Page 63 of Hit Me With Your Best Shot

After he left the conference room, Janie settled back in the comfortable chair and closed her eyes. She had known talking about her experience in Mexico would be difficult, but hadn’t expected the gut-wrenching emotions. She’d never been a sob sister. Janie wrinkled her nose. Definitely not true today. How embarrassing.

She sighed. Hopefully, Brent would forget her weepy moments and not hold them against her. She didn’t want him to worry about her. She’d be fine. Falling apart all the time wasn’t acceptable. She had a life to resume, a business to grow.

Sawyer returned a moment later with a to-go cup and a banana. “The tea is from me. Jesse sent the banana.”

“Thanks, Sawyer.” She inhaled the scent of mint tea. “Mint tea is my favorite, and I love bananas.”

He smiled. “Do I get brownie points for personal delivery service?”

As Janie laughed, a few of the knots in her stomach loosened. “Definitely.”

While she sipped the tea and ate the banana, Sawyer regaled her with funny incidents from his training and work as a cop in Texas. Before she knew it, she had finished her tea and banana and their break time was more than over. “We should go back to Brent’s office.”

“Depends on whether you’re ready. We can take a few more minutes if you need them.”

Janie shook her head. “I’ll never be ready. I should get this over with as soon as possible.” And find a place to fall apart in private.

He helped Janie to her feet. “Same rules apply. If you need to stop, we’ll take a break. Brent can wait. You are my priority, Janie, not Brent.”

“I know. I’m your principal. You have to take care of me.”

“Hey.” He stopped her before she could grasp the doorknob and turned her to face him. “It’s true you’re my principal, but that’s not all. I care about you, Janie. I want to take care of you, and it’s not only because of my job.”

She stared. “You’re not just saying that to be nice?”

Sawyer slowly lifted his hand and cupped her cheek. “I don’t lie unless it’s necessary on a mission. Never to people I care about. Not to you. Ever. If I can’t answer a question because of security reasons, I’ll tell you why I can’t give you an answer.”

Janie took a few seconds to lean into his touch, storing up the feeling of comfort and safety to get her through the next interview session. “Thank you.”

“No comment about me caring for you so soon after we met?”

What could she say to that? Janie was as guilty as Sawyer. “I’m glad you do,” she murmured. That was the most neutral comment she could think of without giving her own growing feelings away. Janie nuzzled his hand, hoping to convey some of what she felt.

Was she just feeling grateful to Sawyer for rescuing her? She considered that as they headed toward Brent’s office, Sawyer’s hand resting on her lower back. No, she knew her own mind and heart. Janie didn’t feel only gratitude. This was something more, something special. Did he feel the same?

Janie pushed the emotions aside to ponder later. For all she knew, Sawyer might be involved with someone. That thought depressed her. But what did she really know about him? Only that he was handsome, fearless, hard-working, considerate, caring, and could make her feel like she was the only person in his life who mattered.

She sighed. Toast. That’s what she was. Toast.

Sawyer knocked on Brent’s door and opened it. He escorted Janie inside.

Brent came around his desk again and this time motioned for her to sit on the sofa in the sitting area of his office.

Sawyer sat beside Janie and wrapped his hand around hers in silent support.

Brent sat in one armchair and studied Janie’s face. Finally, he said, “Ready to continue?”

No. She might never be ready. Janie nodded. “Time to finish this before I lose my courage.”

He smiled faintly. “Never going to happen, my friend. Tell me the rest.”

So she did. Janie might have cried silent tears the whole time, but she told Brent and Sawyer about the women and the men who visited them, often for hours at a time. She relayed the horror of listening to the assault on the woman from her plane and the men carrying her body wrapped in a blanket from the building.

At the end, Janie admitted to losing hope of a rescue before Scar Face or one of his friends raped and killed her, too. Then Sawyer and his teammates arrived in time to save her.

When the tears subsided, Brent watched her in silence for a moment. “I’m sorry you went through that experience, Janie. No one should have to wonder if they’re going to die at the hands of men who are more interested in their own agenda than preserving human life. Despite the circumstances, you survived.”

Right. A miracle. Or was it? She glanced at Sawyer, then shifted her gaze to Brent. “Why?”