Page 15

Though, maybe that was her saving grace. What would allow her to simply hand him his wallet then slink off. Avoid touching on what had conspired between them in the chopper. How she’d done exactly what Charlie had said and let her fatigue and anger color her words.
She groaned. Who was she kidding? She’d been pissed at Foster Beckett long before tonight. Ever since her brother had been killed and her father had started combing the earth for someone to take his place. His determination to only hire men he’d worked with. Once Atticus had learned Beckett and his team were retiring to Raven’s Cliff…
He’d been obsessed with having the man join Raven’s Watch. When Foster had turned her dad down…
She’d realized Atticus would never truly be satisfied unless she took her brother’s spot. Gave him an anchor when she knew he was drifting. She was drifting, too and that had definitely shown in how she’d reacted tonight.
Mac rolled her shoulders as she grabbed Beckett’s wallet and opened the door, giving herself a quick pep talk. “Just… walk on up and knock on the door. Give him his wallet and walk away. Piece of cake.”
Except where her stomach wasn’t sure if it wanted to launch up into her throat or drop down into her shoes as she ran up the muddy path then onto the porch. A warm light brightened the entrance, muffled laughter drifting from beyond the door.
Great. He was definitely not alone.
Mac took a deep breath then held her head high as she slammed the ornate door knocker against the tarnished brass plate. The loud bang echoed through the air, cutting off the voices. Footsteps sounded a moment later before the door creaked open and Foster’s imposing form filled the doorway.
He inhaled, eyes rounding before he smiled and leaned against the frame. Those brilliant blue-green orbs staring at her. “Are you here for round two? Because I’ll just concede now and save you the trouble.”
She smiled despite the uneasy fluttering in her stomach. “A military man surrendering that easily? I find that hard to believe.”
“I’m retired, remember?”
“It’s hard to forget.” She held out his wallet. “And I just came by to give you this. Charlie found it in the back of the helicopter. It must have fallen out when you first boarded, and that stupid basket knocked you over.”
He grinned, the simple motion taking him from somewhat handsome to stunning. As if he’d removed her blinders and she was getting her first real look at him. “I wondered where I’d lost it. I thought for sure it was in your dad’s truck.”
“Oh, wouldn’t that have been awkward.”
His smile widened and it took her breath away. All full red lips with a hint of white. What looked like the beginnings of dimples in his cheeks. “More than you know. Which has me wondering why you decided to return it instead of watching me suffer?”
“I would have given it to you immediately if you hadn’t buggered off like a frat boy avoiding the cops.”
Foster sighed, still leaning against the frame. “I think we both know why I left in a hurry.”
“Do we? Because it was either something I said…” She inched closer. “Or something I didn’t say.”
“Both, I suppose.”
He looked over his shoulder when one of his buddies yelled at him to get his ass back to the poker table so they could make more easy money.
Mac held up her hand as she took a step back. “Sounds like I interrupted you and your team. I just wanted to return that.”
“Sorry to take you out of your way.”
“It really wasn’t.”
He straightened, glanced over his shoulder again, then blew out a rough breath. “You want a beer?”
Was her mouth hanging open? Maybe some drool trickling down the side of her face? Because it sounded as if he’d just invited her in for a drink. “What?”
He chuckled and damn, it made her stomach feel as if a thousand butterflies had suddenly taken flight. “I said, would you like a beer?”
She furrowed her brow, wondering if she’d fallen asleep in her Jeep and this was all a dream.
He frowned. “If you’d rather not…”
“You got any worth drinking?”
That made his eyes sparkle like back in the chopper. “Zain brought Corona, and Kash has some German brand.”