Stubborn woman. That’s what she was. A stubborn ass woman. After Beau had wrapped her ankle and handed her an ice pack, Graham didn’t waste any time scooping her up and carrying her to the cabin he shared with Zach and depositing her on his bed. He could have put her on the couch, or even in Zach’s bed, but the possessive part of him wouldn’t let him put her anywhere but his bed. Jesus. If he didn’t rein himself in, he’d be pissing on her like a dog marking his territory. And that wasn’t a kink he understood.
“Please tell me this isn’t your bed.”
“No can do, sweetheart. It’s this or the ground.” Graham felt a twinge of guilt for lying, but it had been a long fucking day, and he wasn’t up for another argument with her. He had three men out in the field, and his dick needed some attention. And he didn’t think he’d be successful in convincing her to take care of it. Though the thought had his cock twitching.
He lit the oil lamp that sat on the nightstand while he waited for her to explode.
“Look, Conan—”
Graham couldn’t help the chuckle that came out. He knew he hadn’t given her his name. He wasn’t big on offering information, let alone personal details. He supposed Conan was marginally better than calling him asshole.
“It’s Graham, not Conan. Graham Buchanan.”
“What, no rank and serial number?”
“Not anymore, sweetheart.” Graham liked her sassy attitude. This one could definitely hold his interest past morning. And she’d certainly already charmed Zach. But Zach was a sucker for all pretty women.
“I thought once a Marine, always a Marine?”
Graham’s gaze snapped to her face. Had he been wrong? Had she really been bait? Fuck. He needed to know once and for all.
He leveled his don’t you fucking lie to me stare at her. “I’m going to ask you one time, and you better tell me the whole fucking truth or you won’t be leaving this room … who sent you?”
She met his stare head on. “What are you talking about? No. One. Sent. Me. Are you dense?”
“Then how do you know I served in the Corps?” Graham’s voice had taken on the deadly quiet tone he generally reserved for interrogations. But that didn’t seem to stem her attitude.
“Are you serious? It’s obvious you’re military … or were. Everything from the camo paint to the M4 to sending guys out for fire watch to the way you make your bed! And I didn’t know you were a Marine. It’s just something my dad always says. You know, ‘There are no former Marines?’ So back the fuck off.” Graham could almost feel her grinding her teeth as she said the last words.
He opened his mouth to speak when his radio squawked.
“The boys are coming in fast. They’ve got a fourth. Being carried in by Cam. G-man, you copy?”
Graham grabbed the radio but locked eyes on Rowan when he responded, “Roger that. Male or female?” He’d taken out the earpiece after his accidental soaking and turned up the volume, so she was hearing the report, too.
“Female.”
The word got her attention, and comprehension seemed to dawn. Her mouth dropped open. Speechless. Graham would bet a decent amount of money that it didn’t happen often. He also felt a warm rush of triumph—she wasn’t bait. Which meant that his instincts weren’t going to shit, and even better, she was fair game.
Still staring at her, he replied, “Roger that. I’m on my way.”
He clipped the radio to his belt, looked at Rowan, and did something he rarely did—apologize.
“I’m sorry. I have reasons, but I won’t make excuses. You good to bed down for the night?”
She looked stunned. “Yeah, I’m good. Did you ...” she trailed off. Apparently when she was stunned, she couldn’t form complete sentences. But Graham knew exactly what she was asking.
“Yeah, I did.”
Graham left a speechless Rowan in his cabin and headed toward the command post. Jonah, the only married member of the team, would be waiting for him. Graham looked down at his watch; it was closing in on oh-one-hundred. Jonah had a bed with a warm, willing woman waiting for him, but tonight, so did Graham. Well, she was warm, at least. Willing was a stretch at this point.
Graham made his way to the concrete structure they’d built to house the command post and the armory. It was centrally located and was one of the few buildings that weren’t already on the premises when he’d inherited the ranch from his uncle.
Sure enough, Jonah was standing outside the door waiting for Graham.
“Perfect timing, G. They’re just coming in the west bolt hole.”
“If she’s in the shape I suspect, then she needs to go straight to Beau to get checked out,” Graham replied.
“Already radioed him.”