One of the beefier guys stepped forward, a big, muscled man with a shaved head and arms covered with tattoos.His chin tipped up.“I’m Franklin.What makes you think your standards are higher than the firm we come from?”
“Franklin, I don’t know if they are,” Ben answered.“We’ll find out.Physical fitness is prized here.So is expertise and safety with firearms.”He paused.“Did you serve?”
“Marine recon,” Franklin said, a note of belligerence in his voice.
Unexpectedly, Ben grinned.“Marine, you’re welcome here.”
“You?”Franklin spat the word.
“SEAL Team Three.Twelve years.”
The marine’s manner subtly changed.He gave a respectful nod.
“I run a tight ship.”Ben let that sink in.“What I want to know right now is this: are you all on board?”
Nods andhooyahserupted without a single negative reply.Even the men who’d crossed their arms seemed to have relaxed.Marge and Linda smiled.Order was being restored and Sarah could see their relief.
The new guys started chatting among themselves and lining up at different desks to fill out forms.Ben moved among them.
Sarah watched it all in admiration.Managing men was a skill, a gift, and Ben apparently was chock full of talent.She could easily imagine him commanding a SEAL platoon.He would give the order, and that order would be unquestioned.
She found it strangely alluring but suspected she shouldn’t be surprised.Ben Paxton was the Lead Alpha among alphas.
In the past six months, ever since the awfulincident, Sarah had kept herself aloof from romantic entanglements.She simply hadn’t been able to cope with one more thing.
Now, she glanced out the doorway again and found Ben studying a clipboard.As though he felt her eyes on him, he looked up and caught her.Surprising her again, he gave her a slow wink.
Her heart fluttered.
Despite herself, she smiled.Oh boy.
She was in trouble.
Chapter Twenty-Four
For the rest of theday, Ben kept busy processing, directing, and getting to know his new guys.Sarah stayed holed up in his office, drinking coffee and peeking out at the now-controlled crowd.Ben checked on her periodically.
