Chapter 5
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“H OLY SHIT. ARE YOU serious, Av?” Aaron asked, his voice sharp. His hand had tensed, gripping his beer, and the table suddenly grew silent. Conversations carried on around them at Coconuts, the tropical, beach-front restaurant and bar they frequented, but the atmosphere at their own table suddenly felt stormy. “You’re moving to Panama for a year? To the Darien Gap? I thought you’d take an assignment in some place less risky. Less dangerous. Less likely for you to end up kidnapped or worse.”
Aaron’s girlfriend Emersyn nudged him with a frown, and Ryan reached over, taking Avery’s hand in a silent show of support. He might not like the idea of her potentially putting herself in danger, but he also didn’t like the way she’d flinched at Aaron’s reaction.
“Watch your tone,” Ryan said evenly, shooting his friend a warning look.
Avery cleared her throat, coolly eyeing her brother. “Yes. Dead serious.”
“More likely just dead,” he muttered.
“That’s enough,” Ryan ground out. Teammate or not, Ryan’s loyalty had shifted somewhere along the way. He’d defend Aaron with his life in battle, but the rest of the time? Avery was his priority now, whether his buddy liked it or not.
“You knew I was considering this, Aaron,” Avery said, regaining her composure and sounding frustrated. “I’ve been talking about accepting a full-time position with Doctors Without Borders for months. I’ve been thinking about it for even longer. An opportunity came up that I couldn’t refuse, and I’m pouncing on it. I’ve already accepted the job.”
Emersyn looked sympathetic. “It sounds like a good career move. Risky, of course,” she added, casting Aaron a sidelong glance, “but the experience would be incredible. She already has experience volunteering with them, so she’s familiar with the ins and outs. The risks and rewards.”
“Exactly,” Avery said, casting her a grateful look. “Managing the other nurses and volunteer staff to help a steady stream of people in desperate need of medical care is exactly the stepping-stone I need to further my career. It’s an experience that will be invaluable to me. I could get a job in so many places after this, in nearly any pediatric nursing position I want. It will balance out my skillset and make me more marketable. I’m thrilled to have been offered the job. Those children don’t deserve the life they were handed, and I can be there to make a change for the better.”
Aaron huffed out a breath. “I’m proud of you, too, Av, because I know how hard you work, but damn. Please reconsider this. There are other places medical care is needed.”
“Aaron—”
“Just think about it,” he pressed, eyeing her speculatively. “You’re not there yet. You’re on vacation this week in Oahu, right? Take a breather to think it over. Take some time to really consider what you’re doing.”
Avery huffed out a sigh, exchanging a glance with Ryan. The dinner had gone exactly as he’d expected. Aaron had begrudgingly accepted that Ryan was there as Avery’s date, and they’d had a fun time enjoying drinks and a delicious meal. Fun until Avery dropped the bombshell that she was moving to South America.
Aaron shook his head. “And what about you two? You’re looking awfully cozy. If anything, I’d figured you’d want to move here, Av. I wasn’t jumping at the idea of my teammate dating you, but even I can see that you both look happy. Come to Oahu for an adventure.”
Ryan exchanged another look with Avery, and he didn’t miss the flush that spread across her cheeks. She looked so damn pretty, he wanted to lean over and brush a kiss across her pink mouth.
Except her brother was right there.
“Well,” Avery said, flicking her gaze back across the table. She clutched more tightly onto Ryan’s hand, and he felt something in his chest clench. Something about this girl felt like it could be everything. Sure, he’d kissed her for the first time today, but the wild way his heart was pounding didn’t usually happen when he was with a woman. He felt protective and possessive of her in a way that surprised him. It only intensified with her right at his side.
“No shit. You’re moving here?” Aaron asked, not missing a beat. “Just not until after the job is over.”
“Not until then,” Avery agreed.
The siblings faced off across the table, seeming to silently continue the conversation.
Emersyn perked up, however, her gaze darting between Ryan and Avery. “Wait, you’re seriously moving to Honolulu after this job? That’s great news! Think of how much fun we’ll all have together. More double dates,” she said, playfully nudging Aaron. His gaze softened as he looked at her, but Ryan could tell his friend was still riled up.
“It makes sense for me to eventually move to Oahu,” Avery said, looking slightly relieved to have Emersyn’s support. “Ryan can’t exactly up and leave.”
“Not without going AWOL,” he quipped.
She smiled. “Exactly. If we want to see what could happen between us without being long distance forever, I have to take the leap. I love it here, and there are a number of great opportunities career-wise—”
“Which is why the Darien Gap should be out of the picture,” Aaron pointed out.
“This will be my next step,” she said lightly. “It’s been a career goal of mine to take a paid position with Doctors Without Borders. After that? I’m free to do what I want.”
“You’re actually free now, Av.” Aaron shook his head. “I’m kind of shocked by all of this. Your move. Ryan sitting there holding your hand.”
She shrugged. “Life moves on, big brother,” she joked. “I make my own decisions. Always have, always will. Besides, you’ve got Emersyn now. Your life has done a complete flip recently, too.”
Emersyn beamed. “I’m happy for them. And you should be, too,” she gently chastised.
Aaron ran a hand though his hair, eyeing first his sister and then Ryan. “I’m happy you both are happy. Let’s be real—I doubt I’d think any guy was good enough for my sister, but I guess you’ll do.”
Loud male laughter interrupted them, and Sawyer came striding over, a longneck in his hand. He was tall, with dirty blond hair and a gleam in his eyes and mischievous smirk that always seemed to attract the women when the team went out. At the moment, however, he was alone. “What’s up, fellas? Ladies,” Sawyer added, giving them each a subtle nod. “I see the better-looking Nielsen sibling is back in town.”
“You got that right,” Ryan said.
Sawyer’s gaze dragged from him to Aaron. “If you’re upset that Ryan is hooking up with your sister, imagine if it were me,” he joked, waggling his eyebrows.
“I’d rather not,” Aaron quipped.
“Sawyer, you need a woman to whip you into shape,” Avery interjected before Ryan could respond. He’d stiffened at her side, and she sensed he was annoyed. Sawyer was always ribbing everyone else yet was as single as they came.
“Fuck yeah, I do need a woman,” he agreed. “I’m not usually into the dominatrix type with whips and chains, but—”
“Not what I meant,” Avery said as she rolled her eyes.
“I know,” he said with a shit-eating grin. “I just enjoy stirring up trouble.”
“Mission accomplished,” Emersyn said sweetly.
Sawyer pointed a finger at her. “I knew I liked you. You could do better than Aaron here, but—”
“Don’t be a dick,” Aaron said.
Ryan crossed his arms, leaning back in his seat. Avery had pulled her hand free and was swiping on some lip gloss. It was a pretty shade of pink. Kissable. He wasn’t really into women who were overly made up, but she had the perfect amount of femininity that intrigued him. She shifted, crossing her legs, and as her bare skin brushed against him, he felt his cock twitch. He’d been a perfect gentleman today, save for kissing the hell out of her, but someday?
Damn.
Someday he’d love to explore all of Avery Nielsen.
“You here alone?” he asked Sawyer. His buddy had damp hair, like he’d just showered, and Ryan didn’t doubt for a moment that he was looking for a pretty lady to join him for the night.
Sawyer took another pull of his beer, seemingly in no rush. “For now.”
Ryan snorted. Wouldn’t surprise him in the least if Sawyer left with a woman—or two for that matter.
“You want to pull up a chair and join us?” Emersyn asked.
“Nah. I just came over to say hello. I don’t see enough of these guys every day.”
Aaron looked amused. “We’d just cramp his style. He can move through the crowd at the bar easier alone—and make a quick getaway if needed.”
“Nah. I’m not stirring up any trouble—tonight,” Sawyer razzed.
At that moment, Riley, one of the regular waitresses at Coconuts, suddenly appeared, balancing a large tray and looking flustered. Ryan watched as she moved in their direction with the heavy load. For a while, some of his teammates had thought Riley was into him, but Ryan wasn’t so sure. She’d always seemed to take an interest in Sawyer, although from what he gathered, they were as different as night and day. Riley seemed shy and sweet, and Sawyer—well, he was brash and ballsy. Riley wouldn’t know what to do with a guy like him.
Ryan recalled his teammates mentioning that she was a single mom, but he’d never heard her discuss a child. Not that they chatted much about their lives. Usually, she was merely taking their order or politely asking how they’d been since the team were regulars here. They weren’t in her section tonight, however, so her appearance now didn’t make much sense.
Her gaze briefly darted to Sawyer, even as she struggled to shift the loaded tray. Sawyer’s hand suddenly whipped out, steadying it, as she moved past him. “You got it, sweetheart?” he asked.
“Yeah, thanks,” she said, briefly patting his arm with her free hand. Bracelets jangled on her arm, and Ryan’s gaze snagged on the tiny tattoo of a dagger on her inner wrist. He frowned. It didn’t seem to fit her quiet persona. Maybe she’d been wilder in her younger days. Maybe she had a whole secret life outside of waitressing.
Without saying anything else, she straightened up and hurried away, suddenly carrying the plated meals with no trouble.
“That was strange,” Avery commented.
“She’s always flustered around Sawyer,” Aaron told her. “Haven’t you heard he’s a ladies’ man? The women can’t stay away, and I think sweet little Riley has the hots for him.”
“What can I say? She knows when she sees something good,” Sawyer joked, his gaze briefly moving to the waitress as she hurried away.
“Why haven’t you ever asked her out?” Avery asked.
“I don’t shit where I eat.”
Ryan nearly choked on his swig of beer, and the women burst into laughter. “Say we hook up and have a good time. She’ll expect me to call her. I don’t want to look at her sad face the next time I come in here for another fun night.”
“No ego at all,” Aaron muttered.
“Riley’s too nice for you,” Emersyn told him. “You probably shouldn’t flirt with her.”
“Sure. Next time I’ll just let her drop an entire tray of food on the floor instead of acting like a gentleman and helping her,” Sawyer said.
Aaron snorted.
“You’re no gentleman,” Emersyn protested, laughing.
“Well, shit. Don’t tell my mama that,” he joked. His eyes landed on the bar area, a smile creeping over his lips. “And on that note, there’s a pretty brunette over there who needs to meet me. Stay out of trouble, kids,” he joked before sauntering away.
“Some woman is going to grab him by the balls one day,” Aaron said with a chuckle. “Dude won’t even know what hit him until it’s too late.”
“Isn’t that the truth,” Avery agreed.
Ryan watched his friend go, his gaze briefly landing on Riley again as she crossed the restaurant holding her now empty tray. She moved confidently, weaving in and out of tables with practiced grace. Her gaze briefly swiveled to Sawyer, locking on him for a beat, before she pushed open the doors leading to the kitchen and disappeared.