“So… what’s the story?” Wolf asked when Colt returned and took his seat next to Ice.

Colt glanced toward the door even though he was sure Kate wouldn’t return that quickly. He faced his friends around the table, and he knew he wouldn’t get away with asking them to let it go. “I met Kate last night. We had a drink, talked at a diner until very late.”

“And then?” Benny, Abe, and Cooke all said at the same time.

“Surely you didn’t just talk,” Dude said.

“You really like her,” Ice said with a gentle touch to Colt’s arm. “Any idiot can see that.” She eyed the guys around the table. “And your friends… your brothers… will back off and not act weird tonight.”

“Who’s acting weird?” Dude asked, and he and Benny chuckled.

“No one is acting weird,” Tex joined in the conversation. His wife Melody smiled beside him.

The banter went on like that for many minutes as Colt tried to change the subject. Eventually, the guys turned their attention to the televisions around the room as the teams took to the court to warm up.

“Okay, I’ve got drinks,” Kate announced when she entered the room. She carried a heavy tray of drinks. Trip followed with another tray.

Colt couldn’t help but notice the way Trip watched Kate make her way around the table, delivering drinks, and he wondered if there was something between them. The way Trip didn’t have to do anything but clear his throat when he found one of his employees kissing a customer didn’t really tell him anything. Was it simply an employer-employee relationship? Or was there more to it?

Kate set Colt’s beer in front of him. “I’m going to get everyone some water, then, if you’re ready, I’ll take your food orders before tip off.”

Kate disappeared again without much of a glance in Colt’s direction. Trip followed after her.

“I don’t know, man,” Abe said. “That boss of hers looks awful possessive of his employee.”

“Don’t listen to them,” Ice said.

Kate delivered waters, took their orders, then disappeared again in time for the UK-Duke game to begin. It was killing Colt not to venture away from the table to talk with her, but he didn’t want to get her into trouble with her boss. And what was he going to say? Nothing had changed. He was still going to be leaving in two days.

And now, after his squad’s meeting that morning, it looked like they would be shipping out on a mission the middle part of the week. His life was complicated. What could he possibly gain from a long-distance relationship?

Kate entered again with a tray of side salads. As she set plates in front of people, Colt noticed something that he’d seen a glimpse of the night before. There was an air of toughness about Kate, but there was also sadness. He wanted to know who or what had put that sadness there. And he found himself wanting to help erase the sadness from her life.

He thought about the angel wings on her shoulder. Tattoos held great meaning to most people who got them. He’d gotten a couple of tattoos himself, and they each held significant meaning in his life.

“How did you get the nickname Ice?” Kate asked Ice beside him.

“Oh, all of our nicknames have long stories.”

“I have a great idea,” Colt said before he could second-guess himself. “Kate, if you’re not busy tomorrow, we are all going to spend the day at the beach. You should join us.”

Everyone at the table grew silent again, staring back and forth between Colt and Kate. Colt wondered if he’d made a mistake. Did he embarrass her?

“It’s going to be barely above forty degrees tomorrow,” she said.

“Like you said last night. We’ll just need to wear more clothes.”

Colt heard Dude say something under his breath and chuckle, and Colt immediately sent him a stern eye. Dude straightened. As did Benny beside him.

“I’ll think about it,” Kate said, then looked at the others. “If I do come, are y’all gonna get real quiet every time Colt asks me a question?”

Wolf nearly spit out his beer.

Ice laughed. “No, honey, they’re going to be on their best behavior and stop acting like teenage boys. We would love to have you join us.”

“Is that a yes?” Colt asked Kate.

“No. I was just curious if they always did that.”

Colt’s friends went back to talking among themselves. “But you’re going to think about it.”

Kate nodded, then turned. But before she turned, Colt saw the easy lift of her lips into a broad smile. And that gave him hope.