Somehow, despite all the doubt I’ve ever felt, he makes me believe everythingwillbe okay.
CHAPTER 5
REED
“Update,” Knox demands over the video call.
“Camera two’s still showing static.” Owen’s voice cuts through the laptop speakers. “You need to check why it’s offline.”
“I’ll adjust it before dark,” I say, already needing to know if it was the storm that knocked the camera loose or if it was intentionally done by whoever has been vandalizing this site.
I scrub a hand over my jaw.
Knox shoulders back into frame. “What’s your read on the threat level?”
“He’s desperate, not trained. But desperate makes people stupid, and stupid makes them dangerous.” I pull up the threat assessment I drafted this morning. “I want someone on standby in case—”
Knox and Owen suddenly go silent, their eyes intensely focused on something behind me. Before I can ask what shut them up, I see Maya walk through the frame behind me, headingtoward the kitchen, earbuds in her ears. She’s nodding, like she’s listening to music or maybe a voicemail. She’s wearing my hoodie, unzipped enough to show that she’s not wearing much, if anything, underneath.
She is completely oblivious that I’m on Zoom with Knox and Owen.
Owen arches an eyebrow, and Knox goes still.
“That’s an interesting development, Ambrose.” Knox’s voice is dry as desert sand, but the laughter in his tone is clear.
I slam the mute button, fumbling for my headphones, face burning. By the time I’ve got them in, Maya’s disappeared into the kitchen, oblivious. I unmute with shaking fingers.
“You’re lucky Zane’s not on this call,” Owen teases loudly when I have my headphones on.
“Shut the fuck up.” I keep my voice low.
“Oh, this is too good.” Knox’s laughter is loud enough to make me turn down the volume on my headphones. “Reed Ambrose, shacking up with his gorgeous client during a storm. I owe Zane twenty bucks.”
“There’s nothing—”
“That wasn’t nothing.” Knox cuts through Owen’s laughter. “That was your hoodie on our client. What the hell is she even doing there?”
“She insisted on coming out…and then she,” I pause, knowing it will sound weak. “She insisted on staying. There was rain the first day, and she needed something dry to put on.”
“That was three days ago, Reed. She’s still wearing your clothes?” Knox is enjoying this far too much. “Come on, man. I’ve known you eight years. You don’t let anyone close enough to steal your hoodies.”
My jaw tightens. He’s right.
“I’ve never seen you like this,” Knox continues, mercifully lowering his voice. “Never. She must be something.”
“She’s a client.”
Knox’s tone shifts from teasing to serious. “Be careful, Reed. Remember that she’s our client. Do I need to remind you not to cross any professional boundaries?”
I bristle, but shake my head. This is the kind of conversation he has with Zane, not me or the rest of the team. “Won’t be an issue.”
Knox looks at me for a long moment, then nods. “Good. Call us when you have an update.” He ends the call abruptly, and I pull the feeds back up on my screen.
The kitchen sounds filter through the quiet—cabinet opening, the coffee maker gurgling. I sit with my hands flat on the table, pulse slowly returning to normal.
The guys saw right through me. All these years of working together, and I’ve never let them see me off-balance. Never given them ammunition for this kind of ribbing. Maintaining professional distance has never been an issue for me.
I’ve known Maya less than a week, and my world is upside down. Love at first sight is something that I always thought was a myth, but with the way she makes me feel? I’m wondering if this is what it feels like when your heart finally opens.
