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One at a time, each man cleared the scan. Ellie had sort of hoped they’d throw an alarm. They deserved the inconvenience.
“Are you enjoying this?” Ellie asked. She needed Derek on her side at the moment. He wasn’t one to make waves. A big guy, his size intimidated enough folks. He didn’t act like a bully to boot. Yet there he was, fueling Allister’s anger.
“What do you mean he was adamant?” Allister looked like a mad bear then. He slowly turned and glared at the businessman already boarding the escalator bound for the downstairs gates.
“He wouldn’t take no for an answer.” Ryan shrugged. “Sorry Ellie. I’d like to take your side, little darling, but—”
“But for some reason you and Derek want to watch an airport brawl?”
“They may see one,” Harley said, frowning before he moved on.
“I knew that guy was a problem the first minute I saw him.” Allister stuffed his wallet in his hip pocket. “My sixth sense is never wrong.”
“There’s a first time for everything.” Ellie placed her hand on his forearm. “If you go after him and embarrass me, so help me, I’ll turn around right this minute and flag Justin down.”
“Justin?” Derek looked behind them then. “Isn’t he going?”
“Court case,” Ryan explained. “He may meet us in a few days.”
Derek peered around Ellie, focusing on Bradley’s sister Heather. “Oh man. I bet that’s hell.”
Sidetracked for the moment, Allister said, “As you can see, Gabe and Curt aren’t missing him.”
“Heather is clearly the woman with brains in this bunch. She has one on each side and seems pretty content with just two.” Ellie let them stew on that for a minute before she felt guilty and quickly added, “I’m sure she’ll miss Justin just like I’d miss one of you if you weren’t here.”
“Given the circumstances, the first part was the wrong thing to say,” Allister said, thumbing the empty space over his shoulder. “Way you’ve kept your eye on Mr. Suit and Tie, why any one of us could’ve easily been replaced.”
Instead of making matters worse, Ellie changed the subject and asked, “So who’s staying behind this trip?” Since the early planning stages, the vacation arrangements had been a clusterfuck. Trouble’s residents had rushed around in an effort to determine who would stay behind and cover various shifts at the local businesses.
“Listen at her go.” Markie met up with them. “Girlfriend already sees things like I do. This trip is the first of many. To answer your question…” Markie tossed aside his belongings and waited in line like everyone else. “Draegan gets little Miss Serena all alone this trip. Detective Bane Brice is under the weather and would’ve joined us later but he was called for testimony on some case that doesn’t matter.” Markie stretched his neck in an apparent effort to see who else was behind them. “Come to think of it, Ellie, you’re the only one traveling with a full bed.”
“Markie,” Harley warned, keeping his voice low. “Taunting is not recommended given Allister’s mood.”
“Psht.” Markie waved his hand in front of his face. “Allister doesn’t scare me. He needs to stop being such a possessive stud. Besides, Ellie will straighten him out soon enough.” He butted his hip against Ellie’s. “A word from the wise? Do it as soon as possible.”
“He ain’t lyin’,” Harley added, clearing the checkpoint and walking away.
“Well looks like another brother is flyin’ solo,” Markie sang, grinning at Mac McCall and his girlfriend Sable as they greeted Draegan and Serena.
“Did you forget Harley?” Ellie asked.
“Shucks and damn.” Markie snapped his fingers. “Here I was all set to make my move on the young Mr. McCall.” He winked and waved wildly at Sable. “Good thing you showed up, lady! I was about to claim Harley for myself.”
“Go ahead and see where that gets you!” Mac called out.
“He wants it, sugar,” Markie said, seemingly unaware of the many bystanders now staring at them. Apparently the others on the plane were trying to decipher who was traveling with whom.
“Poor Doc and Nicholas. Always working while the rest of us are havin’ fun, huh?” Markie forced a surly look for about a minute. Then, he perked right up and said, “Can’t feel too sorry for Trevor, though. He was the smart one of the bunch. He carried Sable off to the dorms last night and had his way with her.”
“How do you know?” Ryan asked, arching a brow.
“I know all, Mr. Thomas. Sooner you believe that, the sooner you’ll learn how to take hold of my attributes and ride ’em for all they’re worth.” Markie rotated his hips in a perverse manner. To add embarrassment to unwanted attention, he grabbed his crotch and grunted. After the illicit show, he waved his hand in the air and danced straight through the security checkpoint. For good measure, he blew
kisses to the guards as he went about his merry way.
“Are we about done here?” Ellie asked, standing between Ryan and Derek.
“You don’t have to wait, sweetheart,” Ryan told her, smiling.
