He sputtered. “Excuse me?”
“Sit. I’m calling a meeting.”
With a new purpose and a tingle of excitement in her spine, she went to round up every man she could. She found Rome in the gym with Archer and ordered them to the dining room.
Rome elbowed Archer and said something to him under his breath that made Archer shove him.
“That’s my girl you’re talking about, asshole.” But there was no heat in his tone.
Jolie located the rest of the team, leaving only Cannon shut up inside his office. She briefly thought about knocking and then moved away from the door, unwilling to interrupt important military business with her personal request.
When she returned to the dining room, the guys were all watching the door for her entrance.
With her head held high, she walked to the head of the table and sat down. At that moment, Cannon appeared in the doorway, his expression registering his surprise at finding them all there.
“What’s going on?” He looked between his teammates.
Archer leaned back in his seat, arms folded, entirely too handsome for someone who so thoroughly ruined her concentration. “Jolie’s called a base meeting.”
Cannon snorted. “Unsanctioned, but I’ll play along.” He leaned in the doorway. “What’s up?”
She folded her hands, feeling the twinge in her shoulder at the movement. Drawing a deep breath, she prepared her first speech for the Sierra team.
“I need a job.”
Her announcement was met with silence.
Archer inflated his lungs so much that his whole chest swelled. “Your job for another week is resting.”
“I reject that assignment.”
Rome laughed into his coffee and Townie sprayed pastry crumbs as he chuckled.
Archer gave her a direct look. “You’re supposed to rest.”
She met his stare. “I rested. It was boring.”
“Well, you can cook. We need a cook.” Younger didn’t even have the grace to appear bothered by his suggestion.
She closed her eyes, searching for patience on the inside of her eyelids. “And the patriarchy is alive and well.”
“What year do you think this is, Younger?” Rome ribbed him. “Oh wait, you were born in the era when a woman’s place was in the kitchen.”
He rolled his eyes. “I might have a few years on you, but I’m still stronger and faster.”
Jolie spoke up. “I can grow fresh food in the greenhouse.”
O wagged his head as if Archer let the whole team down. “You took her to the greenhouse?”
“You meantook her inthe greenhouse,” Rome said to several chuckles that heated Jolie’s cheeks with a blush.
As if seeing the room was getting out of hand, Cannon took control. “What are you trained for?”
She blinked at the question. “What do you mean?”
“What skills do you have besides managing a restaurant and wrangling teenagers?”
She sat straighter. “I can do other things.”
