Page 92 of Deadly Strain

Max finally looked past Grace to the men behind her. He paused, then blew out a breath and said, “I’m sorry, gentlemen. I tend to think my work is more important than everyone else’s.”

“Don’t sweat it, Max,” Sharp said. Grace realized he was standing right behind her. “I intend to take care of her...and you.”

Grace looked up at Sharp’s impassive face. He wasn’t kidding.

She stifled a laugh. It could be fun to see him boss Max around when it came time for the colonel to get some sleep or eat.

“Come on, Doc,” Sharp said to her. “Time for another MRE.”

“Oh, joy,” she said, but followed him over to an unoccupied spot on the floor not far from where Smoke sat watching Max work.

His large hand covered her forehead.

She stared at him and the hand disappeared.

“You don’t feel hot,” Smoke said to her.

Wow, four whole words strung together. Usually, she had to work hard to get that many out of him. “I think my fever is gone.”

A shadow fell over her and Sharp bent down with another MRE and a spork to eat it with.

“Thanks,” she said as she took the food from him. The warmer around the meal was already doing its job and she found the heat reassuring and comforting. Once the sun went down, the temperature did, as well.

“He doesn’t have much of a bedside manner, does he?” Sharp asked.

“No,” Grace agreed. “He’s pretty focused on the work. People usually come second with him, until you prove you’re smart enough to be useful. Once he considers you part of his team, he’ll take care of you whether you like it or not.” She took a bite of her food, then added, “Sort of like you.”

“He is pretty protective of you. Falcon said he pushed hard to get here. Used up a couple of favors and now owes a couple more. Are you sure he doesn’t have a thing for you?”

“I’m sure.” Was Sharp jealous? She leaned in close and said in that tone he’d taught her that didn’t carry at all, “He’s head over heels for someone else.”

“You sure?”

“Yep. I’m on his team, which means he’s like an older brother. There’s a gal who works with us sometimes who has him tied up in knots. I don’t think he even realizes he’s crazy about her.” She ate another couple of bites. “He’s protective, but he’s also really good at pushing me to do things that might be a stretch.”

“Like the training we’ve been doing together for the last year?”

She froze for part of a second, then forced herself to carry on. “Yes, like that.”

Sharp leaned close this time and whispered, “You’d better not be thinking of me as a brother.”

From the way the men around them glanced at her with smiles on their faces, he hadn’t whispered quietly enough.

She glared at him, shoving a large bite into her mouth so she couldn’t answer.

Smoke nudged her with one shoulder.

Her face grew hot as she finally swallowed down the food. Why had she stood up for Sharp again?

“Oh no,” she said with mock seriousness. “I think of you as irritating, bossy and occasionally dense, but never as a brother.”