“You know me well, friend.” She grinned, crossing her arms over her chest and eyeing him up and down like he was some new mission to figure out. “Freya doesn’t fall into your one-night-stand category, and you’re going out of your way to pick her up and take her to work on your day off. I’m also assuming you’re going to do something nice like pick up her favorite coffee on the way to get her. Correct?”
He frowned and shot Tash his most ferocious glare. It was that or stare at her dumbfounded. It was irritating when your friends knew you so damn well.
She ignored his glare and arched an eyebrow. Because that’s how Tash rolled. “Am I correct?”
“Fine. I was going to swing by and get coffee forbothof us. It’s not a big deal though. Everyone needs coffee to start their damn day.” He huffed out a sigh. “Is that supposed advice you’re gonna give me in there somewhere?”
She rolled her eyes. “My advice is for you to stop thinking you aren’t good enough for her. For once, allow yourself to like her.”
He froze.What the fu?—
Tash’s eyebrow arched higher, silently daring him to argue with her. He couldn’t, though, because hewasn’tgood enough for Freya.
“She obviously likes you, Xander. For once, just go for it. Be the good guy that you are and see where it takes you. Hell, look at Frazier. He shot his damn shot and is now all blissed up with B.” She shrugged. “You never know. You could have something like that.”
“I’m not sure that’s what I want.”
He was happy for Frazier and Bean. His friends were indeed blissfully happy, but he wasn’t sure it was possible for him to have something like that. Especially not with Freya.
They were so different. She was sweet and kind. Him, on the other hand? He was a good friend but was shit at relationships. He’d had zero success as a boyfriend, and up until this point, that hadn’t bothered him.
On top of that, Freya came from a big family. He could tell her brothers annoyed her, but when she spoke about them, he saw the warmth in her gaze. She not only loved them, but she liked them too. He had nothing to offer on that front.
Yes, they had insane chemistry, but that wasn’t something to base a relationship on. The fire between them would inevitably burn out.
“Liar.” Tash’s finger jabbed him in the chest. “You want that. You just don’t think you deserve it.”
The muscle in his jaw twitched. It was the only indication she’d hit the nail on the head, but damn if he’d admit it out loud. “Yeah, well, what about you?”
She made a face. “I don’t do relationships. You know that.”
He sighed. “Neither do I, T.”
“Yeah, but you’ve actually got a shot at one. A good one.” She shrugged. “You should take it. If not for you, then for the rest of us dumbasses at Hudson Security.”
He frowned.
Her eyes rolled. “You have to admit that we’re an emotionally stunted lot. But, Xan, you’re the best of us. Ifyoucan’t have a good relationship, then there’s no way in hell the rest of us can either. And that’s fucking depressing.”
He ran his hand over his jaw, shaking his head. “Shit, T. No pressure or anything.”
She chuckled as Wilson approached, a gym bag slung over his shoulder. “You fuckers done deep-talking yet?” He lifted his chin at Xander. “You coming to breakfast with us?”
He shook his head. “Nah, I’ve got plans.”
“Catch you later then,” Wilson replied—well, more like grunted—before he headed toward the exit.
“Look, Xan, I know we’ve all seen too much, done too much... but at the heart of it, you’re a good guy. Don’t forget that.” Tash slapped him on the shoulder. “Besides, we do the hard shit, remember? Don’t wimp out now.”
He let out a breath. Theydiddo the hard shit. They took on dangerous assignments to not only protect but also rescue clients. He’d lost track of how many times he’d been shot at, andhe’d been injured countless times. As Tash had said, he’d done too much and seen too much. They all had. But did he have the courage to try and pursue something he knew nothing about? With a woman who was starting to matter more to him with each minute he spent with her?
“Thanks, Tash,” he said as she turned toward the exit.
“Stop overthinking things,” she called over her shoulder. “Call me later. I want a sitrep.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Freya glanced at her reflection in the full-length mirror and frowned. In five minutes, Xander was scheduled to show, and she was 99 percent sure the man was the punctual sort. She skimmed her hands over her hips and turned to the side. Did she have time to change?
