CHAPTER TWELVE
QUINN
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The whistle cuts through the air, and the three of us take off. The obstacle course looks more challenging than anything I’ve done previously, but I guess that’s the point.
Batman, who we were introduced to earlier, runs alongside us. I’ve worked with military dogs a few times, but this monster is intimidating and distracting. That’s also the point. We are learning to work with dogs around us.
When we reach the tires, the canine comes in with us.
Oof!
I swear Batman is doing better than all of us as Ryder St. James yells orders at him.
“Let’s go!” Noah shouts as my boots pound the grass between the black, thick rubber, my legs burning.
Water is sprayed over us, and I grit my teeth.
Suddenly the dog is in my way, circling back.
“Batman, move!” I haul myself across the grass to the climbing wall, my heart slamming in my chest, sweat rolling down my forehead. I’m fit, as most GIs are, but as I climb up each step, I can feel my muscles burning.
“Keep going, Parker,” Noah calls out, and yet again, I wonder what Tyrell was talking to him about earlier. “Next team is on your rear.”
Shit.
We got a three-minute head start, but that doesn’t mean we will stay ahead. One glance to my left and I see Marlene just below me. She’s groaning and straining just as I am.
At the top, I attempt to throw my leg over and fail due to the gap. My second attempt fails.
Fuck.
“You got this, Quinn. Come on,” Noah calls out.
“Marlene! On your tail!” Ryder yells and Batman barks.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Pushing with every ounce of effort I can, I get my leg over, finally, and pull my body up, then drop down using the rope.
My lungs burn as I suck in vast amounts of oxygen.
“Keep going,” Noah barks.
Batman takes off, and I run beside him, glancing back to see where Marlene and Jack, another XO who was added to our team of three, are. We need to arrive as a team prior to the guys behind us.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Noah running parallel, and Jack speeds ahead of me. He’s fast, but I hope he remembers we have to work together here.
“Marlene,” I shout back. “Come on, girl.”
“Damn wine, I need to quit drinking,” she groans, and I laugh despite my lungs killing me.
“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go,” Noah yells and shoots me a grin.
God, he’s so handsome.
I try to ignore how good he looks in his black shorts and running shoes, the way his white T-shirt hangs off his broad shoulders and his hair is spiky in places. He’s always playing with his hair, and the temptation to do the same has caused me a lot of anguish over the years.
“Last obstacle. Work with him,” Ryder calls, referring to the dog.
“Up, Batman,” Jack instructs as we each grab the rope and start climbing.
My arms burn, and as I move one hand over the other, something sharp has me crying out, and I fall to the ground with a crash.
I’ve been cut, and it’s stinging painfully.
“Quinn,” Noah yells.
I glare at him in warning as I grip my hand. Blood glides down my arm. I wipe it over my top and am about to reach for the rope again after climbing to my feet, when I am shoved.
What the hell?
“Can’t cheat on this one, can you, Parker.” Tyrell laughs and takes hold of the rope. He starts climbing.
I glance at Noah, hoping like hell he doesn’t do or say anything. I’ve seen the possessive flare in his eyes all day. Without a military structure around us here, I’m not sure what he’ll do.
Please don’t make a scene over a rope, Noah.
When he simply points at another rope, I dive at it and start climbing, despite my hand burning and stinging.
Batman barks as I reach the top, as if egging me on, and I leap down. That’s when I realize Tyrell is not in front of me or on my tail.
Below me, I hear him cursing.
Not caring what his problem is, I don’t hesitate and drop down the wall, grinning at Marlene as she does the same. We spot Jack waiting.
“Come on, girls,” Jack pants. “We got this.”
The finish line is ahead of us, and we sprint across the last stretch, my legs screaming. I collapse on the grass.
“Holy shit.” Marlene is flat on her back. “I didn’t think I’d make it up that rope.”
“Goddamn Tyrell, dirty piece of shit took my rope after I fell and cost us half a minute.” I lift my palm and take in the multiple slices in my flesh, which are still bleeding.
How did that happen?
“Good job, guys.” Ryder, Batman and Noah join us as more team members cross the line.
“Let me see your hand.” Noah crouches.
“It’s fine.”
He takes it anyway and lets out a curse.
“Quinn, that’s bad.” Marlene leans over. “Was it on the rope?”
I nod, feeling my adrenaline waning and the pain starting to get worse. I won’t die, but it is damn sore.
“I’ll get a Band-Aid. It’s no big deal.” I try to take my hand back, but Noah grips it and glances at Ryder.
“I’ll check the rope.” Ryder whistles at Batman and takes off.
“Head back to the office and get it cleaned up,” Noah rasps, and his thumb brushes over my knuckles. “And don’t argue with me.”
“Yes, sir.”
I hear him groan under his breath, and I’m not going to lie, my panties moisten. When our eyes lock, his globes swirl like there’s a wild beast trapped inside of them.
I think of all the naughty things I’ve ever fantasized about him doing to me while those beautiful eyes of his gaze upon my naked body.
Has he ever thought of me when coming? Surely he has.
That excites me more than I care to admit.
But as his nostrils flare, it’s as if Noah can read my mind, and I blush, needing to get far away from him.
“I’ll go.” I climb to my feet, brushing the grass off my ass.
Without making eye contact, I wrap my hand in the lower part of my T-shirt and make my way back to the office.
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THE REST OF the afternoon we focus on medical drills and tactical combat casualty care. There’s high-stress role-playing with fake blood and time limits. Noah is nowhere to be seen, and I find myself thinking about him way more than I should.
After a hearty dinner and shower, I head to my room and call Jeannie.
“The baby was moving today. It feels amazing, Quinn,” she tells me as I lean against the headboard and cross my legs under me.
“Wow. What does it feel like?”
“Um.” She glances left. “Like there’s a baby growing inside me.”
We giggle, and I feel a pang of envy. I’m so happy for her and Carl, but I can’t help but feel I’m missing out on life.
“How’s it going there?” Jeannie asks, and I push away my thoughts.
“Noah is here.” I set the phone on the pillows so we can see one another and watch her mouth drop.
“Whoa.”
“Yup.”
“How do you feel about that?”
Huh. It’s a fair enough question, given my best friend knows everything, and yet I don’t know how to answer it. I’m happy to see him, but nothing has changed, and if anything, it’s stirring up all the emotions and feelings I’ve been trying to suppress.
“Pissed. Happy. God, J, he’s still so gorgeous.” I sigh and shake my head.
“Yeah, well, that’s not going to change for at least another thirty years.” She laughs.
“So, wait it out? Is that what you are saying?” I snort.
She’s quiet for a long moment. “I mean, he’s retired. It’s been six months, Quinn. Can’t something happen? Your dad will surely get over it if you two get serious and take it to the next level.”
“No. He’ll always be the guy who trained me, and imagine if I married him. They’d all say I knew it.” I comb my fingers through my wet hair, ignoring her frown. “I haven’t shared the last bit of news. Guess who else is here?”
Her brows lift this time in question.
“Tyrell.”
“You have got to be kidding me!” Jeannie gasps as I shake my head slowly. “That’s such bad luck.”
She knows how much he’s harassed me over the years and that he was part of my reason for being transferred.
“It’s a sign not to cross the line with Noah. Although it’s tempting, I’m not going to lie,” I state. “Oh, and can you believe Noah told me to break up with Mark?” When she chuckles, my eyes widen. “Hey!”
“Sorry, but I’ve always liked Noah. Just marry him, for goodness’ sake. Have beautiful babies and forget everything else.”
I stop myself from rolling my eyes.
“You sound like a woman full of pregnancy hormones.”
“Probably.” Jeannie grins. “But why not? Your father will never change his tune, so maybe it’s time to stop trying to prove anything.”
I grab a pillow and hug it. I know I shouldn’t care so much, but he’s my dad, and now I’m twenty-seven, still wishing he’d give me his blessing.
He’ll never be okay with me being with Noah, I know that.
“Noah asked if I loved Mark.”
“You don’t.”
“I could...”
“You won’t.”
“I might.”
“Quinn, you text me after you’ve screwed him hoping he’ll go home so you can have the bed to yourself.”
“People often have different beds when they get married.”
“Not when they’ve only been dating a few months and can’t keep their hands off each other.” Jeannie frowns.
“Well... we’re different. He’s grounded. Sensible. Not military.”
“Then you should marry Mark.”
“God no!” Before I can stop myself, the words fall out of my mouth, and my shoulders slump. “Fine, I don’t love Mark and...I need to break it off with him, don’t I?”
She nods.
“But just so we’re clear, it has nothing to do with Noah,” I say pointedly.
“Absolutely not.” This time her grin is cheesy as hell. “Tell Noah I said hello.”
“No.”
“Why not?” she laughs.
“Because you’ve never met him, and also I’d have to admit I’ve been talking about him.”
“Better than admitting you dream about him. Which you do.” She giggles. “Oh, go on, Quinn. Marry him. Let’s have our next babies together.”
I like that idea way more than I will admit, even to my best friend. But I can’t help the smile that creeps onto my lips.
“You’re annoying.”
She’s never been a career woman, and part of me likes to argue that it's different for me because of that, but I don’t. I would love a family, and the realization that I’m on a path that likely won’t see me have one if I don’t get over Noah Jenkins is becoming plainly obvious.
A knock at the door has my head flicking around.
“Better go. Will call you later in the week,” I say, grabbing the phone.
“Have fun. And Quinn?” Jeannie says. “Don’t live with regrets. There’s something between you and Noah. If another woman steals his heart, how would you feel?”
“Fine. I’d be fine about it.” The lie tastes bitter on my tongue as she lets out a sigh and says goodbye.
I climb off the bed, wearing only a pair of sleep shorts and a tank top, and head to the door. When I open it, I’m not completely surprised to find Noah leaning against the doorjamb.
“No.” I shake my head.
“Invite me inside, Quinn,” he rasps sexily.
“Noah,” I whisper, annoyed that someone will see us.
“If you’d let me in already, the door would be closed by now,” he points out the obvious.
Ugh. I take a handful of his T-shirt and pull him inside, ignoring his stupidly handsome grin.
“Now, kiss me,” Noah says, cupping the back of my neck, shocking the hell out of me.
I gasp, my body trembling as his body heat wraps around me like a raging fire.
“Absolutely not,” I whimper, but Jeannie’s words are echoing inside my head, and I feel like she’s lowered my barriers to dangerous levels.