It was nothing.
Though she deserved it, Katherine had to fight to breathe for the pain still spreading inside her chest. To her, what they’d shared was everything.
It shouldn’t still hurt this much. Not after so many years apart. Too bad no one had passed that particular memo to her heart.
Over the years, she’d forced herself to imagine him a hundred pounds overweight and balding to help ease the pain of having lost him. With no social media accounts she could find—and she’d searched them all more times than she could count—Kat had almost convinced herself that’s how he looked now.
Not. Even. Close.
In some ways,he looked exactly the same. In others, he looked even better.
His dark hair was still short, but much longer than the military-buzz he’d had the last time they were together. She could still remember the way it felt beneath her fingertips when she’d run her hands over it.
The scruff covering his strong, chiseled jaw was sexier than it should’ve been, and his lean, youthful body had filled out in the most delicious way.
Kat’s fingers itched to touch him as she continued her covert assessment. Especially where his white button-up stretched across his large, well-defined chest and biceps.
Her gaze lowered to where the material loosened around his narrow waist, her mouthwatering from the way his thick thighs pressed against the denim covering his lower body. A memory of him pressing his legs against hers as they made love flew through her mind, and she had to clear her throat against the moan threatening to escape.
Both men turned their heads in her direction, and she scrambled for an excuse. “Sorry. Had a tickle in my throat.”
A tickle?Kat mentally sighed at herself. For a genius, she could be a real idiot sometimes.
As if she needed further proof, the man standing three feet away from her was it. Out of all the private security companies in Texas, she’d chosen this one.
See? Idiot.
“Why don’t we go into the conference room where the rest of the team is waiting.” Mr. McQueen’s deep voice interrupted the self-deprecating thoughts. “We’ll go over everything in detail and figure out a more precise game plan.”
Realizing he was speaking to her, Kat nodded and said, “Okay.” Because really…what other choice did she have?
The intense man led the way, immediately followed by Matt. He didn’t even look at her when he passed by, which was almost worse than if he’d given her the death stare.
Taking up the rear, Kat kept a safe distance between them, trying hard to not pay attention to the wayhisrear looked in those jeans. Like with everything else, lately, she failed miserably.
Matt had always had a nice ass, but damn. The man was seriously perfect, in every single way. Too bad he hated her.
“We’re in here.” McQueen stopped at the doorway to let them by.
Kat’s eyes shot up with the same speed as her pulse. Though he didn’t say anything, she had a sneaking suspicion Matt’s boss had caught her checking out his employee’s ass.
Pretending as if nothing had happened, she forced a smile as she entered the room. That same smile dropped in an instant when she saw the others staring back at her.
Sitting around the table were three very intimidating men. They were also extremely handsome in their own rights.
The one directly across from where she stood was a little older, probably forties, with a very sexy head full of short, salt and pepper hair. The guy was big and built, and the termsilver foximmediately came to mind.
Sitting next to him was a younger man with light brown hair and gorgeous brown eyes. Closer to her age, Kat noticed he was built a lot like Matt. They both had that ‘runner’ look. Muscular, for sure, but in a leaner, more streamlined way than the fox.
Spinning around, the third man looked up at her. He was also younger and lean, his light brown hair cut much shorter than the others.
“Hey.” He stood and smiled at her. “I’m Kole.”
Shaking his outstretched hand, she smiled. “Katherine Marsh.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Kole returned to his seat while Matt inadvertently brushed against hers as he slid behind her. Without a word, he made his way to the empty chair at the farthest end of the table. The farthest one away from her.
