The following morning, Jamie was nearing the town of Eagle Rock when the chirp of a siren drew her gaze to her rearview mirror.

Shit. Yes, she’d been speeding, but the roads were straight and deserted. Asshole must need to make his ticket quota. She pulled to the side of the road, picked up her badge from the console, and rolled down the driver’s side window. Putting both hands outside, one holding the badge, she called out to the deputy striding toward her car. “I have a holstered weapon, deputy. Permit’s in the glove box.”

“It’s sheriff. Sheriff Barron,” the tall man said, stepping next to her window and leaning toward her. “Foot’s a little heavy, ma’am, but that’s not why I stopped you.” He smiled. “Hank Patterson said you were coming. I’m your escort.”

“I need an escort?” she asked, as she withdrew her hands. What was going on?

“I’ll save you time, since I’m heading to the same meeting. All the heavy-hitters are assembling now.”

“I’m not a heavy—”

“You haven’t been read in. FBI’s orders. But you’re an essential part of the team. Fetch recommended you. Said you were the best dog handler he ever had.”

After Fetch’s rather cryptic call last night, she knew something big was up. The fact she was bringing Tessa had rung alarms.

“She’s rusty, Fetch,” she said after her boss told her she had a new job, one that wouldn’t include Reaper. “Only reason I have her is the Army deemed her unsound for further service.”

“Since she won’t be sniffing for explosives, she’ll do. I know you both helped with a couple of missing persons cases in your area.”

“She still has a nose, but... Are you sure we’re up for this?” she asked, hating that she felt so unsure about herself and Tessa. Once upon a time, their working relationship had been rock-solid.

“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think so, Jamie.”

After packing a bag and Tessa’s gear, she’d settled down for a restless night’s sleep where she’d dreamed about their last mission together, the explosion that had injured Tessa and unsettled her nerves to the point even the hint of explosive materials made her whine and curl her tail.

Jamie waited as the sheriff returned to his vehicle. Then with only his lights strobing, he pulled into the lead, and they set off at an even faster speed than she’d been driving previously.

“Nice to have connections, huh, Tess?” she called out to her dog, crated in the rear, the window open between her cab and the enclosed space so the dog received the benefit of fresh air and her running commentary.

Jamie wished the sheriff had given her a hint of what she was riding into. She supposed someone was lost in the nearby Crazy Mountains—maybe a hiker or a child—but she’d also been instructed to come armed. “Think he’s worried about bears or cougars, Tess?”

The fact Fetch was sending her alone, without her partner, had surprised her. The fact he was unwilling to discuss the details of this case over the phone had further increased her curiosity.

Still, a job was a job. Plus, she’d have the pleasure of working with Tessa again. Something she’d missed over the long months since they’d both mustered out of the Army Reserves. She was sure that, once they were both following a trail, any nerves would settle.

While she’d been thinking back on last night’s call, they’d drawn near a set of gateposts. The sheriff slowed and turned into Bear Creek Ranch, Hank Patterson’s property, and the site of the meeting. She followed him, all the while taking in the rolling plains framed by the distant mountains. They passed a barn and cowboys on horseback, but finally pulled into a wide drive filled with dark sedans and SUVs.

A flutter of uncertainty lodged in her belly. What the hell was she walking into? Stalling for time to get her game face on, she walked around the back of her vehicle, lowered the gate, and released Tessa from her crate.

Tessa jumped down and quickly sat, her body tucked against Jamie’s left leg, her head gazing upward as she patiently awaited the lead Jamie snapped on her work harness.

“Nice dog,” the sheriff said. “She okay around a crowd?”

Jamie glanced up. “She’ll take her cues from me. Mostly stick to my side. It’s okay if I bring her inside?”

“She’s part of the team,” he said with grim smile. Then he waved an arm toward the large wrap-around porch.

When she passed through the front door, she glazed up in awe of the tall ceilings, the floor-to ceiling windows, thick overhead beams, and rich, gleaming wooden floors. With a hand at her left elbow, the sheriff guided her into a large open living room. Sofas and chairs were filled with men in dark suits, some in dark SWAT uniforms, and several more casually dressed men, wearing cargo pants or jeans and sporting scruffy beards. Ex-military from their looks. SEALs, she realized, when she noted a trident tattoo on one man’s forearm.

Shit must be serious if they’ve called in the SEALs. One of them spotted her hovering near the entrance and rose. “Take my seat,” he said, waving her toward the sofa.

When his gaze dropped to Tessa then returned to Jamie, it sharpened.

Her breath caught. She shook her head, her mouth beginning to stretch. “Small world, SEAL.”

“Sergeant.” He didn’t crack a smile, but he held out his hand.

She stopped her smile from stretching any farther. Maybe he didn’t want everyone to know they already knew each other. They shook. Then he dropped to one knee and held out his hand, palm down and fingers straight, to greet Tessa.

Tessa sniffed, and her tail wagged.

“Think she remembers me?” he asked, one corner of his mouth kicking up.

“She never forgets someone who used to bring her treats.”

A throat cleared, pulling both their glances to the tall man standing near a large fireplace.

“That’s Hank Patterson,” the SEAL murmured under his breath. “Also, an ex-SEAL.” He tilted his chin toward the spot he’d vacated on the sofa. “Have a seat. We’ll talk after.”

She nodded, feeling her cheeks warm as she realized his SEAL buddies all stared at them. She took his seat next to them. “Platz,” she said softly, waiting as Tessa lowered to the floor beside her feet. Then Jamie turned her attention to the man who’d called the meeting.

Hank’s gaze swept the room. “This is our team. Some of you haven’t been briefed, but yesterday, the vehicle carrying FBI agents escorting Mohammed Nazari, who folks in Eagle Rock knew as David Perez, to the federal court building in Billings blew up. After the ATF combed through the vehicle, they determined only two bodies were accounted for. Nazari’s in the wind. Obviously, with help. The FBI has put out bulletins all across the country, but late last night, a resident of Eagle Rock, a rancher with property near the Crazy Mountains—the site of Nazari’s former training camp—spotted someone matching his description. We don’t know why he would return here, considering everyone knows him, but the Brotherhood Protectors have been asked to lend a hand with the search, since we assisted in his capture the first time.” He shifted his stance and crossed his arms over her chest. “Most of my team is currently on assignment, but I’ve hit other private security agencies around the country to beef up our strength. We’ll be assisting the ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, and state law enforcement personnel with this hunt. And now, I’ll turn it over to the man who’s leading this effort.”

He gave a nod to a dark-suited man wearing a black windbreaker with FBI emblazoned on the back in yellow letters.

“Folks, I’m Dennis Haddock from the FBI office in Billings...”

And so, the briefing continued, Jamie waiting impatiently to hear what her assignment would be. Time and again, her gaze strayed to the SEAL standing apart from the others, and every time, she found him looking back. No smiles passed between them. Maybe he remembered they hadn’t met under the best of circumstances. They’d come into contact often for two people serving in separate branches. As a dog handler, she’d augmented special task forces when they’d hunted high-value targets. They’d met during a mission, and after, when his team dropped prisoners with her unit.

Once, they’d shared a meal, sitting in a mess tent, where they’d spoken a little of their stories, where they were from, and how long they’d been on assignment. Nothing terribly personal, but she’d taken an instant liking to the tall, well-built SEAL with the scruffy beard and steady gaze. She’d known him as “Sky,” his SEAL handle. So named because he was from Big Sky country, like her. She thought it suited him because his eyes were brilliant blue-gray, as changeable as the weather.

With sharp cheekbones, a crooked nose, and a scar that ran down from his hairline and bisected one dark brow, he wasn’t particularly handsome, but he still made her heart pitter-patter. Even now, when his gaze kept landing on her and his expression grew tauter. He tilted his head toward Hank, and Hank looked her way and whispered something back.

She wondered what they’d said, but then the FBI suit ended his briefing.

Everyone stood.

Jamie hated that she’d missed the last part of the briefing, distracted by Sky’s continued stare. A blush rose from her neck to fill her cheeks, but she stood. “Tessa, sitz!” she said softly.

Tessa rose sharply to sit beside her then leaned her body against her leg. As the others began filing out of the room, Jamie waited, because she needed to ask Hank what he needed from her. And she didn’t want to further embarrass herself by revealing to the whole group that her attention had wandered. That wouldn’t reflect well on Fletch, and she represented his agency.

Hank and Sky moved toward her.

“Jamie,” Hank said, reaching out his hand. “Didn’t have a chance to introduce you around.”

She shook, taking her gauge of the man from the firmness of his handshake and his open expression. “Looks like I was late.”

“I told Fetch nine AM. My fault. But you made it, just the same.” He hitched a thumb toward Sky, who stood with his arms crossed over his chest.

A posture which only managed to make him look larger and deadlier. A shiver ran down her spine. Not because she feared him, but because she remembered all too well how much she’d relied on his strength and deadly skills in the past.

“I’m putting you with Sky. He says he’s worked with you and your dog in the past. He knows what you’ll need.” He laid a hand on Sky’s shoulder. “He’s not one of my Brotherhood Protector guys, but I know him well. One of these days, I’m gonna convince him to sign on. Anyway, he’s your buddy for this op.”

Relieved, because she hoped Sky had kept his attention on the briefing, she nodded. “However we can be of use.”

“Fetch spoke highly of you,” he said, giving her a welcoming smile.

“He was my CO—through three tours. When I finished my commitment to the Army, he asked me to join his agency.”

“He’s every bit as picky as I am when selecting employees. We only hire the best.”

She blushed again and darted a look at Sky who hadn’t moved a muscle, just stood staring, his gaze on her face. Which was beginning to make her uncomfortable.

“I’ll let you two go. The forensics steam is still with the vehicle, and Agent Haddock left a bag with Nazari’s dirty clothing from lockup that didn’t make into the laundry.”

Jamie nodded, and then took a deep breath as Hank wandered away to talk to the guys Sky had been seated with when she’d first come into the room, and who still waited. Finally, she raised her face to meet Sky’s gaze, jutting her chin. “Something you wanted to say?”

His eyebrows lowered. “Did I do something to piss you off?”

Feeling as though she’d been a little too prickly, she shook her head and cleared her expression. Best not to continue looking like an idiot. Apparently, the attraction between them was only on her side. Too bad. She’d often daydreamed about Sky and what might happen if they ever crossed paths again. “You did nothing to piss me off.” You did nothing, which disappoints me. I hoped for a smile. “We better get down the road. I take it they want Tessa to start at the car to find his trail. Don’t know how that will help. If he has accomplices, they left in a vehicle. She won’t be able to track him very far before she loses his scent.”

“They’re hoping to at least confirm which direction they headed, especially gauging which side of the road he was picked up from.” He dipped his chin. “Weren’t you listening?”

She frowned, deciding not to answer him. “Thought they already spotted him nearby.”

He shook his head. “These guys check and double-check, and some rancher thinking he might have seen Nazari doesn’t really narrow the search.”

With anger rising to once again heat her face due to his continued dark gaze, she glanced at Tess, whose head had moved left and right, oscillating between them. “Fuss!” she said, giving her the German term for “heel.” She led the way outside and headed straight to her car.

“I’m riding with you,” he said, catching up with her.

“Hope you don’t insist on driving.”

Shaking his head, he raised both hands. “Never had a complaint about your driving, Burke.”

She pulled to a halt, and Tessa sat beside her, again gazing upward, and probably wondering why the two humans were becoming increasingly tense. Jamie fisted her free hand on her hip. “Then what do want to complain about, Reynolds?”

Sky’s mouth tightened.

“Didn’t think so. Let’s just get to work.” She began walking again. Briskly. A sour taste filled her mouth, and foolishness for ever having mooned over this jerk muddied her thoughts.

Behind her, Sky muttered, “Well, hell. All I wanted to say was you look pretty in civvies.”