Page 38 of Deep Cover

He needed to do something. Fix something.

A sudden idea sprang to mind. “We should run self-defense training for the ladies. And all of us could use a refresher. It’s been months since we ran drills.”

Jolie looked up, startled out of her own thoughts.

“It’s a practical skill to have.” He swept a look around the group, lingering a beat longer on Caryssa. “Every person on this base should be sharp.”

After a beat of silence, Younger pushed to his feet. “Why not right now?”

Energy built in the room fast, part genuine enthusiasm for physical activity and part welcome relief at having a method to tackle the cloud that settled over all of them.

Monk squeezed Jolie’s shoulder. “What do you think?”

She nodded. “Yes. We need this. Don’t we, Stina?”

Stina’s eyes were still haunted when she glanced up, but she nodded. “Definitely.”

Rome stood. “Gym. Drag out the mats.”

In loose clusters they migrated toward the gym. Rivers hung at the back, watching the sway of Caryssa’s ponytail and the straightness of her spine as she walked a few paces in front of him.

He thought of the way she’d swept Townie’s leg that first day in the dining room and sent him sprawling on his ass. Being in the FBI, she had training, but as he’d said, they could all use a refresher on technique.

By the time they reached the gym, the mood of the base had shifted. Rome and Monk dragged out the mats and Younger and O squared off, insulting each other’s instruction skills.

Best of all, Jolie issued a real laugh, and Stina wore a distracted smile while she stared at her significant other as Rome performed some pushups to warm up.

He leaped to his feet and eyed her the same private way she was eyeing him. “Ready for this?”

“I just did my nails.” She held out her hands in front of her to show off the pink tips.

“Should have thought of that before agreeing to live with a bunch of Navy SEALs,” Younger called over his shoulder.

“I didn’t agree to anything. I was kidnapped into this lifestyle.”

Everyone laughed, but Rivers only noticed Caryssa, and how the amusement glittered in her beautiful eyes.

She hung back near the wall, arms folded loosely over her chest, watching the impromptu class with a stillness that reminded him once again of her sweeping Townie’s leg out from under him without a flicker of hesitation.

“All right,” Rome called, clapping his hands once to draw the group’s attention. “Basics first. Someone grabs your wrist”—he demonstrated on Monk, who played along with an exaggerated helplessness that made Jolie giggle behind her hand—“you don’t pull straight back. You rotate. Break the grip at the thumb where it’s weakest.”

Rivers drifted close to Caryssa. She gave him a disinterested glance before returning her attention to the class. “You already know this,” he said.

“I know all of it. But it was a good idea to teach Jolie and Stina.” She met his gaze for a heartbeat, the curve of her lips deepening just enough to tell him the smile was meant for him.

Damn, he’d missed this. Being the reason Caryssa smiled.

He was still smiling at that when Rome called for a volunteer, and Rivers stepped forward with a swagger that had everyone laughing.

* * * * *

Caryssa stood at the edge of the mats, arms banded over her breasts to conceal the tight pinch of her nipples. Watching Reid in action was…well, she couldn’t tear her gaze away.

She was aware of something else too.

Nobody was watching her.

Not in the careful way they had when she first arrived. For days, she’d caught conversations stopping when she entered a room, screens angled away from her, information passed between team members that never quite made it to the FBI analyst standing three feet away.