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She’d already estimated his age to herself shortly after they met, so she had a ready answer. “I’d say he’s closer to thirty than twenty. Let’s go with twenty-seven.”
She watched Baggs and Case exchange glances, and her guy looked smug as hell. “She’s too smart for your bullshit.” Case looked over at her. “You are right on the money, by the way.”
“Was he hoping I’d guess wrong?”
“Yes. Then he could give me shit about how young I look.”
Nyx shook her head. “He should know you’ve taken crap about that for years and it doesn’t faze you anymore. You just let them roll, don’t you?”
“It makes them feel like they’re funny.”
“And since you don’t care…” She let her voice trail off.
“Since I don’t care, I let them have their fun.”
Ski spoke up then. “Sometimes he makes fun of himself, so he enjoys it, too. How many times have you muttered about fucking genetics?”
“Too many to count.”
“How old do you think I am?” Nyx asked.
“You already told me your age, remember?”
“I did?”
“Yeah, when Vargas had us locked up in the suite and you and I were quickly exchanging information.”
Memory dawned. “That’s right, when the shower was running.”
“Why don’t you make Baggs guess your age?”
Nyx tried not to laugh at the uncomfortable expression that crossed the other man’s face. Case was giving back the shit he’d taken, and she was all in for it. “Good idea. He’s the one who started the game. How old do you think I am?”
“My mom said a man should never ask a lady her age?—”
Case cut him off. “You’re not asking. She is.”
Baggs looked around, desperate for an escape. He found one. “There’s our dock. Do you see Rusty, Ski?”
“I got him.” Ski adjusted their course. “Guessing a woman’s age is easy. You just figure out how old you think she is and subtract five years. Wins their admiration every time. The Fireball, here, is twenty-one. How’d I do?”
Turning to grin at him, Nyx said, “You’ve won my complete admiration.”
Case waited until Baggs had the boat tied off before he got out and helped Nyx onto the pier. The joking around about his appearance not matching his age had gotten her past the worst of her aftermath and her legs were steadier. That didn’t mean he wasn’t going to stay close and make sure she was okay.
His Fireball was a trouper. She looked as if she’d been through hell, but she squared her shoulders and prepared to meet the next challenge. A woman like this didn’t come along every day. A smart man would do what he could to hold on to her and Case liked to think he was smart.
BD came over, flanked by Cordy. Case moved to stand behind Nyx, both hands resting lightly on her shoulders.
“How are you doing, ma’am?” the captain asked.
Nyx came to attention, or something very similar to it. “I’m okay, sir. Thank you for getting me out of the camp.”
Case frowned. He hadn’t heard her call anyone else sir, but BD did have an aura of command.
“You don’t have to thank me. Lurch would have gone in alone if we hadn’t helped.”
“He would have gotten killed if he tried that.”