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“Okay folks. That’s it. Let’s call it a day,” Mason finally barked as they finished up with their final, mock water rescue. Drills had gone really well for the entire team this weekend. No one had messed up, and several new recruits who’d been invited along were looking good. Mason had to be pleased.
Mike stripped out of his team-issued drysuit, down to running shorts and his polypropylene shirt, grimacing a little over the accumulated sweat that had gathered on his body, but it would soon dissipate, he knew, with time.
“Mike, can I speak with you?” Mason called over as they all began packing up.
“Sure, Chief.” Mike knew it had to be about Joelle. A warning, perhaps? He walked over to Mason where he was standing, and the boss drew him off to the side.
“What’s up?”
Mason’s face got serious. “I just wanted to tell you I’m sincere about giving your girl, Elle, all the help she needs. Not only with your situation, but with the operation she’s in the middle of, too. It sounds like she’s in a shitty position with her superior, and could use our help. I like her, Mike. She’s obviously a standup kind of person, even if her taste in men isn’t all it should be, getting involved with your sorry ass.” Mason grinned.
Mike smirked back. “First of all, her full first name is Joelle, and she goes by Joe, not Elle. But that’s only between you and me. She’s using Elle for her cover. Second, since you know me too well, you’ll understand that I’m hoping she’ll be my real girlfriend before things have wrapped up for her job. If I can convince her to not only take a chance on me for the short-run, but to think about relocating so we can continue our, uh, exploration of each other, I’ll be pretty damned pumped. But,” his smile tipped downward, “that’s all a pretty big if.”
Mason didn’t lose his good humor. “Not necessarily. I saw the way she looks at you.” Mase shook his head. “She’s not putting on an act. The woman thinks you’re hot stuff.” He shrugged. “Of course, there’s no accounting for taste.”
Mike slugged Mase in the arm, but his shoulders loosened. “You think so? That she really likes me?” Mike knew he sounded a little too in touch with his feminine side, but he couldn’t help but ask the question.
Mason didn’t balk. “Either that, or she’s a damned good actress. And there was no need for her to act in front of us, so…yeah. Now stop making me talk like we’re dishing dirt over wine, and don’t blow this one because you’ve become a woman-hermit over the past year.”
“Seriously? How do you know I haven’t been dating?” Mike asked, pouting.
“Please. None of us knew you were even single, but correct me if I’m wrong. You go home every night and don’t leave the house unless it’s to follow up on a tip for new military shit to add to your collection, or to go to your kids’ games.”
“Busted,” Mike said, sighing, but he didn’t take offense. He had been playing his life close to home for the past year.
“And speaking of busted…” Now Mason narrowed his eyes. “If you keep anything as big as the fact of Mellie leaving from me, again, I’m rescinding our friendship. That kind of shit doesn’t fly.”
Mike defended his decision. “It wasn’t all because of embarrassment,” he began. “It happened just when you and Everlee were getting together and working out your own complicated shit. And after that? Well, you two were just so damned cute, I didn’t want to rain on new-love’s parade.” Mike made kissy faces, which he knew would probably come back to haunt him.
Mason grunted. “Just be warned, asshole. No more going it alone. Got it?”
“Got it, Chief.” Damn, Mike loved the guy.
“Now. When are you going out with Ell…uh, Joe?”
Mike grinned. “Tonight. And I have to pick the kids up beforehand, so I’ve gotta roll.” He had his gear together. He just needed to hump it out to the parking lot.
“Uh, aren’t you forgetting something?” Mason asked.
Mike looked at him blankly.
He had nothing.
“Your brake lines?”
“Fuck!” How had that slipped Mike’s mind? Oh, yeah. Joelle. She’d make him forget his own name. Swearing some more, Mike fished around in his pocket for his phone, hoping he could get someone out to fix him up on a Sunday. Even knowing people, it was a long shot. Most mechanics he buddied with took weekends off.
“What are you doing?” Mason asked, tipping his head as Mike scrolled through his contacts.
“Looking for someone who’ll come give me an emergency fix.”
“Not necessary,” Mason chuckled.
“Why? Are you going to lend me your truck?” Mike doubted it. Mase’s ride was practically still in the box, and the man was obsessed with his shiny new toy.
“My truck? Hell no. But my head wasn’t up someone’s ass yesterday, and I might have called in a favor with a local guy I know. So… Your truck is fixed.”
Mike blinked.