How did the married members of the teams do this? Five years had dulled the memory of what it was like to walk away from a loved one for him. A week without seeing Zoe had seemed an eternity. How was he supposed to endure six months, or longer?
The other members of his team, including Flash, had already bugged out. Weighted down with gear, Langley strode through the living room and out the front door. Trish and his three children followed close behind. Cutter slapped Hawk’s back as he meandered through in their wake and walked outside.
Hawk pressed a house key into Zoe’s hand. “Try and convince Cutter to move into the house with you. There’s more room there and I’d feel better knowing you were sleeping in a bed rather than on his couch. The utilities and things come out of the bank at the first of each month. And the car will be there in case you need it.”
“Brett may not agree to that.” Her eyes looked dark against a face pale with stress, but she hadn’t cried.
“Sleep in my room. If I can think of you there, it will make me feel closer to you.” He swallowed though he hadn’t enough saliva in his mouth to do so.
She nodded. “I will.”
Jesus. Why hadn’t he fallen at her feet and told her what a fool he’d been? “There’s not enough time for me to say the things I want to, Zoe.”
“I know.”
“I’ll email or call as soon as I can. If you don’t hear from me right away, don’t worry.”
She nodded.
He grasped her hands and bent his head to kiss each one. His throat ached. “You’ll be careful.”
“I’ll be fine.” Her arms went around his neck. “Do whatever you have to to come home, Adam. No matter what it takes. Okay?”
“No matter what it takes.” His arms tightened. The curve of her breasts pushed into his ribs, as she tiptoed to align her body with his. He breathed in the vanilla scent of her shampoo then drew back to look down at her. She shed no tears, but the struggle to suppress them showed in the careful composure of her features.
“It’s only six months, maybe less.” Was he reassuring her or himself? “We can call, email. Hell, I’ll even write.”
She nodded again.
He kissed her once, twice. His chest tightened painfully, his gut tangled with emotions stronger than any he’d ever known.
“Will you wait for me, Zoe?”
“You know I will.” Her voice sounded choked.
“Hawk, man, we got to go,” Langley spoke from the door.
“I’m coming.” God, he didn’t want to. He pressed his lips against her forehead then drew away. “I love you.” The words sounded as choked as hers. He swallowed in an effort to clear his throat of the softball size knot there.
Her composure slipped, and her eyes grew glazed with tears. “I love you, too.”
“You don’t have to come outside.”
“I’m coming.”
Trish and the children huddled in a tight knot close to Langley’s car. The girls, Anna and Jessica, clung to Trish. Tad stood a little apart, his thin shoulders hunched.
Hawk waited until Lang had embraced Trish and the children before doing so himself.
Brett shook the hand he extended, his features taut. “Watch your six, LT.”
“Roger that. Watch over your sister for me.”
“Consider it done.”
Zoe stood at the car. Once again she’d managed to compose herself. “I can take care of myself.”
Her tone brought a smile to his lips. “I know. He’s going to have a hard time adjusting to not being with his unit, Zoe.”
She gave a brief nod. “I know. He’ll be back soon.”
Hawk embraced her one last time. “I’ll call as soon as I can.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
His lips clung to hers. If only this kiss didn’t have to end--If he didn’t have to quit holding her-- He got into the car and started it. Putting it in gear and pulling away was one of the hardest things he’d ever done.