“You can’t be back here.” The blurted comment came out harsher than she’d intended. When Chase blinked with confusion, Scottie quickly offered a rushed explanation. “Sorry. What I meant to say was that my boss doesn’t allow men inside the shelter. Other than the guards she’s personally hired, of course.”
“Like Hank?”
It was her turn to blink. “You know Hank?”
“Knowis a subjective term.” He smirked. “We just met on my way in here. But I do know Sloane Richardson.”
“You know Sloane?” Another adorable frown. “How?”
“Through the private security company I work for. We’ve sent a few clients Sloane’s way since we first opened last year. And, in the spirit of keeping our working relationship with my firm and the shelter going strong, my team’s working tonight’s fundraising event.”
“Private security?” Scottie stared up into those seas of blues. “You left the Navy?”
“More like the Navy left me.”
The man’s muttered words left her frowning once again. “What do you mean, the Navy left?—”
“Nothing.” He brushed the comment away. “I’m just being a smartass.”
“I guess some things never change.”
“Guess not.” His broad shoulders shook with a low chuckle that took her back to the best time of her life. “But seriously, working for Eagle’s Nest Securities…” A soft huff escaped past his lips. “It’s so much better than being under Uncle Sam’s thumb. Plus, I still get to work side by side with the same group of guys as when we were still SEALs, so at least there’s that.”
“Oh, wow. Sloane told me the Eagle’s Nest guys were former SEALs. She never mentioned you all served together, too. That’s pretty cool, you and your friends still being able to work alongside each other.”
Just like the man himself, Chase’s smile was one hundred percent genuine. “It is.” He nodded. “Almost as cool as running into you again after all this time.”
Scottie held his gaze as it darkened with an unmistakable blaze. It was the same way he used to look at her back when they were dating. A look that revealed exactly what the man wanted.
It’s me. He wants…me.
Wrong. He’dwantedher. Past tense.
Very,verypast tense.
It had been…what? Fourteen years since they’d seen each other? The man was probably married with five kids by now.
In a subconscious move, Scottie’s gaze was pulled to Chase’s left hand. Hope she had no business feeling seeped into her soul when she found his ring finger void of any jewelry.
No ring doesn’t necessarily mean no wife.
It also didn’t mean Chase wasn’t seeing someone on the regular. Not that it should matter to her one way or the other. Because it didn’t.
Not anymore.
They’d been kids when she’d left him standing in the rain with nothing more than a final kiss and a heartbreaking goodbye. It had been a different time. A different life. And now…
“So…private security, huh?” She began the conversation again. “Sloane talks about you guys a lot.”
“Sure hope what she’s shared was positive.”
“And if it’s not?” She played along with his little game because…God, she’d missed him.
“Then I’d say, your boss was either referring to a different team, or she’s been grossly misled.”
“Misled about what?”
Scottie and Chase both turned as the woman in question entered the spacious kitchen. Sloane Richardson was forty-five, though, she could easily pass for forty.