I’d never be able to hear that word and not think of Audrey now.
“I should call Trevor soon and fill him in on what we learned,” he continued. “I’m sure Chandler’s already sent him an NDA to sign.”
“You think Trevor knew Will Hobbs? They were both team guys.”
“It’s possible. But Trevor’s, what, forty? So there’s a fifteen-year-or-so age difference between them, so maybe not. Will would’ve already been deep in Stratos territory when Trevor was only just getting started twenty years ago.”
“I think I’d rather him not know Will and risk losing a lead.” From the sounds of it, that man had been through enough. Last thing he needed was to have that asshole caught up in his past, too.
“I feel the same.” He rested his hand on his chest. “And speaking of my sister ...”
“You mean speaking of your sister’s ex?” I grumbled, not liking where he was planning to about-face this conversation. When he didn’t say anything, I couldn’t help but blurt out, “I know you’d like to kill me, but we’ve already got enough bodies on our hands.” The hoarse laughthat followed was out of self-preservation. “I’ll stay away from her. I hear you. Loud and clear.”
He quietly eyed me, assessing me like he was about to negotiate with a terrorist who’d hijacked a plane. “I don’t know how I missed this before, this thing between you two, but I think Seraphina picked up on it the second you met.”
Notthe direction I’d expected him to go.
“I don’t want you getting hurt.”
I scoffed. “You thinkshe’llhurtme?” I waved him off with a quietnever mindembedded in that gesture, hating that I was actually afraid of that very thing. “And who knows, maybe she’ll get back together with Trevor.”
I was hoping he’d shut down that possibility, but instead, he started his sentence in a way that didn’t bode well for me having a future with Audrey. “Just promise me something.” That long pause after, nope, not good, either. “Maybe hold off on—” He let his words die when an incoming call popped up on the TV, which was still synced to his laptop.
I’d never been so grateful for an interruption.
“We’ll finish this later.” He turned his attention on the laptop and accepted the call. “Hey, what’s up?” he asked Natasha as her face appeared on the TV.
“Gwen’s joining the call, too. One second. She’s currently in Switzerland, but we’ve got a few ideas on how to expedite the search through the files. Gwen also had a question about the ring. Where’s Reed?”
“In the kitchen. I can go get him,” I offered, hiking a thumb over my shoulder.
“Either bring Audrey in here to eat or keep an eye on her in there.” Ryder turned toward me. “Will you?”
Shit.“Yeah,” I huffed out. “Sure.” I made my way down the hall and hung back outside the kitchen at the sound of Audrey’s sultry voice.
“Oh my gosh, this has to be the best thing I’ve put in my mouth in a long time.” The light moan coming from her was going to send my blood pressure through the roof.
And now I was remembering the sounds she’d made while we kissed last night.
Reed laughed, which was unusual for him.
“What’s so funny?” She paused. “Ohhh. You boys and your dirty minds. Just say it, you know you want to.”
She gave Reed a chance.
Not too shockingly, he didn’t take it.
“That’s what she said,” she joked, probably using air quotes as well.
I took a breath and a beat, then let her words from earlier—There’s nothing between us—haunt me before rounding the corner.
Reed was sitting alongside Audrey at the breakfast bar, and he stood the second he spotted me.
“Natasha and Gwen need you,” I let him know, doing my best not to look at the most beautiful woman in the world sitting there. “They probably need that big brain of yours for something.”
A sly smile slipped across his lips.
“Mind if I stay in here? My brain could use a break from all that op stuff.” At Audrey’s tentative tone, I finally gave in and looked at her.
