Chapter 15 Reznor
REZNOR
The gym was packed tonight.
Every single woman signed up for the class was there...all but one.
Damn it.
Where was she?
“Good class tonight, Reznor.”
I look over to svelte Sandy and give her a subtle nod, the suggestion in her voice not fazing me in the least. “Thanks.”
Her eyes give me a once-over as a slow smile spreads on her lips.
I ignore the open invitation and climb into the cab of my truck without another word.
A crazy man would turn that down...well, fuck if I’m not feeling crazy right now.
I dig my phone out of my center console where I locked it to see if she texted me.
Fucking nothing.
Shit.
I read the one from Grant: No update. No closer to finding who he was. I’ll keep you updated.
I type off a quick thanks for the update he technically shouldn’t be giving me about Desi’s nameless, faceless suspect, rest my head on the seat and blow out a breath.
The woman is way more trouble than she’s worth...but I still want her.
I startle when the phone rings and am even more surprised when I see Harry’s name as the caller.
“Captain? What’s up?” I ask, the smile on my face automatic.
“Just calling to check up on you and see how you’re doing.”
His words take me by surprise. Warning alarms sound off in my head. He’s going to ask me to come back. Proceed with caution.
“I’m good. You?”
“Same ol’ shit, different day.” His chuckle fills the line. “That’s good to hear. Has the time been good for you?”
“Yeah. I think so.”
“That doesn’t sound convincing.”
“Nah. It’s just...it’s different.”
“You miss it?”
I hesitate to respond and it shocks the hell out of me. “Parts of it. Yes.”
“Bear said you’re doing a killer job at the defense academy. He says women are lining up to be moved into your class...not like that fucking surprises me.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I laugh. “It’s been a good change. Knowing that what I do might matter someday for someone.”
“There’s no adrenaline rush though, is there?”
Get to your point. I know it’s coming.
“Nah.” And he’s right. There isn’t. I’ll give him that much. “But I needed the change of pace.”
“The guys miss you,” he says quietly, and the line falls silent as I figure out how to respond.
“I hear ya.”
I miss them too. I do. But I also don’t miss the constant pressure of having lives balancing on my decisions. Being here, I haven’t felt that once.
“So you’re coming back early, right?”
This time I give a half-hearted laugh. Took him long enough to ask it. “It’s only been three weeks, Cap.”
“Yeah, but Mars is in retrograde or some shit and all of the crazies are out.”
“I think you mean Mercury.”
“It could be marshmallows for all I care,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “You’re missed, Mayne. I know you’ve got three more weeks coming to you, but know what you contribute here. Experience, knowledge, leadership…”
“Thanks, Harry.”
Before he ends the call I hear the laughing in the background, and that’s when the pang of home hits me. The camaraderie.
I start the truck and put my arm on the windowsill, staring at the valley around me. The dark greens on the hills and terracotta-color buildings of downtown Sunnyville are nothing like the glass high-rises and steep hills of San Francisco. My home.
Then what the fuck am I doing here?
I shift into gear knowing damn well why this town has charm to me, and it has nothing to do with the town itself.
And everything to do with the brown-haired, blue-eyed, sassy woman living fifteen feet from me.
We may have only had sex one time, we may have sparred more than kissed...but sometimes, when you know someone might be worth the trouble, you know.
But well worth the trouble for what?
For me to want to stay? For me to want to have a fun-filled fling while I’m here? For me to pursue whatever this attraction is and see where it takes us?
My mind stutters over the answer. Not because I don’t know it’s true, but because I’m typically not one to think in these terms.
Terms that have intentional possibilities.
But I know.
The question is how do I make her see it too?