A slow ache of loneliness began to build in Shane’s chest.

Cowboy and Will Griffin propped up the bar beside one another. They had a lot in common. Ryan Sullivan had lost his wife eight years ago and had a daughter who was being raised on the family ranch back in Big Sky Country. Shane had met the kid during a visit once. She was cute as hell and loved her dad but the guy was probably right about her being better off on the ranch. She loved it there and the Hostage Rescue Team didn’t keep routine hours. It would be impossible for a single parent to juggle working this job.

Novak quieted everyone down then raised his glass. “To Dave Monteith and Kurt Montana. Two of the strongest, smartest, and best HRT operators I ever knew. And the toughest, nicest people I ever had the honor to work with.”

“To Scotty and Joe,” Nash said their nicknames loudly.

Everyone raised their beer. A bottle was thrust into Shane’s hand and he tipped it back and drank long and hard. Another wave of longing hit Shane and it was shaped in the curvy form of Yael Brooks.

His nape prickled and he looked over his shoulder. Yael’s friend Laura sat beside her new boyfriend. If Laura’s eyes were daggers, he’d be dead. The dude said something to her and they both rose to leave.

Laura came up to Shane on her way out. Went up on tiptoes and whispered into his ear, “You are an ass.”

He pulled away in surprise but she was already walking away.

Shit.

He checked his cell when it buzzed in his pocket. There was a message from Yael.

“You’re at the bar?”

He released a massive sigh. She obviously hadn’t received his message and Laura had ratted him out. But it was only for one drink and this was important.

He texted. “Raising a toast to Montana and Scotty. I left you a voicemail. Come join us. Same place as before.”

He watched the three dots appear and disappear three times and knew he’d upset her.

Damn, she had no right to be mad with him. They weren’t even properly dating. He liked her. Really liked her. But it was early days. They were having fun while he’d been making sure she was protected from a psychopath. If there was a niggle of guilt at the back of his neck because he’d been suspicious of her at first, he was damn well ignoring it.

Finally, the message appeared and he gritted his teeth before he read it.