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He glanced at Diha who still had her eyes on her computer screen and her jaw clenched tight.
Either the noise was getting to her, or she was on the trail of something. No matter what it was, this party was ill-advised.
He glanced at Jessica who was now clutching the armrests of her chair looking a little green.
“I think it’s time to wrap this up, ladies. Jess?”
Her chin drifted up, and she looked at him with unfocused eyes. His every fiber said to get her back to bed, pour water down her throat, and finish it off with some painkillers. She probably hadn’t even done her physical therapy today, which was for the best.
Did she not realize how delicate she was still?
“You’re no fun,” Cat announced.
“What time is your wife expecting you home by?” he asked.
He saw the exact moment Cat realized her mistake. Her head whipped toward the clock on the wall then her eyes grew impossibly large.
“Shit!” Cat yelped and snatched her purse off a hook hanging from her desk. “She’s going to kill me.”
With the primary instigator fleeing, the rest glanced at each other.
Diha’s shoulder’s relaxed by degree. They all knew Cat was fantastic at her job and loyal, but she got carried away. A lot.
Kelsey squinted at him. “Samuel, why are you always a… A party pooper?”
This wasn’t like Kelsey. He’d worked with her for years. Okay, she’d always called him a party pooper, but it was an affectionate jab. This was different. She didn’t drink to excess. She didn’t carry on like this. What had changed?
Logan.
Logan had changed her.
Their relationship was still only a few months old. If he thought about it, wasn’t this the first mission the team had been sent on that she hadn’t gone with them?
And just like that, everything made sense.
Cat alone couldn’t budge the group of women to do anything. These were some of the most dedicated, loyal, and tenacious women on the planet. But throw Kelsey spinning out into the mix? Felecia would join in simply because she was fretting about her husband, Evan, who was also part of the Aegis Group team.
“I should go,” Candi announced. Her words coming slowly as she no doubt tried to hide how tipsy she was.
Kelsey whirled on Candi. “You’re leaving?”
“Yeah, sorry.” She grinned at the other women. “I made plans for tonight I can’t really get out of.”
Candi’s husband was CIA and had accompanied the Aegis Group team on their mission. Like Kelsey, this was probably the first time they’d been separated.
The ladies had probably needed to blow off a little steam. Not to mention Jessica’s appearance had given them cause for celebration and hope. Still, couldn’t they have been more careful?
Candi was swarmed by Felecia, Kelsey, and Robin. All of whom had someone they loved out in the field.
His gaze went to Jessica and found her looking at him. He lifted his brows, and she smiled sheepishly then shrugged.
What did that mean?
She’d said she wanted to talk to him earlier.
“I think I want to lie down,” Jessica announced.
He was at her side in an instant, offering her a hand up.