“I get it,” he said, gently guiding her tray of food closer to make it easier for her to reach.
“Where’s the rest of your team?” she asked, taking a sip of her water.
“Meetings. We met with the general earlier, and I snuck away to come check on you. Raptor will cover for me.”
“You guys all have nicknames.”
“We do. I should’ve said Blake. He’s our team leader. He gave me the go ahead to come check on you. They wouldn’t update us—HIPAA regulations or something. I told the guys I’d find a way. It was hell just letting them take you away on the ambulance earlier. We had to debrief though.”
Her mind spun. It had been hell to leave her?
“Huh. So, what’s your nickname?” she asked.
“Everglades,” he said with a grin. “And what was that look? You doubted my ability to get in here?”
“Not at all,” she said with a smile. “You found me in the middle of the night in a terrorist camp, so I’m sure you could find me anywhere.” Their eyes locked for a brief moment, and in that instant, she knew it was true. He would find her anywhere. She couldn’t say why. This was his job, but it was something else. Something more. She met men all the time in her military career. Not a single one of them looked at her the way Ethan did or made her pulse pound just from being near her.
The man had left his meetings to come check on her. She didn’t even want to examine that too closely. Did he feel obligated? But then Grayson would’ve shown up, wouldn’t he? Because she was Hailey’s friend?
She was shocked she felt anything at all for Ethan. She’d been kidnapped by armed men and held against her will. He was nothing but good though. He fought for his country and protected those weaker than him. He rescued people in impossible situations like her and took out some of the world’s most wanted men.
How could she not like the way he made her feel safe anytime he was near? It was silly to even think she could be attracted to him after everything that had happened, but the mind worked in strange ways. Ethan was safe and good and strong.
“I grew up in South Florida,” he said after a moment, “and somehow the nickname Everglades stuck. I actually haven’t been back there in a year or so. My folks keep asking me to come visit. Have you talked to your parents yet?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “They said I can call them after I eat.”
“Has anyone met with you yet?” he asked.
“The investigators? No. I slept for a while. Then they had to clean me up, run some tests, and send a barrage of medical types in here. A psychologist came in earlier to talk with me, but I was too tired to say much. I’ll probably speak with her again later on.”
Ethan nodded, and she took a bite of her bland toast. “Did you eat yet?” she asked.
“Yep, the guys and I grabbed some food before we briefed with the general. It sounds like the Pentagon is planning on you catching a ride back with us.”
“Aren’t you guys based out of Coronado?”
“We are. We’ll stop and drop you off at Andrews Air Force Base before flying home. They’ll probably have you stay at Walter Reed a few days. Hopefully you don’t mind another helicopter ride.”
She shuddered, and Ethan frowned. “I can talk to my CO if that bothers you. He’s got some connections there.”
She looked at him in confusion. He’d do that? Call his commander and ask for her to be driven instead of flown to the hospital? She had to fly on an airplane though, so getting on a helicopter wouldn’t necessarily bring back more bad memories than that.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” she assured him.
“How are you holding up?” he asked.
She took another bite of her food, thinking about her answer. “It’s weird. I kind of feel like I’m dreaming and will wake up back in a cave. A prisoner. I don’t remember flying back here entirely, just getting on the helicopter with you. It feels like I imagined it and this is just some strange dream right now.”
Ethan nodded, resting his forearms on his legs as he leaned closer. She looked into his dark eyes, surprised at the intensity she saw there. It was sweet of him to check on her, but after they