Chase treated us to a nice steak dinner at what Tullahoma views as a "ritzy" steak place. I felt the ambiance in the Hemming's dining room was classier than the chain restaurant, but I attempted to remain positive about the experience I was having. I chewed my steamed vegetables quietly while Chase spent the duration of dinner filling us in on all of the achievements he's made since Ryan relocated. Ryan spent dinner pushing his food around and downing about four bottles of beer. When the check was dropped off, my ears were exhausted from listening to Chase's voice for so long that I was almost startled when he stopped talking. He was looking at me like he just asked me a question and Ryan snapped to attention too.

"I'm sorry what?" I ask Chase, hoping I didn't offend him by completely zoning out of whatever tale he was spinning.

"Well, you just don't sound like a Mississippi bumkin, that's all I meant," Chase says and I have no idea what the first part he asked me was. I look to him and reply, "Well that's because I'm not a bumkin and my mother paid good money just to hear you say I don't have a thick drawl. She didn't want me using words like ain't, reckon and darn tootin because she said those words show your status." Chase nods while he signs the receipt and I am grateful that he tipped our waitress well, something I wasn't expecting from him. His eyes move from the check back to me.

"Oh, so you one of them hoity-toity, high cotton girls then?" He glances to Ryan, "Would she be the trophy wife or would that be you in this situation?" Chase clicks his tongue at his own comment like he's the funniest person he knows. Ryan looks to the ceiling while he slams the rest of his beer and I frown at my empty wine glass.

Chase leads us out of the restaurant and it's only a ten-minute drive back to the base, which Chase made feel like twenty by singing loudly and badly to every country song that came onto the radio.

Shockingly, Chase offered to help grab the rest of our things from Austin's "pussy whip" and Ryan made a comment about needing an exceptionally fast getaway car for their job. Chase continued to make comments about the car and Ryan gave up trying to explain. Ryan and Chase help unload my luggage and when we arrive into the room I am staying in, Ryan immediately pulls his phone out from his pocket. Chase disappears down to his room as I look around the sparse guest room. There's a full bed in one corner and a small television set in the other. That's all I have. A space in the closet and dresser has been emptied for me but I just stack my luggage at the end of the bed. I turn to Ryan, whose eyes are still locked on his phone, and ask, "What's wrong? What are you doing?"

He looks to me and says, "I was trying to find the nearest store. There is no way in hell I am letting you sleep on those sheets. We should also probably get you shower shoes and a new pillow too." I glance to the stark white sheets on the small bed and ask Ryan, "What's wrong with these?" He grabs my hand to lead me out of the room.

"Those might be Chase's old sheets from when he lived at the barracks. Just sleeping on those might get you pregnant." I gag at the thought and eagerly follow Ryan downstairs to the car.

*****

The next morning, Ryan and I stay snuggled up in my brand new sky-blue Egyptian cotton sheets. He insisted on not only buying me new sheets, pillows and shower shoes but also new towels, pepper spray and a pocket knife. He didn't even hassle me over the bottles of wine that magically appeared in the cart at check out.

My head rests on Ryan's chest and I know he's stalling getting out of bed. I can't stand to think of the awkwardness that's bound to happen between Chase and me while I'm here. That man has no filter and I have too quick a reflex to not shrug off the comments. I don't want to be left alone here with such an arrogant sleezeball, but I know it is better than being with a bunch of strangers in Utah.

I think.

I glance to the clock above the T.V and my heart sinks when I realize Ryan has to be back on the road in less than an hour. We are both wide awake as he strums his fingers lightly on my forehead but he hasn't said anything. I look up to him.

"I am going to miss you. When do you think you'll be able to come back?" He readjusts his face next to mine and says, "Within a couple of days. I'll fly next time so I can stay later. I know Tullahoma doesn't have much to offer but I can probably sneak you up to Nashville next time I'm here. Show you the fun side of Tennessee."

"I'm glad I brought my dancing boots then. I can't go to Nashville and not dance with the Hollis Founder's Day two-step champion." I feel Ryan smile and he hugs me tighter.

"Hopefully we'll just catch that slithering little bastard Simon this week and get you back to Hollis where you belong." He kisses my forehead and then pulls himself away from me and out of the sheets. The warmth leaves with him so I reach for his white cotton shirt that lays on the floor and quickly tug it on. I push my wild hair from my face and as Ryan opens the door to the bedroom, he catches Chase ready for work in the hallway.

"Damn Ry-Ry, you really filled out since becoming a pig. You even have little abs now," Chase taunts as he pokes Ryan in the torso. Ryan annoyingly mutters, "I'm not a police officer," like he's said that exact statement to Chase a million times, "I work for the F.B.I...ya know what, never mind." He shuts the bathroom door and Chase spins around and catches me standing in the opening of the bedroom door.

"What's the difference?" Chase mocks and I glare at him as I snap back, "Well you're not in the Navy, are you? Or wait, is the Navy and the Air force the same thing? I can't tell the difference?" I watch as Chase goes to argue with me and then he realizes I am proving my point.

"Someone is still pissy in the mornings," is all he decides to say before his eyes dart to the white shirt I'm wearing, "Never seen one of Ryan's t-shirts look so good." He catches my grimace right before I shut the door in his face with my foot. I am beginning to understand why Ryan is such a quiet, internal guy. His brother is such a dominant presence, both physically and verbally, while Austin is overly confident and outgoing as well. How does Ryan ever get a word in edgewise between the two? I'm guessing that's why I only see his goofy talkative side when it's just the two of us alone and away from the world. I'm the only one that lets him talk and be himself.

I slip on my shower shoes after gathering my outfit for the day and dart over to the bathroom. Ryan is still lathering up when I open the shower curtain and when he sees me, he frantically pulls me into him. He kisses me hard and I have a feeling he could use another good release before sending him back to his other overly-confident work brother.

After a couple of rounds in the shower, we finally manage to stop sucking each other's faces long enough to get Ryan ready for the journey back to Hollis. He tosses his duffel bag into the passenger seat and I dramatically frown when he turns back to me.

"Try not to kill my brother. I'd have to do a mound of paperwork if you did." Ryan teases and I bring his lips onto mine. I pull his bottom lip out slightly with my teeth and reply, "No promises." He pulls me toward him again and he holds his arms around my waist squeezing me into him. I want to just be able to spend time with him without one of us always having to leave. It's not fair that we haven't even had a proper first date yet due to his work always standing in the way.

He kisses me one last time and I finally move away from him so he can walk back to the driver's side of Austin's car. He stands at the door and glances to me before dropping inside. I cross my arms over my chest as I watch him settle in and he quickly rolls the passenger window down. I come closer to the car and he says, "Try not to talk to Chase about anything pertaining to the case. Keep yourself a secret okay? I'll call you when I get back to Hollis. I love you, Sawyer."

My heart drops into my stomach and they both manage to flip at the same time. It's the first time he's said "I love you" since the hotel room before I left to Jackson's and he had said he "thought he kind of" loved me. This was a statement. I had wondered if he almost regretted saying it since he hadn't said it again. I smile to him and reply, "I love you too, Ryan. Drive safe."