That’s a depressing thought.
It was the truth, and she needed to accept it.
The elevator stopped, and the doors opened.
She now knew her way around—mostly—and found her way to the mess hall. It looked like most people had already come and gone, trays stacked neatly on top of trash bins, a few people sitting at the tables.
Jenna got a tray, silverware, and a plate and went through the line, asking for the spaghetti and then visiting the salad bar. She sat by herself near the door and had just spread her paper napkin on her lap when a woman she recognized from this morning’s meeting walked up to her, tray in hand.
“Do you mind if I join you?”
“Please.”
“I’m Elizabeth Shields. I was at the meeting this morning.” Elizabeth didn’t look like Jenna’s idea of a CIA analyst, with her long, strawberry blond hair, pretty face, and blue eyes. Then again, what did Jenna know about the CIA?
“I remember.”
Elizabeth picked up her fork. “So, you’re a midwife. What’s that like?”
Jenna described the work she did from well-woman checkups to prenatal care to STI screenings and contraception to attending births. Elizabeth listened and seemed fascinated by it, asking lots of questions, which Jenna answered as best she could. Before long, it felt like she and Elizabeth had known each other for years.
Then the conversation drifted from Jenna’s work to her brother’s time with the Green Berets and then to Derek. But it wasn’t Jenna’s place to tell Elizabeth how her brother had died saving Derek’s life. That was Derek’s story to tell.
Elizabeth leaned in. “Do you think he’s handsome?”
Jenna stared at her. “Derek?”
“Who else? Come on. You can tell me. It’s just us girls here.”
“I … uh … Sure.”
“Oh, come on. You’ve got a thing for him, and he’s attracted to you, too.”
Heat rushed into Jenna’s cheeks.
Quinn McManus, the tall, redheaded Scotsman, walked up to them on his way to the food line. “Be careful when you’re talkin’ wi’ Lilibet. She’s a human intelligence expert. She’ll have you sharin’ your deepest secrets and thinkin’ it was your idea.”
Elizabeth glared at him. “We’re just enjoying some female bonding time.”
“Are you now?” With that, McManus turned and walked away, a grin on his rugged face. “Wi’ you, it’s hard to tell.”
Jenna looked straight into Elizabeth’s eyes. “Was this all a fishing expedition to get information about Derek?”
Elizabeth popped a cherry tomato into her mouth, chewed. “Oh, honey, we all know you two have a thing for each other. I’ve worked with Derek for a few years now, and I’ve never seen him look at any woman the way he looks at you. As for you, you’re an open book. Every emotion you feel is right there on your face.”
Jenna didn’t like that. She didn’t want to be anyone’s open book, and she sure as hell didn’t want to cause trouble for Derek.
She willed herself to laugh. “I guess your CIA radar is broken. Derek and I are just friends. Talking about my brother brought back a lot of memories for both of us. That’s all it is.”
Elizabeth gave Jenna a contrite smile. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be nosy or make you uncomfortable. It’s none of my business. We’re the only women in this building, and I guess I miss having someone to talk to.”
Jenna could understand that. “A lot of women would envy you. You’re surrounded by tall, ripped guys all day every day.”
Oh, yes, Jenna had noticed. How could she not?
Quinn McManus with his red hair and beard and his Scottish swagger. Malik Jones with his short dark hair, expressive face, and coppery skin. Dylan Cruz with his mixed Afro-Latin features and faint Spanish accent. Connor O’Neal with his dark hair, poet’s face, and blue eyes.
“True—they’re hot.” Elizabeth’s gaze drifted to Quinn. “But I can’t hook up with any of them, not if I want this job. They won’t come near me.”