into Tristan’s camo shirt pocket. He gave her a meaningful look and she smiled.
Then it was time to head to the airport where Chris, Vin and Beau would go back to DC and she’d get on her flight for Aruba. Tristan picked up her bag before she could reach for it and preceded her out. It had started to snow. Again. That would mean more shoveling for Tristan. Chris popped the trunk and Tristan set her bag inside and moved back onto the curb as her coworkers deposited their own carry-on bags inside.
Chris slammed the trunk and moved around to the driver’s side of the car. Amber gave Tristan a brave smile, tilting up her chin. She wanted to hug him, kiss him, but her coworkers were standing right there.
Snow floated down slowly like feathers, settling on his shoulders and in his dark hair and lashes. The bleak sky mirrored the feeling deep in her gut.
Expelling his breath in a violent shudder, Tristan took the two strides that separated them. In front of her boss and her two coworkers, he pulled her roughly against him, nearly crushing her. With tears stinging her eyes, Amber cradled his head, absolutely torn apart, so fresh from their ordeal, from his heroic effort to save her life. She knew in her heart that he had never intended this to happen. But she also knew this was his final goodbye.
And it nearly killed her.
Tightly closing her eyes to try to dam the tears, she continued to hold him with all her strength, afraid if she loosened her hold just a little, he would disappear like smoke. She had no idea how long they stood like that, clinging to each other, afraid what would happen if they let go. His chest rose sharply, pressing against her as he took a deep, uneven breath, his mouth sliding along her cheek to her lips. He kissed her deeply, then he said, “Take care of yourself, sweetheart.”
She gripped the back of his neck. “You, too, Marine. You stay safe,” she said fiercely.
Tristan turned and went back into his town house and Amber turned and headed toward the rental car. Chris was behind the wheel and Vin in the front seat. She met Vin’s eyes through the glass and his compassion was almost too much to bear. She slid into the backseat, where Beau was sitting.
“We all set?” Chris said, starting up the car. She met his gaze in the rearview mirror, his look telling her he was happy and relieved to have her safe.
Amber held it for a moment, thankful to have such a great boss and two solid, caring coworkers. “Good to go,” she said more brightly than she felt. “Time for my much-postponed vacation. I know you’re all jealous.”
They grumbled, pretending they were totally envious and good-naturedly wishing her a good time as Chris pulled away from the curb. She couldn’t help one more glance back. In the picture window, Tristan watched her drive away, his hand flat against the glass. She pressed her hand against the car window and kept her eyes on his through the thick, white drifting snow until they went around the bend and his town house and the sight of his stoic, handsome face disappeared from view.
She turned back and, without a word, Beau reached over and snagged her hand with his. He squeezed it once and held it all the way to the airport.
Tristan stood up in front of the new class of scout snipers who had just arrived and were settling in. They had a week before the class would officially start, and Tristan was taking some leave to recover from the harrowing two days in the mountains.
His imposed exile from Force Recon would be over in six weeks. He reached into his pocket and felt the paper that Amber had tucked in there. He pulled it out and saw it was her pancake recipe.
Suddenly, with that goal so close, Tristan found that it had somehow lost its importance. He caught himself thinking about Rock’s offer, urging him to get out and work with him in something that he knew Tristan would love. Going into business with Rock would be amazing, and he acknowledged to himself, finally, that Rock was his best friend. He’d given the man enough crap over the time they’d known each other, but like the moniker he carried, he’d been a rock.
Tristan had thought his decision was clear. Another tour with Force Recon. But as the