Well, Sa was decent about representing his team’s services, at the very least. Plus, he was a capable dog handler. And when they got right down to it, the man hadn’t been wrong yet in this conversation.
“Our finances aren’t limitless.” Forte hated putting a price to Sophie’s safety. But private military contract organizations were ruled by the bottom line. It was why their employers were usually organizations or government sources, not individuals. “I need to see a price proposal before we finalize any deal.”
Sa grinned. “Team lead is pulling it together now for an informal request for proposal. He likes to make sure agreements are clear for all parties.”
More power to the man. Forte hated paperwork. But a situation like this couldn’t be handled with a simple verbal agreement. There were too many variables that needed to be defined to keep them all in good standing with each other.
“Let’s wait for him to get that finalized.” Forte dragged his fingers through his hair. “And let’s see you with Taz and Dodger. I want to get you paired with the best candidate before I leave, so you can complete your training with Rojas and Cruz.”
*
“They didn’t answer my text about the underwear.” Elisa sighed and placed her smartphone down on the coffee table.
Sophie and Lyn sat on the couch with her, and the three of them stared at the go bag. It was a decent size. Boom could probably curl into it when it was empty. Currently, it held a whole bunch of practical items. Next to it on the coffee table was a cat carrier, containing Sophie’s new cat.
The cat seemed unfazed about the sudden change of location. She wasn’t at all upset about being in the carrier, either. She’d apparently decided now was the time for a nap.
“I packed this for a natural disaster or zombie apocalypse.” Sophie poked the go bag with a finger. “I didn’t think this was what I’d be taking with me on a trip with Brandon.”
Though, it would be very likely in the event of an emergency that she’d have done her best to meet up with Brandon and the people from Hope’s Crossing Kennels. Or she might’ve gone with family. Sitting there, faced with the bag right in front of her, the choices seemed a lot more real than when she’d initially packed it.
“Technically, this is an unforeseen circumstance. There’s no telling what could happen.” Lyn sounded thoughtful. “I may have to rethink my go bag.”
“Me too.” Elisa sighed. “Of course, Brandon might not realize the implications of telling you he was taking you away somewhere. Do you think either David or Alex might clue him in?”
Maybe? Hard to tell what those men communicated with one another. They were, by habit, concise. There’d been times when Sophie had seen them have an entire conversation in a series of head nods and hand signals. She was fairly certain none of them had done it intentionally, either. They’d just all been focused on getting work done and had fallen back on old habits.
Lyn shook her head. “I’d say it’s not likely. They stay out of each other’s romantic shenanigans.”
Sophie groaned and let herself fall backward into the couch cushions. “This is absolutely true. But he kissed me.”
Lyn grinned. “He did.”
“Yup, he did.” Elisa joined in with a grin of her own.
The memory of his lips against hers. Oh, they’d kissed in high school and she had those memories, but they were sweet and a little awkward. The way Brandon kissed now was a completely new, hotter-than-wow experience. She couldn’t stop remembering. Not just the memory in her mind, but the heat of it on her lips. Sophie clamped her hands over her mouth.
This was crazy. And was this finally going to happen?
She so definitely wanted this to happen.
“I am tired of being the girl down the street.” Technically. The girl next door to Brandon’s house had been a cheerleader. He hadn’t interacted with that girl, and Sophie truly couldn’t even recall her name. No. Sophie had lived down the street from him, and he’d begun walking her home from the bus stop back in high school. It’d been a different time, and life was so much different now. “We know he hasn’t seriously dated someone since he got back from active duty. Maybe he’s not looking to make this a thing.”
And part of the reason Sophie hadn’t tried to let Brandon know how much she wanted him before now had been precisely because she didn’t want to be one of those one-night wonders.
Lyn pursed her lips. “He might not be out there dating as much as it looks like he is. And you’ve dated, too, but it’s been clear, at least to me, that your attention is focused on him specifically.”
Elisa nodded. “Really, the only people not aware of what’s between the two of you…are the two of you.”
Sophie shook her head. She could believe them. She’d watched both of them struggle through the madness when they’d begun their relationships with David and Alex.