Eventually, the guys start to talk, and they mention the trip to Florida. Thankfully, the mission was a success. Everything was resolved except there were a few hiccups, like when Madison showed up at the drop when Knox was supposed to be guarding her at the hotel.
“Man, I had fun in Florida. I wouldn’t mind going back. How about it, Sam? I can pose as the husband if it means I get to relax beachside.”
Logan slaps Knox on the back and starts laughing. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen. I bet you’re on desk duty for letting Madison skip out.”
Knox instantly looks at John. “I’m sorry, man. Who would have thought your girl would be an ex-gymnast and could scale the side of buildings?”
Everyone is laughing when the doors open, but instantly the whole room quiets. Every eye in the room is on Bear and Nash as they walk back in. I try to read their body language, but neither one of them seems mad. They seem normal. Well, normal for Bear, anyway. He still has a scowl on his face.
Bear takes his seat, and instead of looking at Nash, he looks straight at me. My whole body turns hot, and I can feel myself start to sweat. There are butterflies in my stomach, and I’m so confused on how I could be mad at him only moments ago, thinking he’s jeopardizing my job, and now I’m all turned on with just a look. Pull yourself together, Sam, I tell myself.
I have to pull my eyes from him and look at Nash. He holds his hands up and clears his throat. “There's a change in plans. It will be Bear and Samantha making the trip to Miami.”
Everybody tries to act like they're not surprised, but it's obvious that everyone is caught off guard. Nash doesn't take any notice. He addresses Logan since Dylan is home with Jenna and the new baby. “I'm gonna need you to take over on tech today. I need some IDs for Bear and Samantha, and I need their histories swiped and clean. I have the profiles of what I want in the folder.”
Logan nods his head and agrees.
Nash continues to go over details, and I know I should be listening, but I’m not. My thoughts are a jumbled mess on what is happening, and soon after, Nash must call the meeting over because everyone starts to get up.
It seems that they're all scurrying to the door as fast as they can. I wait until the room is clear and stop next to Bear, who’s still sitting in his seat, looking over the file in his hands. “Uh, Bear, can I see you outside for a minute?”
He merely nods his head, and I follow him out the side door to the back. Any other time I come out this door, I'm always in awe of the mountains, but not today. Today I'm seething mad as I stare at Bear. “What is your problem?”
His forehead creases as if he's confused or something, and I know that he's not. He can't be. He has to realize the scene he just caused in there and what it did to me. Now everyone is going to be questioning me and my performance. I take a step toward him. “What is it? You don't think I can handle myself? You want to be there in Miami to micromanage everything I do? Do you know that I was a first sergeant in the Army? Do you know that I have fought in war on the frontlines? I can do this without you there telling me what I'm doing wrong.”
I'm spitting mad by the time I'm done, and it makes it even worse when he just crosses his arms over his chest. “Are you done?” he asks me calmly.
I shake my head and throw my hands in the air. “Forget it. I'm going to go talk to Nash. I'm not going to Miami with you, Bear.”
He puts his hand on the door but doesn't open it. “You're going with me or you're not going.”
I’m seething mad and so freakin’ frustrated. I’m going back and forth on whether I want to smack him on the face or kiss him. Damn it. I shake my head. “Well, I won't go then,” I snarl at him.
He's still holding the door closed. “There were 35 women kidnapped this month alone, just through this organization that we're going to get intel on. You're telling me that you're going to let them get away with it because you don't want to go on a trip with me?”
I rear back and look at him. It's the most he's ever said in one sentence to me. Heck, it's probably the most he's ever said to me period. “It's not that I don't want to go on a trip with you. I just—"