Her Fierce SEAL: Midnight Delta Book 6 by Caitlyn O'Leary

much older are you?”
    “He’s twenty-nine.”
    “You have to know that’s really not a big deal.  You mentioned he was a Navy SEAL.  That’s not some small time career.  That is someone who has been through the fire.  It ages you.  I’m not sure you can really just say he’s twenty-nine.  Because, honey, you’re not just thirty-four either.  He needs a grown-up, and you need a grown-up.”
    She looked at her friend and saw the sincerity on Sarah’s face.  It settled her down.  The woman had a point.
    “What else?”
    “I invited him inside.”
    “Going right for it, were you?”  There was no judgement, just a friendly smile.  God she loved Sarah.
    “But he asked if I was really ready, and I told him I probably wasn’t.  He said  we should wait until I was.”  Sarah cupped her chin and sighed.
    “I think I’m in love for you.”
    “I know, right?”  Angie’s eyes glowed.  “But now the jerk hasn’t returned my phone call.  He said we would talk yesterday, so I called yesterday.  I still haven’t heard from him.”
    “Now I understand who pissed in your Wheaties.”
    “Exactly.”
    ***
    F inn’s first instinct that morning had been to work out to the point of exhaustion as he had for the last three days.  But instead, when he woke up he heard the birds, and rather than grating on his nerves like a jackhammer, it sounded kind of pleasant.  He got up and found he didn’t have to choke down breakfast.  He actually enjoyed the toast—especially the strawberry jam. 
    He closed his eyes and gave thanks.  He hated it when he had these dark episodes.  It had been the Angie kiss.  But now he remembered it with something that felt like pleasure.  As soon as he thought about it, he decided he needed a shower and a shave, and then he would call her.
    Freshly clothed, sitting on the apartment’s small balcony, he sipped his coffee and made the call.
    “Finn,” she cried in welcome.  “I was beginning to think I dreamed you up,” she teased.  Any sense of dread he had felt for taking so long to call was immediately wiped away.
    “Hey, sorry I took so long.”
    “You’re totally fine.  The reason I left the message is twofold.”  Shit, he hadn’t even checked his messages.  She’d called?
    “What are they?” he asked.
    “One, I wanted us to visit Dasha.  Then we can discuss my findings.”
    “What time?”
    “Noon.  Do you want to meet at my office first?”
    “I’ll meet you at the park.”  There was a long pause.
    “Okay,” she finally said. 
    “Did you want me to meet at your office?” 
    “No, the park is fine,” she said brightly.  Dammit, what was he missing?  “I’ll see you then.”  She cut the connection.  Somehow he knew he had hurt her feelings. Well, he’d just have to fix it when he saw her.
    Next, Finn dialed a familiar number.  It was picked up on the first ring.  He relaxed as soon as he heard his mother’s voice.
    “Hello, Mom.”
    “It’s about damn time.”  Tears, love and righteous indignation.  God, he loved Evie Crandall.  The woman wouldn’t put up with any man’s shit, even her son’s.
    “Finn?  Are you there?”
    “I’m here, Mom,” he assured her.
    “Dammit, Finn.  Come home.  I thought you would be doing better if you went away for a little bit, but you don’t sound better.”
    “I went out on a date,” he said, trying to put some animation into his voice.
    “You wouldn’t lie to an old lady, now would you?”  He listened to more than just her words, he listened to her voice.  She was working hard to sound upbeat.  He hated it.
    “I don’t know any old ladies to lie to.”
    “I’m fifty-two.”
    “Mom, you still have the guys in the grocery store hitting on you.”  He heard a small laugh.  It made him feel good. 
    “Were you really out on a date?” she asked.
    “We were talking about a case.  It probably wasn’t really a date.”
    “A case?  What? Are you a lawyer?  Tell me