She pulled out her wallet and tossed some cash on the bar to cover her tab. Then she grabbed her leather jacket off the back of her stool. Swung it over her shoulders and down her arms in one smooth motion.

Shane’s eyes flicked over her body without changing expression. Most people she could read, but not this guy.

“I better go.” She pushed back her stool.

“Come have a drink with us. I’ll introduce you to the guys.”

She glanced at their forced cheer. “They’d probably rather not meet anyone new tonight.”

His lashes swept down and she knew she’d struck a nerve. Then he looked up again. “They always like to meet beautiful, single women—assuming you’re single?”

She blinked at him in surprise. Beautiful? Ha. Hardly. Was he fishing for information because he was interested in her personally or did he want to sweet talk her into giving him information or did he want to set her up with one of his friends?

For all she knew he could be married with kids. She glanced at his ring finger. No wedding band, but that didn’t mean much.

She looked over at the group of men and women all laughing and joking despite their loss. She had to admire their spirit because she knew instinctively that this had hit them hard no matter how bright the smiles or too loud the laughter.

The tug toward them, the idea of getting to know them, and belonging, tempted her, but it would be a mistake.

“I am single, funnily enough.” She quirked a brow with forced sardonic humor. “Thanks for the offer but I’m going to head home. I’ll catch you guys another time.” She brushed past him, ignoring the little jolt of awareness that zapped her skin as the back of her hand brushed his.

She headed past the curious Marines who started to give Shane hell. Which was unfair under the circumstances—he hadn’t been hitting on her—but she wasn’t about to stick around and listen to him explain how they worked together. She nodded to another guy from HRT whom she recognized from last week but avoided catching the gazes of the others. She didn’t want to be an object of curiosity. She didn’t want them to know the part she’d played in the reason for them being down a team member.

Outside, she paused for a moment to inhale the bitterly cold January air. It was quiet here, the bar tucked down a road near the marina. No residential houses nearby. She was so close to the sea she could smell the tang of brine on the breeze. The temperature made her shiver and huddle deeper into her jacket.