Page 85 of Nothing Special X: The Last Stand

“You can’t let him distract you like that,” Green ordered.

Cassidy flexed his fingers at his sides. He knew this, he’d done over eighteen years of personal security in the military to know it in his bones. He felt like a dumbass for being reprimanded on a discipline he’d built his life and business around.

He understood body coverage, evac routes, reaction gaps, threat scans, soft exits, hard exits, and the brutal fact that the second a protector let emotion cloud their vision, their principle would be in danger.

He also realized the mounting feelings he had for Xander—Lane—were going to become a problem if he didn’t get control of them.

“Look,” Tech said calmly. “Trust me. We all get it.”

Cassidy kept his gaze moving, as he listened.

“Steele is my everything. When Free took my position and I became an enforcer, Steele did a lot of hesitating and second-guessing in the field. He had a hard time taking his eyes off me and I had a hard time tolerating being treated like a liability instead of an asset.”

Him and Steele?

The dark, scary Marine with ice cubes for eyes, and permanent glower was his boyfriend?

What an odd combination.

Cassidy had no clue the sexy geek was with him. Whenever he’d seen Tech and Steele together, they just moved like work partners. There’d been no touching or heated glares.

Same with God and Day. Married, partnered, and connected in a way anyone with a pulse could feel. But when they were on the job, their love was there, it just didn’t interfere.

“We’re not judging you,” Tech said. “We’re telling you the line is manageable. Stay locked into your AOR and keep your head in the fight. Those blue eyes that can’t stay off you for more than two minutes, and all the rest of him, will be waiting at the end of the day for you to enjoy if you do your job right.”

Cassidy diverted his gaze to where it belonged

The waiter delivered the food to Xander’s table a few minutes later. He’d ordered a buffalo fried chicken sandwich and parmesan truffle fries that overflowed on the wide plate.

“There was a grilled chicken option on the menu,” Carla said in a tone that grated on Cassidy’s nerves.

The table went still as Cassidy watched out of his peripheral.

Xander glanced down at his abundant plate, then the rest of the table, his cheeks flaming bright red as he pushed it away.

Carla kept going. “You have the Golden Crown Awards in a few weeks. You’re wearing Dom Ford, and your measurements have already been sent.”

Xander’s gaze flicked towards him.

It took a lot of effort not to give in and meet Xander’s eyes, but he managed.

“Is that witch fuckin blind?” Ruxs said in his ear. “Xander’s hot as hell.”

Cassidy agreed with every violent part of himself.

Before he could consider whether it was his place to step in, Jesse Ross slammed her pen down on her notepad.

“He can eat whatever the fuck he wants, Carla.”

She reached over and slid Xander’s plate back in front of him.

Carla frowned. “But Jessica—”

“No buts.” She leaned forward. “His last physical showed him in perfect health. Heart strong, labs good. That’s all that matters. And his suit will fit fine on a body millions of people already love exactly as it is.”

The team’s expressions shifted, one by one, into open disgust.

Her mouth tightened. “I’m just thinking about the optics. That’s my job.”