“Didn’t think it would, just wanted to make sure you were okay, darlin’,” Asher turned to give Evie a wink before turning his attention back to the computer.
A blush worked its way up Evie’s neck to her cheeks. Asher was good looking. He didn’t have whatever Luca had that drew her in, but it was impossible to ignore him.
Focus on the job, Evie.
Turning back to the computer, the tightening in Evie’s chest finally began to release. After the eighth job rejection, the panic had been real. Finally, something was going her way. Glancing again at Asher, Evie just hoped she wouldn’t regret the decision to work here in the long run.
CHAPTER FOUR
“DIDN’T THINK IT would, just wanted to make sure you were okay, darlin’.”
Luca heard Asher before he saw him. Stepping into Marble Protection, she was the next person he saw. Evie.
What the fuck?
Stiffening at the sight of his friend and Evie in such an intimate position, Luca’s hands clenched. Forcing calm into his body, Luca walked slowly but purposefully toward the gym desk.
“Morning, Striker,” Luca gave Asher a nod as he approached. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he leaned against the desk. Then turning his attention to Evie, his eyes softened. Fucking gorgeous. How had no man claimed her yet? “Morning, sweetheart, didn’t expect to see you here this morning.”
Evie’s bright green eyes swung to meet Luca’s and his body immediately hardened. He may not have expected to see her, but it definitely improved his morning.
“Well, you can start expecting to see her most days.” Asher’s voice pulled Luca’s attention back to him. “Evie has accepted the job working front and center. Take some of the pressure off Lex.”
Leaning his hip against the counter, Asher gave Luca a smirk. The asshole was still standing too damn close to Evie. Pushing that thought aside for the moment, Luca focused on what his friend had said. Evie would be working here. At Marble Protection.
Drawing his brows together, Luca stared questioningly at Evie. He was surprised. After his interactions with her, he wouldn’t have pegged her for wanting to work here.
Money. It must be the money. She was clearly running from something, and that required cash.
“You’re going to be our new receptionist?” Luca went for casual. With the stiffening of her shoulders, he may have missed the mark.
“If that’s not okay…” Before she could finish what she was saying, Luca cut in.
“Evie,” trying for an encouraging smile, Luca continued, “You will be a fantastic addition to Marble Protection. Welcome.”
Luca held Evie’s gaze for a moment longer, not wanting to look away.
“I’m just walking Evie through the system,” Asher remarked as he turned back to the computer.
“I got it.” Not waiting for Asher to continue, Luca pushed off the desk and headed around the counter.
“You’re welcome,” Asher muttered. The asshole had a smile on his face as he spoke the words that he knew would only reach Luca’s ears. Darting his gaze to Evie, he spoke in a louder voice. “I look forward to seeing more of you, Evie.”
Then, disappearing around the corner, it was just Luca and Evie.
Turning his full attention to Evie, Luca forced his body to relax. He needed to get a grip before he sent her screaming from the building.
“Ready to learn?” Moving closer to the computer, Luca brushed past her. Even that smallest touch sent a jolt of awareness through Luca.
With a small smile and nod, Evie turned her gaze to the screen. Expecting her to put more distance between them, Luca was pleasantly surprised when she didn’t. Progress.
Knowing this was only the third time he’d seen Evie did nothing to dampen his attraction to her. There was something about her that pulled Luca in. He wanted to learn more about her. Know more. And now he would have the opportunity.
Drawing his attention back to the job at hand, Luca started explaining the workings of the company and their online system.
After just over an hour of taking Evie through everything, Luca had a sneaking suspicion that Evie had much more experience with computers and technology than she was letting on. She picked up on everything he showed her quickly. Too quickly. She wasn’t starting at the foundation level; that was for sure.
At one point, when Luca clicked the wrong keys, it had been Evie who had stepped in and shown him what to do. It raised more questions for Luca. Questions that he would find answers to. For now, Luca would be patient. If there was something that being a SEAL had taught him, it was patience.
Lexie had returned at some point, but Luca had directed her to other jobs, not wanting his time with Evie to be disrupted.
Having gone through all the digital information of the business, Luca turned toward the open room.
“Okay, time for the tour.” Lightly placing his hand on the small of Evie’s back, Luca led her away from the desk. She gave the slightest of jolts upon his touch but didn’t pull away. The heat from Evie’s skin spread up Luca’s arm. He had the sudden urge to run his hand up her back.
Calm down, Kirwin. Get a grip.
Pulling his mind away from somewhere it shouldn’t be, Luca stopped at the side of the big open space.
“This is our main floor space and is where we teach most of our group self-defense classes. Asher, Bodie, and I tend to run the majority of the classes. We get a lot of school groups as well as having classes open to the public and one-on-one lessons.”
“How many guys do you have running this place with you?” Evie questioned as her gaze darted around the room.
“There are eight of us all together. We try to work to our strengths. Asher, Bodie, and I are more people persons. Oliver and Kye do a lot of traveling for the company. They’re away right now. Wyatt’s our resident IT guru, whereas Mason does more of the administration and organization for the company. Then there’s Eden, he’s more a ‘behind the scenes’ kind of guy.”
Luca could see the questions behind her pretty green eyes.
“When you spoke to Asher earlier, you called him something else.”
“Ah, yes. We each have a nickname. Asher’s is Striker, Eden’s Hunter, Wyatt’s Jobs, Mason goes by Eagle. Then we have Kye who’s Cage, Oliver who’s Ax and Bodie goes by Red.”
Nodding in response, Evie’s brows pulled together. “What do the guys call you?”
Luca’s lips split into a smile. “I’m Rocket because I’m fast.”
A hint of a smile showed on Evie’s lips. “How fast?”
Leaning in close, Luca lowered his voice. “Don’t race me, you’ll lose.”
When Evie turned her face toward him, her lips were close enough that if Luca moved his head forward a fraction, they would be touching. That, he knew already, would send her running.
Lifting his head, Luca cleared his throat. “You can use whichever names you want.”
“I think I’ll stick to your real names if that’s okay.”
“Of course, darlin’.”
Luca ushered Evie forward. As they headed down the hall, there were half a dozen doors connected. Noticing Evie was walking with a limp, Luca frowned. It was only slight, and the average person probably wouldn’t have noticed it, but Luca wasn’t your average person.
“Injure your foot since yesterday?” Luca kept his voice calm but was eager to find out what happened. The startled look on Evie’s face told him that she thought she’d been hiding it pretty well.
“Asher noticed it too. You guys are very perceptive. It’s nothing,” Evie finished with a shrug. When Luca didn’t break eye contact, Evie squirmed before eventually expanding on the story. “I was just trying to move some stuff around, and one of the pieces of furniture dropped on my foot, but it’s fine. That was the bang you heard this morning.”
“Are you okay?” Luca asked concern filled his voice. The bang had been loud, and if it had been something landing on her, it would have hurt like hell.
“I�
�m okay, just a bruise,” Evie eyed the hallway, clearly wanting them to move on.
“Anything else you need help moving?” Cocking his head to the side, Luca kept his face empty of expression. In his mind though, he was hoping she would say yes. Give him another excuse to see her.
He didn’t know why, but he felt the need to help this woman. Keep her close. But he did, and he wasn’t questioning it.
Giving himself a mental shake, Luca broke eye contact. He needed to back off stat.
“No, I’ve got it. It just slipped this morning. Nothing I can’t handle.”
Move on, Kirwin, the woman said no.
Letting it drop, Luca continued down the hall at a slower pace. He made a mental note to check out the bookcase later.
“These rooms are used more for small group and one-on-one sessions.” Luca indicated the rooms on his left down the hall. “The ones at the end have tables so they can be used for theory or meetings.”
Heading to the closest door, Luca opened it to see Eden getting ready to work out.
Damn.
Before he could retreat and shut the door, Eden looked up. Of course he did, his hearing was as pinpoint as Luca’s.
Silently scolding himself for not paying more attention, Luca moved further into the room.
Eden gave Luca a quick glance as the door opened before narrowing his gaze onto Evie. Fuck. Eden was not friendly to outsiders, particularly of the female kind.
The whole team had taken it hard when they found out what was really going on at Project Arma. Eden had taken it the hardest, however. Particularly because the nurse he was dating from the facility appeared to have been involved and had conveniently vanished.
Standing, Eden took a step closer to them just as Evie retreated a step. Luca didn’t blame her. At six and a half feet tall, Eden was the biggest of the team. The permanent scowl on his face over the last year did nothing to ease with the intimidation factor, either. Right now, that scowl was aimed directly at Evie.
Luca felt his protective instincts kick in and placed his hand lightly on her back again. Even though he knew Eden wouldn’t hurt her, Evie had a vulnerability about her. Something that made him want to protect her.
Without taking his eyes from Eden, Luca introduced them. “Evie, this is Eden, or as we call him, Hunter. Hunter, this is Evie. Evie will be working at our front desk starting today.”
Eden’s piercing gaze homed in on Evie. Luca could feel the nervous tension radiating off her. He wouldn’t be surprised if she turned and ran from the room right then and there.
Taking a subtle protective step in front of her, Luca narrowed his gaze at Eden. Evie hadn’t seemed to notice Luca’s move, but Eden did. His eyes swung back to Luca, and his face grew even more aggravated than it had been before.
Swinging his attention back to Evie, Eden again assessed her. “How’d you hear about the job?”
For a moment, there was silence. The only sound in the room was Evie’s thundering heart. Eventually, she spoke.
“I didn’t. I’m new in town and have been going to businesses today, inquiring about job vacancies.” Evie gave a small shrug. “Just lucky I popped in here.”
“I find luck doesn’t usually have much to do with how things work out,” Eden muttered. “So, you came in from the street, and we just gave you the job?” Eden’s voice was directed at Evie, but his words were aimed at Luca.
Stepping into Eden’s space, Luca’s tone chilled. “Calm down, Hunter. I’ve met her before. She’s fine.”
The two men stood face to face, daring the other to move. In the background, Luca heard Evie’s breathing become jagged. Eden was scaring her. Luca probably was too. Turning immediately, Luca placed a smile on his face, strategically blocking Eden from her view.
“Let’s go, sweetheart, I’ve got more things to show you before you officially start at the desk.”
Leading Evie from the room, Luca felt Eden’s energy radiating around the room like a bomb about to go off. Making a mental note to keep an eye on Eden while Evie was around, Luca wasted no time shutting the door behind him.
CHAPTER FIVE
ONCE EVIE WAS on her own behind the desk, she fiddled with the computer system, already feeling confident in using it.
“Look at you, all ready to go. Maybe I can finally take a vacation.” Jumping slightly at the sound of Lexie’s voice, she turned to face the other woman, keeping a slight distance. Lexie frowned at Evie’s reaction. “You okay?”
Forcing a smile, Evie nodded. “I didn’t see you there, sorry.”
Giving a small laugh, Lexie turned to the paperwork in front of her. “If you think I move quietly, just wait. The guys may look like bodybuilders, but they move like ninjas. You’ll never hear them coming.”
“Thanks for the heads up.” Evie hoped Lexie was exaggerating. She didn’t want to jump out of her skin every time someone approached her.
“Where are you from, Evie?”
Shrugging, Evie tried to stick to the truth. “I move around a lot, but I grew up in Chicago.”
“Ah, the land of the hot dogs.” As Lexie reached for the stapler, her arm grazed Evie’s body. Evie couldn’t stop the flinch at the sudden movement. “Woah, are you sure you’re okay?”
Lexie’s worried eyes seemed to bore into Evie. Darting her eyes around the room, she tried to think of a believable excuse. “Yeah, I’m just a bit jumpy. New job, new town.”
Gosh, she was a terrible liar.
As a body came out of the hallway, Evie looked up to see that it was Eden. Shrinking back slightly, she quickly averted her eyes. When she glanced up again, it was to see Lexie studying her with sympathy in her eyes. “I’m assuming you’ve met Eden?”
Evie nodded.
“I’ve worked here since they opened the place. The guys are great, but I still don’t know Eden very well.” Leaning closer and lowering her voice, Evie made an effort not to move away. “From what I’ve picked up, he was burned pretty bad by his last girlfriend. He has mad mistrust of people now, particularly women. I don’t know the details, but the guy is fine as long as you keep your distance.”
“I don’t think he likes me.” Evie’s voice was small, quiet, even though she knew it would be impossible for him to hear her.
“Join the club.” Moving back to the papers, Lexie continued organizing. “Don’t let it get to you. Every other guy here is great.”
Wrapping her jacket tighter around her shoulders, Evie started to make her way home. It had been a long day. First days always were. But the relief at finding short term work was almost overwhelming. Plus, the job didn’t actually look that bad.
She’d been worried at the beginning, but the classes in the big room seemed pretty contained. The guys ran a tight ship at Marble Protection. Lexie had been lovely. She was everything Evie wasn’t. Confident, bubbly. Whenever the guys had come over, she’d given them attitude but in a way that didn’t take away her charm.
Over the day, Evie had met a couple of the others who ran the place with Luca. Mason had stood out with his piercing blue eyes but quieter personality, while Bodie had been friendly and chatty.
Wyatt had been a bit more standoffish. Evie had remembered Luca saying he was their IT guy, and she’d had to restrain herself from asking him all computer questions. Not that she thought he would answer, Evie had felt distrust emanate from most of the guys, even the friendliest.
Her mind then flicked to Eden. A shiver ran up Evie’s spine. There was anger inside of him. Evie recognized it because Troy had carried that same emotion around with him. It had eaten away at Troy day by day. Was the same happening to Eden? Evie didn’t know him well enough to tell.
In addition to learning the job, she had made it her mission to avoid him. On the few occasions he had come into the main area and been within her sights, Evie had been quick to avert her eyes and appear busy. Even if that busy was fake. The feeling of having his eyes on her though was a constant.
Increasing her pace, a chi
ll worked its way through Evie’s limbs. The sun was almost finished setting, and that meant it would be dark soon. Evie hated the dark. She was automatically at a disadvantage with Troy in the dark. Another disadvantage she should say. He could still see, she was blind. It was an extra layer of protection for him, like he needed that.
Luca had offered Evie a ride, but she’d declined, hoping the fresh air would clear her mind. As the echoes of her steps filled the air, she started to regret her decision. At this very moment, she could be sitting next to him in his warm car, breathing in his musky scent.
Evie could almost hear his deep voice in the back of her mind. Feel the vibration of his words. A smile touched Evie’s lips at the thought.
No. What was she doing?
Shaking her head, Evie pushed down the feelings. Feelings were dangerous. They were the reason she was where she was in her life at the moment. Luca was dangerous to her. She had to keep her distance, no matter how much her body wanted her to do otherwise.
As the hairs on the back of Evie’s neck stood up, she suddenly had the feeling of being followed. Subtly, as to not draw any attention, Evie turned her head to look down the road behind her. Nothing.
Taking a calming breath, she forced herself to maintain her pace, even though her legs wanted to race. She could see her house up ahead. Then she would be inside with the semblence of safety. Not far to go.
A rustling noise behind Evie sounded. This time she did stop. Turning, she stared out to the empty street. Again, there was nothing. About to turn back, the sight of fresh shoe tracks in the mud next to the path caught her attention.
Turning back to her house, this time, she did increase her pace.
Stop being stupid, Evie, there are dozens of people who use this path.
So why did it stick out to her?
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