Page 10 of Wrecked With You

“Not bad, but I’m not interested,” Cass says. “He’s not my type. Note the pronoun.”

I purposefully let my gaze roam over the specimen. “Personally, I’m all about equal opportunity”

Cass rolls her eyes. “Come on. If we go get a drink we’ll walk right past him. You can do that sexy thing with your eyes. Maybe he’ll bite. I’m sure Damien won’t mind if you try to pick up one of his guests.”

“I don’t do a thing with my eyes.”

“Yeah. You do. Come on.”

I consider arguing about the eye thing, but don’t. As for the walk, I’m totally down for that. And not because I want to make eyes at the guy. I’m simply glad I don’t have to walk on eggshells around Cass.

Unfortunately, we’ve only gone a few feet when Damien and Antonio Sanchez turn and walk down one of the long paths that meanders through the property. I stand still for a moment, realizing with annoyance that I’m more disappointed than I should be.

“So we’ll get a drink anyway?” Cass asks.

“Sounds good to me.” Right now, I could use one.

We’re almost to the bar when Quince joins us. He stands beside me, but he talks to Cass. “Can I borrow her?”

I look at Cass, who shrugs. “Okay,” I tell Quince, then look at Cass. “I’ll catch up with you later?”

“Sure. I’ll be around here somewhere.”

Once she wanders off, I tilt my head and wait for what I know Quince is going to say.

“You joined Stark Security, despite suggesting to me two days ago on a certain rooftop that you had absolutely no interest in joining the team. For that matter, considering the mission, I would have been justified in thinking you were going back to the SOC.”

“Disappointed?”

He actually glowers. “As a matter of fact, I’m thrilled. You’re a hell of an asset, and you’ve made your sister very happy. But I’m a bit cheesed off you kept me in the dark.”

I consider giving him a brush-off answer, but decide on the truth. He deserves it. “You were a test case.”

He says nothing, but it’s clear from his expression that he expects me to continue.

“I like my freedom, okay? But I also admire talent and loyalty. And a bit of the rebel and rule-breaker mixed in doesn’t turn me off, okay? And Stark’s offer really was generous, and it’s a great team, so—”

“So basically, you took the SSA for a test drive through me.”

“Pretty much,” I admit.

He considers that. “Well, then I have to thank you.”

My brow furrows. “Why?”

“Because I can imagine how excited Eliza will be when she hears that I played such a huge part in gaining your agreement. I intend to take advantage of that.”

There’s a devilish twinkle in his gray eyes, and I put my hands over my ears. “I don’t even want to know about your raunchy plans with my sister.”

“Raunchy?” Eliza’s amused voice comes from behind, and I turn to see her grinning. Not at me, but at Quince. “Care to elaborate?”

“Don’t you dare,” I say, fighting a laugh as Quince lifts a hand as if he’s about to count off five wildly sexual things he has planned for my little sister.

We all grin, and Eliza slides into his arms and tilts her head up for a quick kiss. Once again, I feel that unexpected tightening in my chest. I tell myself it’s just melancholy. Like the way a mom feels when her daughter gets married and the girl is no longer hers alone.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about joining the SSA,” Eliza says, after she breaks the kiss with a sigh.

“A girl’s gotta have some secrets.”