Everyone laughed, including Beckett. It wasn’t as if he could argue the woman’s claim.
“Sounds like that’s my cue to leave,” he half-joked. To Evie, he quietly asked, “You good here?”
If she wasn’t, he wouldn’t even think about leaving her side.
“I’m good.” Her dimpled smile was as genuine as it was beautiful. “Besides, from the looks of things, I think they might need some help.”
Beckett followed her line of sight, turning just in time to see Apollo and Falcon moving hastily in front of the grill. Flames shot up from beneath the appliance’s metal grate, and it was clear the two men were moving quickly to avoid burning their food to a crisp.
Standing a few feet away—and looking cool as a fucking cucumber—Digger took a sip of his beer while watching the humorous scene unfold. With a slight shake of his head, he shoved his free hand into the front pocket of his jeans as Falcon began dousing the flames with what Beckett assumed was clean water.
“I think you’re right.” Beckett’s gaze slid back to Evie’s. “Better go help put out the fire…literally.” He leaned in for a quick peck on her lips…just because he could. “You know where to find me.”
“I’ll follow the smoke.”
He laughed as he turned and walked away, laughing as he crossed the patio to offer aid to his barbeque-impaired friends. Beckett didn’t look back or second-guess his decision to leave Evie with the girls. He could already tell she was going to fit right in.
“Are youtryingto turn those burgers into hockey pucks, or do you just prefer your meat overdone?” He couldn’t resist the dig.
“You think you can do better, be my guest,” Apollo groused back. “Damn thing got too hot too fast.”
“No shit,” Beckett snorted sarcastically as he held out his hand palm-up toward Falcon. “Give me the bottle and step aside.”
Falcon did as he was asked, grumbling something under his breath about Texans and their barbeque. In response, Beckett brought the plastic nozzle closer to the grate and sprayed.
“Say what you want, city boy,” he swiftly began extinguishing the unruly flames. “If it’s one thing I know, it’s how to work a damn grill.”
“Looks to me like you’ve been working something else.” Falcon jutted his chin in the ladies’ direction.
“And?” Beckett didn’t bother looking. “I already told you Evie and I were together.”
“Oh, I know.” Falcon took a swig of the beer he’d just opened and shrugged. “I just try to give you shit every chance I can.”
“Yeah, well…maybe next time you should try harder, ’cause that was totally lame.”
“My ass, it was lame. And you aren’t the only one on this team who can make a joke, you know?”
“Yeah, but…does it really count if nobody laughs?” Beckett pointed to Apollo as the other man began to chuckle. “See? Nowthat’sthe reaction you want when telling a joke.”
“Fuck you, Bones.” Falcon flipped him the bird before changing to a more genuine tone. “Seriously, though. I like Evie, and I truly hope things work out for the two of you.”
“Yeah?”
The other man frowned. “You act like that surprises you. Told you on the phone the other day that I’m cool with it.” Hisgaze slid over to Apollo and Digger before bringing it back to Beckett’s. “We all are.”
“No, I know.” Beckett set the nearly empty water bottle down before grabbing the long, metal spatula to flip the burgers. “And I told her as much. I guess I just expected more blowback, what with Evie being a former rescue, and the fact that we haven’t known each other very lo?—”
“I fell in love with Avery damn near the moment I met her,” Falcon cut him off. “And need I remind you that she was also a Tac-Ops rescue…twice?”
“So was Nicki,” Apollo chimed in. “Granted, she and I had a history before that fucker Beñová tried to kill her. But still…”
The small group of men fell momentarily silent as memories from that tumultuous time came rushing back. Not long after, Falcon turned his blue eyes Beckett’s way.
“Time frame doesn’t matter when it’s right.” The former Ranger looked as serious as ever. “She handled herself damn well with those asshole terrorists, which means not only is she smart, but she’s tough. And there isn’t a person here who’d judge you for falling in love with a woman you rescued. I mean, at this point…” His intense expression gave way to a smirk. “It’s kinda what we do.”
Both Apollo and Falcon joined Beckett in a sudden state of laughter because…well…Falcon was right. Both he and Apollo had found the love of their lives in the midst of rescues and danger, and if this thing worked out with Evie, it would mean he had, too.
Three down, one to go…