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The next morning, Brax knocked on Jenny’s bedroom door but she didn’t answer, even after a couple of loud knocks, which surprised him. When peeked in, he saw her dead to the world. He wouldn’t have thought that was possible, considering how tightly wound she’d been the night before. Then he thought about it. Jenny had mentioned that she hadn’t been sleeping well. Maybe knowing that a gun, a chair, and a SEAL stood between her and the bad guys had provided her the peace of mind to get a good night’s sleep.

“Wake-up sleepyhead. I’m hungry,” he called from the doorway. She still didn’t move, and he grinned. He stepped closer and called out again. Still nothing.

“Oh, Jenny,” he said in a sing-song voice. “It’s wakey, wakey time.”

“Go ‘way,” she murmured and pulled a pillow over her head.

Brax knew how irritating the song was. CiCi had sung it to him often enough when he was a teenager and wanted to sleep in on the weekend. So, he sang the words again. “It’s wakey, wakey time. There are places to go and people to see.”

“Go. Away.” She enunciated clearly.

Yep, she was awake now.

“It’s wakey?—”

Brax easily caught the pillow that she flung at him and started laughing. “You’ve slept long enough. You haven’t eaten since we left Gideon’s place, you have to be hungry.”

Jenny rolled over, and Brax caught a look of her tousled hair and sleep-soft face. She looked beautiful. “Don’t lie to me, I saw how much you ate last night. You must have a hollow leg that needs to be filled on an hourly basis. You’re the one who’s really hungry, admit it,” she grumbled.

“You’re right, I am. And I want company. So, get your cute ass out of bed and come with me.”

She’d been ready to object. He’d watched her mouth open, but as soon as he called her ass cute, her eyes got wide, and she’d closed and opened her mouth like a guppy. Good to know, complimenting her ass was a way to stop an argument.

“Brax, don’t you have something else to do today?”

“Nope, it’s Sunday. Like every other normal person, I have the day off. I’ll wait in the other room while you get ready to go.”

“You do know I’m going to take a shower, right? This is going to take a while.”

“You do know that I’m going to appreciate your efforts, right?” Brax said with a grin.

“You’re such a man.”

“I’m glad you noticed.”

He sat back on the couch and rested his bare feet on the coffee table, hoping that the cleaning staff knew enough to clean all the surfaces between guests. He had turned his phone onto its battery saver setting the night before, so he turned it back to full steam while he waited for Jenny. He had a long message from CiCi telling him how much she liked Jenny and how great it would be if he could bring her over for dinner some night. Then there were three messages from Mateo. Each one pushier than the last. He wanted the scoop on his relationship with Jenny. It hadn’t taken long for the Omega Sky rumor mill to kick in. He’d bet his bottom dollar it was Gideon who’d spilled the beans.

Before he could decide who to call back, his phone rang. It was Mateo.

“Yo,” he answered.

“What’s going on between you and Jenny?”

“Nothing.”

“Yeah, I believe that. Try again.”

“Seriously, there’s nothing going on.”

“Why didn’t you pick up Faith last night?”

Brax thought about stringing Mateo on a little bit more. It was fun. But he would really like to talk things out with somebody.

“I spent the night at her hotel room… On the couch.”

“Smartass. Try that on somebody else. I know you’ve been calling her. A lot. And you took her out at least once. So how deep are you in?”

“That’s the thing, I don’t know. Yeah, I admit it, I think I might be getting in deep. I tried to talk her into talking to a psychologist, but that was a no go. That’s what yesterday with the women was all about. I’m hoping one of them might have convinced her it was okay to see a professional.”

“Gideon told me who all was there. I think talking to them probably helped a lot,” Mateo said.

“I’ve seen her have two panic attacks. It’s going to take more than an evening with the ladies to get over her trauma. I think we might have something here, but I don’t think she’s in the headspace to be ready for anything serious.”

Mateo didn’t respond.

“What?”

“I didn’t say anything,” Mateo responded.

“I noticed. That means you have a lot to say, so say it.”

“Seems to me that anybody, man or woman, who survived that hellhole, is pretty damn strong and is capable of making their own decisions about things. I know that Lainey would kick me in the balls if I tried to take a decision like that out of her hands.”

“So, what? You say I should just be coming onto her like some Neanderthal?”

“I know you, Brax. You don’t have a caveman bone in your body. I’m just saying that while you’re spending time with the woman, don’t put up roadblocks where they’re not needed.”

Brax let out a deep breath. “Are you sure?”

“I’m positive. You’ll be able to read the signs.”

“Right now, she needs a friend.” And maybe some hugs and kisses.

“Then be her friend. Bring her over when you pick up Faith. If she’s not a dog person, then this whole conversation is moot.”

“This is true,” Brax agreed.

I really hope Jenny likes dogs.

He heard the shower turn off. “I’ve got to go.”

“Are the two of you coming over?” Mateo asked.

“Yes.”

“When? Lainey will want to cook something.”

“How about a late lunch. Say three o’clock?”

“Perfect.”

“I really don’t remember someone named Mateo,” Jenny said for the third time. “Can you describe him?”

“Big guy, dark skin. He emigrated from Argentina when he was five.”

“All of you were big guys. And it was dark, so all of you looked dark.”

“Honey, don’t worry about it. It’s no big deal.”

“It’s rude.”

Brax threw back his head and laughed and Jenny scowled at him. He’d been laughing almost non-stop since he’d told her they were going to visit his friend and his fiancée.

“Quit laughing at me.”

“I’m laughing with you,” Brax said as he looked over at her when they pulled up to a stop sign.

“I’m not laughing, therefore, you’re laughing at me.”

“Jenny, you’re cute as a button. Please don’t worry. You liked last night, didn’t you?”

“Yeah,” she eventually admitted. “But you said that Mateo was one of your best friends.”

“I did. That’s why I know he’s going to love you.”

“Yeah, the woman with the panic attacks that you’ve been babysitting. The one who made you sleep on a tiny couch.”

“I slept on the floor. The couch was too small.”

“That’s even worse,” she wailed.

“Are you kidding? Sleeping on soft carpet in a warm room is heaven compared to where I’ve slept in the past.” Brax held out his hand and she looked at it. “Take it.”

She stared at it.

“Be brave, Jenny, hold my hand. We’ve kissed. You can surely hold my hand.”

She bit the inside of her cheek, then took his hand, and he threaded their fingers together. They continued along, and she stared at his profile. He was so handsome. She could gaze at him forever.

He glanced over at her. “Do I have something on my cheek?”

She could feel herself blushing, but dammit, she wasn’t going to be all blushing-high-school-girl. “I like how you look.”

“That’s a relief, since you know I almost had a heart attack when you came out of the bedroom in that outfit this morning. It sure as hell was worth the wait.” He squeezed her hand a little tighter. It shot tingles throughout her body.

“I bought some clothes online.”

“You did good. Let me say again, the boots are stellar.”

Jenny had to force down a grin. She’d had Brax in mind when she’d bought the tight, black, knee-high leather boots with the crisscross laces up the sides. They went perfectly with her skinny jeans and red sweater. She’d even blown-out her hair so it had extra body. Only lip gloss though, since they had just been going to breakfast.

Hopefully her outfit would be okay when she met Lainey. She’d bought the boots to impress a man, but maybe Lainey wouldn’t like them. Would she think they were too over the top? Too slutty?

“Whatever you’re thinking, stop.”

“I’m not thinking anything. I’m sitting here wondering when we’re going to get to Mateo and Lainey’s house.”

“Liar. You’re getting yourself worked up again.”

She blew out a breath. “You’re not supposed to know me so well. It’s against the rules.”

“You know me just as well. We’ve been talking on the phone twice a day for almost a month. Some of our conversations have lasted over an hour. I think that’s close to twenty dates, don’t you?”

“I think you’ve been sniffing cleaning fluid, or licking lizards. What makes you think I would have gone out on twenty dates with you?”

“’Cause you like me.” His fingers tightened around hers, and he brought her hand up to his face and he whispered a kiss across her knuckles. “Mateo and Lainey are going to love you.”

“I hope so,” she said with a sly smile. “But this is a make or break it moment.”

“You’ll get along with them just fine, stop worrying.”

“I’m not worrying about them, I’m worried about your dog. ’Cause don’t lie to me Braxton Walker; you’re sweating bullets over there hoping that I’ll get along with your dog.”

He turned his head and gave her a sharp look. “You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do. You’re totally one of those, ‘love me, love my dog’ types. You’ve talked about Faith a lot. It’s one of the things that made you so approachable. I don’t think I would have glommed onto you so much if I hadn’t heard how much you love her.”

He gave her hand another squeeze. “Well, then I’m happy.”

Mateo and Brax stood at the grill as they watched Lainey and Jenny playing fetch with the three dogs.

“You’re going to overcook the burgers,” Brax said for the second time.

“I’m from Argentina, grilling meat is in my bones. The burgers will come out perfectly,” Mateo assured him. “Go play with the dogs.”

“I like watching.”

“You’re just happy that your woman and dog are bonding.”

Brax grinned. “You’re not wrong.”

Jenny was good with all three of the dogs, including Xena, who was often skittish around new people. But Jenny didn’t have the ‘mom’ voice, so the dogs didn’t obey her when she told them to get down. Her jeans and sweater were covered with dog hair. But she didn’t seem to mind.

“It’s hard to believe she’s the same person we rescued seven weeks ago,” Mateo said as he pointed his spatula at the cheese.

Brax handed him a couple of slices.

“Yesterday helped her a little,” Brax admitted. “Knowing she’s someplace safe makes all the difference.”

“Yeah, it did for Lainey, too. But you’re her touchstone.”

Brax watched as Mateo turned the patties and put the cheese on two of them.

“Ya think?”

“I know. You two bonded back in Bangladesh, and with all the calls, I’d say it’s even more since you’ve both been in the States.”

“Maybe.”

“How long are each of your calls?” Mateo asked.

“I told her in the truck on the way over, that the calls were the equivalent of twenty dates.”

“You’re shitting me,” Mateo said as he looked over at him.

“Okay, maybe only fifteen,” Brax admitted.

“Nah, probably twenty,” Mateo disagreed. “You even knew that she doesn’t like cheese on her burgers, I didn’t have to ask.”

“She’s allergic to dairy.”

“I rest my case,” Mateo smirked. “Lunch is ready,” he hollered out.

Brax laughed when the first ones to the deck were the three dogs. “You do not get people food,” Mateo admonished. “There is food in your bowls.” He pointed to the three bowls that were on the deck.

“Isn’t it kind of cold to be grilling?” Jenny asked as Mateo brought the burgers and grilled onions into the house.

“As far as Mateo is concerned it could be snowing and it’s still a good time to be grilling,” Lainey laughed as she brought out a macaroni salad from the refrigerator. She set it down on the set table, then went back to the kitchen and pulled something that smelled wonderful from the oven. She slid the slices into a bowl.

“What’s that?” Jenny asked as she brought it to the table.

“Provenzal-style Papas, they’re Argentinian spiced potatoes,” Lainey answered.

“You’ll love them,” Mateo assured her.

“If they taste as good as they smell, I’m sold,” Brax said.

“Are you sure there isn’t anything I can help you with?” Jenny asked Lainey.

“I’m sure, just sit down and enjoy.”

Soon they were all seated around the table, and Mateo and Brax were explaining about Gideon’s dog Lucy and how well trained she was. They didn’t go into the story on how she had sniffed out bombs that had saved a bunch of adults and children from being blown up when Gideon’s house had been sabotaged.

“I didn’t realize she was so well trained when I met her yesterday,” Jenny admitted. “She seemed so friendly and playful.”

“That’s part of her training as well,” Mateo said. “Our hope is to train Hercules and Faith as well as Gideon trained Lucy.”

“First, you’re going to have get them to obey you when you say ‘heel’ and ‘sit.’” Lainey laughed.

Mateo leaned over and pulled Lainey in for a kiss. “I’ll show you how well I obey tonight,” he said after he was done.

Brax saw Jenny blush. It was cute. Hell, it was a mild kiss, not like the one he and Jenny had shared. And not like the one he intended to share with Jenny tonight.

Lainey shook her head. “Don’t mind him, he’s going through his teenage years, just like the dogs.”

“And you love it,” Mateo murmured.

“If you don’t behave, you won’t get any of the chocotorta that I baked.”

Brax watched in fascination as his friend’s eyes went wide. “How did I not notice that you baked that? Where was I?”

“I baked it yesterday, while you were watching the soccer game with your friends.”

“I promise to be good.” He turned to Brax and Jenny. “You are in for a treat. Lainey is a Goddess in the kitchen. You will think you have died and gone to heaven when you taste her chocotorta.”

Brax laughed as his friend’s accent became more pronounced. Yep, Mateo had definitely found the right woman for him.