And since I’ve never been able to resist a challenge, I’m in the deep end a lot. I really should take swimming lessons. Slap thoseright on the list after win the company and not falling for ‘ole GI Joe over here with the big—er—guns.
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “And another two.”
Two guns at least at last count because—you know what, doesn’t matter—I’ll just task my overactive brain with adding the guns to the flick files.
“Privates po?—”
“You’re a menace.” He pierces with a look that probably works on his subordinates. He forgets I’ve seen him as a grown ass man in an ugly Christmas onesie.
One that was a size too small. Not that I noticed—much.Look, I’m programmed to notice those things, okay? Especially whenthose thingspractically walk into the room before he does.
And the third gun enters the chat. His third gun’s got game.
Keeping my eyes straight ahead—for reasons, I raise and waggle my finger. “Baby sister, it’s in the job description.”
“You’re not my baby sister.” His voice dives into the deep end of my pool and I’m pretty sure I hear the telltale hiss of my floaties deflating.
I’m gonna need soldier boy over here to stop dropping lines like he’s serving looks.
“Look, if he passes the company to me, I want it to be on my own merit.” I go for the kind of in-your-face confidence I’ve mastered in the corporate world, but at the moment, my words come out softer. More like the optimistic dreamer I used to be. “Not because he thinks I’ve found someone who’ll make me settle down and behave.”
That damn tender underbelly of mine has a big mouth and likes telling all my secrets.
She and I are going to have to have another loyalty talk.
He flashes a quick grin. “Behave? He should’ve seen you at baggage claim.”
The band squeezing my chest eases with one line—one smile.
Just like that—balance restored.
“And definitely not because he hopes I’ve finally learned my place.”
“Your place?” He snorts, the edge softening into humor. “Men stoppedplacingwomen somewhere around the time we lost track of the remote.”
“Not men like my father.”
The fresh blanket of snow turns into a dazzling carpet of diamonds under the powerful sun. It should be beautiful. Instead, it feels like nature conspiring to spotlight every worry gnawing at my insides.
"Shouldn't be too hard anyway. You and Nick will fuck off up the mountain to some super secret ceremonious circle jerk like you always do. You guys and your covert traditions. You act like you’re the first line of protection for the Infinity Stone."
His eyes cut to mine for a split second, something unreadable flickering in their depths. "Nice mouth, Squirt. Nick can crank his own dick, thanks. Bitter much?"
I roll my eyes, refusing to let him see how much his words affect me. "Please. I'm way too mature to hold decade-old grudges about being excluded from your sword-swinging boys’ brigade." Crossing my arms, I aim for nonchalance. "I outgrew giving a shit a long time ago."
Chance slides me a look, one eyebrow arched. "You sound like it. Must be why you spent that one whole week alone stalking the shit out of us."
Heat rushes to my cheeks. "I was twelve!"
"You were a felon in the making." His lips twitch, fighting a smile.
"Gee, and look at me now. No record." This is where I’d flip my hair for emphasis if I hadn’t cut a bunch of it off.
"Yet." He shakes his head, but there's something almost fond in his tone that makes my stomach flutter. "So damn stubborn then. Still are."
His gaze locks with mine, and for a moment, the air between us crackles with an energy I can't quite name. It's like some primal part of me recognizes it and responds to it on a cellular level, hijacking my heart rate all over again.
I swallow hard, trying to ignore the way my pulse pounds in my ears. "It's not like it was a no-girls-allowed sausage fest. That local girl used to hang out with you guys all the time. Sierra something.Shewas allowed to hang with the boys."
