Page 11 of Rescuing Micah (Prey Security: Cyber Team #3)

“Sooooo.” Chelsea drew the word out, and when Teresa turned to look at her friend, she saw that Chelsea’s big gray eyes were wide, and she was watching her expectantly.

“So, what?” Teresa asked, returning her attention to her computer screen.

This morning had been weird, having Micah be so insistent on coming to see her mom and brother, even after abandoning her, had thrown her off-guard. Had he wanted to see them because he felt bad about what he’d done and was figuring out how to apologize to her?

There hadn't been an apology yet, but that didn't mean one wasn't coming.

And she couldn’t think of another reason why he would want to come and spend a bit of time with her mom and Arthur after she’d let him know that they knew he’d bailed on her after her assault.

At least he hadn't brought up Simon.

After Simon set her up to get gang raped, not just set her up, but actively pimped her out, her mom had basically had a breakdown. Knowing that one of her children, one of her little baby boys, had done something so horrific to one of her other children had left permanent scars on her soul.

They didn't talk about Simon.

Ever.

For any reason.

Even Arthur knew enough to understand that his big brother had done something bad, although he didn't have the capacity to grasp just how evil a thing Simon had done.

Her brother had served six years for his crimes, and although she had a permanent restraining order against him, he had turned up at her door a few times asking for money to feed his habit.

She never gave him any, and she called the cops, but in the end, the system didn't seem to really care because he never spent much time in prison for violating the order. He had been in and out a couple more times over the years, and she was sure at some point he’d do something that would wind up getting him a life sentence.

If Micah hadn't listened to her plea this morning and mentioned Simon, it would have upset the delicate balance her family precariously maintained. While it pained her to be grateful to him for anything, she was thankful he hadn't been a jerk and done it to spite her.

Actually, he hadn't been a jerk at all these last couple of days.

He’d been the Micah she’d known back when they were teens.

Why couldn’t he have stayed that way? Why did he have to change? Why did he have to ruin everything?

If he hadn't bailed on her, they’d likely be married by now, have a couple of kids, and have built a wonderful life together. Instead, she was alone and too afraid of getting hurt the same way he’d hurt her to try her hand at love a second time.

“We’re not going to talk about it then?” Chelsea asked.

“Talk about what?”

“Hmm, I don’t know. Maybe the super sexy SEAL who seems to have the hots for you and is currently playing your bodyguard.”

When she threw a quick glance Chelsea’s way, she saw her friend was wiggling her eyebrows and grinning despite the fact that she still looked pale, her nose was all red, and she sounded stuffed up with her cold.

“He doesn’t … he’s not …” Teresa stammered, feeling her cheeks heat in embarrassment as she tried to explain it wasn't like that. She still hadn't told her friends that she knew Micah, there hadn't been time, and she didn't want to dig into old wounds, reopening them.

Besides, she’d been hoping everyone would just assume the reason she was a little off was because of the break-in and almost being kidnapped.

That was certainly enough to throw anyone off, even someone like her who had a reputation for being calm under pressure, and practical in her approach to everything, including the dark and often disturbing work they did.

It wasn't that the things they saw didn't affect her, they did, deeply. It was just that she had learned early on how to compartmentalize and just do what needed to be done. That’s what she did every day, and when it got to be too much, then she had a good, long cry in the shower where no one would hear her.

“Lunch just arrived. Why don’t we take a break and eat?” Ava suggested, popping up beside Chelsea.

“I'm right in the middle of something, I’ll take a break in a bit,” she said, refocusing on her screen. She wasn't really in the middle of anything that couldn’t wait, but she didn't want to give Chelsea a chance to pursue her line of questioning.

“You’ll take a break now,” Micah informed her, appearing seemingly out of nowhere even though she knew he’d been in the room all along.

She’d just been doing her best to ignore his presence.

Something that was becoming increasingly harder to do.

The way he ordered her, swooped in, and tried to take over irked her, and she tossed him a glare. “I said I’d take a break later,” she ground out, doing her best not to let on how deeply this man affected her and knowing she was failing, which only irritated her more.

“But you won't. You’ll just keep working, pushing yourself too hard, and completely forgetting that you were injured yesterday.”

“Boy, does he have your number,” Chelsea whispered.

“Take a break. Eat some lunch, drink plenty of water, and then take these.” Micah set two white pills on the table beside her, then added a bottle of water and a sandwich.

While she knew she could refuse, Teresa also knew that if she put up too much of a fight, she’d only draw more suspicion. Already, Chelsea was hinting at there being something between her and Micah, and Ava wouldn't be far behind. If she wanted to nip that in the bud, she couldn’t go overboard.

“Fine,” she huffed, closing her laptop. “I’ll take a short break.”

“Good. You're a hard worker, and that’s amazing, but taking care of yourself is also important,” Micah said, and the warmth and genuineness of it made it hard to stay mad at him.

Her focus as a teen had always been taking care of her mom and brothers, making sure the housework was done, Arthur was entertained, and there was food on the table. But ever since they met, Micah’s focus had been on taking care of her.

It had been sweet back then, but now it was … she wasn't even sure.

Unsettling.

Truth was, she’d spent a whole lot more years hating him than she had loving him, and that was hard to undo, even if she wanted to. Which she didn't. Definitely didn't. Although that smile did do things to her. Things she didn't want to admit, even to herself.

“He’s so sexy and protective,” Chelsea whispered as Micah disappeared out the door, leaving Teresa thankful for the respite.

Not that it seemed she’d be getting much of one. Chelsea seemed determined to see things between her and Micah that just didn't exist. Probably the one way to shut it down was to tell them the truth, or at least some of it.

“Nathaniel likes him, says he’s a good guy. Has a bit of a reputation for sleeping around, but nothing excessive, and he’s never had a serious relationship in the time Nathaniel has known him,” Ava told her.

The thought of Micah with other women, even though he hadn't been hers in a very long time, had a knot forming in her stomach.

These two weren't going to let up until they knew, which left her with no other choice.

“Look, there’s nothing between us and there’s not going to be,” she told them, keeping her voice low, glad that Tobias had disappeared somewhere to have lunch alone with Isabella, and Josiah was off in his own world in the corner, fingers flying furiously across his keyboard.

“I already knew him. Before this. Back when we were teenagers.

We dated but it didn't work out. I hadn't seen him until the night of the break-in. I bumped into him downstairs, he was leaving as I was arriving. I can assure you that absolutely nothing is going to happen between us, so you two can take your romantic little ideas and place them elsewhere. Like on Ava and Nathaniel, and Tobias and Isabella.”

Those were couples in love, she and Micah just shared an unpleasant past.

Well, not all of it had been unpleasant. Most of it had been wonderful. Perfect. But that ending had ruined everything.

Both her friends stared at her with their mouths hanging open. They obviously hadn't been expecting to hear that.

“Are you sure Micah feels the same way? Because the way he looks at you …” Chelsea trailed off.

Knowing her friend meant well, and that Chelsea was a sweet romantic who saw the best in everyone and everything, she didn't get frustrated, she just nodded. “Positive. Let’s just say that things didn't end well between us. His popping up again is just the universe’s way to make sure I have plenty on my plate.” Same way it always did.

“Or,” Ava said gently, “it’s the universe’s way of righting past wrongs, and offering you both a chance to make the future whatever you want it to be.”

April 30 th

12:34 P.M.

“So,” Micah started hesitantly as he led Nathaniel into a quiet room and set their lunch on the table.

This was an awkward conversation, but he wasn't going to back down from it.

They’d known each other for years, serving on the same team for over four years now. Nathaniel was every bit as much a brother as if they’d been born to the same parents. They’d spent countless hours together, both in the field and at home, but they’d never had a conversation like this before.

Still, this was a conversation that needed to be had.

Just because Nathaniel hadn't known Teresa for long didn't mean he didn't know more about her than Micah himself did. He’d known Teresa the girl, not Teresa the woman.

But it was that version of Teresa that his friend had met, and while he was definitely feeling awkward about this conversation, he was going to have it anyway.

Because pretending he could keep his distance from Teresa was like pretending he could grow wings and fly. There was zero percent chance of either one of them happening.