Finding Carly (SEAL Team Hawaii #5)(63)

“Baker,” Jag said. “Good to see you.”

“Same,” Baker said with a small tilt of his chin.

“Anything new?”

“No.”

His answer was short, and he obviously wasn’t happy about it. Carly knew they were talking about her situation. She suddenly felt bad for thinking Baker was anything other than what he was…a friend doing everything in his power to help her out. He didn’t have to. He didn’t know her, wasn’t even an active-duty SEAL anymore. But according to Jag, and despite a frustrating lack of progress, he was still working long hours to try to figure out who’d been helping Shawn. Including spending a lot of time away from his house up at the North Shore, following Shawn’s friends, trying to find something, anything, that would tie them to what had happened.

At the sleepover the other night, Carly had found out more details about Monica’s kidnapping, and how Baker had put himself in danger to save her. No matter how gruff and deadly he seemed…he was a good man.

Before she could overthink it, Carly took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Baker.

He tensed in her embrace, but Carly didn’t let go. He was taller than Jag, making her feel even shorter than normal, but she held on. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I appreciate you trying to help me. And for what you did for Monica. And Elodie. Hell, all of us.” She looked up at him. “Free food for life,” she declared recklessly.

“What?” he asked, looking somewhat flustered. He hadn’t hugged her back. He was holding his arms slightly out at his sides, as if he wasn’t sure what to do with them.

“At Duke’s, free food for life. If you’re ever in Waikiki and you’re hungry, you can eat there for free.”

“Hey, I don’t even get that!” Carly heard Aleck say, but she kept her gaze locked on Baker’s. “I know, you probably aren’t down there very often, but still. I don’t have anything else to offer.”

If she wasn’t staring right at him, Carly might’ve missed the way his eyes softened. He lost some of the deadly vibe he carried around him like a cloak. But he shored up his defenses again immediately.

“Did I ask for anything?” he asked.

Carly refused to be intimidated. “No. But you’re getting it anyway.”

“Just say thank you,” Jag said, humor easy to hear in his words.

“Thank you,” Baker said without any inflection in his tone.

“Shit, he’s about as hard to thank as Tex,” Mustang muttered.

Carly had no idea who Tex was, so she ignored the comment. Then, feeling awkward because she was still squeezing Baker for dear life, she let him go and backed up, running into Jag, who immediately steadied her by putting a hand around her waist.

“You’re welcome,” Carly said. “Though, I’ve decided it doesn’t matter if we ever find out who was working with Shawn. I’m putting him out of my mind and putting everything about that time in my life behind me. I’m moving on.”

Baker’s eyes bored into her own as if he knew she was lying. She was trying to put Shawn behind her, but it wasn’t quite as easy as she’d hoped. Then she realized that she might sound a little ungrateful for all Baker was doing for her. “I mean, I’m still being careful,” she added. “Not taking any chances, but I’m trying not to be as scared as I was before.”

Baker looked over her head, obviously at Jag, and said, “I see the sessions with Senior Chief Petty Officer Albertson have done some good.”

Carly could hear Kenna chuckling behind them. It was hilarious how the guys couldn’t call their instructor Elizabeth. But it was a respect thing for them. The woman had worked hard to earn her rank, and they were honoring her by using her full title when talking about her.

“Yeah,” Jag agreed.

Baker looked back at her. “Good. Although a little fear isn’t a bad thing. Keeps you on your toes. If you get too complacent, bad shit happens.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Lexie muttered.

Feeling as if she needed to say something to everyone standing around her—all of Jag’s SEAL team members and her friends—Carly turned. “If something does happen, it’s no one’s fault,” she said, a little more forcefully than she’d intended. “Sometimes whatever’s gonna happen is gonna happen, no matter what we do to prevent it. If it does, I’m going to try to be like Elodie. And Lexie, Kenna, and Monica. I’m not going to freak out—at least I’ll try not to—and I’m gonna let you guys do your thing and figure out where I am and nail the bastard who did it.”

“Fuck,” Mustang sighed, running a hand through his hair.

Midas and Aleck looked like they wanted to seriously hurt someone.

Pid’s lips were pressed together tightly, and he pulled Monica into his side as if that would somehow protect her from whatever danger might be lurking out in the world.

Slate made a noise low in his throat and looked away. Carly saw Ashlyn glance at him in concern.

When she turned back to Baker, he had absolutely no expression on his face, which was somehow his scariest look yet.

Lastly, she looked up at Jag. His jaw was clenched, but even as she watched, he took a deep breath and got control over his emotions. Then he simply leaned forward and kissed her temple gently.