“Don’t harass her, asshole. She’s just trying to do her job.” Legend wasn’t saying he didn’t like the idea of getting wet and slippery with both Tavish and Karolena on the kitchen floor, but he was also man enough to recognize they hadn’t met her at a bar or on some dating app. This was work. And worse, where they lived.
Hazards surrounded them like a tangle of tripwires. Risking blowing up something important in exchange for a couple of orgasms, even really good ones? No, thank you.
“So, yeah, about that…” Ruby shot them a glance out of the corner of her eyes. “You might want to reserve judgment about our housekeeper until you hear what our meeting’s about.”
“No.Her? What now?” Tavish looked like someone had promised him a puppy then reneged on the deal. Did he already care that much? Sure, Legend had noticed their instant attraction, but so what? He and Tavish had entertained plenty of women, and a man or two, for one-night stands. They had no shortage of partners who’d welcome their attention.
Their ride down in the elevator was a bit awkward with Tavish pinching the bridge of his nose as he studied the toes of his boots. Legend’s mood sank along with the shiny box that carried them to the main floor. He didn’t relish the idea of having to be the voice of reason in the face of Tavish’s hormones, but he’d do whatever it took to keep his partner safe, whether in the field or in their bedrooms.
When Legend entered the command center, he was greeted by more than a dozen familiar faces already gathered around the giant gleaming table. Ones that belonged to the people he considered his brothers and sisters. He would, and often did, trust them with his life and looked out for them as well as he could. Nolan—with his perfectly coiffed hair—sat next to Kennedy, Marcus, and Knox, who held hands as they joked with him. Their sniper, Aarav, gave nothing away as he sipped his tea and watched his boyfriend, Cash, who was sitting with one ass cheek on the table, dip down to kiss their girlfriend, Sola.
Was it any mystery why Tavish and Legend seemed obsessed with finding someone who could fit them as well? They were surrounded by blissful trios who had everything they’d never imagined was possible—loving, equal relationships between three people who balanced each other out and fulfilled all the non-traditional needs they had. Lucky bastards. Each of them.
Even Ruby. Their resident cybergeek perked up as she passed her lovers on her way to the computer station at the brains of the command center, dragging the fingertips of one hand over both Ace and Liam from shoulder to shoulder as she strode behind them. It was as if she couldn’t bear not to touch them despite the wild time he’d heard them having when he’d made his unofficial rounds in the middle of the night.
That meant Karolena had probably gotten an earful too, since her apartment—Ruby’s old one—shared a wall with their bedroom and was right across the hall from his own place. Figured.
Legend wondered if Karolena had realized Ruby was being spoiled by both men, who also were into each other, and what she’d thought of it if she had. He’d kick his own ass if he could. Hadn’t he just told Tavish the woman was off limits?
At the head of the table, James and Jordan had their heads together, conversing. The air of triumphant celebration underlying the festivities the night before, which had commemorated an enormous payout to the firm from their last mission, had been replaced by caution and gravity.
Damn it. The break had been nice given the pressures of their positions.
What did this have to do with Karolena? Better they find out now before they spent any more time watching her flounder and fight to find her footing at Shields. Legend couldn’t afford to like her in addition to lusting after her if there was something fishy about her sudden appearance in their world.
Shields meant too much to him to risk his career or his friends for a piece of ass, no matter how spectacular it was.
He glanced over at Tavish, who locked eyes with him. Unfortunately, Legend couldn’t reassure the guy. Something was up.
“Everyone here?” Tavish cleared his throat. It was completely unlike him to hurry for anything, never mind to start what he usually called a boring-ass meeting.
James winged a glance in their direction, one perfectly manscaped brow arched and a smile on his glossed lips. “Got a date?”
“Never know.” Tavish’s smile split open, revealing bright white teeth that flashed against his pink-toned skin and the red of his facial hair. “Any reason why I shouldn’t try for one?”
“Maybe.” James’s shoulders slumped. “Sorry.”
“No maybe. Absolutely.” Jordan’s tone was a hell of a lot more steely. “The background check Karolena filled out…well, it doesn’t check. At all.”
“It’s got more gaping holes than me after a birthday weekend with the Powertools,” James grumbled.
“Dude.” Nolan slicked a hand over his action-figure hair, then laughed at James. “I know we’re close around here, but damn.”
James’s eyes twinkled. He wasn’t a bit sorry.
Jordan was less easily distracted. “Honestly, James, didn’t you even pass this application by Ruby before interviewing Karolena?”
“I did.” James shot Ruby a look then as if apologizing for possibly getting her in trouble. “And the fact that her references were fake as well as her previous address not existing…well, I could tell she needed help and I wanted to see what we could do. That’s why I stuck her with Legend and Tavish until we could discuss further.”
Jordan shook his head. “Despite our…informalities…around here, thisisa business. A complicated and sometimes treacherous one. We can’t take in strays. Especially when we don’t know where they came from or why they’re lying about pretty much everything they’ve told us.”
“Hopefully not about her passion for cleaning up after these slobs?” James asked.
Tavish snorted. “Sorry, my guy. She can’t tell her pert ass from a broomstick. I spent all morning trying not to rip the vacuum out of her hands so I could do it my damn self. It was painful to watch. And I wouldn’t be surprised if you suddenly see a waterfall of foam pouring out our windows to the ground floor.”
Nolan chuckled. “Sounds like the first time I did my own laundry and thought the container was single-use.”
“It’s exactly like that.” Tavish winced. “I hope she doesn’t tackle the dirty clothes while we’re down here.”