same thing when the operational order had come down.
“Tajikistan’s proximity to Afghanistan makes it an ideal location for terrorist safe havens,” he explained. “According to the State Department, the amount of fighters, weapons, and drugs flowing back and forth across the border finally got bad enough for them to ask for help. We’re going in to help conduct counterterrorism training.”
“How long are you guys going to be there?” Landon asked as he flipped the burgers, steaks, and chicken on the grill—in that order.
“Probably two or three months, but it could be as long as six.” Derek frowned down at his bottle of beer. “So, why is Kendra in Costa Rica again?”
Angelo almost laughed. Derek never was a subtle guy. While the medic liked hanging out with Landon as much as Angelo did, Derek had mainly come on the impromptu vacation with the hope of seeing Kendra again. According to him, they’d hit it off at Landon and Ivy’s wedding.
Landon moved the chicken to a cooler part of the grill. “I think it’s the boss’s way of showing his appreciation for all the hard work she does for him.”
Derek frowned. “By sending her to Costa Rica? Couldn’t he just give her a few extra days of leave?”
Landon chuckled. “John probably would have, but Kendra has her own idea of fun. She wanted to go.”
“I don’t think fun had anything to do with it.” Angelo grinned as he reached for his bottle of beer. “She probably heard Derek was coming up here and figured getting out of town was the best way to avoid having to tell him she’s not interested.”
Derek gave him a sour look. “You just don’t want to admit that Kendra and I made a connection. Admit it. We’re meant to be together.”
Angelo almost choked on his beer. “You made a connection? All you did was dance with her, dude.”
“There’s dancing, and then there’s dancing, Tex-Mex.” Derek shook his head with a snort. “Why am I bothering? You’re not even qualified to evaluate my relationship with Kendra. You’ve never connected with a woman in your life.”
That wasn’t exactly true. Angelo had connected with a lot of women over the years, just not in the way Derek was talking about. But that was by choice. He’d learned long ago that women, long-term relationships, and Army Special Forces didn’t mix. Never had and never would. He’d seen firsthand what endless deployments and dangerous missions could do to a wife a Special Forces operator left behind. Every time his father shipped out, his mother had died a little inside until it finally destroyed her. Angelo had vowed then to never get married, or even involved seriously with a woman until he got out of the military. Since he intended to make a career of being a soldier, that was going to be a long time.
Landon opened the sliding glass door and leaned in. “Protein’s just about ready out here, hon.”
“We’re almost done in here, too,” Ivy called.
“Keep your shirts on,” said Clayne’s fiancée, Danica Beckett. “Or don’t. Ivy and I won’t complain.”
The two women laughed at the joke, while Clayne let out a snort. Angelo still wasn’t sure how the gruff wolf shifter—man, it was going to take a while to get used to the idea that there were people who had animal DNA—had landed an amazing woman like Danica.
“When are you two getting married?” Angelo asked.
“I’d get married today, but Danica says we have to do it right.” Clayne grabbed another beer out of the cooler by the deck railing. “By that, she means get married in a church.”
Landon straddled the bottom of a lounge chair and sat down. He’d always worn his hair shorter than the rest of the guys on the team, but since going to work for the DCO, he’d let it grow some. “Isn’t that where most people get married?”
“Yeah, I guess, but I don’t do churches.” The words were practically a growl. “I thought we’d just go to Vegas or something.”
Derek shook his head. “Man, you know less about women than Angelo does.”
Clayne grunted. “Don’t even get me started on the other stuff. Between invitations, gift registries, flowers, cake, and DJs, my head is about to explode.”
Landon chuckled and started to reply when his cell phone rang. He dug it out of his pocket and put it to his ear. “Donovan.”
As Landon moved to the other side of the terrace to take the call, Angelo opened his mouth to ask Clayne if Danica was going to