He grabbed her by her hair and half dragged, half led her into the rear of the hangar. Threw her against the wall, and even as she fought him, he grabbed her hands and zip-tied them.

“Now,” he said as he stepped away, breathing a little hard. “The fun begins.”

Noemi didn’t know what was worse—sitting here listening to Ranger talk about the epic life he’d lived, knowing that he’d never have it again. Or knowing that he could have it and had walked away, because of her.

Overhead, the parachutists tied knots in the sky with red ribbon, doing acrobatics as they joined hands or rolled away from each other.

It looked like flying, and a glance at Ranger said he was reliving every glorious moment, a smile on his face that could just about do her in.

She’d meant her comment to Tae about not being able to keep the boys out of trouble. Because over the past few weeks, the truth had drilled home . . .

Ranger would never be happy hanging around the ranch, fielding phone calls, tending the kitchen, and just . . .

Well, fading into the shadows.

Sure, he was a team player—it was the hallmark of the SEAL teams. But he was his best at the front of the action, as part of the solution.

Ham had offered him that. Noemi had heard the conversation on her way back to the picnic table, had even slipped into the shadows to hear the whole thing.

Her heart just about shattered when Ranger had given his answer. “I’d love to join Jones, Inc. But then what? I love her, and Noemi deserves more than me part time. She deserves better.”

What was wrong with her that his answer only made her angry? She’d tried to push it away, to be grateful, to embrace his sacrifice . . .

It only dug a hole inside her.

“You want something else to eat?” Ranger said. He’d finished off the popcorn earlier and their soda was empty.

She wasn’t in the least hungry. In fact, the sight of food almost made her ill. But she couldn’t sit here a moment longer, her entire body buzzing with frustration, so—

“Sure. I’ll get us a couple of hot dogs.”

She got up and headed out of the row, past Dodge who also got up to let her by. He held out a fiver.

“Can you get me one too?”

She took the bill. “The works?”

“Yep, plus relish.”

Gross. “Sure.”

She worked her way out and went down the stairs.

She’d just gotten way too used to having Ranger around. Sheesh, she’d lived for years as a SEAL’s daughter. And then on her own. It wasn’t like her life would change terribly if he joined Jones, Inc. So what was her problem?

She headed toward the hot dog stand.

A hand grabbed her arm, and she turned, stiffening.