They were at an impasse. He’d just realized he had feelings for her strong enough to panic at the idea of her getting killed in combat. No way could he survive watching her die in real time on a helmet cam. It would kill him. Problem was she’d finally seen what SEALs really did…and she still wanted in on it. Damn, damn, damn.

She poured another round, and he tossed his back in frustration. The scotch was starting to hit him, and his head felt light.

She asked, “So what’s the plan, Sparky? Are we going to agree to disagree? Then maybe sit here watching the waves and get wasted?”

This was too important for him to give up on and merely agree to disagree. “What’s it going to take to convince you to give up on this insanity and live a normal life?”

“I don’t know. Are you willing to walk away from the teams just because I’m worried about your safety?” she retorted.

Damn it!

His frustration spilled over, and he blurted out, “Marry me. Stay home. Make a life for yourself. Be there when I come home from downrange. I’ll give you whatever you want. The white picket fence and a porch swing. Or a mansion if you’d like. Hell, kids.”

Horror tore through him. What in the ever-loving hell had he just done? He realized a part of him meant the proposal, and that horrified him even more.

Sherri smiled gently. “Thanks. Really. That’s a sweet offer. I understand it’s the whiskey talking. But how about you stay home and raise the kids while I go downrange?”

He slammed his glass down on the table, and heads turned at the sharp noise. He took a deep breath and lowered his voice. “You’ll die if you go out there.”

Sherri leaned back, smiling. “Hey, we’ve made progress. At least you now acknowledge that I could actually make it out into the field as a SEAL.”

He stared at her. Her face swam slightly, and he squinted to make the two images of her come back into one.

She’d changed since she’d come to training. She was more confident now. Moved with a hint of cool swagger. He and the boys were succeeding at turning the women into no-kidding SEAL material. She was more stubborn than she’d been a few months ago, too. He knew in his gut that nothing he said was going to talk her out of this crazy determination of hers to be one of the big boys.

He grabbed the neck of the whiskey bottle and stood up abruptly. “Let’s get out of here.”

“And go where? Neither one of us is safe to drive. And no matter how messed up you are by Sam’s death, I’m not passing out on a beach with you in the middle of winter.”