Page 3

A low grumble followed her statement. “Have to go for a run? You can tell you’ve only just gotten out of the service.”

She pushed the sheets off and swung her legs out of bed. “Twenty years of habits are going to take more than a few weeks to break.”

“But we drank so much last night, you’re probably still buzzed.”

Gabe gave a short chuckle. “You’re probably right, but a run will wash it out of my system.”

“How come I ended up here instead of going home?”

Gabe laughed again as she recalled the phone conversation she’d overheard at around one a.m. “Because your wife locks you out if you’re not back by your curfew.”

“Damn it. This is going to cost me a fortune in forgive me flowers, and it’s all your fault.”

Gabe leaned back and punched her buddy in the gut. “Don’t blame me, Solo. I would’ve been just as happy to have swung by your place and had dinner instead of whatever the hell it was we got up to.”

“True, but I wouldn’t. I need the occasional night out for the sake of my sanity. You have no idea the effect triplets have on your life.”

“And I never want to either.”

“What did we get up to?” Solo asked, sounding a little sheepish. “I really don’t remember.”

“You’re not likely to after everything you put away.” Gabe pulled on her shorts and replaced her tank top with a sports bra and running tee. “But you don’t have to worry; I kept all the local talent away from you.”

“You mean you kept them all to yourself?” Solo threw a balled-up sock, but Gabe caught it before it hit her head.

“Nope. You and I were talking business, so I was pretty well-behaved actually.” Which had been a shame, because there’d been some seriously sexy women at the bar they’d gone to after dinner. She threw the sock back at Solo. “If you get up, I’ll drop you at home before I hit the lake.”

“Are you sure? It’s kind of far to drive for a run,” Solo said.

“It’s no problem.”

“Still, you need to get out of old habits, bud. You’re a civilian now, and you don’t have a job. You should be sleeping in while you’ve got the chance.”

Gabe dropped into the chair by the desk and pulled her socks and sneakers on. “I’ll sleep when I’m old and don’t have an empire to build. Wait.” She flicked the light on and looked at Solo. “You remember you said you were in, don’t you?” Panic flared in Gabe’s gut. Solo was the final piece of the financial puzzle.

Her brow furrowed as if she had no idea what Gabe was talking about. “I told you already; I don’t really remember anything about last night.”

“Don’t fuck with me, man. You said Janie had given you the green light. I’m all about the green lights. You can’t take it back.” Of course, Solo could take it back even though they’d made a gentlebutch’s agreement, which was as good as a legal document, but their friendship would take a serious hit if she did.

“I’m shitting you. Of course I remember.” Solo burst into laughter and jumped out of bed, before she dropped back onto it gingerly, looking particularly pale even for fluorescent motel lighting. “Damn, I’m out of practice. I shouldn’t have tried to keep up with you, and we should’ve given up at midnight.”

“Sure thing, Cinders. And I should’ve driven you home in the pumpkin waiting in the alley behind the bar.” Gabe blew out a long breath as she tied her laces tight. She hadn’t needed the near heart attack, but it reminded her how much she’d missed Solo’s sense of humor over the past few years. She’d missed all of the old buddies she’d recently reconnected with, but Solo had been separated from the military the longest.

Solo pulled on the clothes that she’d dumped on the floor beside the bed before crawling back under the covers. “You’re an asshole. Are you going to be an asshole when we’re working together again?”

Gabe laughed and nodded. “You wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“I forgot to tell you that Janie invited you for dinner tomorrow night. You can meet the triplets, and then maybe you’ll go easier on me when you realize what I have to go through at home.”

“I have no sympathy,” Gabe said before heading to the bathroom. “Your wife is beautiful, and thankfully, your kids have gotten her looks instead of yours. You’re blessed.” She didn’t know whether Solo actually was blessed by having kids—the thought of trying to raise mini people in this world terrified Gabe.

“Maybe now you’re settling here, you can babysit.”

Gabe nearly choked on her toothbrush. “You want your kids to live, right? I’m way too stupid to be trusted with the well-being of tiny humans.”

“You’ll be fine. They’re practically unbreakable. I think they’re little superhero kids. And besides, it’s part of the deal, and I want it written into the contract.”

“Not fucking likely,” she muttered and washed her mouth out. She was about to run some water through her hair to pull it into some vague style, but when she looked in the mirror, it was in almost the same position as it had been when she styled it last night. The new product that the barber had given her had set hard enough that it looked like she could cut glass with the spikes. It was a bit flashy for an early morning run, but maybe no one would be around to see it.