Closing his eyes, Britt prayed to any god who would listen to take pity on him.
“Not to risk putting another frown line on your already crowded forehead,” Eliza chimed in gently, “but if youlikeher, why haven’t you asked her out? I know you aren’t suffering from a lack of confidence. I’ve seen you pick up dozens of bar bunnies over the years. So why all the subterfuge now?”
Britt donned what he hoped was the facial equivalent of a chalkboard that’d been wiped clean. “Who says I like her?”
“Please.” Sam snorted. “There’s no putting the jam back in that jar. You wouldn’t be skulking around after a woman you didn’t like.”
Britt considered telling Sam to go do something with himself that was anatomically impossible. Instead, he took the high road—go me!
“Fine. You all caught me. I was impressed by how she handled herself during the Senator McClean case. And if I hadn’t happened to run into her again the morning I rode down south to look at some handlebars, then things would have ended there. But Ididrun into her again. She was off-duty, wearing street clothes, and hanging out at this park with her family. I found myself…intriguedby her.”
Sam snorted. “Intrigued.” He made air quotes. “Said every stalker who ever lived.”
“Fine.” Britt tossed his hands in the air. “So Ilikeher. She’s pretty and smart. But she’s also afed.” He stressed the last word. “Give the woman an hour in this place, and she’ll figure out we’re a hell of a lot more than a bike-building outfit. So, since I can’t ask her out, I’ve been doing the next best thing: sneaking a few glimpses of her when I get the chance. Is that so wrong?”
“There’s nothing that says you can’t date a federal agent,” Eliza countered. “Huntermarriedone.”
Hunter Jackson had been the first of the Knights version 2.0 to have fallen ass over teakettle into that crazy little thing called love. But there was one crucial difference between Hunter and Britt that Eliza wasn’t taking into account.
“Correct.” He nodded. “Huntermarriedher. As his wife, she is duty-bound to keep his secrets. But there’s no guarantee that’d be the case with Julia once I’ve scratched this itch and sent her on her way.”
Eliza frowned. “You act likesending her on her wayis a foregone conclusion. Who’s to say you won’t take a page out of Hunter’s book?”
The snort that burst from him shocked him with its force. “Me,” he managed once he’d gotten himself under control. “Isay. I know you’re all”—he waved a hand to indicate the gathered group—“so annoyingly in love that you can’t imagine anyonenotwanting what you have. But marriage? Kids? Happily ever after?” He scoffed. “I’m sorry, but have youmetme?”
Boss crossed his big arms over his even bigger chest. “That’s what we all said.” He dragged his coverall-wearing wife, Becky—who’d been blessedly silent up to that point—under his arm and planted a kiss atop her head. Since she was more than a foot shorter than he was, he had to bend down to do it. “I’d resigned myself to being a bachelor for life until this one came along.”
Becky plucked a red Dum Dum lollipop out of her mouth and pointed it at Britt. “I never thought I wanted a ring on my finger or a bunch of ragamuffins running around my house. But then I met the big guy here”—she patted Boss’s chest—“and everything changed. You’ll start singing a different tune when you find the right one. And who knows? Maybe Agent O’Toole is the right one.”
The mere thought had cold sweat breaking out on Britt’s brow. “Nope.” He shook his head. “Not me. Not ever.”
Every face in the room morphed into a frown. But it was Sam who asked, “Why not?”
Before Britt could answer, Fisher Wakefield, former Delta Force officer and Britt’s brother from another mother—aka: his best friend—walked into the kitchen while running a hand through his shower-damp hair. He came to a stop when he sensed the odd atmosphere. “Uh. What did I miss?”
“Britt’s been stalking Agent O’Toole,” Hew said around a mouthful of muffin.
Britt refrained from smacking his forehead into his palm. But the temptation was there.
An evil grin slowly spread over Fish’s face. “Why, Britton Daniel Rollins. How absolutely scandalous of you.”
Oh, god. Not the government name.
Britt braced himself for whatever scathing witticism was next poised to come out of Fish’s mouth. Thankfully, he was spared the mortification when his phone jangled to life in his pocket.
One look at the screen told him it was Rafer Connelly at the front gate.
“Saved by the bell.” Eliza smiled at him softly.
“Right.” He nodded, but his expression was the epitome of sarcasm. So was his tone when he added, “Everything is coming up Britt!”
Eliza’s smile turned sympathetic. Then she squealed when Fisher swept her off her feet to press a smacking kiss on her lips.
For years the two of them had bickered like they were getting paid for every insult. But ever since they’d admitted their animosity was really L.O.V.E, they’d been on each other like cold on ice cream.
It was annoying.
And adorable.
