“Thanks for giving me another audience before you leave,” Garrett said to both Julia and Guy. Looking beautiful but oddly tense, Guy watched Julia take the seat next to him. “I was interested in your final assessment and overall impression of the team. Ms. Beckam,” Garrett said, directing his attention to Julia. “How do you think the men responded to your portion of the class?”

Julia smiled. “Well, like most men they were a little concerned when they found out that I was a relationship therapist and I think they were afraid I was going to whip out the hand puppets or pass around a talking stick and make them share their feelings,” she teased. “But once they realized that I was merely there to suggest ways to help them recognize, build and authenticate trust, they relaxed.”

She’d hit the nail on the head, Guy thought. “Honestly, sir,” Guy chimed in. “While I appreciated your original opinion on the matter, I was concerned as well. However, Julia came right in and put the group at ease and I am certain that these men have benefited tremendously from her participation. She did a helluva job.”

Julia smiled at him, evidently surprised at his praise. But it was true. She had done a fabulous job. She’d been organized, witty and well-informed and the new team had responded to all of those things.

Hell, he had.

Garrett nodded, seemingly pleased. “Excellent,” he said. “Would you be interested in doing this again, Ms. Beckam? Maybe on a longer scale?”

Julia nodded. “Certainly, sir. It was a pleasure.”

“Thank you.” His gaze slid to Guy. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to speak to McCann alone.”

Julia blinked. “Oh. Certainly.”

She was leaving? Guy thought, suddenly panicked. Now? Oh, no. She couldn’t leave. He needed to talk to her. There were things he needed to say. He wasn’t entirely sure what yet, but he knew he couldn’t let her walk away. “Don’t leave before I get back,” he murmured. “Please.”

Catching his gaze, she looked a little wary, but nodded anyway.

Garrett waited until Julia had quietly let herself out of the room before speaking. “Okay, McCann, you’ve had a chance to look at Project Chameleon’s replacement team. You’ve worked with them first hand. It’s nut-cutting time. How do you think they’re going to do? Do I need to retire? Or am I good for another few years?”

Guy blew out a breath and leaned forward in his chair. “They’re green,” he admitted. “But they’re a good team, Colonel. And they’re only going to get better. Each man brings something unique to the group and it’s a good, solid dynamic. Furthermore, while they don’t have the history that the first team had, they have been together enough to genuinely build a solid base.” He leaned back once more. “I’d say you’re career is safe for the time being.”

Garrett deflated, his shoulders rounding under the weight of relief. “Thank God,” he said. “The wife keeps yammering on about joining the joining the Garden Club and taking up photography.”

“Photography?”

Garrett scowled. “She wants us to have a hobby we can share,” he said grimly, as though it were a fate worse than death.

Guy suppressed a smile. “Oh.”

“There are worse things, I’m sure, but I’m just not ready to end this chapter of my life.” He paused and considered Payne thoughtfully. “I admire you, McCann, for having the courage to make a change. You and your friends.” A long sigh leaked out of his lungs. “You stay in the same rut for so long that you lose the nerve to rattle the cart and clear the ditch. I love my job,” he said. “I really do, but it’s because I’ve never learned to do anything else.”

Guy paused, touched by Garrett’s unexpected confession and resulting praise. He’d always thought that he, Jamie and Payne had let Garrett down when they’d left the military. He’d never realized that the Colonel had actually admired them for having the stones to make a change. Furthermore, he knew this little conversation hadn’t been easy for Garrett and he truly appreciated that he’d taken him into his confidence.

Guy smiled at Garrett. “There’s no need when you so damned good at what you do, Colonel.”

His face instantly creased into a broad smile. “Thanks, McCann. So what’s next for you? I assume your security business is doing well?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What about a personal level?” he asked shrewdly. “Flanagan and Payne certainly haven’t wasted any time finding a woman to keep the home fires burning.”

An image of Julia leapt instantly to mind, making his chest alternately lighten and tighten. “I’m happy for them,” Guy said, unwilling to answer the question, possibly because he was too terrified of the answer.

“Ms. Beckam is a wonderful girl. I’ve known her father for years, you know.”

“She’s fantastic.”

“You compliment each other. You’d have beautiful children.”

A chubby-cheeked baby girl with his eyes and Julia’s golden hair materialized in his mind’s eye, causing his breathing to hitch in his suddenly constricting throat.

Guy laughed nervously and stood. Time to exit. “Sir,” he said with a finality that ended the conversation. “I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

The Colonel’s eyes twinkled. “As it happens, you’ll see me tomorrow.”

“I’m sorry?”

“The wedding, McCann. Payne invited me.”

Guy nodded. “Right.” Considering it was Garrett’s errand that made Payne and Emma’s paths cross in the first place, it only stood to reason that Garrett would be invited. “Well.”

“You should take Julia,” Garrett suggested. “I suspect she and my granddaughter would be fast friends.”

Guy merely smiled at him. “See you tomorrow, sir.”

“Goodbye, McCann. Thank you.”

Hand on the door knob, Guy paused. “You’re welcome, sir.”

And he meant it.

 

*   *   *

 

Julia was sitting on the front porch of duplex when Guy drove up. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched slid out of the driver’s seat and sidle up the sidewalk. She didn’t have any idea what he’d asked her to wait for--to say a proper goodbye, she imagined--but was secretly pleased that he had. She’d never gotten the chance--translate hadn’t drummed up the nerve--to address his feelings regarding Danny’s death, but now that they’re time was at an end together, she knew she had to take her chance.

This was end.

The end of their story.

“Thanks for waiting on me,” Guy said, looking curiously nervous.

She smiled softly at him, her heart melting. “You asked me, didn’t you?” Julia paused. “What did Garrett have to say?”

Guy dropped heavily into the swing beside her and shot her a wry look. “You mean besides that you and I would have beautiful children?”

She gasped, stunned. “What?”

Guy grinned and shook his head. “He fancies himself quite the matchmaker. Remember I told you that Jamie, Guy and I all owed him a favor?”

Julia nodded.

“Well, both of them met their significant other’s while fulfilling Garrett’s wishes. Jamie’s married to the Colonel’s granddaughter and Payne, well...Payne is getting married tomorrow, actually.”

“Tomorrow? Wow,” Julia said, trying to absorb it all.

“No,” Guy laughed. “Here’s the wow part--the bride doesn’t know she’s getting married yet.”

Julia gaped. “You’re kidding?”

“Payne’s got it all arranged. Everything. You’d like him.” He tugged playfully at her hair. “He’s a planner like you.”

“I’d like any friend of yours,” she said. She batted her lashes at him. “You are an excellent judge of character.”

Guy smiled. “You keep pretty good company yourself.”

She felt her mouth slide into a grin. “It’s improving.”

“Go with me,” he said suddenly, and from the startled expression on his face, quite unexpectedly.

“What?”

“To the wedding,” he clarified. He paused and an endearingly nervous expression claimed his usually confident features. “Unless you already have plans tomorrow, that is. I would certainly understand if--“

“I’d love to,” Julia said, inwardly squealing with joy. She’d go to the moon with him if it meant she’d have one more day.

Guy grinned and relief tugged at his shoulders. “Good. Wanna follow me home? You could stay at my place. Meet Bear,” he said, pulling a shrug.

Julia feigned exaggerated delight. “You mean you like me enough to take me home to meet your dog?” She pressed a hand against her chest, pretending to be overcome.

“Hey,” Guy teased. “I’ll have you know that no woman has ever met The Bear, much less been invited to spend the night at my house.”

Julia stilled, absorbing the comment and what it meant. “Then I must be special.”

He chuckled softly and shook his head. “Put your special ass in that car and let’s go.”

“You wanna give me the address?” Julia asked.

Having already stored his bags in the truck, Guy paused midway down the walk. “Address?”

“In case we get separated,” Julia pointed out. Friday traffic in Atlanta was brutal and he’d mentioned that their offices and apartments were housed in midtown.

“Don’t worry,” he said, shooting her a smile. “I’m not going to leave you.”

She knew what he meant--that he wasn’t going to leave her behind on the highway--but that didn’t keep her silly heart from doing a cartwheel and a somersault and a dizzy figure-eight.

He reeled off his cell number and asked for hers. “No worries, okay?”

Julia nodded. “Not for now.”

“Now?” Guy said, instantly seizing on their code word for back-bending balls-to-the-wall wild gorilla sex. “Did you say now?”

She chuckled. God, she was so falling for this man. “You know what I meant.”

“I like my translation better.” He backtracked and nuzzled her cheek, sending a sparkler of pleasure dancing through her.

“I’ll just bet you do.”

“You do, too,” Guy said matter-of-factly. His eyes danced with wicked humor. “I know you want me. Your eyes go all sleepy-looking and your breathing gets shallow and sometimes, if I’m really lucky, I can see your nipples get hard beneath your shirt.”

She felt a laugh break up in her throat. “That’s nothing compared to what I see get hard in your jeans when you want me,” Julia pointed out.

He blinked innocently. “Can I help it if you’re a pervert?”

“Pervert?” she said, feigning outrage. “You didn’t think I was a pervert last night when I was--“

“Julia,” he said, stopping her from finishing the graphic sentence.

“What?” she asked innocently.

Guy shook his head, seemingly at a loss. “I’ve created a monster.” He heaved a long-suffering sigh and absently scratched his chest. “I suppose I’ll simply have to keep you satisfied.”

“Yes, well, we all make sacrifices,” Julia pointed out wryly.

“I’ve explained that to you already,” Guy told her. “Being with you is not a sacrifice--it’s a pleasure. And it’s all mine.”

“It’s mine, too,” she murmured softly. “I don’t know if anyone’s ever told you before, but you’re hot.”

He chuckled, his eyes twinkling. “What am I going to do with you?”

Take me home and keep me, Julia thought. “That’s what I wonder all the time,” she said instead, giving his comment a completely different meaning.

“Come on,” he said, nudging her forward. “And you can wonder all the way back to my apartment. And then I’ll show you.”

Oy. Now that sounded promising, Julia thought.

 

*   *   *

 

Atlanta

 

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Payne breathed, staring the phone he’d just flipped closed.

“I hope not, darling,” Emma told him. Bear lay sprawled across her lap, watching the proceedings with a look of sublime boredom. Guy would play hell getting that dog back from his wife, he thought. They’d bonded. So much so that the damned animal was calling the foot of their bed home.

Jamie frowned, going on alert and Audrey quirked a brow. “What’s going on?” Jamie asked.

“He’s bringing her back.”

Jamie gaped. “The therapist?”

“Julia?” Emma squealed delightedly and she and Audrey shared a look of romantic feminine rapture that made Payne’s head suddenly ache.

“Yes. He called to warn us of their arrival and has asked that we not leap to conclusions or gawk at her like a sideshow circus attraction.’”

Emma’s brow furrowed. “Has he ever brought a girl here? To the apartment?”

Jamie shook his head. “Not that I’m aware of. Payne?”

“No,” Payne said. “This is definitely a first.”

Audrey rubbed a hand over her belly and smiled knowingly. “And it’ll be the last, too. Mark my words. My grandfather has got a pretty good track record so far.”

They certainly couldn’t argue with that. He was two for two so far and if this thing with Guy ended up being the real thing, then they were all going to owe him again.

Big time.

Audrey and Jamie had already committed to naming their son after Garrett and while he and Emma had no immediate plans to start a family, he suspected that their child would end up with a similar namesake.

Of course, Emma was threatening to name their boy Robert E. Lee in honor of the pocket watch that had brought them together, but Payne held out hope that he could change her mind. He admired the Civil War hero as much as the next guy, but if had a son, he was inclined to name it after himself. His middle name, actually--Atticus.

He hadn’t shared this particular longing with his fiancé yet, but one thing at a time, Payne told himself.

He should probably tell her about the wedding first.