She glanced at the clock and wanted time to move faster. A smile crept over her face thinking about his texts. The end of her shift couldn’t come fast enough.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Xander glanced at his phone one last time before cutting his engine. Easing out of his SUV, he pocketed his phone and clicked the lock button on his key fob. He had no clue what was going on between him and Freya aside from their intense chemistry and the fact that he genuinely liked her. He sure as fuck knew nothing about relationships, but he could honestly say he wasn’t sorry that Freya’s rental car wasn’t going to be ready until Monday. Though he didn’t know what was happening between them, he knew he enjoyed being with her. Kissing, talking, hanging out, all of it. Now that he’d had a taste of her, he wanted more.
Maybe he needed to take Tash’s advice and stop overthinking things.
He’d simply go with it. No expectations. The attraction between them was crazy, and he was pretty sure they were going to end up in bed. Or on the couch. He wasn’t picky. The edges of his lips twitched. Hell, he’d have her however she allowed.
In all honesty though, the connection he had with her was more than just physical. More than wanting a quick fuck. He’d had that before, and this—with Freya—wasn’t that. He couldn’t quite define it, but it was more.
Tash’s words echoed in his head.
Yeah, he needed to stop being a coward and just embrace the unknown. Enjoy it while it lasted. Because he was pretty sure Freya would wise up sooner or later and kick him to the curb. He only hoped it was later rather than sooner. Because that earlier unsettled feeling had turned into a good kind of unsettled. Was that even possible? Did that even make sense?
He blew out a breath and shook his head. Holy shit, he was thinking in circles. The woman most definitely had him all tied up in knots.
His eyes narrowed as a company-issued Range Rover identical to his pulled into the Hudson Security parking lot and parked beside him. Xander crossed his arms over his chest as he waited for the driver to emerge.
“What?” Xander asked as Wilson slammed his door shut and gave him a shit-eating grin. “No honking this time? No partner in crime doing that stupid eyebrow wag?”
Wilson beeped his doors locked and met him at the front of their SUVs. “Public street, dude. You were parked in the middle of down-fucking-town. Pretty sure you traumatized the breakfast crowd by devouring that poor girl’s face. God knows, both T and I almost puked watching all that PDA.”
“Fuck off,” Xander said with a chuckle and then glanced back at Wilson’s vehicle. “Where’s Tash?”
“We were having breakfast at Comfort Food, and Esme showed up. They started yammering about you and the chick you were sucking face with, so I left.” Wilson shrugged. “They’re both heading back to Seattle today, so I figured Tash could be Esme’s problem until their ferry arrived.”
As they entered the building, Xander slapped his friend on the shoulder and laughed. “Ah... still bitter that Tash handed you your ass on the mat this morning, I see?”
Wilson shook his head and groaned. “I don’t get it, man. I outweigh her by at least sixty pounds. We’re both trained in krav and jits, but I swear to God, she has me on the ground and tapping out before I can blink. The girl’s a fucking beast.”
Xander chuckled as he entered his code to access their secure offices. Well, the entire building was secured, but their actual work area—offices, bullpen, conference rooms, weapons cache—weresecuredsecured. “Good thing Tash’s on our side, huh? You should have seen what she did to Carmichael the other day. The dumbass didn’t tap.”
“Fucking idiot,” Wilson muttered and lifted his chin at the man in front of them. “What’s up, Frazier?”
“Waiting for B to get off a call. You know, just another lovely Saturday morning.” Their friend gestured to Bean’s closed door. “What are you guys up to?”
“I’m helping Buchanan plan a search and rescue op for Tactical. They have a group coming in next week for training.” Wilson nodded to Xander. “This one was busy making out with some chick on Main Street for all of Hudson Island to see.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Xander muttered, running a hand over his mouth. He glared at Wilson. “Seriously?”
The man shrugged and turned his attention back to Frazier. “Apparently, he even took her out last night to dinner,didn’tfuck her, and then picked her up this morning to take her to work. If it weren’t for me and Tash honking, they probably would have gotten arrested for something indecent.”
Frazier nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. “That was good of you. If you and T hadn’t done that, the lady probably would have been really late to work, and I’m sure that’s the last thing the resort spa needs right now. I mean, I’m assuming we’re talking about the same lady who gave him that dashing new haircut.”
Xander’s jaw dropped. He could only stare at his twosupposedbest friends. “You fuckers done?”
Wilson shook his head and held up a finger. “I also have it on good authority that on his way to pick her up, he stopped and picked up her favorite drink. All gentlemanly and shit.”
Frazier’s face scrunched. “And you’re saying hedidn’tfuck her last night?”
“Holy shit, you guys suck,” Xander muttered, dropping his head back. He stared at the ceiling and counted to ten. It was that or strangle them both.
“Oh my God, you two, stop,” Bean said, stepping into the hallway. Wilson and Frazier cackled like two demented hyenas, and Bean smacked them both in the gut. “Leave the poor guy alone, jerks.” She turned to him. “Good morning, Xan. Ignore them. Are you seeing her again?”
Frazier opened his mouth, no doubt to spew more shit Xander’s way, but Bean shot him a death glare. “Not one peep, mister. Same goes for you.” Wilson held up his hands in surrender, and Frazier wisely shut his trap, though it looked like both were struggling to not laugh. Bean turned her attention back to him. “This is the hairstylist from the Pacific View spa, right?”
He nodded. “Yes, on both counts. We’re having dinner tonight at my place.”
