“No, that’s unnecessary, I’ll just go to a hotel.”
“Meg, that’s why we have apartments upstairs,” Ares said, coming around and putting an arm around her. “Harper will get you sorted. I keep telling you to move closer.”
“I like my house,” Meg mumbled.
“He’s pissed,” Quinn said when Meg and Harper walked out of the room.
“Yeah. Not everyone dealt with Jordan’s death the same way you did,” Xander remarked dryly. Quinn’s mouth quirked in a smile. Losing his best friend had eaten away at him, and Xander preferred Logan’s angry outburst when he was reminded of it. “Want to talk about it?” Quinn asked.
“Not yet,” Xander said. “Go catch up with them. We’ll have drinks when you get back.”
“Sounds good.” Quinn fist bumped him and glared at Erik on the way out.
“You two are speaking?” Xander asked.
“We won’t ever be friends. But we’ll get the job done.”
“I thought of keeping you back because I need you to continue to stay on Nadia, but I need everyone on this job.”
“Whatever you need.”
Xander nodded. He knew his team would pull together, that’s what they did.
“This is an impeccable way to end the week,” Xander said, sliding next to Harper in the limo. She gave him a small smile.
“Anything from Team Stealth yet?”
“Not since noon. I’m not worried, Harper. They’ll be home tomorrow night.”
He wanted to take her slender hand in his, but he resisted.
“I know. Kayleigh told me she could be my assistant today,” Harper said.
The thought of Quinn’s loveable but high-strung sister being in his office made Xander’s blood pressure rise. He shook his head back and forth.
“Yeah, I told her she had to know how to use a spreadsheet and needed math skills, and that deterred her,” Harper said.
“I need to take her to lunch soon,” Xander said.
“You’re free next Tuesday,” Harper said. “So far.”
Xander smiled at her. Kayleigh had become a little sister to him after she stormed his office in a fit of tears last year after learning about Jordan, who she had considered family. Fortunately, Ares had been there, ready with a hug and comforting words. Ares told her they couldn’t replace her brother, but she had two more now.
“That’s a date then,” Xander said.
At the faint flush on Harper’s face, he wished he had chosen better words.
“So tonight, we are trying out Luis and Talon. I want them to blend in seamlessly and only step in when someone gets too close. Hopefully, nobody pesters us,” Xander said.
Her rich melodious laugh made him relax, and she put her hand on his thigh.
“They come with good references, and we’re sneaking in the loading dock, cutting through the staircase from the orchestra level of the theatre and going up to the box seats,” Harper said.
It was too much, he knew. But he wanted a night out with her where he could pretend they weren’t just work colleagues. Where he could pretend that he wasn’t her protector but merely a man out on the town with a woman he adored.
“Sorry about all this, Angel. I wish I could just walk into that theatre with you on my arm.”
“You are,” Harper said, patting his thigh.
