He rolled his eyes, dragging her into his arms. “What? We started as a vacation fling.”
“We did not, you ass.” She pressed against his chest. “You seduced me on a work trip.”
“You sure that’s how it happened?” He grinned, pressing his lips to hers before she could protest.
When he pulled away, she looked both turned on and pissed off. But that’s how it was with them—passionate, argumentative. She sauntered off, and I could’ve sworn his tongue lolled out of his mouth.
“God, I love messing with her.” He grinned.
She flipped him off over her shoulder, and he merely chuckled. No wonder she’d made a good CIA operative. It was like she had eyes in the back of her head and supersonic hearing. She was scary as fuck, despite her small stature. I knew better than to mess with her, and not just because she was married to my boss.
“Why does the name Olivia sound familiar?” Mark tapped a finger to his lips. “Olivia. Livia. Livie.” He snapped. “Oh shit. She’s your little reading buddy.”
“She’s… Yes.” I blew out a breath, knowing there was no use denying it. “We met through the Spines for Soldiers program.”
“Your change of attitude suddenly makes sense. God, this is good.” He clutched his side, laughing hard enough I was tempted to slug him.
I rolled my eyes. “That’s not why I enjoyed the program. We have lively conversations about the books we read.”
“‘Lively conversations,’ huh?” His eyes danced with mirth. “Is that what the kids these days are calling it?”
“Calling what?” Quinn asked as he and Liam joined us.
“Little Cujo’s got himself a girlfriend,” Mark teased.
“Who? The brunette?” Liam said, glancing toward where Catherine and Olivia were talking.
I nodded. “Yeah, that’s Olivia. But she’s not my girlfriend.”
“You sure about that?” Mark asked.
“It’s temporary,” I huffed, more annoyed with the situation than these jokers. “She’s here, and my life is in Virginia.”
“You say that now.” Quinn laughed.
“Ladykiller would know,” Liam said, using Quinn’s call sign. “He gave up everything a few years ago to be with Ashton—resigned from the navy, took a job with Cole, and promised to move to New York.”
“Like you wouldn’t lay your life down for Lee.” Quinn elbowed him.
“True.” Liam nodded, his eyes going glassy as he glanced at the woman in question. “I would do anything for that woman.”
“Even have another baby?” Quinn smirked.
“She’s the one who keeps putting me off,” Liam said. “I’m ready for a third. Hell, I’d have a million more if she’d agree.”
Everyone seemed a bit nostalgic tonight, and I wondered whether it was the fact that it was a “big” birthday for Jackson or the alcohol flowing. Either way, the guys usually put up more of a front. But with their wives around, their friends assembled, they seemed to be…relaxed. Content. And I realized how much I wanted that too.
“Aww.” Mark pouted, draping his arm over Liam’s shoulder. “Has Dreamboat lost his touch?”
I shook my head at their antics. These guys loved to pretend they were tough, but they were just giant teddy bears underneath. If anything, it only made me like and respect them even more. They were good men. They loved their families and friends with a fierce protectiveness that I understood. It was how I felt about Olivia.
“Oh shit,” Liam said. “I know that look.” He pointed at me, hand still clasped around his beer.
“What look?” I asked, glancing from side to side as if he were pointing at anyone but me.
“You’re in love with her.”
“In love,” I scoffed. “We barely know each other.” But as soon as the words left my mouth, I questioned it.Did I love Olivia?
