43

7:45 a.m., McLean, Virginia

Three months later, the teams resumed their monthly breakfast get-togethers.

Coop sat with his back to the wall of a new restaurant Rhonda had found. She’d checked it out personally, booked the reservation personally, and, despite protocol, did not log their true whereabouts anywhere at work. That lesson had been learned the hard way. No one but the Black Ops and ITAP team members knew where they were gathered this beautiful April morning.

Soon the rest of the teams would start to show up, but the Bombshell was the only reason he’d gotten up early. He just loved watching her walk into a room. And ba-da-bing, there she was now.

Her golden hair gently ruffled by the morning breeze, her blue eyes sparkling, her soft pink angora sweater hugging her like a lover.

“What’s the deal?” she asked, joining him at the table. “I woke up, and you were gone.”

“I wanted to get here early.”

“Didn’t trust my recon?”

“Didn’t want to miss your entrance. Woman, you sure know how to wear a sweater.”

“Why can’t you just have a foot fetish?” She poured herself a cup of coffee.

He laughed, then leaned over and kissed her. “Oh, I’ve got one of those, too. I’m trying not to overwhelm you with all my little quirks at once.”

“Speaking of quirks,” she said, looking toward the door, “what’s with Bobby lately?”

Coop watched as Taggart walked toward them. “What do you mean? He looks like the same Neanderthal I’ve grown to know and love.”

“I heard that, Hondo.” Taggart sat down beside Rhonda. “How are you, sweetheart? Come to your senses yet? This guy’s not good enough for you. Tell me you left him.”

She kissed his cheek. “You’ll be the first to know if that happens.”

Taggart looked disgusted. “He really told you why we call him Hondo, and that didn’t send you running for the door?”

“Careful,” Coop warned him with a grin. “Or I’ll tell her why we call you Boom Boom.”

“I thought it was because he’s a munitions expert,” Rhonda said.

“And you’d be right,” Taggart assured her, glaring at Cooper.

Coop laughed. “It’s his story. Guess I’ll let him tell it his way . . . for now.” Then he made a big show of whispering to Rhonda, “Beans.”

She laughed, and he continued, “And don’t even think about threatening me, big guy, or I’ll tell the Bombshell here that you were the one who gave her that name. Whoops. There goes another cat out of the bag.”

Rhonda scowled at Taggart. “You’re responsible for that?”

“What does it feel like to be hooked up with a squealer?” Taggart asked her.

She shook her head. “You’re both a couple of big kids, you know that?”

Coop lifted his coffee. Taggart did the same. Then they clinked mugs and toasted in unison, “Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.”

“It’s a good thing,” Rhonda muttered into her cup, but she was smiling, and Coop knew she loved their silliness as much as she loved him.

Life was sweet.

But Coop had also noticed that something was off with Taggart. Just a beat here or there. Or a moment when he’d catch Taggart in deep thought, as if he was a million miles away. Whatever it was, it would come out eventually. It always did.

Rhonda waved as Stephanie and Joe Green arrived, and it wasn’t long before almost every member of the Black Ops and ITAP teams showed up. Proof to the bad guys that if anyone messed with them, they’d only come out stronger.

“Oh, my gosh.” Rhonda pressed a hand over her heart, and tears pooled in her eyes as she looked toward the door. “Eva.”

Coop walked over to meet Eva and Mike, who stood protectively beside her.

“Are you . . . should you . . . can I . . . ?”

Eva smiled. “Yes, I’m ready to be out. Yes, I should be here. And yes, you can hug me.”

Coop carefully folded her in his arms. “Welcome back, stranger.”

“Thank you.”

They were both teary-eyed when he gently returned her to her husband.

“Let’s get this show on the road,” Mike said cheerily. “I’m hungry.”

After they’d all caught up with their lives and finished their breakfasts, Mike reached into his pocket for his jack of hearts. “Well, I guess it’s that time.”

“You don’t need to get your cards out, boys,” Rhonda said as the three men reached into their pockets. “Cooper’s paying for breakfast today. He insists.”

“Hey.” Coop grinned at her. “You’re not the boss of me.”

Chuckles and a few hoots echoed around the table.

She leaned in and kissed him. “You do realize that you’re the only one who actually believes that.”