My gaze fell on the calendar on the wall by my door, and I shook my head. I had moved the damn thing into the staff kitchen so many times I had lost count, but it kept mysteriously reappearing on my wall. Staring at not just half naked men, but half naked male friends of mine was not my idea of comfortable viewing. Currently, Bomber, Mr. March, grinned down at me, completely naked with a ‘KABOOM’ sign covering his groin and a toothpick hanging from his smiling lips. Bomber noticed the direction of my gaze, and his smile broadened.
“Only three more months and we get to stare at your naked ass all day long,” he laughed.
“I had fatigues on,” I said a little defensively. The girls had tried to persuade me to lose them, but I won.
“Cargos only, Boss, and they sit dangerously low on your hips and give a nice view of that magic V you wear so well,” Gabbie purred. She was teasing, but it got a very obvious reaction from Bomber who narrowed his gaze at her in almost jealous scrutiny. You would have to be blind to miss the sexual chemistry between those two. Apparently, Gabbie was blind, or at least had selective vision. When it came to Bomber’s sexual advances, as long as it was playful, she was ready to give back as good as he gave it. Any time she even scented more serious attention, she backed off and quite literally disappeared for anything from a few days to a week or longer.
“You do know Rebecca and Ella are already planning a women of Mercy’s calendar for next year?” I asked Gabbie. Her smile faltered for all but a moment before a seductive grin replaced the teasing one.
“You wanna see me half dressed in my fatigues, Boss?”
“I know I’d like to see you out of them,” Bomber replied, causing the other men in the room to groan at his attempt to redirect Gabbie’s attention back to him. And, predictably, Gabbie blushed and turned her furious ire his way.
“Hombre típico, siempre pensando con su polla,” Gabbie began ranting, which only caused Bomber’s grin to widen.
“You’re only going to get me hard talking to me like that.” Gabbie’s lips closed and she forced herself to remain quiet. “I do love that shade on your cheeks, sweets.”
“You really wanna die, don’t you, boy,” Larz chuckled from Gabbie’s other side.
Deciding now was a good time to change the direction of the conversation, I cleared my throat. “Thank you all for meeting on such short notice, it’s not very often we all find ourselves in the same town, let alone the same country. I expect to see all of you tomorrow night. Gabbie and Larz, you have a flight out immediately after the event so be sure to stash a change of clothes in your overnight bag.” Montgomery Securities had been approached for a missing persons job in Pamplona, Spain. Obviously with Gabbie’s heritage, she was perfect for the job. The fact that our intel had the job possibly moving offshore meant Larz’s expertise as an ex-Navy SEAL would also come in handy. The two soldiers before me nodded with serious expressions. All playful banter had been dropped like a dead weight as the team slipped effortlessly into work mode. The teasing would resume like it had never stopped as soon as the meeting was over, though. That’s what I loved about this team; they knew when to drop the jokes and did so without me having to ask. The fact that in this line of work, in our respective careers, we had seen and done some equally disturbing things; that we could all still joke and laugh at all was a miracle. “The week after next I’ll be traveling to a convention in Paris where I hope to secure another two team members. If that falls through, we might all find ourselves a little busy for the rest of the year. You’ll all put in a few back-to-back jobs, even me and Braiden.”
“Who apparently can’t handle the jet-setting lifestyle,” murmured Parker with a smile. I glanced to my right in time to see Braiden raise a questionable finger.
“I’m listening,” he mumbled. The dark rings under his eyes told me his jet lag was kicking in. He needed a few hours’ sleep and would be back in tip-top shape like the pro he was.
“Alright, Parker and Drew, Sam emailed you an itinerary this morning. You have security detail in Vegas, some one-hit wonder, gangster wanna-be who’s been targeted with death threats. It’s his twenty-first birthday and he wants a week in Vegas, so Mom and Dad have paid for security for him and his friends while they’re there. You’ll need to coordinate with his current security team. I’ve been told that consists of only two bodyguards, and they will allow you boys to take lead for the week.”
“Babysitting a poser who still suckles from a silver pacifier, awesome,” grumbled Drew.
“All I heard is Vegas for a week,” Parker smiled and leveled out his fist, which Drew reluctantly bumped with his own.
“Bomber, I’ve got a list of businesses that we used the AVCOR security system on. AVCOR has reported defects in the thirteen hundred series. We haven’t used that particular one, but I just want to be sure that everything we’ve got out there is operating at a hundred percent.” Bomber gave me a small nod. “Sam is working on a new program for tracing cyber-attacks. If it’s as good as he promises, we’ll be going global with it by the end of the year.”
“Sounds like you doubt me, Boss,” Sam chuckled.
“Not at all. I just don’t understand you,” I admitted with a smile. “Come to me when it’s finished and tell me it works, that’s all I need.” I glanced back at the small assembled team. “Anyone got anything they want to get off their chest before I send you all home to get some beauty sleep for tomorrow night?”
“I was hoping you might allow me to do a little background digging into Lola, Boss,” came Drew’s deep, rumbling voice. I wasn’t the only one who was surprised with the mention of Lola.
“Do you have a good reason to go behind a friend’s back and dig around in her personal life?”
Lola worked for Rebecca, and she had slipped into the girl’s circle of friendship with ease. She was an unusual girl, quiet, reserved, a bit of a loner, but that didn’t give cause to go snooping.
“I caught a peek at a letter she was reading yesterday.” My sharp gaze caused the giant man to raise his eyes defiantly. “I wasn’t prying. I was helping Rebecca move some stuff around. Lola was at the counter, whatever she was reading had her undivided attention. She didn’t even realize I was standing in front of her. I didn’t see what was written in the letter, but the NYPI insignia on the top corner was familiar.” That seemed to settle the doubting murmurs in the room. New York Private Investigators was a large firm, one of the largest, and they came with a hefty price tag. If Lola was using them, she would have been spending every cent she earned and then some for their services. When she had Montgomery Securities at her obvious disposal, I could only assume she wanted to keep whatever was going on private.
“I’ve got an old friend who does some work for them sometimes,” Sam said from beside me. “I can ask a few questions without raising suspicion.”
“As long as you can keep it quiet. If Lola has need to use a PI and she prefers to outsource, that’s her prerogative; it doesn’t warrant us snooping around.”
“She’s skittish, and she lives her life looking over her shoulder. When I interrupted her from reading that letter yesterday, she was pale. She looked scared. She lives like a woman who’s afraid of someone. If it were Annie, you wouldn’t let it go unchecked,” Drew said defiantly.
I couldn’t believe he had gone there, and I had no doubt the angry glare I now pierced him with said everything I wanted to say in that moment.
“We would never leave a woman in trouble to fend for herself, Drew, especially one of our own, but there is a fine line between investigating to help someone and investigating out of mere curiosity,” Braiden said. “Lola is safe here in Claymont; she knows that, and for the most part, she appears happy and unperturbed. She does seem like a woman with a past, but everyone is entitled to a little history. It’s not our place to go digging around because we feel some misplaced need to protect her. She is obviously doing a decent job of taking care of herself.” His gaze had been fixed on the floor in front of him, but no
w he looked up and directly at the defiant Drew. Braiden’s intense gaze could make the strongest man squirm uncomfortably. Drew didn’t move, didn’t even so much as blink. “In saying that, maybe we could get the girls to talk to her, see if they can get her to open up, and in the meantime, Sam can discreetly ask his friend at NYPI, but we should go slowly and carefully. We don’t want to offend Lola by digging around in her personal business.” As usual, Braiden spoke with the calm, calculated voice that no one dared to oppose. Braiden didn’t say a lot and when he did it was always with an impact that left people nodding in agreement. Well, mostly. Jaxon Carter and Charlie Cole seemed determined to mock the man every chance they got in an effort to crack his icy composure. It rarely worked and more often than not Braiden turned their game around on them and came out the victor. “We’ll all keep an eye on Lola to make sure she stays safe,” Braiden added. I knew my cousin would be personally invested in such a task. It was less than twelve months ago that Braiden had literally carried Emily Donovan from the arms of sexual slavery. Em carried an ocean of scars on her body and on her soul, and Braiden helped her fight those demons daily. Living with the two of them had opened my eyes to the layers of damage that had been done to Emily. Subjugated, dominated, and humiliated, Emily was a walking poster child for the reason Montgomery Securities existed. I glanced to Drew who seemed mollified with Braiden’s reasoning.
“Sorry if I overstepped my mark, Boss. I just don’t like knowing the girl is in some sort of trouble that I can’t do anything about.” Drew’s obvious interest in Lola seemed a little more intense than professional curiosity.
“Understandable, but never doubt my desire to help those who need it, Drew. With women who’ve been hurt, women like Emily, Ella, and Annie, trust is a big issue, and you don’t want to go destroying it before you’ve had a chance to develop it. Sometimes you need to slow down and back off to see the whole picture clearly.”
Drew nodded and the room fell into silence.
“So, if you’re going to be my date tomorrow, I better be get moving. It takes a lot of work to turn this awesomeness into something epic, and I need to pick up my suit from the dry cleaners.” Bomber stood from his chair and winked at Gabbie.
“You are not my date,” Gabbie said through gritted teeth.
“Keep telling yourself that, sweets,” Bomber glanced my way. “We done here, Boss?”
“We are. See you all at the fundraiser.”
“Pick you up at seven,” Bomber called out to Gabbie as he left the room.
“The man is loco,” Gabbie sighed. “I wish I could be there when Larz meets him at my door.” Larz threaded his hands behind his head and laughed. “I’ll take a picture, honey. Trust me, I’m looking forward to this just as much as you are.”
“You’re not going to be home?” I asked Gabbie, smiling at her devious plan to throw water on Bomber’s heated ego.
“No, I am going to get ready with Annie. Hope you don’t mind giving me a lift. I know it’s supposed to be your first date and all, but Annie assured me you wouldn’t mind,” she said with a blush.
“Escorting two beautiful women into that room, how could I refuse?” I grinned. “Larz, just make sure you get Bomber there to see my entrance. I want a picture of that, too.” Even Braiden laughed at that. As the room emptied, Braiden stood and lingered in the doorway.
“Em isn’t ready for the fundraiser, too many people, too many bad memories,” he murmured. I nodded, not at all surprised. Emily’s experience in gatherings and functions had been far different than the one she would experience tomorrow night. Used as little more than a slave for the sexual gratification of masochists, the bad memories still lingered and were easily incensed in large gatherings with unfamiliar people. “I have to admit, I will be disappointed to miss out on seeing you fumble your way through your first official date with Annie.” A small smile kicked up one corner of his mouth.
“Hack it up, dom boy, you’ve never seen me in action. I’m as smooth as fine silk when it comes to wining and dining women.”
Braiden shook his head. “You’re as smooth as Jaxon’s potholed driveway when it comes to Annie.”
I laughed, silently agreeing that Jaxon’s long gravel drive needed attention, and soon. I swear I busted a spring on the Chevy last time I took a drive out there. “Are you suggesting I can’t dazzle my woman?”
“I can’t believe you just used the word dazzle,” Braiden muttered.
“Trust me, cuz, I won’t need a kink room or a paddle to get my woman off.” I raised my hands before us. “These alone will do the trick.”
Braiden smiled. “They sure as hell have done the trick for you since you turned twelve and discovered breasts weren’t only for feeding babies.”
I turned my attention to the computer before me. “Go spank your woman or something,” I grumbled with a half grin.
“With pleasure,” Braiden replied, leaving me alone to my thoughts, which now consisted of breasts—more importantly, one particular woman’s breasts. Annie’s breasts, which I had managed to catch a tantalizing preview of, the creamy, smooth swell that rose above the thin fabric of her bra had taunted me on many an occasion. I was man enough to admit when Annie leaned over in front of me I was not the gentleman who looked away.
I groaned with frustration, completely unable to concentrate on the email before me. With a swipe of the keys, I shut the computer down. It was a little after eleven, close enough to lunchtime that Annie wouldn’t think it was unusual for me to turn up at her coffee shop for a bite to eat. Admitting I would not be able to concentrate on anything else but Annie and her sweet little breasts, I left the office to go find the real thing.
Chapter 7
Annie
The store was busy today; we hadn’t even had our usual slow period after the breakfast rush. Michael was working like a man possessed, handing out skinny lattes and cappuccinos, left, right, and center. Claire, our lunchtime girl, had just arrived to take over the cash register while I delivered orders to tables and cleaned up as customers left. We hadn’t embraced the food side of the business like some coffee shops; we concentrated on beverages with a small selection of cakes and muffins. I had recently taken on a partnership with a local sandwich shop that filled a fridge with ready-made sandwiches. It had been such a hit with the locals that I decided I could benefit from the extra money by doing it myself¸ which meant I would be getting up a couple of hours earlier each morning to prepare them. It wasn’t like I had a social life anyway, and the extra income would make it worthwhile. When I glanced to a table that had just been vacated, I was surprised to see Lola picking up the empty cups and trash.
“We’re dead quiet over there. I asked Rebecca if she would mind, and she practically shoved me across the corridor.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, appreciating the help.
“It should be me thanking you. I get to check Michael out up close.”
I laughed, but I wasn’t surprised, the girls had been goo-goo eyed for Michael the moment he started working for me. When Lola stood and nearly stepped into the enormous bulk of Drew, she looked suddenly shy and maybe even a touch guilty. Drew’s big brown teddy bear eyes dropped to Lola’s full arms, and without asking, he took the glasses from her and deposited them on the counter, casting Michael a rather fearsome glare as he did. Picking up his cup of coffee to go, Drew left, having not spoken a word the entire time he was there.
Lola sighed. “I don’t know what his problem is. He talks to everyone except me. I would say he doesn’t like me, but then he goes and does something like that.” Lola pointed towards the dirty cups that Michael was quickly shifting off the counter.
“He likes you alright.”
“You think so?”
“I know so. He’s just nervous. He’s not like that with anyone else because he doesn’t care what kind of an impression he makes. He’s a big, scary looking man, and I think he is trying not to frighten you.”
Lola snorted. “And sl
inking around and watching me but refusing to talk to me isn’t frightening?”
“Maybe you should talk to him?”
“I’m not sure what to say now. It’s like we’ve surpassed the awkwardness. I know his name is Drew, and he knows my name is Lola. What would we say to each other? Gee, isn’t this weather we’ve been having ordinary and uneventful.”
It was my turn to snort. “Ask him out to a movie or something.”
Lola actually blushed, which made me pause. “You’ve been on a date or two before, right?” She shrugged as she quickly wiped down the table before a couple smiled and slipped into the seats.
“I had a man sit at a table with me at a cafe once because the place was full. We chatted and he paid for my coffee when my card wouldn’t work. Does that constitute as a date?”
I stood and stared at her, my mouth probably hanging wide open. “No, it does not, Lola. Are you telling me you’ve never been on a date, ever?”
She shrugged. “Dates are overrated.”
“And you would know this how?”
“I’m assuming, and before you start getting personal with your questions, no, I’ve never had a boyfriend. Could you please not tell Rebecca or Ella? They’ll laugh at me.”
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