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After talking to the branch manager for a half hour, Jenny was ready to tear her hair out. She looked over her shoulder to where Brax was sitting. She needed to see a friendly face for a moment. Someone who would provide encouragement that she could and would get this mess sorted out.

She turned back to the banker.

“Mr. Anderson, I no longer live there, and currently I don’t have a permanent address.”

“The address on your driver’s license shows the address we have on file. That’s where we are obligated to send your documents.”

“Why not just have them sent to this branch and allow me to pick them up?”

“That’s not our policy.”

He looked over her shoulder. “Excuse me? Who are you?”

“I’m Ms. Rivers’ friend. I’m Chief Petty Officer Braxton Walker with the United States Navy, out of Little Creek.”

Jenny watched as Mr. Anderson sat up a little straighter. Mr. Anderson was an older gentleman who was obviously impressed with Brax. Jenny would bet money it was the Little Creek part. She’d made it her business to learn about Navy SEALs when she got out of the hospital. Little Creek, Virginia was where they were all stationed on the East Coast. Apparently, everybody in Virginia knew that except for her. That’s why Mr. Anderson was looking so impressed. She scooched her chair so that she could see both Brax and Mr. Anderson at the same time.

“Thank you for your service, young man,” Mr. Anderson said. “But Ms. Rivers and I are having a private conversation, Chief Walker.”

“She and I are friends. Are you aware of the circumstances regarding why she needed an all-new ID, credit cards and everything else you can think of?”

Anderson shook his head.

Brax looked down at Jenny and gave her a put-upon look. “Jenny, you should have told him.” Brax took out his phone from his back pocket. He started scrolling, then handed his phone to the banker.

“This is Jenny.”

“She’s the woman—” he looked up at Brax. “Pardon me,” Anderson said as he looked back at Jenny. “You’re the woman who was kidnapped?”

Jenny nodded.

“She was held in captivity for over three weeks in Bangladesh. She was lucky to have survived. It was because of her guts and determination that she stayed alive.”

“And being rescued, let’s not forget that,” Jenny said quietly.

Brax waved his hand.

“Ms. Rivers went through hell. What can you do to help her get into her accounts?”

“This is all highly irregular,” Anderson started. “But you’re right. Under these circumstances we need to make an exception.” He looked back at Jenny. “You can make a cash withdrawal today with the ID that you do have, and I’ll have your cards sent to this branch for you to pick up. Does that meet with your approval?”

She nodded, unsure who to thank, the banker or Brax.

At least Jenny hadn’t given him a ration of shit when they left the bank. He’d been sure that was going to come his way after he butted in. But, no. Jenny surprised him once again. Instead, right there in the bank parking lot, she’d hugged him. She’d been positively giddy at the idea of having access to her money again.

Hell, Brax was giddy too, after that hug.

Down, boy. She’s just been through hell. Don’t take advantage.

As soon as they walked into the busy mall, Brax could see that Jenny wasn’t doing well. Her face turned pale and there was a fine sheen of perspiration on her forehead.

“Are you doing, okay? We can buy you a coat online.”

“We are not buying my coat online. That’s blasphemous.” He appreciated her strong voice, even though her wide eyes and dilated pupils told a much different story.

“Seriously Jenny, we can leave.”

She stopped, forcing him to stop, too. She looked up at him. “I love shopping. A mall is my jam. I haven’t been to a mall in America for over two years. I’m having a blast. Now stop talking about leaving.”

“Wanna hold my hand?” he asked as he held it out.

She immediately grabbed hold. Her grip was as tight as a bowline knot.

If he had to guess, she was five minutes away from a panic attack, but this woman had guts, there was no two ways about it. “Which store do you want to hit first?”

“Dillard’s.”

Great, CiCi’s favorite store. You had to pass the perfume counter to get in, and he always ended up getting sprayed with perfume. It was a guarantee. It even happened when he’d been a kid and had gone to the mall with his mom.

Brax shut that thought down quick and looked down at Jenny. Yeah, focus on Jenny, that’s the ticket . Such pretty brown hair, all mixed with deep red strands and shimmering gold.

“There’s a directory kiosk,” Jenny pointed with her left hand.

Brax guided her over to the sign, and saw that Dillard’s was on the opposite side of the mall.

Fuck.

“Do you feel like taking a walk outside?” he asked. “I could do with some more fresh air, and I’m thinking after being cooped up in the hotel for so long, you might like to walk around the mall, instead of plowing through the easy way. Am I right?”

The look of relief on her face said it all. “You’re right. I really do need fresh air. Especially some crisp fall air, instead of the hot and humid air of Bangladesh. That sounds wonderful.”

“I can only imagine.” Brax muttered. He turned around and gave her hand a tug as he guided them to the exit. Being a big guy, most people gave them plenty of space, so by the time they got to the outside, Jenny was no longer grinding his knuckles together.

“Have you been here often?” Jenny asked, as they started their trek.

“God no. Malls are not my jam. I asked my sister where to go. She said this would have a variety that would be good. She’d know.”

“It’s been so long since I’d been home that I just couldn’t think of anything. It’s like my mind is mush.”

“Cut yourself some slack. You’ve been through a trauma. You’re probably going to have nightmares and flashbacks and lots of other issues as you process things. Remembering different malls isn’t high on your brain’s list of priorities. How’s it going with your psychologist?”

“Huh?”

“The psychologist that Meyer set you up with after your debrief.”

“Oh yeah. I blew that off.”

They were still holding hands so Brax was frustrated he couldn’t get a good look of her face. “What do you mean, you blew it off?”

“I went into counseling a couple of times when I was in college. It didn’t do any good. Obviously, I’m not meant for that kind of thing.”

Brax saw an empty bench coming up, and he pulled her toward it. Before they sat down, he took off his leather jacket and put it around her shoulders. He liked the way she snuggled into his coat.

“Why are we stopping?”

“I need a moment to catch my breath,” Brax lied.

“Yeah, I so believe that. You were the one who carried me through the forest, without breaking a sweat.”

“Actually, that was Nolan. He knew that I have trouble even lifting my backpack,” Brax teased.

She shifted sideways even further, then took her time looking him up and down. She spent a long time looking at his chest and shoulders. “Yep. You definitely look like a ten-pound-weakling. It’s amazing you made it through Buddy training.”

“BUD/S.”

“Whatever.”

He loved seeing the twinkle in her eye as he realized she’d been teasing. Brax shook his head and laughed.

“I’m thinking we stopped so you could lecture me, am I right?” Jenny queried.

Brax leaned back on the bench, his arms stretching along the back. He crossed one ankle to his knee. “I have a policy never to lecture beautiful women.”

He watched her blush.

“So why are we sitting here? Oh.” She bit her lower lip. “I wasn’t really having a panic attack, you know. I could have pushed through the crowd.”

“Honey, I don’t doubt that in the slightest. You’re one of the strongest women I’ve ever met. You remind me a lot of some of the other ladies of Omega Sky.”

“Huh?”

“The name of my Navy SEAL team is Omega Sky. You didn’t get a chance to meet the other men on my team, but all of the ones who were on the mission to rescue you have paired up with incredible women. Some of them have faced horrifying and traumatic circumstances, but they’ve all come out the other side stronger. That’s going to be you, too.”

“Yeah, sure I am.” Jenny rolled her eyes. “Brax, I have to shove a chair against the door of my hotel room every night, even after I put on the deadbolt. I’m not stronger, I’m a hot mess.”

“That’s why you need to see a psychologist. Hell, they have one on tap for all of us if we need one.”

“Hmm-mm. And how many times have you been to the psychologist?”

“I’ll admit it, I haven’t, but I know men who have. One guy I know needed a psychologist for a long time. He said it really helped.”

“He talked about it?”

“Absolutely, he talked about it. He didn’t want there to be a stigma about seeking out help. He’s one of the best snipers in all the SEAL teams.”

“Can I ask why he needed to go, or is that too personal?”

“PTSD, same as you.”

“Do you really think that’s what’s going on with me?” she asked in a whisper. He saw the hope and fear on her face.

Brax moved his arm and cupped her cheek. He brushed his thumb against the soft skin of her jaw. “I’m not sure, but that’s what I suspect. I would check in with a professional, and then let them give you the tools to handle it, if it is PTSD. Or if it is something else, they could help with that, too.”

She grabbed his wrist and he thought she was going to push him away, but instead she kept his hand where it was. “I’m not sure if I agree with your diagnosis, Dr. Walker. If it was me having flashbacks, I wouldn’t be panicked about being in a mall full of people. As a matter of fact, I should be happy to be there. It should only be small, confined places that would make me panic.”

Brax nodded. “I see your point. But you admit there’s something?”

She nodded.

He slipped his hand around and cupped the back of her neck. “Wanna talk about it?”

She looked down and her dark brown eyelashes fanned her cheeks. When she looked up her green eyes shimmered with tears. “I guess. I’d prefer to talk to you, than some shrink.”

Brax sucked in a deep breath, stunned that she would feel that comfortable with him. His ultimate goal was to get her to see someone, but in the meantime he could still listen.

“Okay. Lay it on me.”

“When we were inside the mall, all those people were talking, and coming at us. I felt like I was going to be knocked over at any second. And the noise. It was so loud. Even in my hotel room, I can’t handle loud TV shows. I’m fine with those whispery nature documentaries where they talk about lions in their natural habitats.”

“So, you lied when you said that you were bored watching golf. You actually like it because the commentators whisper. Got it.”

“Maybe,” she admitted.

“Having a panic attack is nothing to be ashamed of. You know that, don’t you?”

She bowed her head, and he couldn’t stand it. He touched her chin and tilted her head back up. “Seriously, after everything you’ve been through, you’re amazing. Trust me. Do you think you would be up for talking to my sister and a couple of friends of mine? They’ve been through some trauma, too. If you don’t want to talk to a shrink, maybe talking to others who have been through the fire could help you.”

“Like the sniper?”

“I was actually thinking of my sister and two or three other women.”

“Not your sister. Don’t tell me she went through something like I did. I would hate that for her.”

He moved his hand and stroked it down her arm until he could tangle his fingers with hers. She had such a kind heart. He hated all she had been through.

“When my sister was four years old, she was diagnosed with a rare kind of cancer. She was in and out of the hospital as a child until she was nine years old. It was at that point that they thought they had cured her, but the thing was, she went in for yearly scans, because apparently once you have cancer, you're susceptible to having it come back. Three years ago, it did.”

“The same kind?”

“No, this time it was different. I’ll let CiCi explain. That is if you want me to set up this meeting.”

He could see her considering the idea.

“Are you sure it wouldn’t upset them to talk about their past?”

“I know these women. They are just like you. They would want to help.”

“What do you mean, just like me?”

“They have big generous hearts.”