No one heard them come down the stairs or walk down the hall. They’re both stealthy like that, and on more than one occasion, I have punched them in the arm when they’ve scared me. Even Rhys turned toward Mason’s voice like he was spooked.
They look like military guys, even the way they stand, in an at-ease position with their hands tucked under their arms. Everything about them screams military.
Now, it feels like a lot of testosterone is hanging heavy in the room, almost suffocating. Every single one of them stacked in muscle in their own way, Gray and Dad from farming andtraining spirited horses, and lifting bales of hay, horse saddles, and bags of feed.
Mason and Jax have been in the military since they both turned eighteen, and both have rigorous workout regimens.
I don’t know Special Agent Abbot’s story, but whatever he’s doing suits him because he is broad, hard and gorgeous.
I snort a laugh, making every eye in the room turn on me. “Told you.” I say to Agent Abbot and roll my eyes as I cross my arms over my chest.
Mason narrows his eyes at me. “We’ll talk about what you’re wearing later.” Then he turns back to the agent standing tall next to me. “She is safer here with us than she is with anything you and your men can secure.”
Agent Abbot crosses his arms over his chest. “I haven’t briefed you on the SOP yet. Due to the woodline and the traversable terrain, a sneak attack is probable at this location.”
Almost like a comedy skit, Mason and Jax tilt their heads and narrow their eyes. “You’ve had military training.” It’s not a question, Mason says it like a fact.
The agent tips his chin. “Army Rangers, eight years.”
Dad steps forward and sets his hand on the counter as he leans toward them. “It doesn’t matter what area she’s in, it’s the guards that I question. With us she’s safe, your men don’t care about her like we do.”
As Agent Abbot starts to reply, I step forward and jab my manicured finger in Mason’s chest. “You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t wear, you’re not my dad.” I turn just as my dad is about to speak up, and say, “And my dad’s right to tell me what I can and can’t wear expired about twelve years ago.”
“Kinely.” Gray’s deep voice is a warning, and I ignore him as I turn to Special Agent Abbot.
Not touching his chest like I did Mason, I extend my fingerand point at him. “You don’t get to tell me where I live and don’t live, and unless you produce some kind of court order signed by a judge, I’m staying in my home with the people I trust, the people who actually know how to fight. Not in some strange, sterilized hotel room with a strange FBI guy who fills out paperwork, watches TV, and belches.”
His eyebrows climb his forehead as he stares at me.
Okay, that might have gone too far.
“Kinley!” I hear Gray, Mason and my dad say in warning, all at the same time. I’m pretty sure I hear Jax chuckle.
Ignoring all of them, I drop my arms to my sides in exasperation as I keep my eyes glued on the gorgeous agent in front of me. I’m able to see in the bright light of the kitchen that his brown eyes are almost black. And they are angrily zeroed in on me.
Taking a deep dramatic breath, I say, “Look, I’m sorry. It’s been a shitty night. I got a sub-par birthday kiss from a guy who didn’t know what he was doing, I have to get a new phone tomorrow, I have to replace my ID, and I’m just tired. So, good night, Special Agent.”
His jaw ticks as he stares at me, and I can see in his eyes that he has passed irritation and is firmly in the realm of pissed off.
As I leave the kitchen, I hear my dad sigh heavily.
I pad up the stairs to my room and softly shut the door, the last thing I want is to listen to crying babies. Leaning against my closed door, I smile. That is one fine FBI agent, but his ego is just a little too big for me. Humility is a wonderful virtue.
Even though sometimes I have a hard time wearing that hat myself.
Remembering how he held my hands over my head and pulled my body into his as he gave me the best kiss of my life, has my nipples peaking and I walk to my bed that I haven’tslept in for weeks to pull the covers back. I strip off my little dress and drop it on the floor to crawl into the safety of my warm covers.
He’s right. I liked every bit of his touching me, every swirl of his tongue and nip of his teeth. He ticked all the right boxes, and I wonder if he might visit me in my dreams.
No more thoughts about FBI guys, I think to myself, and turn out the light.
CHAPTER FOUR
RHYS
I BARELYslept after I finally got home in the middle of the night, and now the mountain of paperwork sitting in front of me on my desk is pissing me off. Everything is pissing me off today.
Fucking sub-par, my ass.
