But still.
At the moment, she was annoyed with pretty much every male she knew, and she felt cornered and out of control. She really enjoyed being in control, and knowing James had used her from the beginning made her feel like a fool.
Embarrassment filled her to the point she wanted to hide from the world for another four months. Or years.
She wanted to take off as soon as Sam stopped the car, but she wasn’t ready to be quite that childish. Although it was tempting.
Joe pulled his car in beside them and they all stepped out of the vehicles together.
Reluctantly, she took off the headphones. She’d hoped the music would help her absorb everything that James had told her.
And what Sam and Joe hadn’t told her.
Joe grinned at her and swept her up into a hug, despite her mood. Maybe because of it.
“It’s good to see you, Sis.” He always used that instead of her name when he was worried. Reminding them both they weren’t alone in the world.
He’d started using it after their parents had been killed and they’d both felt so alone.
Most of her annoyance simply faded away at the reminder.
She was loved. Sometimes by cavemen, but she was loved.
Joe’s voice lowered for her ears only. “Don’t make him suffer too long.”
That had her smiling into his jacket, and she hugged him back.
When they separated, she found Sam watching them warily.
Might as well face the issue head on. There wasn’t going to be much chance to avoid it on the two-mile hike in.
“Why didn’t you two tell me what you were planning?”
Sam sighed. “You’ve been really stressed since setting up the meet with Stephens. You’ve barely slept. I figured you’d argue about Joe taking a leave to be here, and that would only add to your stress. In hindsight, maybe not the best decision.”
Joe chimed in. “We’re trying to help, Tansy, and now that we know who’s involved, we’re going to need more of it.”
Tansy sighed again and started toward the trail. “I take it you know this Howard that James mentioned? He wasn’t just making up a name?” Then she stopped as Sam’s words fully registered. “Wait. You took a leave? You shouldn’t have done that, Joe. There’s no reason to do that. We had a break-in attempt days ago and nothing since.”
Her brother swung his arm around her and kept walking down the trail. “You’re my sister. Of course I’m here. And I’m doubly glad of it now. Bernard Howard is an arms dealer.”
Tansy’s stomach lurched, and she had to force herself not to vomit. “He’s not getting his hands on my work.”
Joe squeezed her into a hug and then kept moving. “Of course not. No one is going to let that happen.”
It took her a few seconds to unfreeze her feet. This was why she’d insisted on the changes to her contract with the DOD. She didn’t want to be a part of anything that would hurt people. She only wanted to help.
Sam moved closer and gripped her hand. “We’ll make sure it doesn’t happen. All of us.”
The warmth of his hand and the steadiness of his voice and the conviction in it helped.
By the time they reached the lodge, Tansy wasn’t angry at them anymore. All of her anger was directed squarely at James. Where it should have been aimed in the first place. She didn’t get angry very often and she needed to work on not throwing it around willy-nilly at everyone.
Inside, they found Graham setting up a meal buffet-style on the coffee table in the main room.
She’d only met him briefly the previous day, but she liked this friendly man with the shadows in his eyes.
She was surrounded by handsome, over-protective men. One she liked, two she loved. One she was in love with.