspen…you and Brain, huh?” Kinley asked.
Aspen hid a smile in her wine glass. She’d wondered when the topic would come around to her and Kane. “Appears so,” she said.
“I’m happy for you both,” Kinley said. “Brain seems…different from the rest of the guys.”
“How so?” Aspen asked, genuinely curious as to what his friends thought of him.
“I don’t know…less in-your-face alpha,” Kinley suggested.
Aspen couldn’t help it. She laughed.
“I guess that’s not true?” Gillian asked with a grin.
“I can see how you’d get that impression,” Aspen said. “Kane’s not the kind of guy to strut around barking at people or ordering them about. And I’m not sure what your definition of ‘alpha’ is, but make no mistake, he can be as bossy as the next guy.”
Kinley raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because to me, he seems like he’s perfectly content to chill in the background. Don’t get me wrong, that’s not a bad thing, but it just surprises me that you think he’s bossy.”
“The other day, he noticed that one of my tires was a little low on air. I told him I’d take care of it on my way home.
He shook his head and held out his hand for my keys.
I protested, telling him I was tired and would deal with it later.
He said he was taking care of it right that second, and I was going into his house to sit down and relax,” Aspen said, smiling at the recollection.
“That sounds like something Walker would do,” Gillian commented.
“Right. Another time, I was cooking dinner at my apartment and forgot to get milk. I needed it for the sauce I was making, so he immediately got up and headed for my door. I tried to convince him that I’d figure something out, but before I could finish a sentence, he’d walked back, kissed the hell out of me, then left without another word.
“Then there was the time he got out of a meeting early, and he knew my team and I would be working out on the obstacle course. He came to watch, and when Derek started berating me for something that was out of line, Kane yelled, ‘Yo!’ and stood on the side of the course with his arms crossed. That was literally all he said, and Derek backed off, ignoring me for the rest of the afternoon. So again, I don’t know what you guys consider alpha, but to me, Kane’s pretty damn intense sometimes. ”
“Wow,” Gillian said. “I had no idea either. He just doesn’t strike me as the type. He’s…Brain, you know?”
“No, I don’t know,” Aspen said a little harsher than she’d intended.
When Gillian’s eyes widened in surprise, she did her best to temper her tone.
“I know he’s smart, there’s no denying that.
But a guy can be both smart and tough as hell.
I think he’s been stereotyped most of his life, and I know how he feels, because people take one look at me, a woman, and can’t believe I can cut it in the Rangers.
But it’s all bullshit. Kane is more than just the brains of the team, even if everyone keeps trying to force him into that role. ”
The other women were silent as they digested Aspen’s words. Then Devyn said, “I don’t know my brother’s friends all that well, but I know by experience that sometimes the quietest men are the ones you have to watch out for.”
Once more, Aspen wanted to ask Devyn if she was all right. Find out what was bothering her, because it was more than obvious something was going on. But she didn’t get the chance before Gillian spoke up once more.
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” she said.
“No,” Aspen countered. “I didn’t mean to offend you.
I just…Kane’s an alpha when it counts…when it’s something he feels strongly about.
And I’m not insinuating that he feels strongly about me, but he can be just as dominant as anyone, no matter how smart he is or how many languages he knows.
I think, to be in special forces, it kind of comes with the territory. ”