Page 37

Relief comes over me, and I’m trembling as I pull the ring from the box. It slides on her finger easily, and she glances at it. “It’s so beautiful.”

I lift her chin. “Nowhere near as beautiful as you.”

She leans over and kisses me. Not wanting it to end, I push her to her back and climb over her. I break the kiss reluctantly. “Ugh, this was horrible timing. I know you need to go.”

She looks at the clock on the nightstand and slides her hands up my chest. “We’ve got time as long as you don’t mind sharing your shower with me.”

I groan. “I’d love to.”

I’m kissing my way down her body as she gently gyrates her hips against me. I’m loving the feel of her against me, and as I kiss her belly, the ringing of my cell phone has me pausing. I put the sound out of my head and nip at Poppy’s soft skin. She moans as my phone rings again. I try to stay focused, but I’m reminded that what I do is important and I need to answer my phone.

I raise my head, and Poppy is looking at me. “Answer it.”

I groan, “I’m so sorry.”

She sits up, reaches for the phone, and hands it to me. “Here. We’ll celebrate after work.”

As I answer the phone, I watch Poppy’s ass shake side to side as she walks to the bathroom. I’m sitting here with a hard-on, wanting to cuss whoever is on the other end of the phone. “What?” I bark impatiently.

“Meet me at the warehouse. Fifteen minutes.”

I’m a little stunned because I haven’t been called into the warehouse since I was injured. The warehouse is where they prepare for missions and coordinate all the ins and outs. If Walker is calling me in, it has to be something important.

When I don’t answer him, his voice drops. “It’s Zach. Wheels up in an hour, and I’m going to need you to go on this one. You good?”

I lift my head, and Poppy is looking at me with a worried glance. Instantly, I know my answer. Even after everything I’ve been through, there’s no way I won’t be there to serve. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

I hang up the phone and stand up. Poppy rushes to me. “What is it? What’s happening?”

I grip her upper arms. “Poppy, I have to go.”

She sucks in a breath, and I know I’ve shocked her. I’ve told her that my work is from here, and that wasn’t a lie. Hell, does she think I’ve lied about something else?

It’s important she knows the truth. “I promise you, when I said I work from my office here at home, that was the truth. But Walker is sending us on a mission… I have to go.”

Her mouth drops, and before she can talk me out of it, I say, “It’s Zach.”

She puts her arms around my neck. “Oh, Colter.”

I run my hand through her hair. “I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. I may be able to call, and I may not. I’ll make sure the girls all check on you while I’m gone and?—”

She cuts me off. “Stop, don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

“I have to be there in fifteen minutes.”

She backs away from me. “Okay, what can I do?”

I grab a duffle bag out from under my bed. I grab some underwear, T-shirts, and socks out of the drawer and stuff them in the bag. I keep one clean pair of underwear out and pull them on. “I can get this. I know you need to get to work.”

She puts clothes on, and I wish I had time to watch her and savor the sight, but I don’t. I throw an already packed toiletry bag into my duffle bag and then shove in the last few items I need.

Poppy is standing in the doorway to the bedroom, hugging her arms around herself. This part sucks. I don’t want to say bye to her.

She gives me a look. “Promise that you’ll come back to me, Colter.”

I put the strap of the bag over my shoulder. “I promise. Now will you make me a promise?”

She nods. “Anything.”