The Omega Team: Spurs (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read Free

scoop of ice cream flecked with vanilla bean and scented with another hint of bourbon, he dug in with determination.
    Isbet hummed over her dessert. “I may never leave.”
    He scooped up another bite, the soft, sliced apples going down easier than most food did. “Don’t they feed you at home?”
    “I live alone. There’s no they.”
    So no husband or live-in lover . If he’d been on the prowl, he’d have considered it good news.
    She dipped her spoon into the ice cream, laid it on her tongue upside down, savored, and swallowed. “I eat out mostly. Fast food.”
    “You got that body on chicken nuggets?” Impossible . Her trim curves did not speak of junk food.
    “No, I make better choices when I can. But, with my working hours, I don’t often have time to cook.” She scraped the last of the apple juices off her plate and pushed it away. “I want more, but I’d probably explode.”
    He set his fork down; at least he’d made a dent. “Make a mess in here and Sarge will have your head.”
    “Can’t have that.” She laughed, a warm, musical sound that had every male head at the table turning toward her. What the hell. “Seriously, I’ve eaten better meals here in the past couple of weeks than I’ve had in years.”
    Even their mother wasn’t a better cook, although she made more plain ranch food, and used less booze in it.
    One of the younger cowboys rose and began to clear the dishes into a plastic tub. How his brother had gotten them to take turns busing, he’d never know. The dudes and the rest of the hands scattered, off to whatever activities they had planned for the afternoon, but he and Isbet still sat in companionable silence.
    Finally, she stood. “I guess I’d better head out and try to walk this lunch off.”
    He shoved his chair back so fast it rocked on its legs, and she arched a brow at him. “I’ll come with you.” Dang, be more eager why don’t you? “That is, if you don’t mind. I walk pretty slowly these days.”
    “Sure, let’s go. Maybe you can give me the grand tour.”
    He grabbed a couple of water bottles from the sideboard and held the door open for her.
    She led the way down the porch steps. “Football injury?”

Chapter Two
     
    Isbet Gutierrez knew more about Ryder Carmichael than anyone without her former government position could possibly hope to find out. She would bet she knew more about his team’s position at the moment than he did. If his group had high clearance, hers was invisible. She’d been trying to step completely away from her past career and into her new one as a private eye, doing the kind of work the Omega Team had hired her to do, with little success. Her former handler, Gordon, wouldn’t let go.
    She waited to see what Ryder would say about his limp. She also had trod and ridden, both on horseback and ATV, over most of the ranch in her two weeks there, so she was glad when he set off away from the buildings despite her glib request for a “grand tour.” What made her say such silly things around this man?
    “Not exactly. Military, but I can’t say more.” He strode along beside her, hardly limping.
    “That’s okay. Thank you for your service.” It came automatically but was always sincere. “I hope you don’t have any permanent damage. Are you out? Permanently?”
    He stumbled over a rock, and she fought the urge to grab his arm and steady him. A proud man wouldn’t welcome being fussed over by anyone. “Dammit!” He recovered and walked on, his gait a little less smooth. “I’m waiting to hear.”
    The dusty path rose slowly toward the foothills, dark-green pine trees on either side perfuming the air. She drew a deep breath. “I hope you get whichever outcome you want.”
    He paused and stared at her. “Thank you. My brother wants me home, my old friends all say I should just move on, and my team is rooting for me to get back soon, but nobody has said it to me just like that.”
    She stopped next to him. “Well, it isn’t