Submit (Whiskey Run Heroes 3)

“No,” I tell her instantly. I mean, what kind of man does she think I am? As if I’d ever put another woman’s ring on her finger. Fuck, at this point I can’t even remember any woman before her... at least I don’t want to.

I take my hand back and drop it to the file in my lap. I'm definitely not going to be getting into all of that with her. She doesn't need to know that I picked this ring up the day that I met her. Even to me, that sounds crazy. She’d probably go running off the plane if she found out. Probably even put out a restraining order, and I can’t say I’d blame her.

She waves her hand in front of my face. “Bear... Earth to Bear. Are you going to explain this to me?”

I shrug my shoulders as if it doesn't matter to me at all. “It's done now, and we don't have a choice. These are the rings that we have to wear.” I show her my hand with the matching wedding band.

She wants to keep arguing with me or at least get answers, but when I give her the look—the one that says I’m not going to give in—she finally shrugs in defeat. She gives up, knowing that I'm not going to give her an answer, and she shoves the ring back firmly onto her finger.

“I told Nash I’d take care of it, and I did,” I tell her as if that’s enough reason.

Her hands start to fidget in her lap. “Is this how this is going to be? You're going to tell me what is going to happen, and you just expect me to go along with it? I'm not made that way. That's not who I am. I'm independent and don't appreciate being told what to do, how to do it, or when to do it.”

I look around at the passengers around us, and I don't take the bait. I'm not going to get into an argument with her here. I don't want to argue with her. So when she finishes, I just smirk, which probably pisses her off more. But it’s either I piss her off or I kiss her. I’m willing to bet the latter wouldn’t end well. “Is this our first argument as husband and wife?”

She rolls her eyes and takes a deep breath. I can tell she’s trying to get herself together, which I hate because I like it when she gets all riled up.

Sam

I lean back in my seat and take three calming breaths. I've had my eyes on Bear ever since I spotted him from the front of the plane and then had to climb over him to get to my seat. Obviously, I'm taking everything to heart and being erratic, because just being this close to him is messing with all of my senses. He's a big man. I know he's a big man. But sitting next to him, this close, just makes me feel dainty and petite... and protected. A part of me hates that feeling. I've never thought about it this way, but I’m not the type of woman that wants to be protected. At least I didn’t think I was. But here I am sitting next to this big, alpha man and loving how it makes me feel. Maybe I don’t want just any man to be protective of me. But Bear I do. When I get myself together, I look down at the file instead of at him. That’s all I need is for him to read the attraction on my face, and this whole thing will be over before it even begins. “You're right, Bear. We're here for a job. So we need to do it and then get back to Whiskey Run.”

I open my file and start reading it and try to memorize everything I’m going to need to know for this mission. As I read through it, I call out some minor details that I'm catching on that maybe both of us need to be aware of. “It says we have two daughters.” I pull out the photos and show him. “Chelsea and Caitlin are their names.” He looks at the images and then at me. “Thank God they got your good looks,” he says, and I don't know which one of us is more surprised by that compliment. It causes a weird flutter in my belly, and I take the photos and put them back in the file.

I clear my throat and keep reading. “It says we've been married for five years and this is our five-year anniversary trip. We’re staying at the Playa Del Sol resort.” I smirk. “Fancy. And looks like we got invited to a poker game tonight after dinner.”

I keep reading and mention to Bear, “It looks like Dylan has planted who we are and that we're looking to get into the business.” I look over at Bear. “So I guess that means you are interested in getting into their business.” I say the words without actually saying it. I don't want to talk about human trafficking on the plane, but Bear knows exactly what I'm saying.